Berlin the capital of Germany has a long and interesting history. It goes back to the Cold War the two world wars the 1920s and even further. It is the biggest city in the European Union but surprisingly cheap compared to other big cities in Europe. Berlin is known for its cultural flair. It is home to the world-famous Berlin Opera and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and its art scene includes hundreds of galleries events famous boat trips and museums. And if you’re worried about traveling across Berlin we can tell you Sixt has made it easy with its car rental services.

Are you confused about deciding what things to do in Berlin on your next visit? Well you don't have to look any further because we've already picked the top things to see and do in Berlin. It wasn't easy to decide because this city has so much to offer.

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1. Gendarmenmarkt

One of Berlin's biggest squares is the Gendarmenmarkt which is dominated by the Konzerthaus the French Cathedral and the German Cathedral. This beautiful square from the 17th century is now one of the most popular tourist spots in Berlin. It is also the site of many public events every year such as classical concerts on the steps of the Konzerthaus theater in the summer. When winter comes the whole plaza turns into the city's famous Christmas Market.

The Konzerthaus which was built in 1821 is known for both its beautiful architecture and the excellent performances of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin which is one of the most popular symphony orchestras in the country. In front of the building is a statue of the German poet Friedrich Schiller. He is surrounded by four women who represent the art forms of Lyric Poetry Drama History and Philosophy.

2. Charlottenburg Palace and Park

Charlottenburg Palace which was built in the late 17th century and is the oldest and largest Prussian estate in Berlin was for many years the main home of German royalty. Now that it has been beautifully fixed up this huge palace has many amazing features such as a central dome that is 50 meters high. A visit to the New Wing with its State Apartments and beautiful Banqueting Halls is one of the best parts of a tour of the property. Visitors can see how the Prussian Kings and Electors lived from Frederick I's bedroom and study with their fine furniture and paintings to the State Dining Room and 42-meter-long Golden Gallery with its rich gilded stucco.

The Porcelain Cabinet is in the Old Palace. It is a room with a large collection of old porcelain and special exhibits such as the Crown Jewels and other royal items.

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3. Jewish Museum Berlin

Daniel Libeskind an architect made the plans for the Jewish Museum in Berlin. It has a unique zinc-paneled exterior that makes it one of Berlin's most striking landmarks. It opened in 2001 and inside visitors can see a wide range of historical artifacts and donated collections that show the long history and struggles of Jewish Germans from the Middle Ages to the present. Artwork religious items and 24000 photos that have been saved and found are on display.

In The Memory Void an installation called "Shalekhet" or "Fallen Leaves" with about 10000 iron faces spread out on the ground is especially moving. To say the least it's sobering. At the Academy of the Jewish Museum in Berlin where there are often educational programs there is also a large library and archives.

4. Grosser Tiergarten and the Victory Column

Grosser Tiergarten which means "Big Animal Garden" in English has been a popular tourist spot in Berlin for a long time. It used to be a hunting reserve for the royal family where they kept deer wild pigs and other game. In 1700 it became a public park. The Tiergarten is 210 hectares and is a popular place to relax walk and go boating. It has a lot of trees bushes grass and flower borders that make it look nice.

The park also has several statues and monuments such as the 1880 Statue of Queen Luise which shows her relief from the War of 1806 showing how she helped injured soldiers. A monument to Frederick Wilhelm III was built in 1849. It has reliefs that show how peaceful the King was. The most well-known monument in the Tiergarten is the 70-meter-tall Victory Column which is topped by an 8-meter-tall gold statue of Victoria. Plus you can easily reach there with services like Sixt car rentals. Isn’t it amazing?

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5. The German Museum of Technology

A must-see In 1983 the German Museum of Technology in Berlin opened to show off and celebrate Germany's industrial and technological skills. This popular museum has a lot of fun things for kids and families to do like looking at displays about the Industrial Revolution and doing hands-on activities in a reconstructed workshop. In addition the museum gives an interesting look at how vehicles changed as mechanization grew.

