Things to do in Berlin
Berlin pairs world-class culture with layered history. The Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, the Reichstag dome, Checkpoint Charlie and the East Side Gallery sit within reach of the city's great concert halls — the Philharmonie, the Konzerthaus on Gendarmenmarkt and the State Opera Unter den Linden.
Our editors' pick of the ten sights to build a first visit around — with an evening concert to close the day:
Brandenburg Gate
The 18th-century neoclassical Brandenburg Gate is Berlin's most famous landmark and a symbol of German reunification. Crowned by the Quadriga chariot, it stands at the end of Unter den Linden on Pariser Platz. Once bordering the Berlin Wall, it is now a place of celebration, floodlit at night and just a short walk from the Staatsoper and other concert venues.
Reichstag Building
The seat of the German parliament combines a 19th-century facade with Norman Foster's spectacular glass dome, added after reunification. A free timed visit to the dome offers panoramic views over the city and a look down into the debating chamber. Book online in advance, and pair a daytime visit with an evening concert nearby.
Museum Island
A UNESCO World Heritage site on the Spree, Museum Island gathers five world-class museums — the Pergamon, the Bode, the Altes and Neues Museum and the Alte Nationalgalerie. Home to the Ishtar Gate and the bust of Nefertiti, it is the cultural heart of Berlin and steps from the Berliner Dom, itself a concert venue.
Berlin Cathedral
The grand Berliner Dom, completed in 1905, rises above Museum Island with its vast copper dome and richly decorated interior. Climb to the gallery for views over the city, or visit the Hohenzollern crypt below. Its magnificent Sauer organ, with over 7,000 pipes, makes it one of Berlin's most impressive venues for organ and choral concerts.
East Side Gallery
The longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, running 1.3 kilometres along the Spree, is now the world's largest open-air gallery. More than a hundred artists painted its eastern side in 1990, including the famous fraternal kiss. It is an essential stop for understanding the city's divided history before or after a concert.
Gendarmenmarkt
Often called Berlin's most beautiful square, Gendarmenmarkt is framed by the German and French Cathedrals and the neoclassical Konzerthaus at its centre. The Konzerthaus, home to the Konzerthausorchester, is one of the city's premier concert halls. The square is especially atmospheric in the evening, an ideal setting before a performance.
Berlin Philharmonie
The golden, tent-like Philharmonie, opened in 1963, is the home of the world-renowned Berlin Philharmonic and a landmark of modern architecture. Its vineyard-terrace seating surrounds the stage on all sides, giving legendary acoustics. Even beyond its own concerts, the building is a highlight of the Kulturforum near Potsdamer Platz.
Charlottenburg Palace
Berlin's largest and grandest palace, built at the end of the 17th century, offers Baroque and Rococo state rooms, the Porcelain Cabinet and extensive formal gardens. In summer, candlelit concerts by the Berlin Residence Orchestra are held in its Orangery — a chance to hear Baroque music in an authentic historic setting.
Potsdamer Platz
Once a no-man's-land divided by the Wall, Potsdamer Platz was rebuilt in the 1990s into a striking modern quarter of glass towers, cinemas and public spaces. It sits beside the Kulturforum with the Philharmonie and the Kunstgewerbemuseum, making it a natural base for an evening built around a concert.
Unter den Linden & Staatsoper
Berlin's grand tree-lined boulevard runs from the Brandenburg Gate past the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Humboldt University and the Bebelplatz. The State Opera, restored to its 18th-century splendour, is one of the world's leading opera houses. The avenue links many of the city's finest concert venues within a short walk.