48 hours in Berlin

While Berlin is never short on energy, summer’s longer days filled with sunshine give the sprawling metropolis a new lease on life. So, if you’re lucky enough to be headed to the cosmopolitan German capital to watch your favourite football teams battle in the UEFA EURO 2024, we encourage you to linger a day or two more and explore the history, art, dining and nightlife. Spending just 48 hours in the city David Bowie called ‘the greatest cultural extravaganza that one could imagine’ may not feel like enough, but our itinerary can give you a solid introduction.

An established Berlin coffeehouse, The Barn at Café Kranzler offers aromatic coffee just a stone’s throw from one of the city’s busiest streets – Kurfürstendamm. On the terrace, you can peep out from beneath the candy-striped awning at a whirling landscape of city life. Order a handmade cake to complement your quality brew and prolong the simple pleasure of people-watching.

Kick off your sightseeing at the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of unity that is Berlin’s only surviving city gate and arguably its most famous landmark. The best photo ops can be gained in the early morning before tourists gather or at night when the triumphal arch illuminates under the dark sky.

Just six minutes’ walk from the Brandenburg Gate is the Reichstag, home of Germany’s parliament. This attraction draws crowds, so we recommend embracing German efficiency and showing up early to avoid long queues. There’s no admission fee, and you can even collect a free audio guide from the roof terrace. The audio tour takes you around the building and to the top of the Sir Norman Foster-designed glass dome for a magnificent city view. The Reichstag also hosts rotating art exhibitions and live debates.

The storybook version of Germany can be found outside of Bavaria — if you know where to look. Hofbräu Wirtshaus delivers antiquated charm by the bierkrug. This atmospheric beer hall is perfect for big groups, big lagers, meat-heavy meals (though there are veggie and vegan options aplenty), loud Bavarian music, and staff dressed in traditional lederhosen and dirndl costumes. Prost!

The Alte Nationalgalerie is one of five museums located on Berlin’s Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back to 1866, the gallery itself is an elegant example of Neoclassical architecture, designed to look like a Greek temple. Inside, you’ll find masterpieces by Caspar David Friedrich, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet and other greats, as well as Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’.

If you’re exploring the capital on a weekend, consider following your visit to Museum Island with a stop at this art market. Unfolding along the banks of the River Spree, the stalls are a mix of local and international designers and artists selling their wares. You’ll find everything from original paintings and sculptures to second-hand books and jewellery.

Stepping inside Thüringer Stuben transports you to the forested Thuringer region that serves as its muse. This wood-panelled restaurant has been dishing up traditional German cuisine for over 25 years, with favourites including beef goulash, roast pork knuckle, bratwurst, sauerkraut, and of course, warm, homemade apple strudel. It also offers a selection of Thuringian beers and wines from the bar.

Get the ball rolling on your second day of German adventures with a trip to Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam. This time capsule of 18th-century Prussian royalty is under an hour’s train ride from the capital. The palace welcomes you with a richly decorated, lemon-yellow façade and gardens featuring terraced vineyards, a gold-laden Chinese pavilion and a decorative grotto. Often considered the German answer to Versailles, King Frederick the Great’s lavish summer house was a place for private relaxation, earning it the name Sanssouci from the French for 'without a care'.

After working up an appetite exploring royal grounds, head back to Berlin for an artisanal lunch at one of the city’s best food markets. Built in 1891, Markthalle Neun opens Monday to Saturday, drawing both tourists and Berliners, all jostling for the finest European, Asian and African dishes and produce. The market also hosts annual food events, so be sure to check what’s on when you’re in town.

Schmittz is a no-frills bar customised with graffiti and offering some of the cheapest beers in the capital. Here, you can join regulars playing darts and table football or grab a paddle and participate in the almost-constant games of table tennis. It’s also a popular sports-watching hub, where you might catch up with fellow UEFA attendees.

Hidden in a ramshackle courtyard, Kino Central is a petite cinema that screens international art-house movies in a cool setting. When the show’s over, relax outside with a German beer and admire the street art that lines the walls.

After your busy day, tuck into local, seasonal produce from this Michelin-starred yet unfussy restaurant’s ambitious menu. Think bistro dishes with a creative twist and sweet treats featuring delectable flavour combinations like miso, banana and sesame.

Berlin is famous for its hedonistic and inclusive nightlife scene, and few spots are more iconic than the KitKatClub. To pass the stringent door policy at this long-standing fetish club, you can follow the dress code of leather and latex or the undress code that favours wearing as little as possible. Inside, revellers let their hair down to techno music amidst an LGBTQ+-friendly crowd, and there’s even a swimming pool.

This light-filled home, Schoenes Studio, is in Prenzlauer Berg, a family-friendly neighbourhood bordering the central district of Mitte. Though technically a studio, the large space is divided in such a way that it feels more like a one-bedroom apartment, with the kitchen hidden from view of the bed and sunny nooks for dining and reading. A stand-out feature is the private balcony, where you can start your morning with a pastry and takeaway latte from one of the many nearby coffee shops, drinking in a delightful view that includes the iconic TV Tower at Alexanderplatz. Pets are welcome too, in case you’re travelling with a furry friend in tow.

Minimal and modernist in equal measure, this loft apartment Stadtflucht Loft 5.2.2 looks as though it’s leapt straight off the page of Architectural Digest. Pale, timbered walls, concrete floors, a jewel-toned velvet sofa and a moody bathroom decked out in black subway tiles contribute to the dramatic chiaroscuro, while a slice of exposed brick wall adds texture to the bedroom. You’ll have access to a terrace and inner-courtyard views, and your hosts can arrange bicycle hire.

Locke at East Side Gallery, located in a self-catering apartment building, is an aesthetic dream, taking cues from the artistic Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district in which it’s situated. Common spaces fuse delicate pastels with cosy, contemporary furniture and textures ranging from swirling marbles to bleached concrete, while the apartments themselves use clever wood-and-frosted-glass divisions to separate spaces, making even the studio options feel roomy. You can choose between city andriver views, book an accessible apartment or upgrade the standard kitchenette to a full kitchen with a dishwasher. There’s even a sleek, charcoal-toned gym looking out over the metropolis, if sightseeing isn’t enough exercise for you.

Berlin’s Brandenburg airport means you can fly directly into the city, or you can take the train from numerous destinations in Europe. An airport taxi offers convenience, and public transportation, like the U- and S-Bahn trains and city buses, is efficient and affordable.

Get in the mood for your Berlin city break with this playlist of top tracks about the capital.