What to see in Berlin in 3 days: detailed itinerary to discover the soul of the German capital

Walking the streets of Berlin is like walking through the pages of an open book on the history of the twentieth century. Every building, every square, every wall tells fragments of a tormented past and a continuous rebirth. Berlin does not limit itself to showing itself: it involves you, challenges you, questions you. It is a city that is experienced with the mind and with the heart. From the dark memory of the Wall and its Checkpoints to the solemn silence of the Holocaust Memorial, Berlin preserves wounds that are still visible , transformed into places of reflection. But there is also the history of liberation, of the fall, of reconstruction. In the graffiti of the East Side Gallery , in the stumbling stones set in the sidewalks, in the contrast between imperial architecture and modern constructions, stories of pain and hope are intertwined. With over 170 museums , one of the most dynamic art scenes in the world, and a legendary nightlife, Berlin is a crossroads of ideas, styles and languages. Thinking about what to see in Berlin in 3 days, it's easy to think that time is enough to grasp its soul, exploring its history, its museums, its most creative neighborhoods.

Day 1 – Historic Berlin Stage 1: Brandenburg Gate

Imposing, solemn, steeped in history: the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) is not only one of Berlin's most famous monuments, but a true symbol of Europe. Built between 1788 and 1791 to a design by architect Carl Gotthard Langhans , it was inspired by the Propylaea of ​​the Acropolis in Athens, reflecting the neoclassical style typical of the time. With its twelve Doric columns and the famous Quadriga — a bronze sculpture depicting the goddess of Victory driving a chariot pulled by four horses — the gate was meant to celebrate peace, as its original name suggests: Friedentor , the Gate of Peace.

But its fate would have been very different: crossed by history, silent witness to eras of glory, wars and divisions, the Brandenburg Gate has taken on profoundly different meanings over time. During Napoleon's rule, it was the French general himself who took the Quadriga away to Paris, as spoils of war. Only years later, with Napoleon's defeat, was the statue returned and became an emblem of Prussian nationalism . In the twentieth century, the gate took on an even more central role: during the Nazi regime it was used as a backdrop for power parades, while after the Second World War it found itself isolated in a destroyed Berlin, on the border between the East and West sectors. With the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the Gate was incorporated into the so-called "death strip": symbolically present but physically unreachable, it became the very image of separation.

It was only on November 9, 1989, with the fall of the Wall, that the Brandenburg Gate truly opened again, transforming itself from a symbol of division to an icon of German reunification. On December 22 of the same year, thousands of people gathered there to cross it again, embracing a new era of hope, dialogue and freedom. Today, the Gate stands at the end of the Unter den Linden avenue , framed by the greenery of the Tiergarten and overlooking Pariser Platz , surrounded by embassies, historic hotels and institutions. It is a daily destination for tourists, but also a meeting point for demonstrations, concerts and official celebrations.

Stop 2: The Bud Spencer Museum

Among the most unusual surprises in Berlin, a small museum stands out, dedicated to a figure beloved by entire generations of Europeans: Bud Spencer, born Carlo Pedersoli . Located in the Charlottenburg district, the Bud Spencer Museum is an affectionate and ironic exhibition that traces the life and career of the actor, swimming champion, pilot, inventor and legend of spaghetti-western cinema together with his on-screen partner Terence Hill . Through props, original posters, interviews, memorabilia and period films, the museum tells the story not only of the artist, but also of the man: the athlete, the singer, the entrepreneur. The exhibition is designed for fans, but also for the curious, with a playful and accessible tone. There is no shortage of interactive stations, replicas of the sets , and — of course — a section dedicated to the iconic slow-motion brawls, now a popular cultural heritage.

Stop 3: Reichstag and the glass dome

Continuing northwest from the Brandenburg Gate, in a few minutes you reach one of the most significant sites of contemporary Berlin: the Reichstag, seat of the Bundestag, the German Federal Parliament . But this building is much more than an institutional seat: it is a crossroads of German history, a living monument at the heart of modern democracy. Built between 1884 and 1894 to a design by Paul Wallot , the Reichstag was intended to represent the power of the German Empire unified under Bismarck. The original building, with its classical dome and imposing neo-Renaissance facades, reflected the grandeur of the era. But the building's fate was troubled from the start. In 1933, a mysterious fire destroyed much of its interior. After the Second World War, the Reichstag lay in ruins, abandoned near the border between East and West Berlin, symbolically inactive for decades.

