Spending 48 hours in Berlin

A city that needs no introduction, Berlin is renowned the world over for its troubled history and bubbling culture. It’s a bucket list spot for any budding traveller, myself included.

As pandemic restrictions eased across Europe, I found myself boarding a flight to Germany’s capital city. International flights land at Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport . Well-connected via public transport, hop down to the airport train station where a trip in to the centre of the city takes around 30 minutes and only costs €3.70 – make sure to validate your ticket before you board.

Because we arrived late in the evening, we headed straight to our accommodation (about:Berlin), grabbed a bite to eat and headed to bed.

Day one in Berlin

Things to do

Before you set about exploring the city, I’d recommend buying a Berlin AB ticket. These tickets are transport passes and be bought for 24, 48 and 72 hours. We opted for the 72 hour tickets (we had a little bit of time on our third day before we went to the airport), which set us back €33. It gave us unlimited travel through the city, so really it was a bargain.

The Berlin metro operates on an honour system. Make sure to stamp your pass before you board your first tram or tube, and you’re good to go!

Jump on an S-bahn to Potsdamer Platz, take a short walk up to the Holocaust Memorial (also known as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe). It’s a maze of concrete slabs that increase in height the closer you come to the centre. An intimidating and impressive piece of architecture, it’s an everlasting symbol of those who lost their lives.

Once you’ve paid your respects at the Holocaust memorial, talk over to the Brandenburg Gate. We arrived at the city’s landmark before everyone else had risen. Early morning is the perfect time to visit Germany’s iconic landmark. A symbol of Germany’s division during the Cold War – it’s a reminder of peace and unity. Once you’ve ogled at the neoclassical monument, walk over to the Reichstag Building.

The Reichstag houses the Bundestag (the lower house of Germany’s parliament). You’ll need to register to visit the dome. Don’t make our mistake and leave your registration too late. It’s free to visit, so places often fill up very quickly. We missed out on getting a place for our trip, but it gives us another reason to return to the city.

Grab a bite

If you’re feeling peckish from all this walking, grab a coffee and a cake at one of the many coffee shops dotted across the city. We grabbed something to eat from Einstein Coffee – a coffee shop chain in Germany.

If lunch time has rolled around, go and get yourself a currywurst. I’d recommend, going to Curry 61. While there might be a little queue, it moves quickly. I had the vegan currywurst with chips. Not only was it delicious, but also what we needed after a morning of walking.

Museum Island

Berlin is home to 150 museums, which means I was spoilt for choice but I knew I needed to see museum island. Museum Island is a museum complex on the northern part of Spree Island in the historic heart of Berlin. Finished in 1930, five architects designed these impressive structures.

Before we stepped onto the island, we bought ourselves a Berlin Museum Pass. At €29, the pass gives holders entry into 30 museums. If you’re thinking about touring around several museums, it’s definitely worth purchasing. Make sure you book your visits in advance too. For the Neues and Pergamon, slots fill up quickly.

On the island, we dove into the Neues museum because of its objects and artefacts from the Egyptian Museum, including the bust of Nefertiti. The museum has a one way system but because slots are booked, there’s a good flow of visitors. Because of the one way system, I couldn’t dart straight to the bust of Nefertiti. However, this meant that I saw more objects including the Berlin Gold Hat. If you’re taking your time and reading through the captions, you can expect to spend a couple of hours here.

The second museum we toured on Museum Island was the Pergamon Museum. I booked a slot here for one reason, to see the gates of Babylon. Pieces of the gate were discovered by the archaeologist Robert Koldewey when he began excavating Babylon in 1889. The finds from the dig were used to construct the Ishtar Gate that is now housed in the Pergamon. One of the original seven wonders of the world, the Gates of Babylon were one of my Berlin wonders.

Day two in Berlin

Things to do

There’s so much to see in Berlin, we already know that two days aren’t enough. On my second day in Berlin, I wanted to explore more of the city’s history. The first stop on my list was Checkpoint Charlie. The former border crossing became a key setting for several spy novel and has now become a tourist attraction. While the area is crawling with tourists, it’s worth visiting as a reminder of the dividing line that once ran through the city.

Around the corner from Checkpoint Charlie sits the Topography of Terror . Built on the site where principal instruments of Nazi persecution once stood, the museum is a place of remembrance. Head inside to learn more about the Nazi’s rise to power including the Gestapo and the security service of the SS. Free to visitors, take your time to learn about this important moment in history. Personally, I found the photos of everyday acts of resistance the most powerful and moving. The exhibition continues outside. While this area is a little busier than the inside, wander along the outdoor exhibition.

Grab a bite

From here, take the metro to the East Side Gallery. Along the banks of the Spree sits the longest continuous section of the Berlin Wall in existence. After the wall came down, artists began painting the gallery and the open-air exhibition immediately opened. Walk along both sides of the wall to rediscover the art and history of the Berlin Wall.

The banks of the Spree is also the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat. While the bank is littered with bars and restaurants, nip into a supermarket and grab your own refreshments. We sat here for hours on a warm sunny day just soaking in the atmosphere with our Berliners.

Things to do in Berlin

Another free museum and another dive into the history of the Berlin Wall, head to the Dokumentationszentrum Berliner Mauer. A documentation centre dedicated to the history of the Berlin Wall, I found the testimonies from activists and protestors truly compelling. But the best part of the centre is the lookout point. The top of the tower gives visitors views to the park opposite where fragments of the Berlin Wall remain.

And there you have it, that’s how I spent 48 hours in Berlin and there were plenty more beers than I mentioned. Even though our time in Berlin was busy, we didn’t get to see everything on our list but that’s OK. Berlin has captured a piece of my travelling puzzle, and I know I’ll be heading there again soon.

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