Anna Geary-Meyer

When you picture a classic Christmas market, it’s likely you’re thinking of Germany. In fact many of our Christmas traditions are actually German (including the Christmas market itself), as well as advent calendars, gingerbread houses and even ol’ Sankt Nikolaus.  Every German city has its own yearly Weihnachtsmarkt, while bigger cities like Berlin have multiple pop up all over the place. But all of them are very special places to be, specialising in food, drink or local bits for gifting. Wherever you’re based this Christmas, here’s the full lowdown on Germany’s festive markets. Ho ho ho! RECOMMENDED:🎄 The best Christmas markets in Europe🎅 The best Christmas markets in the world🍴 The best restaurants in Germany At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

If you’re in Berlin, it’s likely you’re here for at least a bit of a good time. After all, you’re literally in the party capital of Europe, so even if you’re not cut out for the clubs, a bit of partying is mandatory. Luckily, there’s a middle ground before you have to queue eight hours for Berghain (and likely not get in anyway). And that’s one of Berlin’s many, many bars.  From glitzy cocktail bars to grotty dive pubs, Berlin is a hub for the strange, the wonderful and a little bit of the ordinary too. Of course, a whole lot of them are found in Mitte, one of Berlin’s trendiest neighbourhoods, but there’s plenty across Kreuzberg, Neukölln and more. The nightlife here is unmatched, so you’re guaranteed to love these great bars in Berlin.  RECOMMENDED:🪩 The best clubs in Berlin💃 The best nightlife spots in Berlin🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Berlin🏨 The best hotels in Berlin This guide was recently updated by Kate Bettes, a writer based in Berlin. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

While we’ve managed to keep this collection of the best attractions in Berlin to a concise 17, the German capital is a never-ending source of fascination, excitement and entertainment. Berlin is one of the modern world’s most important cities, a place whose reputation routinely sees it top bucket lists and best-ofs alike, as people from all over the world head here to see the famous buildings, explore the incredible museums and overindulge in Europe’s most exciting nightlife. Berlin is a city that does it all and does it in an undeniably unique manner. This is Berlin, and don’t you forget. The restaurant scene is dizzyingly diverse, and shopping here is a white-knuckle experience all in itself. Here to guide you through it all is Berlin local Anna Geary-Meyer. It can be easy to find yourself making plans to move to Berlin, but don’t forget to embrace your inner tourist and experience the classic attractions that this place has to offer. Updated July 2024: When it comes to Berlin hangouts, we can't not mention the park, and this one is in the trendy Prenzlauer Berg district.  RECOMMENDED: 📍 Full guide to the best things to do in Berlin🏡 The best Airbnbs in Berlin🛏 The best hotels in Berlin This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Is there anything Berlin can’t do? The German capital was the city of the twentieth century and has carried that momentum into the twenty-first. What are the best things to do in Berlin? The diversity at the heart of the city makes it a ‘something for everyone’ sort of place, with museums and galleries for the culture vultures next to 72-hour parties for the buzz-chasing, erm, buzzards. Not the best analogy, clearly, but you see the point.If you want it, you’ll find it in Berlin. And that’s how we’ve curated our list the way we have: to show off each element of this fabulous city. In any case, a plan is a must, as this modern metropolis fills every inch of its territory with interest, so follow our guide to the best things to do in Berlin and get planning. You are in for one incredible trip. RECOMMENDED:🪩 The best clubs in Berlin🍴 The best restaurants in Berlin🏡 The best Airbnbs in Berlin🛏 The best hotels in Berlin📍 How to spend a weekend in Berlin. This guide was recently updated by Berlin-based writer Kate Bettes. Original photos by Berlin-based photographer Astra Pentaxia. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Somehow, when it comes to accommodations, Berlin remains one of the most affordable European cities, with the average room price just over one hundred euro per night. Especially with advance booking, it’s possible to score a perfectly lovely and well-located hotel room below this average. While hugely popular nowadays, apartment sharing isn’t as cheap as it once was, and you could find yourself negotiating recycling laws with the neighbors in broken German. You might want to skip the party hostels, too—there’s plenty of that in places where you aren’t trying to sleep—and opt to recharge your batteries after a day of graffiti-gazing in a cheerful room of your very own at the very best cheap hotels in Berlin. What to do with all that extra cash? Plenty: eat traditional German foods at the best restaurants town, meet the locals at neighbourhood bars, tour the city’s top attractions properly and more. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.  