Only with German reunification in 1990 did the building return to the center of national political life. During the day, natural light enters the plenary hall thanks to a mirrored central cone that distributes the lighting; at night, the building shines from within, a beacon in the heart of Berlin . The dome is open to visitors every day and admission is free, but advance reservations online are required, both for logistical and security reasons. From the top of the dome, you can enjoy an extraordinary 360-degree panorama of the capital: you can see the Tiergarten, the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, the television tower at Alexanderplatz and, on clear days, even the suburbs of the city.

Stage 4: Holocaust Memorial

South of the Brandenburg Gate, a field of over two thousand gray concrete blocks extends. It is the Holocaust Memorial , one of the most moving works of art in the contemporary world. Walking among the steles, which vary in height and depth, one experiences a growing sense of confusion and reflection. Inaugurated in 2005, the memorial was designed by the American architect Peter Eisenman , with the collaboration of the artist Richard Serra . The declared intent was not to "explain" the Holocaust, but to create a physical space capable of generating emotions, doubts, silences. No explanatory plaques, no captions on the steles: the meaning emerges from the path itself, personal and intimate, that each visitor makes crossing the site. Under the field of steles is the Documentation Center , accessible free of charge. Here, through photographs, testimonies, diaries, letters and historical reconstructions, it is possible to delve deeper into the tragedy of the Holocaust, with a particular emphasis on individual stories.

Stage 5: Checkpoint Charlie

This was the most famous crossing point between East and West Berlin . Today a reconstruction along Friedrichstraße marks its location, accompanied by a museum that collects testimonies, photographs and original objects used to escape from the GDR. The exhibition is rich and well documented, and tells the daily drama of a divided city. The name "Charlie" comes from the NATO phonetic alphabet : Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, or the third checkpoint established by the Americans. Its image - a small white shack with the writing " You are leaving the American sector " - has become a global icon, immortalized in films, novels and reports. Today, the visible structure is a symbolic reconstruction, faithful to the original, flanked by two large photographic panels showing an American and a Soviet soldier, symbolizing the tension of those years.

Stage 6: Evening at Gendarmenmarkt

To end the day, Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most elegant squares in the capital in the Mitte district. Dominated by the Konzerthaus and the twin cathedrals, it offers a refined atmosphere. Here you can also find some excellent restaurants where you can dine in peace, immersed in the neoclassical architecture. Its harmonious geometry is dominated by three majestic buildings that face each other in perfect balance: in the center, the Konzerthaus, the symphony opera house, and on the sides, the two twin cathedrals, the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) and the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral).

Stop 7 – The Rausch Schokoladenhaus chocolate shop

In the elegant heart of Mitte, just a stone's throw from Gendarmenmarkt, lies a place that enchants the senses: the Rausch Schokoladenhaus, considered the world's largest chocolate shop dedicated to high-quality artisanal chocolate. Founded in 1918, it is today a true institution for those who love the taste and aesthetics of chocolate. The interior of the shop is a spectacle in itself: next to the refined pralines, filled chocolates and single-origin bars from all over the world, there are enormous chocolate sculptures, faithful and incredible reproductions of iconic monuments such as the Brandenburg Gate, the TV Tower or the Berlin Cathedral, all sculpted with meticulous precision and, of course, entirely edible. Upstairs, the gourmet chocolate shop offers refined sweets and chocolate drinks served in an elegant setting overlooking the square.

Day 2 – Art and culture on Museum Island Stage 1: Museum Island

Museum Island is one of the most important museum complexes in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its five museums house extraordinary collections and should almost be included in a plan of what to see in Berlin in 3 days. The Pergamonmuseum houses the Ishtar Gate and the Pergamon Altar, while the Neues Museum exhibits the famous bust of Nefertiti. The other museums – Bode, Altes and Alte Nationalgalerie – are also worth a visit for those with more time available.

