Mitte
1.9 km from Pariser PlatzThe historic centre around Unter den Linden, Museum Island and Hackescher Markt. Most sights are within walking distance, and the main train and tram lines meet here.
- Population
- ≈ 3,700,000
- Language
- German
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Nearest airport
- BER, 19 km
Start in the square: Pariser Platz
Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin
Pariser Platz is the square in front of the Brandenburg Gate, at the western end of Unter den Linden. From 1961 to 1989 the Wall ran right behind the gate and the square stood empty. Today embassies and the Hotel Adlon line it again. Come early, before the tour groups arrive.
Within a short walk
- Brandenburg GatePariser Platz, 10117 Berlin100 m
- ReichstagPlatz der Republik 1, 10557 Berlin300 m
- Holocaust MemorialBehrenstraße, 10117 Berlin300 m
Where to stay in Berlin
Prenzlauer Berg
3.3 km from Pariser PlatzTree-lined streets of restored 19th-century apartment buildings north of the centre, full of cafés, playgrounds and small shops. Quiet at night and popular with families.
Kreuzberg
3.2 km from Pariser PlatzA mixed, lively district along the canal, known for its Turkish market, street food and bars. A good base if you want to go out in the evening.
Friedrichshain
5.1 km from Pariser PlatzEast of the river, around the wide Karl-Marx-Allee and the East Side Gallery, with many clubs and bars. Suits visitors who like to stay out late.
Charlottenburg
5.3 km from Pariser PlatzThe elegant west, with Charlottenburg Palace, the Kurfürstendamm shopping street and grand old apartment buildings. Calmer than the centre and well connected by train.
Neukölln
5.5 km from Pariser PlatzSouth of Kreuzberg, with lower prices, food from all over the world and Tempelhofer Feld, the former airport that is now a huge open park.
Things to do in Berlin
Brandenburg Gate
Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin
The 18th-century gate became the symbol of a divided city and, after 1989, of its reunion. Walk through it from Pariser Platz towards the Tiergarten; it is lit up after dark.
Reichstag
Platz der Republik 1, 10557 Berlin
The German parliament meets under a glass dome that you can visit for free, with views over the government quarter. Register online in advance and bring identification.
Museum Island
Museum Island, 10117 Berlin
Five museums on one island in the Spree, from ancient Egypt in the Neues Museum to 19th-century painting in the Alte Nationalgalerie. The Pergamon Museum is closed for a long renovation.
Holocaust Memorial
Behrenstraße, 10117 Berlin
A field of 2,711 concrete blocks of different heights, a short walk south of the Brandenburg Gate. The information centre underneath tells the stories of individual victims and their families.
TV Tower
Panoramastraße 1a, 10178 Berlin
At 368 metres the tallest structure in Germany, with a viewing floor and a revolving restaurant near the top. Book a time slot online to skip the queue at the bottom.
Berlin Cathedral
Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin
The city's largest church, on Museum Island, with a richly decorated interior and a crypt of Prussian royals. Climb the 270 steps to the walkway around the dome.
East Side Gallery
Mühlenstraße, 10243 Berlin
The longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, about 1.3 km along the Spree, painted by artists from around the world in 1990. Open air and free to visit at any time.
Berlin Wall Memorial
Bernauer Straße 111, 13355 Berlin
On Bernauer Straße, a preserved section of the border strip with its watchtower shows how the Wall cut through streets and families. The visitor centre has a viewing platform.
Getting there
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
Willy-Brandt-Platz, 12529 Schönefeld
19 km from the city centre
Berlin Central Station
Invalidenstraße, 10557 Berlin
Main railway station, 1.2 km from Pariser Platz
When to go
Average daytime high and night-time low per month (2005–2024). Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
- 2°Jan
- 4°Feb
- 9°Mar
- 15°Apr
- 19°May
- 24°Jun
- 26°Jul
- 25°Aug
- 21°Sep
- 15°Oct
- 8°Nov
- 4°Dec
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 2 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 19 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 15 | 8 | 4 |
| Low °C | -3 | -2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 2 | -1 |
| Rain mm | 54 | 42 | 41 | 29 | 53 | 59 | 82 | 59 | 44 | 49 | 49 | 53 |
| Rain days | 13 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 13 |
| Daylight h | 8.2 | 9.8 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.7 | 16.8 | 16.4 | 14.7 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 8.6 | 7.7 |
The year in Berlin
The biggest events that come back every year, starting with the next one.
OctoberCulture
Festival of Lights
For about ten days, landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate and the TV Tower are lit with projections and light art after dark. Free to see on foot.
FebruaryFilm
Berlinale
One of the world's major film festivals, and one where most screenings are open to the public. Tickets go on sale a few days before each screening, and popular ones sell out fast.
Pentecost weekendFestival
Carnival of Cultures
Pentecost weekend (May or June)
A four-day street festival in Kreuzberg with music, dance and food from all over the world, and a large parade through the district on the Sunday.
JulyFestival
Berlin Pride (CSD)
Berlin's Christopher Street Day is one of the largest Pride marches in Europe, ending at the Brandenburg Gate, with parties across the city all weekend.
Late SeptemberSport
Berlin Marathon
One of the fastest marathon courses in the world, where several world records were set. The route passes the main sights and finishes just after the Brandenburg Gate.
SeptemberCulture
Berlin Art Week
A week of exhibitions, openings and talks in museums, galleries and project spaces across the city, at the start of the autumn art season.
Practical information
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- 1 EUR = 1.11 USD = 0.84 GBP (ECB, 28 October 2026)
- Language
- German
- Plugs
- Type F and C, 230 V
- Emergency number
- 112, 110
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (summer UTC+2)
- Country calling code
- +49
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
Public holidays in the next 12 months
Shops and museums may close or keep Sunday hours on these days.
- Christmas Day (Erster Weihnachtstag)25 Dec 2026
- St. Stephen's Day (Zweiter Weihnachtstag)26 Dec 2026
- New Year's Day (Neujahr)1 Jan 2027
- International Women's Day (Internationaler Frauentag)8 Mar 2027
- Good Friday (Karfreitag)26 Mar 2027
- Easter Monday (Ostermontag)29 Mar 2027
- Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit)1 May 2027
- Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt)6 May 2027
- Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag)17 May 2027
- German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit)3 Oct 2027
Berlin FAQ
When is the best time to visit Berlin?
May – Sep, when the average daytime high is between 19 and 26 °C.
Which airport is closest to Berlin?
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), about 19 km from the city centre.
What currency is used in Berlin?
The euro (EUR).
What plugs are used in Berlin?
Type F and C, 230 V.
What are the biggest yearly events in Berlin?
Festival of Lights (October), Berlinale (February), Carnival of Cultures (Pentecost weekend), Berlin Pride (CSD) (July), Berlin Marathon (Late September), Berlin Art Week (September).
Nearby cities
All guides in Germany →Saxony · 150 kmLeipzigPopulation ≈ 500,000
Brandenburg · 27 kmPotsdamPopulation ≈ 180,000
West Pomerania · 126 kmSzczecinPopulation ≈ 400,000
Saxony-Anhalt · 129 kmMagdeburgPopulation ≈ 240,000
Last updated 29 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.