I visited Berlin back in 2012 and it was such fun to revisit the city 13 years later and see what had changed... but also what was just the same.
→ Check out one of my first ever blog posts from my visit to Berlin in August 2012!
We undertook an Easter roadtrip through northwestern Germany, starting in Munich where my partner lives and doing a big circular loop. The Easter long weekend is always a perfect time to head out on a trip, what with shoulder season in full swing, the spring weather looking better and prices still reasonable. In previous years, I've spent my Easters in Northern Ireland, Ibiza (Spain), New Zealand, Calgary (Canada) and hiking in Vancouver (Canada), among other trips.
My mum was actually born right here in Berlin so I have visited many parts of Germany many, many times as a child. I currently live in Salzburg in Austria and so this Easter was the perfect excuse to re-explore northern Germany and many of the places of my childhood - plus a few other stops along the way.
Our first stop was actually in neighbouring Czechia, where we spent a night exploring the colourful spa town of Karlovy Vary. From there, it was time to kick off the German leg of our trip and we crossed the border again and headed towards Dresden, a delightful university town. Then, it was time to see some bridges; we drove first down to the Basteibrücke where a wooden bridge passes through million-year-old rock formations over the River Elbe before heading east, almost to the border with Poland, to visit the famous Devil's Bridge.
Then, it was on to the capital, the city of my mum's birth and a chance to revisit my own visit from so many years ago:
By flight: Berlin's international airport is the third-busiest airport in Germany. Located in Schönefeld, just south of the city, flights arrive from all around the world. From the airport, it's just half-hour drive or S-Bahn ride into the city.
By car: We drove to Berlin from Dresden (via two bridges), which took us two and a half hours. We didn't find getting around within Berlin by car very easy, so left it parked and explored without it once we arrived.
By bus: FlixBus services Berlin with direct connections from a whopping 377 cities!
By train: Trains arrive at the Berlin Hauptbahnhof from all across Europe, making it a popular way to travel to the city. From the station, you can transfer directly onto S-Bahns and buses to get where you're headed in the city.
Berlin is quite a large, spread-out city and many of the best tourist highlights aren't that close together. My partner and I decided to rent Bolt scooters for the day (it was my first time ever riding one) and I can wholeheartedly say it was the BEST way to get around the city. There are literally hundreds available; they're very popular in Berlin! Skip the costly Ubers and taxis, don't bother with trying to figure out the public transport system (although it is extensive and great for a rainy day). Instead, ride these fun scooters all around Berlin; and there are plenty of bike lanes to keep you safe as you explore.
You might also want to join a popular walking tour or river boat cruise with a local guide as a great way to get to learn more about the city.
There are so many places to choose from in Berlin of all styles and budgets. After a while researching online, we selected the delightful HENRI Hotel, a gorgeously renovated old building even with the original elevator. The beds were super comfy, the ceilings nice and tall and the rooms surprisingly quiet. We didn't dine here but the breakfast room looked adorable.
→ Book your stay at the HENRI Hotel.
→ Check out other places to stay to suit your budget and accommmodation type.
Image via Booking.com
As Germany's capital city, you'll find a whole variety of foods to suit any budget and taste. Here is where we dined during our visit to Berlin:
Breakfast: House of Small Wonder
Lunch: Café Oliv
Dinner: KunCi Sushi
Outdoors at House of Small Wonder
Berlin is one of the most historically-important cities in Europe and is a very popular city to include in most travelers' itineraries to Germany or to their whistlestop tours across the continent. Being the focal point of many key moments in history, particularly in most recent times surrounding the Second World War, there is plenty to keep you occupied during your visit.
We had just a day in the city but felt that it was plenty of time - using our trusty Bolt scooters! - to see the main highlights. Here is everything we saw in Berlin that I can absolutely recommend adding to your must-see list:
See the TV tower from the Nördliche Monbijoubrücke
Overlooking the Spree River, this beautiful bridge is right next to the Bode Museum and is a popular spot to hang out, people-watch, go for a walk... There are also some great restaurants in the vicinity, so time it with your dinner for a perfect evening.
Spot the Victory Column
This statue commemorates the Danish-Prussian War in 1864. "Golden Lizzy" sits on top, a bronze addition after the Franco-Prussian War of 1871. The massive road leading up to it is worth a wander too.
See Checkpoint Charlie
This was the most well-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, while crossings were still allowed in the early years of the wall. It's quite an iconic piece of history.
Visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Peter Eisenman created this stunning structure in memory of Holocaust victims. The memorial contains 2,711 columns which you can wander between in an effort to provide a moving experience and be reminded of the sad history the anonymous columns represent.
Walk under the Brandenburger Tor
One of the most photographed spots in the city, Brandenburg Gate or Brandenburger Tor was built to represent peace in Germany. Since I visited, this area has undergone much expansion and redevelopment!
See the Reichstag
The Reichstag was built in 1894 and then, during Hitler's time, a fire damaged parts of it in a very controversial arson attack. If you have time, a 360-degree glass dome offers beautiful views of all of Berlin.
Enjoy the view of the Berliner Dom
As we were riding our scooters to lunch, we stopped on the Friedrichsbrücke for a wonderful view looking towards the iconic Berlin Cathedral.
Walk along the East Side Gallery
The Spree River runs along the East Side Gallery and is a beautiful river walk. There are often live musicians and people hanging out enjoying the view.
See the iconic paintings of the Berlin Wall
One of the most well-known and recognized structures in the world is the Berlin Wall. From 1961 to 1989, the Berlin Wall divided the city into East Berlin and West Berlin during the height of the Cold War. The remains of the walls that weren't destroyed when the wall first came down have since been preserved and are now covered in colourful memories and murals.
We spent most of our day in Berlin on our scooters revisiting the places I had been to back in 2012. So, we thought it would be fun to recreate my photos from the blog post I published from that visit, 13 years ago!
→ Check out one of my first ever blog posts from my visit to Berlin in August 2012!
Victory Column
2012
2025
Checkpoint Charlie
2012
2025
2012
2025
2012
2025
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
2012
2025
Brandenburger Tor
2012
2025
Reichstag
2012
2025
Berlin Wall
2012
2025
2012
2025
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE IN BERLIN!
PIN THIS POST TO REFER BACK TO LATER!
GET READY TO TRAVEL!
— Book tours and experiences - with GetYourGuide
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (North America)
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (Europe)
— Find a place to stay - with Booking.com
— Choose a hostel to stay at - with Hostelworld
— Purchase global travel insurance - with World Nomads
— Load an international eSim on your phone - with AirAlo
— Start your own travel blog - with Hostinger
— Join the GetYourGuide Travel Creator Community - with GetYourGuide
Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
