This 3-day Berlin itinerary covers Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, Museum Island, East Side Gallery murals, Charlottenburg Palace, and the Berlin Wall—plus food stops like Curry 36, Saravana Bhavan, and a famous Biergarten. Have an extra day? Add a day trip to Podsmer or see
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Day 1: Historic Berlin – Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz & Museum Island
Potsdamer Platz
We stayed near this bustling square and walked through Potsdamer Platz every day, a buzzing square filled with shops, skyscrapers, and restaurants. It’s hard to believe that this area was once a barren stretch of the Berlin Wall—now it’s one of Berlin’s most modern hubs.
Potsdamer Platz is now the intersection of five major roads, making it one of Europe’s busiest traffic hubs. You can see a portion of the Berlin Wall here. The last original Wall segments at Potsdamer Platz (Stresemannstraße) were demolished in 2008. Now, six sections of the original wall are erected in front of the entrance area of the Potsdamer Platz station.
Brandenburg Gate
No trip to Berlin is complete without seeing the Brandenburg Gate. Once a symbol of division during the Cold War, today it stands for unity and freedom. We loved coming back here at sunset, at night—the lighting here makes it even more impressive.
Reichstag Building
Book tickets in advance to visit the Reichstag’s glass dome. The architecture is stunning, and the views across Berlin are some of the best in the city. We didn’t, and had to see it from outside, but we came back for a show at night that was projected outside. A boat ride on the river is something to do when visiting Berlin, we enjoyed it!
Reichstag Building, Platz der Republik
Book Reichstag dome Berlin tickets here
Holocaust Memorial
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, often called the Jewish Memorial, is a striking site. Walking among the uneven concrete slabs felt both moving and disorienting—an important reminder of history.
Käthe Kollwitz’s “Mother with Her Dead Son”
Another deeply powerful moment was inside the Neue Wache Memorial, where Käthe Kollwitz’s sculpture Mother with her Dead Son sits alone in a bare hall, illuminated by an open skylight. Simple yet overwhelming in its emotional weight.
Museum Island
In the afternoon, we explored Museum Island, home to five world-class museums including the Pergamon and Neues Museum. Even if you don’t go inside, the setting on the Spree River is beautiful.
See a Museum Island Berlin itinerary here
Food for Day 1: Lunch at Curry 36, Berlin’s most famous currywurst stand (don’t miss their vegan currywurst!). For dinner, we were craving Indian food and found comfort at Saravana Bhavan, a favorite for South Indian dosas and thalis.
Day 2: The Berlin Wall, East Side Gallery Murals & Kreuzberg
We started the day with a tour with a local. It was a walking tour that took us through all the important sites of Berlin and helped us get an understanding of the Third Reich, the Nazi era, the Cold War.
Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse preserves a stretch and outdoor exhibits helped us understand what life was like in a divided city.
Checkpoint Charlie
The Americans controlled three border crossings in Berlin. The best known is Checkpoint Charlie, named after the third letter of the International Spelling Alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, …). A last original remnant of the Berlin Wall is located on the corner of Schützenstraße and Friedrichstraße, not far from the Mauermuseum.
At Checkpoint Charlie, the famous Cold War crossing point, I imagined what it must have been like when Berlin was split in two. Our tour with our local guide ended here. The highlight of our trip to Berlin was this walking tour, we learnt so much about the war and Berlin’s role in it
There was a girl at the checkpoint who captured a vintage photo for us here.
East Side Gallery
Later, we walked along the East Side Gallery, where the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall has been transformed into an open-air art gallery. The colorful murals—from political statements to pop culture icons—make it one of the most photographed spots in Berlin.
East Side Gallery Berlin street art
At 1.3 kilometres, the longest remaining section of the Wall was painted by 118 artists from 21 countries, hence the name of the longest open-air gallery in the world. Among other things, you can see Honecker and Brezhnev at the Socialist Brotherly Kiss, a mural by Dimitrji Vrubel.
Evening in Kreuzberg
Dinner in Kreuzberg was a highlight—this neighborhood is buzzing with street food stalls, global cuisine, and vegan-friendly restaurants.
