Your guide to Berlin / Things to do if you only have 24/48 hours in Berlin

10178 Berlin

Start your day in central Berlin with a visit to one of the city's largest and most popular public squares. Steeped in a rich history that dates back hundreds of years, the area now known as Alexanderplatz was largely destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in the 1960s.

Today, it is a thriving pedestrian zone where you'll find many shops, hotels, restaurants and more.  Alexanderplatz is home to some of Berlin's best-known attractions, and they're all within walking distance of one another. Here, you can visit the bustling Centrum department store, as well as the World Clock, the Haus des Reisens and Haus des Berliner Verlages high-rise towers, the Fountain of International Friendship and the Fernsehturm television tower. During the holiday season, you can enjoy the many Christmas markets of Alexanderplatz. 

Bernauer Straße 111

If you only have 24 hours in Berlin, make sure the site of the former Berlin Wall is at the top of your must-see list. The Berlin Wall Memorial is an open-air exhibit that stretches about 1 mile along Bernauer Straße. Honoring victims of the German Democratic Republic, the memorial includes a 200-foot section of the original wall.  

There are three main parts to the memorial — a visitor center, a large outdoor exhibit and a documentation center with a lookout tower — and you can enter many of them for free. Plan to spend an hour or two at the site where you'll find loads of enlightening information about escape attempts and what life was like for people living beyond both sides of the wall.

Friedrichstraße 43-45

Following World War II and the division of Germany in 1949, Checkpoint Charlie became the most famous border crossing between East and West Berlin. From 1961 to 1990, journalists, diplomats and non-Germans often used the official gateway to pass into East Berlin on a one-day visa.  

While all that remains today is the U.S. guardhouse and a replica of the original border sign, the historic site stands as a reminder of the Cold War era. After you snap a photo of the spot, be sure to stop by the Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie to see the original signpost and learn about the many people who attempted to escape from East to West Germany.

Am Lustgarten 

If you love learning about history, Museumsinsel, or Museum Island as it's affectionately known to tourists, is the place for you. Simply make your way to Spree Island for the opportunity to visit five world-renowned museums where you'll get your fill of everything from Jurassic relics to German spy secrets. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999, Museum Island is the highlight of any one-day Berlin itinerary.  

If you're under 18 years of age, admission to Museum Island is free. Otherwise, the cost is just €18, and one ticket gets you into these five museums:  

• Pergamonmuseum (Pergamon Museum) 
• Bode-Museum 
• Neues Museum (New Museum) 
• Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) 
• Altes Museum (Old Museum)

Bezirk Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

Best known for its exciting nightlife, amazing art scene and experimental alternative atmosphere, the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg neighborhood is well worth a visit if you have one day in Berlin. Spread along the north and south banks of the Spree River, the area boasts some of the city's most popular museums and galleries, including the Martin-Gropius-Bau arts venue, Jewish Museum, Berlinische Galerie and the German Museum of Technology.  

If you enjoy street art, be sure to stop by the East Side Gallery where 118 artists from 21 countries have left their mark through more than 100 paintings on the east side of the remaining Berlin Wall. You can also rent a canoe, enjoy a picnic or take a stroll through one of the many parks and green spaces, such as Viktoria Park, Landwehr Canal, Gleisdreieck or Friedrichshain Volkspark.  

Throughout the day, street artists and food vendors peddle their wares and serve up delicious dishes all across Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. At night, hit up some of the hottest nightclubs and best fine-dining establishments in Berlin.

Pariser Platz

A visit to Berlin is only complete once you've taken in the grandeur of the iconic Brandenburg Gate. Built in the late 1700s by Prussian King Frederick William II to mark a key entry point into the city, Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin's top tourist attractions. During the Cold War, the sandstone gate became a symbol of the division between East and West Germany. Today, it represents hope and reunification. If you arrive at sundown, you can capture fantastic photos of the sunset peeking through the gate.