Between the museums, galleries and attractions, you’re never short of a culture fix in Berlin. Its museums are for your first-time visit, to tick off the city’s fascinating history. But if you want to get a feel for the art and exhibitions produced by locals for locals, you’re in the right place.  What makes the art in Berlin so magical is the sheer diversity of what’s on offer. Berlin has it all, all the way from the grimy experimental stuff to the high-end fine art stuff. This is where new ideas are born – you just have to know the right places to look. If you’re even a tiny bit into your art, you’re going to love it here. Trust us. Here’s our guide to the best art museums and galleries in Berlin.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Berlin🪩 The best clubs in Berlin🍴 The best restaurants in Berlin🏡 The best Airbnbs in Berlin Anna Geary-Meyer is a writer based in Berlin. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

If you thought Berlin was only for German food, prepare to be amazed. Berlin has become as well known for its Italian, Japanese and Turkish joints as it is for those side-of-the-road sausages. It even holds the title of the city that created Döner kebabs.  The food scene here is second-to-none, and it’s only getting better. Our local writers have tried everything from the spots with two Michelin stars to the best currywurst in the city, to bring you this delicious list. Here are the best restaurants in Berlin right now.  RECOMMENDED:🥑 The best brunch in Berlin🍷 The best bars in Berlin📍 The best things to do in Berlin🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Berlin This guide was recently updated by Berlin-based writer Kate Bettes. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

This city sure knows how to have fun – and the very best annual events in Berlin reflect that. From kitsch carnivals to international film celebrations, there’s always something big, bright and brash going on in this madcap town. While it’s true the German capital has typically forgone high-profile happenings for more DIY efforts, in recent years Berlin has warmed to the idea of international recognition. Contemporary art festivals like Transmediale and Berlin Art Week now draw appreciative crowds from Europe and beyond. And ever heard of the Berlinale? If drinking in the sunshine among over-excited crowds isn’t your bag, you may well want to avoid the city between May and August, when there seems to be some kind of street festival every weekend. But if it is? Then alongside the endless succession of excellent bars, restaurants and attractions, this city’s going to spoil you. So go ahead and coincide your trip with one of these brilliant events… then come straight back for the next.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Berlin

Cuando visites Berlín en los meses de verano, es fácil pasar todo el tiempo en la calle, ya sea haciendo un pícnic en alguno de los numerosos parques de la ciudad, descansando junto a los lagos de los alrededores o tomando una cerveza fría. Pero eso no significa que el invierno sea un mal momento para visitar la ciudad. De hecho, te sentirás mucho más atraído por el rico paisaje cultural de Berlín, desde los pilares de la Isla de los Museos hasta la Berlinale, sin olvidar los mercados locales y los museos. Y si está oscuro la mitad del día de todos modos, no hay nada de malo en quedarse en Berghain, el mejor club de la ciudad, hasta el día siguiente. ¿Tal vez reservar dos viajes? Es posible que lo necesites una vez que hayas leído nuestra lista de las mejores cosas que hacer en Berlín. ¿Has hecho algo en esta lista y te ha encantado? Compártelo con el hashtag #TimeOutDoList y etiqueta @TimeOutEverywhere. También, descubre cómo selecciona Time Out las mejores cosas para hacer en todo el mundo.

What’s the vibe? Local Kreuzberg lad done extremely well, Tim Raue is a bit of a legend round these parts; his flagship has found itself on the World’s 50 Best once again, and he’s retained his two Michelin stars. His main restaurant is sleek and decorated with delicate Chinese pottery and dark wood furniture, sitting just 30.  While many of Berlin’s fine dining establishments follow the traditional French service dictum, here they pride themselves on informality, the front of house staff sporting jeans and trainers (the kitchen even has a TV mounted in the corner for football fans in the kitchen). None of this detracts from the exacting dishes.   What are the prices like? The two six-course tasting menus come in at €292, the vegan at €248. It’s a splurge, for sure, but the food here showcases Raue’s fusion style: far east meets west on the former borderland of Berlin.  What should I order? The tasting menu with wine pairings, of course. Just close your eyes when the bill comes. Think wagyu beef goulash, sprat and caviar, chicken fricassée with black truffle. There are signature specials too which can be incorporated into either tasting menu, like the Wasabi Langoustine and the Duck ‘Marie-Anne’.  This guide was fact-checked and updated in 2024.  📍 Discover the best things to do in Berlin