Popular Attractions: Berlin Walking Tour

Introduction

Berlin is one of the best cities in the world for sightseeing. Popular sites such as the Brandenburger Gate, Berliner TV Tower, the Reichstag building, and more are some of Germany’s most visited places. As Berlin is full of things to discover, it is nearly impossible to do everything during one trip. This article is a Berlin walking tour through some of the city’s most popular attractions!

Table of Contents

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Introduction
Berlin Walking Tour
Conclusion
More from Germany…

How to use this guide sightseeing guide

This guide is meant for a half or full-day excursion, depending on how fast you walk and the amount of time you plan on spending at each site. Each section gives a brief history of the site, other resources to learn more, and my personal experience.

As you will see, Berlin is full of bike tours, segway tours, and walking tours with guides that pack the streets of Alexanderplatz. These tours can easily take up most of your travel budget to the German capital. This article is intended for those like me, who do not want to spend money on a walking tour, but are eager to learn about the destination.

For a more immersive experience, I recommend checking out Rick Steve’s Audio Guide through Berlin. He dives heavily into the history that has shaped the culture of Berlin. The guide is free and explains popular destinations like the Reichstag, the old Berlin Wall, and even Hitler’s former bunker.

Reichstag Dome Berlin — Inside of the Reichstag dome

Length of this walking tour

The total walking distance for the tour will take about an hour and a half. Considering there are plenty of places to shop, museums to explore, and food to eat along the way, this tour could easily take all day to complete.

Things to consider while on this tour

While this walking tour of Berlin has plenty of popular attractions, it fails to encompass the true cultural feel of the city. While Alexanderplatz is the geographic center of Berlin, it fails to display the true gems of the city. However, from a financial and time-oriented point of view, this guide provides a realistic representation of the amount of sightseeing you will be able to complete on a weekend trip.

The cost of this walking tour of Berlin is obviously free, however I recommend checking out at least 1 museum along the way. The museums in Berlin are amazing, and quite affordable compared to other Western European capital cities.

For some alternative ides for a budget travel trip to Berlin, I recommend diving into a separate article explaining some other affordable activities in Berlin.

Berlin Walking Tour

Start: Alexanderplatz

Highlights: Center of city, great starting point

You have probably heard of Alexanderplatz before, and this is because it is at the center of Berlin. Many consider it the “city center,” but locals will tell you that there is no true city center in Berlin. It is an area with expensive stores and fancy apartments. This is the part of the city where you will see waves of tour groups and buses.

Nonetheless, it is a perfect place to start the tour because of its inter-connectivity and convenient location.

Stop 1: Berliner Fernsehturm (Berlin TV Tower)

Distance: 5 minute walk from Alexanderplatz

Highlights: A prominent building

The GDR (East Germany) constructed the Fernsehturm in 1965 as a showcase of technological progress. Subsequently, the tower underwent renovations in 1990. Presently, it stands as Berlin’s most prominent building, situated at the very heart of the city.

If you desire to ascend the tower and behold the breathtaking cityscape, admission prices are €16.50 for adults and €9.50 for children. However, regardless of your decision to venture upward, the Fernsehturm’s commanding presence is impossible to overlook as you make your way to the museum island.

Stop 2: Museuminsel (Museum Island)

Distance: 11-minute walk from the Berliner Fernsehturm

Highlights: Humboldt Forum, Neues Museum, Altes Museum, Pergamon Museum, Berlin Cathedral

Museum Island in Berlin, situated on the River Spree, houses the city’s most renowned and beloved museums. Following the devastation of World War II, this UNESCO World Heritage site was painstakingly rebuilt, restoring its cultural treasures.

For each museum, ticket prices vary, ranging from free admission to €20. To optimize your museum exploration, I highly recommend considering the Berlin Welcome Pass. This comprehensive pass, priced between €27 and approximately €57, grants access to specific museums along with a convenient public transportation pass. Delve deeper into the details by visiting the provided link. Additionally, I invite you to peruse my recently published article on the best affordable and free museums Berlin has to offer.

Berliner Dom on Museum Island in Berlin — Front view of the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) in Museum Island

Stop 3: Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburger Gate)

Distance: 18 minute walk from Museum Island.

Highlights: historic monument

Berlin’s most famous attraction is the Brandenburger Tor (Gate). The gate was constructed from 1788-1791 under the direction of King Frederick William II, with the intention of symbolizing peace. It was inspired by the Necropolis in Athens, featuring a chariot with a statue of the Roman goddess Victoria, representing victory. The Brandenburger Tor holds significance as a symbol of German unity and serves as a venue for both political demonstrations and cultural celebrations.

Brandenburger Tor in Berlin — Brandenburger Tor from the front

Stop 4: Reichstag Building

Distance: 6-minute walk from Brandenburg Tor

Highlights: elevated city views, historic, German Parliamentary building.

The Reichstag is a famous building in Berlin that is significant in the history of the German government. The original building was burnt down by the Nazi party in the 1933 in order to gain public support by blaming their opponents. In 1990, it was renovated and given a glass dome that spiraled into the sky above the Chamber of the Bundestag (parliament). It signifies a transparent government that puts the people above all.

You can reserve a time slot to visit the Bundestag and walk above the parliament. The views on the top are unbeatable. This activity is also completely free!

Reichstag building in Berlin — Inside the dome at the Reichstag

Stop 5: Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Distance: 11-minute walk from Reichstag

Highlights: historic monument

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe was constructed in 2003 with the purpose of commemorating the 6 million Jews who were killed during the Holocaust. Covering an area of 19,000 square meters, the memorial consists of 2,711 concrete pillars arranged in a grid pattern.

Also, there is an information center directly under the memorial that provides more insight on the memorial’s significance.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin — Inside the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe during the winter

Stop 6: Groβer Tiergarten

Distance: less than a minute walk from the Jewish Memorial

Highlights: Mozart monument, huge green area, Soviet memorial

Groβer Tiergarten is a vast park located just west of the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin. To reach the Victory Column, start from the far western part of the park and head east. Along the way, you can explore notable landmarks such as the Friedrich Wilhelm Memorial, the Beethoven-Haydn-Mozart Memorial, and the Soviet War Memorial, which are scattered throughout the park. Groβer Tiergarten park also features beautiful flowerbeds, flowing rivers, and serene trees, creating a picturesque setting to enjoy.

Beethoven-Haydn-Mozart Memorial in Groer Tiergarten Berlin — Beethoven-Haydn-Mozart Memorial in Groβer Tiergarten

End: Siegessäule (Victory Column)

Distance: 25-minute walk through Groβer Tiergarten from Brandenburger Tor

Highlights: museum, fantastic views

The Victory Column is a massive monument that is encircled by roadways located at the far western side of Groβer Tiergarten Park. It was originally built as a symbol of Prussia’s consecutive victories in wars of the 19th century.

It costs €4 to enter the monument, and once you get to the top the price will be well worth it. However, there is no elevator so prepare to sweat a bit!

outside view of the Victory Column in Berlin — View of the Victory Column from the other side of the street

View of Berlin from the top of the Victory Column

Conclusion

Berlin is one of the best cities in the world for sightseeing. Sites like the Brandenburger Gate and the Berliner TV Tower are on the top bucket lists for people coming to visit the eccentric German capital. Visitors tend to pay for an expensive walking tour of Berlin, but this guide provides a free alternative to travelers from a broke perspective.