Berlin Travel Guide

Hotel de Rome

Address: Behrenstraße 37, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 4606090
Website

Located on Bebelplatz in historic East Berlin, Hotel de Rome occupies what was once the headquarters of 19th-century Dresden Bank. Brilliantly, this prestigious Rocco Forte property preserved many of the building's most spectacular original features—most interestingly the jewel vault that's now an indoor swimming pool. While sleek furnishings and colorful accents add modern flair to the mix.

Orania.Berlin

Address: Oranienstraße 40, 10999 Berlin, Germany

Phone: +49 30 69539680

Website: orania.berlin

An upscale addition to the edgier side of Kreuzberg, Oriana.Berlin is a boutique stay with an elevated yet totally laid-back sensibility. It's impossible to pinpoint the singular thing that makes this hotel so stellar, however, the subtle Asian influences—headboards swathed in elephant-printed fabric and signature crispy-skinned duck at the restaurant—as well as jazz in the open-concept lobby, definitely play a part.

Hotel am Steinplatz, Autograph Collection

Address: Steinpl. 4, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 5544440
Website

The same air of glamour and sophistication that lured the likes of Brigitte Bardo to Hotel am Steinplatz remains today. Sure, the decor is different—not that anyone would complain about the gorgeously refreshed interiors (or the upgraded amenities for that matter)—but the distinctive Art Nouveau details endure. Plus, it's within walking distance of Tiergarten, Potsdamer Platz and the Berlin Zoo.

SO/ Berlin Das Stue

Address: Drakestraße 1, 10787 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 3117220
Website

Upon arrival, SO/ Berlin Das Stue looks incredibly posh. The 1930s neoclassical edifice, built by KaDeWe architect Johann Emil Schaudt, certainly gives off a regal first impression. Inside the former Royal Danish Embassy, it's just as resplendent with an eye-catching white marble staircase and dazzling, larger-than-life chandelier. Direct access to the Berlin Zoo is a bonus.

25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin

Address: Budapester Str. 40, 10787 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 1202210
Website

Hip, youthful, off-beat, and affordable—25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin serves up major cool factor. It's the type of place you'd go to hang out even if you weren't a guest. Of course, staying at this urban oasis does come with a bunch of perks such as enjoying the jungle-themed rooms and skipping the line for the rooftop cocktail bar.

Hotel Adlon Kempinski

Address: Unter den Linden 77, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 22610
Website

Boasting (arguably) the most desirable addresses in Berlin, Hotel Adlon Kempinski sits directly across the way from Brandenburg Gate. Enviable location aside, this five-star property is a revered landmark for so many other reasons. From the opulent lobby and spacious suites to the Michelin-starred restaurant, grandeur and elegance are the very heart of everything.

Best Restaurants

Hackethals (German)

Address: Pflugstrasse 11, 10115 Berlin Germany
Phone: +49 30 28387765
Website

When in Berlin, you must try traditional German food. Hackethals is a cozy gastropub that does classics right. Order the sauerkraut, potato dumplings, schnitzel, and slow-cooked venison. Be sure to leave room for apple strudel. To wash it down? Beer, of course.

Restaurant Tim Raue (Fine Dining)

Address: Rudi-Dutschke-Straße 26, 10969 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 25937930
Website

Berlin-born chef Tim Raue needs no introduction. Neither does the elevated Asian-inspired menu at his Michelin-rated restaurant, which continually receives rave reviews from critics and diners alike. Needless to say, reservations are required.

Curry 61 (German)

Address: Oranienburger Str. 6, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 40054033
Website

Currywurst (pork sausage smothered in curried ketchup and served alongside fries) is an extremely popular street food in Berlin. You can sample it all over the city, but Curry 61 makes one of the best versions of this crowd-pleasing dish. Try it and thank us later.

Eins44 (Modern European)

Address: Elbestraße 28/29, 12045 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 62981212
Website

Sublime isn't a word that we toss around a lot. However, it's the most accurate way to describe the entire experience at Eins44. Enter the industrial-inspired eatery, inside an old distillery, and prepare to have your taste buds tickled by an unfussy interpretation of modern European fine dining.

