Germany Travel, and in particular Berlin, is different than other European travel to me. The cities history made me a little nervous prior to visiting. What is Berlin like to visit? Why go to Berlin when there all these other incredible European cities? We found out shortly that a weekend in Berlin, or anytime in Berlin, is worth it.
Not only did we visit Berlin on this trip, but we made stops in London, Paris, Barcelona, and Amsterdam. All of these cities are awesome. I can’t wait to go back to Barcelona and Amsterdam! For even more on Berlin, check out my vlog below.
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Best Credit Cards to Use in Berlin
As you might expect, the capital of Germany has plenty of sites to see. What you might not realize is that Berlin has a food scene worth talking about. With that said, consider bringing cards with high earn rates at restaurants like the Amex Gold Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Citi Premier Card.
The AmEx Gold earns 4x points at restaurants, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points at restaurants and on travel, and the Citi Premier earns 3x points at restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and on airfare and hotels.
How to Fly to Berlin
Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) is the main international airport serving Berlin. Another option is to fly into Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). United Airlines flies nonstop between Newark both Berlin Tegel and Berlin Brandenburg airports.
One-stop options from the US include Aer Lingus, Air France, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Scandinavian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and TAP Air Portugal to both Berlin Brandenburg and Berlin Tegel airports. Austrian Airlines and Finnair offer one-stop options from the US to Berlin Tegel Airport.
Where to Stay When During Your Berlin Germany Travel
Ashlee and I stayed at the Westin Grand Berlin in the Mitte neighborhood. I can’t recommend this hotel enough. I’ll have a future post on the Top 5 Best Berlin Hotels to Book With Points so be on the lookout. In the meantime, check out Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott to see your options.
Airbnb and Google Hotels are non-points options to consider. I can’t speak to the Airbnb scene but have had positive Airbnb experiences in London, Paris, Barcelona, and Amsterdam.
Where to Eat and Drink During Your Berlin Germany Travel
Digital Eatery and The Visit Coffee are two places we loved and started each day at. Nante-Eck and Hofbraü Berlin were places we snagged a quintessential hearty German lunch. No salads here! For dinner, BraufactuM am Hausvogteiplatz has an open fire in the restaurant and outdoor seating. Weingalerie und Cafe No is a restaurant I still think about. Order the three-course meal and a slice of German chocolate cake.
Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, CODA Dessert Dining & Bar, Tim Raue, Rutz, Horváth, and Facil are on my list to check out next time.
Things to Do on Your Berlin Germany Travel
An upside of Berlin, compared to other major European cities, is the lack of tourists. Or at least that was the case when we visited. Start your day at Brandenburg Gate and then walk over to the Reichstag Building (German Parliament). Next up is Gendarmenmarkt, a beautiful public square. See Checkpoint Charlie (famous Berlin Wall crossing point between the East Side and West Germany) and then take the train to the East Side Gallery (the longest continuous section of the Berlin Wall still in existence). Ride the train back from the East Side Gallery to Alexanderplatz (public square) and close your day at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
Common Berlin Germany Travel Questions
What to do in Berlin in 3 days?
You can easily break up seeing the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Building, Gendarmenmarkt, Checkpoint Charlie, East Side Gallery, Alexanderplatz, and Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe over 3 days.
What to know before traveling to Berlin?
Use the train to save money, purchase this converter + adapter set, and be an alert traveler. Berlin is safe but do your best to pay attention.
How much money should I bring to Berlin?
The current EUR to USD exchange rate is 1:1.18 so you can expect to spend what you would spend visiting a major US city. Larger US cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles may be more expensive than Berlin.
Conclusion on this Berlin Germany Travel Guide
Personally, Berlin is not a city I hear a ton about. When you compare Berlin to cities like London and Paris, it doesn’t get a ton of love. And that’s great news for you! It means that you are not likely going to be battling tourists for restaurants and site seeing.
What do you think of this Berlin Germany travel review? What Berlin sites do you recommend visiting? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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