Stage 2: Berliner Dom

A few steps from the Museumsinsel stands the Berliner Dom, the largest Protestant cathedral in Germany. With its copper-green dome visible from much of the historic center, it dominates the urban landscape like a spiritual and architectural beacon. The building, rebuilt after the Second World War, is a hybrid between Baroque and Renaissance, with rich decorations and a monumentality that evokes the splendor of imperial Berlin. The sumptuous and luminous interior welcomes visitors with its majestic Sauer organ, among the largest in Europe, and with a nave adorned with mosaics, stucco and gilding. But one of the most evocative places is the Hohenzollerngruft, the royal crypt that houses over 90 tombs of members of the Hohenzollern family, custodians of an important part of German history.

Stage 3: Walk on Unter den Linden

The large tree-lined boulevard of Unter den Linden connects the Brandenburg Gate to Museum Island. Walking along its axis you will encounter some of the most important buildings in the city, such as the Humboldt University, the State Opera, the Royal Library, the Neue Wache and the reconstructedBerlin Palace, now home to the Humboldt Forum. Along the way you will encounter historic buildings, bookshops, galleries, universities and some historic cafés. It is ideal for a relaxing break after an intense morning among works of art.

Stage 4: Evening in Kreuzberg

Kreuzberg represents the alternative soul of Berlin. It is the district of multiculturalism, street art, experimental music and ethnic restaurants. This is where you can discover the younger and more rebellious Berlin. For dinner you can choose between Turkish, vegan, Asian or contemporary German cuisine. After dinner, numerous venues along the Landwehrkanal offer live music and a lively atmosphere.

Day 3 – Alternative Berlin Stop 1: East Side Gallery

This stretch of the Berlin Wall , over a kilometre long, was transformed into an open-air art gallery immediately after reunification. The murals tell of dreams, memories, claims, freedom. The most famous work is the “ brotherly kiss” between Brezhnev and Honecker , a symbol of the end of an era. This is the longest stretch of the original Wall still in existence, a full 1.3 kilometres that run along Mühlenstraße, in the Friedrichshain district, on the banks of the Spree. Near the gallery is also the Oberbaumbrücke , one of the most fascinating bridges in Berlin, which connects Friedrichshain to Kreuzberg. The contrast between the Gothic solidity of the bridge and the creative explosion of the Wall makes this corner of the city particularly evocative, especially at sunset, when the lights are reflected on the Spree.

Stage 2: RAW-Gelände

Just a few minutes from the East Side Gallery, the former RAW-Gelände train depot has been converted into a creative space. Here, art studios, vintage markets, underground bars, climbing walls and clubs coexist. During the day, it is quiet, perfect for exploring urban art. In the evening, it becomes a hub of Berlin nightlife. Among converted warehouses and courtyards full of street art, you can find artists' studios, indoor climbing centers, skate parks, temporary exhibition spaces, punk bars, ethnic restaurants and even vintage markets. Some graffiti are true works of urban art, transforming abandoned walls into giant canvases, constantly changed by the interventions of local and international artists.

Stage 3: Tempelhofer Feld

Tempelhof is a former disused airport , now transformed into a public park. During the Berlin Blockade (1948-49), it was the scene of the famous airlift, thanks to which the Allied forces kept West Berlin alive. Even today you can see the hangars, the control towers, the rationalist-style terminals, all immersed in an almost unreal silence. It is possible to walk or cycle on the old landing strips, surrounded by lawns, urban gardens and families having picnics. It is one of the symbolic places of Berlin's urban reconversion, in which public space returns to the citizens.

Stage 4: Prenzlauer Berg

To round off the journey, the Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood offers a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. Once a working-class area of ​​East Berlin, it is now one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city. After the fall of the Wall, the neighborhood's 19th-century buildings were carefully restored, maintaining their original charm, while new generations of artists, families and entrepreneurs have created a unique mix of bohemian elegance and contemporary sensibility. Strolling along the tree-lined streets of Kastanienallee or around Kollwitzplatz, among independent bookstores, design boutiques, art galleries and light-filled cafes, means immersing yourself in a relaxed and cosmopolitan atmosphere, where time seems to slow down. The neighborhood is also known for its organic markets, local restaurants and endless weekend brunches, a true local institution.