There are a lot of cars and planes on display as well as some steam engines from as far back as 1843 that have been kept in good condition. On the weekends you can ride a train from the 1930s from the museum to the locomotive depot. There are English tours with guides. There is a restaurant and a picnic area on-site for those who want to make a day of it which is recommended.

6. The Nikolai Quarter

The Nikolai Quarter is in the heart of Berlin's old city. It's where many of the city's oldest and most popular attractions are as well as a lot of other interesting things to do besides the usual tourist spots. This pedestrian-friendly neighborhood is known for its many small buildings on narrow streets with nooks and crannies. These buildings house restaurants cafes shops and craft workshops that sell everything from baskets to wooden crafts. A boat tour is a great way to enjoy a light lunch and see the capital city from the water.

There are many old fountains lanterns and latticed windows on the older houses and historic buildings like the 1760s-built Ephraim Palace which has exhibits about Berlin's rich artistic and cultural history and a beautiful grand staircase.

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7. The Humboldt Forum

The recently opened Humboldt Forum is one of the most popular places to visit on Museum Island which is already full of great places to see. The Museum of Ethnology and the Museum of Asian Art are two of Berlin's best museum collections. They are now housed under the roof of a completely rebuilt Berlin Palace which opened in 2019.

Visitors can now easily see Germany's largest collections of non-European treasures including a hoard of more than 400000 artifacts from all over the world. This museum is considered to be on par with the best in the world. There are displays of ancient art from Asia as well as large collections that focus on art from China. The building has two restaurants a shop and several theaters.

8. Tierpark Berlin

Tierpark Berlin is an interesting zoo as well. There are about 7250 animals from 846 different species living on 400 acres. It opened in the 1950s and is almost as good as Berlin Zoo. If you're traveling with kids it's a great place to go. The zoo is known for its breeding program for elephants and it also has polar bears and a large herd of muskox.

If you're going in the summer try to plan your trip around one of the late openings. Check out the zoo's website to find out about special programs for kids feeding times tours and other unique animal experiences. If you have time and want to see more of Berlin you should also stop by AquaDom. This huge 25-meter-tall aquarium is in the Radisson Collection Hotel in Berlin. It even has an elevator in the middle to give you a unique view of the sea creatures that live there.

9. Berlin Cathedral Church

The Berlin Cathedral which is next to the Lustgarten on Museum Island is one of the most impressive buildings in the complex because of its 75-meter-high dome. Built-in the New Baroque style the building is Berlin's biggest church. It has three main sections: the Memorial Church the Baptismal and Wedding Church and the Parish Church. After years of hard work to fix war damage the church is back to its former glory.

The Imperial Staircase which was decorated with bronze cornices and 13 tempera paintings by Berlin landscape painter Albert Hertel in 1905 is one of the best parts of a visit. You should also plan to visit the Imperial Gallery which has great views of Berlin. The Hohenzollern Crypt is another popular spot. It has about 100 tombs monuments and sarcophagi from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Try to plan your visit around one of the cathedral's many concerts organ recitals or special services for visitors.

10. Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

One of the most interesting places in Berlin is the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. In many ways it is two churches: the ultra-modern new church was built in 1961 and next to it are the ruins of the old church including most of the 63-meter-tall tower. The first one was finished in 1895 to honor Emperor Wilhelm I. It was destroyed in 1943 but some of its parts were used in the new complex. The result is now a famous landmark in Berlin that also serves as a war memorial.

Exhibits have been set up with mosaic pieces pieces of architecture and photos. The centerpiece is a figure of Christ from the old church and a Cross of Nails from Coventry Cathedral which was destroyed by German bombs earlier in WWII.

Final words

Whether you're there for a long weekend a week or even a few months you'll probably be rushing to see everything in this busy city. It has a long history that can be seen in the buildings and places that make it famous. Don’t make long lists of what to do in Berlin and which places should be on your priority list. All your need is listed here. Plus with Sixt car rentals exploring Berlin is easy and convenient.

What are you waiting for? Use this list of some of the best and most fun things to do in Berlin on your tour and make your trip worth remembering.