Berlin Germany Three Day Itinerary for First-Timers
It is difficult to determine how to best use 72 hours in Berlin Germany, there are so many fun things to see, do, and eat. This 3-day itinerary is jam-packed with must-see sites and top attractions, including, the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral, Charlottenburg Palace, Reichstag Building, East Side Gallery, and more. Looking for more options? Check these additional things to do in Berlin to supplement this itinerary. Have more time? Add a day trip from Berlin to Dresden. It is possible to travel the world with limited PTO, here’s how to visit Berlin in three days. Enjoy your time out of the office!
READ Complete Germany Travel Guide, What You Need to Know
Pro Tip: Save over 17 euros on this itinerary with the Berlin WelcomeCard!
72 Hours in Berlin Germany Itinerary
Day One: Communist Rule and Dead Zones
8 am Grab a coffee and walk the Berlin Wall Memorial. Be sure to view the Dead Zone from the observation platform across the street.
10 am Head to Hackescher Hof for a coffee break. Walk around the corner and check out Dead Chicken Alley. Visit the Anne Frank Zentrum.
12 pm Head to Berlin Cathedral and climb the dome. Visit Lustgarten, grab currywurst from the cart, and relax next to the fountain. Photograph the Schlossbrücke. Visit the DDR Museum and be sure to drive the Trabant.
3 pm Continue down Unter de Linden and your way to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Stop at the Memorial to the May 10, 1993 Nazi Book Burning on the way. See the Brandenburg Gate, check out Tiergarten, and stop in a café for an afternoon break.
5 pm Walk around the corner to the Reichstag Building for your prearranged tour of the dome. All visits are timed and must be booked at least one day ahead for the security check.
7 pm Return to Unter de Linden to see the famous Michael Jackson balcony, browse for souvenirs, and have dinner.
Day Two: Street Art, River Cruise, and Classical Music
8 am Grab a coffee and walk the East Side Gallery. Photograph the Oberbaumbrücke as a tram passes by.
10 am Visit the Stasi Museum at the former headquarters of East Germany’s Ministry for State Security.
12 pm Return to Mercedes Platz for lunch before taking a cruise along the Spree River.
3 pm Head to Charlottenburg Palace for a tour, dinner, and classical music concert.
Day Three: Secret Police, City Views, and German Food
8 am Grab a coffee and make your way to Checkpoint Charlie. Take a selfie before crossing the street and checking out the Wall Museum.
10 am Make your way to the Topography of Terror and learn about Nazi persecution and terror at the Secret State Police Office with its own prison.
12 pm Walk the nearby DDR Watchtower. Stop in a café along the way. Tour the 1960 border surveillance tower.
3 pm Head to Alexanderplatz and check out the Little BIG City experience. Climb the Berlin TV Tower to see the city from above.
6 pm Have a traditional German dinner at Hofbräu Wirtshaus before returning to the hotel.
Check the Berlin Board of Tourism website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening this weekend.
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