Panama (German)

Address: Potsdamer Straße 91, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 983208435
Website

Oftentimes, you have to choose between Michelin-starred fare and a fun vibe. That couldn't be less true of Panama. The modern German cuisine, lively two-floor space and service are fantastic. Did we mention the craft cocktails and interesting wine list?

Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap (Turkish)

Address: Mehringdamm 32, 10961 Berlin, Germany
Website

Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap in Kreuzberg is one of those places that's just universally adored. The only downside? Depending on when you visit, the queue might stretch an entire city block. We promise it's worth waiting just to dig into a juicy döner kebab.

Things to Do

East Side Gallery

Address: Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 2517159
Website

What was once a symbol of division now reflects the spirit and resilience of the city. Perched along the banks of Spree River in Friedrichshain, the 4,318-foot-long East Side Gallery showcases a collection of colorful murals painted on the surviving pieces of the Berlin Wall. It's a beautiful metaphor that's so very Berlin.

Reichstag Building

Address: Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 22732152
Website

Like so much of Berlin, the Reichstag Building has lived many lives. Today, it again houses the German parliament. Admire the neo-Baroque edifice from the outside or book in advance to step inside the Sir Norman Foster-designed glass dome.

Brandenburg Gate

Address: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Website

One block south of the Reichstag Building stands Brandenburg Gate. Widely considered to be Berlin's most iconic landmark, it's a shining symbol of freedom and reunification after four decades of Cold War division.

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Address: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 2639430
Website

Designed by architect Peter Eisenman and engineer Buro Happold, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe honors the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. It's a heartbreaking and incredibly important reminder of what happened that should be mandatory to visit.

Tempelhofer Feld

Address: Tempelhofer Damm, 12101 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 700906710
Website

An abandoned airport turned 355-hectare public park, Tempelhofer Feld delivers that telltale mashup of past and present in the most Berlin way possible. You can stroll, cycle, or skate down the concrete runways where WWII dive-bombers took off, while feet away dogs run after frisbees and bikini-clad Berliners sunbathe.

Berghain

Address: Am Wriezener Bahnhof, 10243 Berlin, Germany
Website

Berliners love to party. As such, there are a lot of after-dark venues to do just that. But none compare to Berghain. The world's most infamous club invites revelers to leave their inhibitions behind, dance to techno beats and give in to every debaucherous whim.

Museum Island

Address: Bodestraße 1-3 10178 Berlin, Germany
Website

On a small island in the Spree River sits a collection of five prominent museums. This UNESCO-listed, architecturally striking complex is known as Museum Island—and it's a must for any culture lover.

Best Shopping

Kaufhaus des Westens

Address: Tauentzienstraße 21-24, 10789 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 21210
Website

At a sprawling 650,000 square feet and with some 380,000 items for sale at any given time, Kaufhaus des Westens—typically abbreviated to KaDeWe—holds the title of Berlin's most famous retail space. It's actually the second-largest department store in all of Europe after Harrods in London.

Sing Blackbird

Address: Sanderstraße 11, 12047 Berlin, Germany
Website

Berlin isn't lacking in vintage stores. Sing Blackbird sets itself apart thanks to an expertly curated selection of pre-loved pieces, plus a stylish café.

Kurfürstendamm

Address: Kurfürstendamm 10707 Berlin, Germany
Website

Often compared to the Champs-Élysées in Paris, Kurfürstendamm in Charlottenburg is lined with high-end designers like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. If you don't have that kind of cash, it's also a great place for window shopping.

The Amazing Crocodile Design Store

Address: Raumerstraße 23, 10437 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 40006930
Website

Fancy an upside-down geometric pendant lamp or neon pink floor mirror? You'll find both at The Amazing Crocodile Design Store, the buzziest spot to buy quirky, refined, and oh-so-chic homewares in Berlin.

Voo Store

Address: Oranienstraße 24, 10999 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 61651119
Website

A progressive, forward-thinking undercurrent has permeated its way into the Berlin aesthetic of late. Insert Voo Store, a contemporary concept shop meets specialty coffee roaster that's tucked away on the ground floor of a former locksmith in Kreuzberg.

Antique Jewellery Berlin

Address: Linienstraße 44, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 20689155
Website

Antique Jewellery Berlin offers a vast array of vintage baubles. Whether you're in the market for a signet ring or enamel earrings, we'd be willing to bet it's sitting in the case at this beloved retailer.