Understanding Berlin at a Glance
Berlin has not one centre but several, born of the city's division: a historic centre in the east (Mitte), a shopping centre in the west (Charlottenburg and the Kurfürstendamm), and lively districts to the south and east (Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain). The S-Bahn draws a ring (the Ringbahn) around the heart of the city; trips between two areas usually take 10 to 30 minutes by U-Bahn, S-Bahn or tram. For fares and fare zones, see our guide to getting around Berlin; to choose where to stay, see where to stay in Berlin.
The overview below describes the areas in the order most visitors cover them.
| Area | Why go | Suggested time | Guides to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitte, around the Brandenburg Gate | Monuments, political history, Unter den Linden | half a day | Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag |
| Museum Island | Major museums, cathedral, Humboldt Forum | a day | Museum Island, Humboldt Forum |
| Alexanderplatz and Nikolaiviertel | TV Tower, oldest quarter | two to three hours | Alexanderplatz, Nikolaiviertel |
| Potsdamer Platz and Kulturforum | Modern architecture, painting museums | half a day | Potsdamer Platz, Topography of Terror |
| Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain | The Wall, street art, nightlife | a day | East Side Gallery, Kreuzberg |
| Charlottenburg and the West | Shopping, palace, zoo | half a day to a day | Charlottenburg Palace, Kurfürstendamm |
| Potsdam and the lakes | Palaces, parks, swimming | a day | Sanssouci Palace, Wannsee |
Area 1: Mitte and the Brandenburg Gate
This is the starting point for most visits. Within a few hundred metres of the Brandenburg Gate you will find the Reichstag, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Tiergarten. The avenue Unter den Linden runs east towards Museum Island. The main railway station is about a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate: see our guide to Berlin Hauptbahnhof.
Area 2: Museum Island and East Mitte
Museum Island groups several major museums on an island in the Spree, a UNESCO World Heritage site; it faces the cathedral and the Humboldt Forum. Allow at least half a day, more if you visit several museums. Nearby, the Hackesche Höfe and the synagogue quarter open onto a livelier Mitte, with cafés, shops and galleries.
Area 3: Alexanderplatz and the Nikolaiviertel
Alexanderplatz is the great crossroads of former East Berlin, dominated by the TV Tower. A few minutes' walk away, the Nikolaiviertel is a small reconstructed quarter built around the oldest church in the city. The area is well served: U2, U5 and U8, several S-Bahn lines and trams. For the panorama, compare with our viewpoints in Berlin.
Area 4: Potsdamer Platz, Kulturforum and Memorials
South of the Tiergarten, Potsdamer Platz concentrates the architecture of the 1990s and 2000s. The neighbouring Kulturforum groups the Philharmonie with several painting and decorative-arts museums: see our Kulturforum guide. From there, the Topography of Terror and Checkpoint Charlie are about a quarter of an hour's walk apart; the Berlin Wall Memorial, a little further north, is best visited separately.
Area 5: Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain
On either side of the Spree, linked by the Oberbaumbrücke, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain are the districts for going out, eating and strolling. The East Side Gallery runs along the Spree for about 1.3 km. For markets, see the Maybachufer Turkish Market and the Markthalle Neun; for the evening, our guide to Berlin at night. The guides to Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain detail each sector.
Area 6: Charlottenburg and the West
In the west, the Kurfürstendamm is the great shopping avenue, with the KaDeWe, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and the zoo. A little further out, Charlottenburg Palace and its park go well with the Charlottenburg guide. The Olympic Stadium, more remote, is reached by U2 or S-Bahn.
Area 7: Potsdam, Lakes and Day Trips
To the south-west, Potsdam (see our guide Potsdam from Berlin), the lakes of Wannsee and the Grunewald forest each take a day. To the east, the Müggelsee is a nature escape in the Treptow-Köpenick district. See also our day trips from Berlin.
Linking the Areas
- In the centre: the U2 links Alexanderplatz, Potsdamer Platz and Zoologischer Garten; the S-Bahn (S5, S7, S75) crosses Mitte from east to west.
- Centre to the west: the S-Bahn (S3, S5, S7, S9) runs from Alexanderplatz to Zoologischer Garten and Charlottenburg.
- Around the city: the S41/S42 ring links Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain or Prenzlauer Berg without passing through the centre.
- Bus 100 passes several major sights between Alexanderplatz and Zoologischer Garten: see our guide to bus 100. You need a valid ticket, as on every line in the city.
For a ready-made route, see our itineraries for Berlin in 3 days and Berlin in one day.
Tips for Reading a Berlin Map
- Neighbourhood names (Kiez) matter more than official districts: look for "Mitte", "Kreuzberg", "Prenzlauer Berg" rather than the official district name.
- U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations are often named after a square (Platz), a street (Straße) or a bridge (Brücke): note the line name and direction (the terminus) rather than the platform number.
- Download the map for offline use before you arrive (see our guide to SIM cards and eSIMs in Berlin).
- Allow some margin: a distance that looks short on the map can mean 25 minutes on foot.