Day 3: Charlottenburg Palace, Tiergarten & Prater Biergarten
Charlottenburg Palace
In West Berlin, we toured Charlottenburg Palace, a baroque masterpiece with lavish rooms and sprawling gardens. You can book a “Charlottenburg Palace Berlin tour” to have an in-depth and enriching experience.
Tiergarten
Afterward, we strolled through Tiergarten, Berlin’s biggest park. Much like Central Park in New York City, it felt like an oasis in the middle of the city.
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
Nearby, the ruins of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church stand as a haunting reminder of WWII destruction. It was heavily damaged during World War II and the ruins are preserved as a memorial. A modern church building was constructed adjacent to the ruins, making it a striking juxtaposition.
Kurfürstendamm
We finished the afternoon shopping along Kurfürstendamm (Ku’damm), Berlin’s answer to Champs-Élysées.
Food for Day 3: For dinner, we headed to Prater Biergarten, Berlin’s oldest beer garden. Sitting under chestnut trees with a stein of beer and a plate of bratwurst (or vegan bratwurst!) was the perfect Berlin experience.
Day 4: Potsdam Day Trip or Hidden Berlin
Potsdam Day Trip
Just 45 minutes from Berlin, Potsdam makes a perfect day trip. I toured the elegant Sanssouci Palace and Gardens, often called the “Prussian Versailles.” This was once the summer home of Frederick the Great, the former King of Prussia. On the grounds is the popular Renaissance Orangery Palace with its Italian-style gardens with fountains. A Potsdam day trip from Berlin is a great way to spend an extra day if your time and itinerary allow.
Dorotheenstadt, Berlin at night
Hidden Berlin
Alternatively, you can explore Prenzlauer Berg, full of hip cafés and boutique shops, and Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport turned public park where locals bike, skate, and picnic.
Wrap your Berlin adventure at Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg, a bustling food hall where you can sample artisanal cheeses, craft beers, and yes—vegan bratwurst.
What to Eat in Berlin
Berlin’s food culture is diverse, mixing German traditions with global influences.
- Currywurst at Curry 36 (also available in vegan)
- Doner Kebab (a Berlin street food staple)
- Bratwurst & Vegan Bratwurst (found at Prater Biergarten and many others)
- Kartoffelsalat (Potato Salad)
- Spaetzle (Spätzle) a type of soft egg noodle or dumpling
- Berliner Pfannkuchen (jam-filled doughnut)
- Apfelstrudel
- Beer – Try Berliner Weisse, a tart wheat beer with flavored syrups.
- Saravana Bhavan – For authentic South Indian comfort food when you need a spice fix.
We saw artworks by Gerhard Richter, an important contemporary artist who designed the Cologne Cathedral stained glass window
FAQs About Visiting Berlin
Is 3 days enough for Berlin?
Yes, 3 days in Berlin is perfect to see the major landmarks, visit museums, explore neighborhoods, and even take a day trip to Potsdam.
What food should I try in Berlin?
Currywurst (and vegan currywurst at Curry 36), doner kebab, bratwurst, Berliner pastries, and Apfelstrudel. Berlin is also one of the most vegan-friendly cities in Europe.
Where’s the best beer garden in Berlin?
Prater Biergarten in Prenzlauer Berg is Berlin’s oldest and most authentic.
Is Berlin good for Indian food?
Yes! When we were craving Indian food, Saravana Bhavan hit the spot with dosas and thalis. Berlin has a surprisingly great Indian food scene.
Vegan currywurst at Curry 36, Berlin,.. worth the lines and wait
Munich vs. Berlin – Which City Should You Choose?
If Munich feels like old-world Germany with its beer halls, Bavarian traditions, and proximity to the Alps, then Berlin is its modern, edgy counterpart—a city layered with history, street art, and multicultural food.
In Munich, evenings are best spent in a cozy beer garden with a plate of weißwurst or vegan bratwurst, while in Berlin you’ll be debating whether to grab currywurst at Curry 36 or end the night under the chestnut trees at Prater Biergarten.
Munich charms with fairytale castles and Bavarian flair; Berlin captivates with its vibrant neighborhoods, murals, and memorials that tell the story of resilience and reinvention.
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