Berlin, the capital of Germany and one of its sixteen states, is a city of about 3.7 million people on the Spree and Havel rivers. It is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg. It was the capital of Prussia and of the German Empire, the centre of Nazi Germany, and for almost three decades a city divided by the Wall, before reunification in 1990 made it whole again.
That history is visible everywhere, from the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag to the Berlin Wall Memorial and the East Side Gallery. Berlin is also a city of museums, with the Museum Island on the UNESCO list, of parks, lakes and forests that cover about a third of its area, and of neighbourhoods with very different moods. Many Berliners rent, and apartment life is the norm, so a furnished flat suits families, couples and long stays well, although the city regulates holiday rentals strictly. Potsdam's palaces and the Sachsenhausen memorial are within easy reach.
Mitte, the central borough, puts the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Museum Island and Alexanderplatz on foot, and suits first-time visitors. Prenzlauer Berg, north-east of the centre, has tree-lined streets of 19th-century apartment buildings, cafés and playgrounds, and is popular with families. Kreuzberg, south of Mitte and once one of the poorest parts of West Berlin, is now diverse and lively, with canal-side bars and markets that appeal to younger travellers.
Friedrichshain, across the Spree and formerly part of East Berlin, is known for its nightlife and for the East Side Gallery along the river. Neukölln, further south-east, is multicultural and informal and borders the open spaces of Tempelhofer Feld. In the west, Charlottenburg, around its palace and the Kurfürstendamm, has grand old apartments and a calmer, residential feel that suits longer stays and older travellers. Public transport links every district, so a quieter area is rarely far from the sights.
The Brandenburg Gate, built between 1788 and 1791, stood in the closed border zone for almost three decades and is now the city's symbol of unity. Nearby are the Reichstag building, seat of the German parliament, and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Unter den Linden leads east to the rebuilt Berlin Palace and to Museum Island, a group of five museums built between 1830 and 1930 and listed by UNESCO in 1999.
The Wall, which encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, survives in fragments. The Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse shows a preserved section of the border strip, the site of Checkpoint Charlie recalls the most famous crossing point, and the East Side Gallery, a 1,316-metre stretch of Wall along the Spree, is covered with murals painted after its fall. The Fernsehturm at Alexanderplatz, 368 metres tall, offers views over the city, and the Tiergarten and Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport, are vast green spaces.
Berlin grew from two medieval merchant towns, Berlin and Cölln, on either side of the Spree; 1237 is considered its founding date. It became the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg, then of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1701 and of the German Empire from 1871, and in the 18th century it flourished as a centre of the Enlightenment.
In the 20th century the city lived through revolution, the Weimar Republic, Nazi rule and devastating war. After 1945 it was divided into sectors, and in 1961 East Germany built the Wall around West Berlin. On 9 November 1989, after weeks of protest, the border was opened, and on 3 October 1990 Germany was reunified with Berlin as its capital. Since then, many historic buildings have been restored or rebuilt, government and embassies have returned, and Berlin has become known for art, music, start-ups and a famously late nightlife.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which opened in October 2020, lies about 18 kilometres south-east of the centre. The S-Bahn lines S9 and S85, regional express trains and buses connect it with the city, and the regional trains reach the Hauptbahnhof in well under an hour. Berlin Hauptbahnhof, opened in 2006, is the main station for long-distance trains to Hamburg, Munich, Prague, Amsterdam and beyond.
Inside the city, the U-Bahn, the S-Bahn, trams, mostly in the former east, and buses form one integrated network, so few places are more than a short walk from a station. Berlin is flat and has many cycle lanes, making a rented bicycle a pleasant way to explore. A car is unnecessary for most visitors: parking is limited in central districts, public transport runs late and night buses fill the small hours.
Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg, borders Berlin to the south-west on the River Havel. Its Sanssouci Park, about 2 kilometres west of the town centre, holds the palaces and gardens of Prussian kings, part of the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin, a World Heritage Site since 1990. The town's old centre, Dutch Quarter and lakes make it an easy full day by S-Bahn or regional train.
The Sachsenhausen National Memorial, about 35 kilometres north of Berlin in Oranienburg, preserves the site of a Nazi concentration camp used from 1936 to 1945 and is a sobering, important visit. Within the city limits, the Havel forms a chain of lakes, among them the Großer Wannsee, and the Müggelsee in the south-east is the largest lake in Berlin, with beaches, forests and boat trips that feel far from the centre. Further afield, Dresden, Leipzig and Hamburg are reachable by fast train for a long day.
Berlin's climate is oceanic with continental influences: summers are warm, with average highs of about 22 to 25°C, and winters are cold, with highs around 3°C and frequent frost. Annual rainfall is modest, but grey days are common from November to March, and the city's buildings keep it a few degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside.
May to September is the most popular period, with long evenings, open-air cinemas, beer gardens, lakes for swimming and festivals. Spring and early autumn are mild and less crowded, and pleasant for cycling. Winter is cold but rich in culture, with museums, concerts and the Christmas markets of late November and December, and February brings the Berlinale film festival. Pack layers for changing weather, and warm clothing, gloves and good shoes in winter, when pavements can be icy.
Berlin protects its housing through a ban on misuse of residential space, the Zweckentfremdungsverbot. Renting a home to tourists generally requires prior approval from the district office, the Bezirksamt, and anyone who advertises a holiday flat must also apply for a registration number and show it in the listing. A main residence can usually be approved if it remains the owner's home; a second home may be let to tourists for no more than 90 days a year. Letting up to 49 per cent of one's own main residence needs no permit, although a registration number is still required to advertise it.
For guests, a lawful listing should show this number, and a city tax is charged on overnight stays. Applications are handled by each district's housing office and the rules are enforced, so owners and visitors should check the current guidance on the Berlin.de service portal.
Mitte is best for first-time sightseeing, Prenzlauer Berg for families, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain for nightlife and a creative mood, Neukölln for a multicultural, informal stay, and Charlottenburg for a calmer, classic West Berlin base. All are well linked by U-Bahn and S-Bahn.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is about 18 kilometres south-east of the centre. S-Bahn lines, regional express trains and buses link it with the city, and regional trains reach the Hauptbahnhof in well under an hour. Taxis are also available.
May to September brings warm weather, long evenings, lakes and outdoor events. Spring and early autumn are mild and quieter. Winter is cold and grey, but museums, concerts and the Christmas markets of late November and December make it a good time for a city break.
Three or four days cover the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Museum Island, the Wall memorials and a few neighbourhoods. With five days to a week you can add Potsdam, the Sachsenhausen memorial, the lakes and more museums at a relaxed pace.
No. The U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses form one network covering the whole city, night buses run after the trains stop, and the flat city is easy to cycle. Parking is limited in central districts. Trains reach Potsdam and Oranienburg.
Yes. Parks such as the Tiergarten and Tempelhofer Feld, the zoo, lakes with beaches, playgrounds and many museums suit children. Families often stay in Prenzlauer Berg or Charlottenburg, where apartments are roomy and streets quieter, with good public transport to the sights.
Generally yes. Under Berlin's ban on misusing housing, letting a home to tourists needs approval from the district office, and every advertisement must show a registration number. Second homes may be let for at most 90 days a year. Check the current rules on the Berlin.de service portal.
Berlin is known for its 20th-century history, the Berlin Wall and its fall in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, its many parks and lakes, a strong arts, music and club scene, and its role as Germany's capital since reunification in 1990.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .