More about: 12 Things to Do in Berlin at Night
In addition to Berlin's must-see activities and sights, don't miss out on the adventure of discovering this fabulous city by night during your next holiday.
As you'll see below, there are many more options for night-time activities to see and enjoy the city after sunset than you might initially imagine. My recommendation? Read the options presented here carefully and try to include as many of them as possible in your travel itinerary.
1. Relax on a dinner cruise on the Spree
One of the best activities you can do after sunset is a night cruise with dinner in Berlin. You will sail along the waters of the Spree. It is a super romantic plan. If you are in Berlin in February for Valentine's Day or celebrating an important date, don't hesitate for a second!
Although it may vary slightly depending on the company you choose, you will be able to appreciate the beautiful architecture and see the city from a different perspective with the perfect lighting of the city's most important historic buildings.
You will find several cruise options in Berlin. Almost all companies offer their customers a flexible menu that allows customers to decide according to their tastes and budget. The available options range from informal and slightly more unstructured options to fabulous four-course meals.
2. Experience the passion of German football
Another of Berlin's essential night-time experiences, in this case for sports lovers, is attending a football match of its main team, Union Berlin. Their stadium, An der Alten Försterei, located in the Köpenick district, is transformed into a hive of excitement when watching their stars play.
Although there are other more popular German teams in the Bundesliga, such as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, watching the stars of Union Berlin live in the city is a great plan that will immerse you in a unique atmosphere that is not only sporting but also cultural.
3. Discover the nightlife with a Pub Crawl
Also known as a bar crawl in England, a pub crawl is the act of hopping from one bar to another and having a few drinks with a group of people. Various tour companies offer this type of experience not only in Berlin but in many other cities with the aim of giving tourists an authentic taste of the city's nightlife.
Berlin is a city famous for its intense nightlife and the immense variety of clubs and bars available in the city. So, if you don't want to waste time planning, book an organised Pub Crawl through Berlin and join in the fun with other travellers to uncover the mysteries of the city at night.
And if you want to do it on your own, here are some of the best bars in Berlin:
4. Enjoy the best views from the Berlin TV Tower
Known as Berlin's Fernsehturm, the TV Tower is one of the best places to get a panoramic view of the city. To reach the top of the tower, you can climb the 986 steps or take the lift. At the top of the tower, just above the visitor platform, is the Telecafé restaurant, one of the most beautiful and luxurious in the city. It's a good idea to go up to the observation deck to watch the sunset over Berlin and then head to the restaurant for an evening meal.
In its early days, the Berlin TV Tower was conceived as a symbol of communist power, but today it represents more the power and influence of the city itself. It is 368 metres high, making it the tallest structure not only in the capital but in the whole country.
- Where it is and how to get there: Located at Panoramastraße 1A, the nearest underground station is S+U Alexanderplatz Bhf.
- Opening hours: The monument is open to the public until midnight from Monday to Friday; from March to October it opens at 9 a.m. and from November to February at 10 a.m.
- Entrance fee: You will have to pay around €27 for an entrance ticket.
5. Explore Museum Island at dusk
The museum complex located in the heart of Berlin and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO is known as Museum Island. It is worth taking a night tour of the island to admire the beautiful illuminated architecture after visiting one of the museums.
On the island you will find the Bode Museum, the Berlin National Gallery, the New Museum, the Altes Museum and the Pergamon Museum. This area of the city is considered the Acropolis of the arts in Berlin and the treasures on display here constitute an invaluable cultural and architectural legacy for the world. Some of the museums you can visit on the island and other must-sees in Berlin:
- Tickets for the Neues Museum in Berlin, from S$25: A 19th-century museum with more than 6,000 archaeological pieces, including the sculpture of Nefertiti.
- Tickets for the Berlin Wall Museum, from S$16 Although not located on Museum Island, in my opinion, it is an essential visit in Berlin, where you can explore the history and anecdotes of the Berlin Wall.
Where it is and how to get there: The island is located directly on the River Spree in the heart of Berlin; to get there, I recommend taking the S-Bahn to Alexanderplatz or Hackescher Markt.
6. Experience the Ice Bar
And if you're looking for an original night-time activity, I recommend you visit Berlin's ice bar, a venue with a temperature of around -10 °C located next to Alexanderplatz.
Berlin's Ice Bar is divided into two areas:
- The tavern: located in the entrance area and especially designed for those who feel the cold, as the room temperature is normal.
- The Ice Bar: where you can see a giant ice sculpture made from almost 70,000 kilograms of ice.
With your ticket to the Berlin Ice Bar, you will receive three tokens that you can exchange for drinks, one of which is for consumption in the Tavern and the other two for the Ice Bar. You will also receive the Seaman's Book, a book where you can document your polar expedition.
7. See the beauty of Berlin at dusk
As in most European cities, there is a lot to see in Berlin, and the best way to discover all its secrets is on foot. But the best thing is to explore it at night, when its charm is multiplied: its charm, its life, its people, its spirit... Don't miss a tour of the historic centre and the city's iconic buildings at dusk.
You can choose to take a tour on your own or you can book a tour so that an expert guide can take you through the most interesting spots and also tell you all about the history of each of them. Among the most entertaining tours of Berlin is the ghost tour, which comes highly recommended, but there are also others:
- Walking tour of Berlin: This type of experience usually focuses on getting to know the more classic and artistic side of Berlin. An expert guide will take you through various points of interest, which may include visits to places such as the beautiful 18th-century German cathedrals, the State Opera, Humboldt University, Pleasure Garden and many more.
- Bicycle tour of Berlin: A fun and comfortable activity, even more so in a city as well organised as Berlin. A bicycle tour of Berlin will include an expert guide. You can cover long distances in a short period of time, making it ideal for people who are only in the city for a short time.
8. Immerse yourself in beer culture
It's no secret that beer is a serious and important matter for Germans. As a result, large numbers of tourists visit Berlin in October to attend the iconic Oktoberfest. Regardless of when you travel, you can't leave the city without experiencing a little of the beer culture that is so cherished by locals and foreigners alike.
As you might expect, there are several ways to enjoy this activity, ranging from booking a beer tour of Berlin with an expert guide to visiting some of Berlin's best biergartens or beer gardens on your own. Here are some of my favourites.
9. Enjoy dinner and a concert at Charlottenburg Palace
A classic evening at Charlottenburg Palace includes a three-course dinner in the palace conservatory and a classical music concert performed by the Berlin Orchestra. The talented musicians, in addition to performing Mozart, often wear period costumes with large, elaborate white wigs, creating a spectacular setting.
No visit to Berlin would be complete without a visit to Charlottenburg Palace and Gardens. In addition to being the largest palace in the city, it is one of the finest examples of German Baroque and Rococo architecture, so I recommend completing the experience with a tour of Charlottenburg Palace and the grounds during daylight hours.
The palace complex was built at the end of the 17th century as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte.
- Where it is and how to get there: Located on Spandauer Damm, the nearest underground station is Richard-Wagner-Platz.
10. Visit the Parliament building and its dome
Sunset at the Reichstag is unlike any other building you have ever seen. The huge mirror fountain located in the centre of the dome is designed to reflect the sunlight in a spectacular display. You can visit the Reichstag at night, watch the sun set over the streets of Berlin, dine in the restaurant and admire the beautiful historic buildings in the city centre as they light up in the dark. If you want to follow this plan, be sure to get your tickets for the Reichstag.
The Reichstag is one of Berlin's most famous buildings for many reasons: its architecture, its history and its symbolism for the whole of Germany. It is the seat of the German parliament and a recognised symbol of democracy for this country. Its interior houses a wonderful glass dome that serves as a viewpoint from which to appreciate the architecture of central Berlin.
Its initial construction was completed in 1894, but a terrible fire completely destroyed the central dome in 1933. During the war, it was brutally attacked and completely rebuilt, except for the dome, in the 1960s. After German reunification, the beautiful, modern dome was built, offering the wonderful panoramic view we enjoy today.
- Where it is and how to get there: The Reichstag is located on Platz der Republik, and the nearest underground station is Bundestag, line U55.
- Opening hours: Every day from 8 a.m. to midnight.
- Admission price: Free, but you must book tickets to the Reichstag in advance.
11. Explore the best of German cuisine
Experts in the field say that the innovation of Germany's nightlife culture has successfully transferred to its emerging gastronomy. As a result, the best time to book a food tour of Berlin is when the sun goes down. Food lovers will find a wide variety of local and international dishes in this city and in German cuisine, beyond what any other capital city in the world can offer. If you want to enjoy a more personalised experience, you can opt for:
- Private gastronomic tour of Berlin, from S$433
- Private food tour of Berlin with 10 tastings, from S$227
Please note that options may vary depending on the season or the company you hire, but generally, food tours in Berlin include a combination of traditional German cuisine and international dishes.
12. Enjoy a night of market stalls and karaoke at Mauerpark
Among the many activities to enjoy in and around central Berlin, a visit to Mauerpark is a must. It is a large green area in the form of a linear park located in the Prenzlauer Berg district, one of the most famous parks and a favourite leisure spot for locals. On Sunday afternoons, a charming flea market is organised where tourists and locals come to buy vintage clothes and accessories or sample delicious food.
You can have a fun afternoon hunting for treasures at the many and varied stalls here, or you can head to the area where independent musicians perform spontaneous shows for visitors to enjoy.
The park's amphitheatre hosts fun karaoke sessions known as Bearpit Karaoke, which start at 3 p.m. and go on until the early hours of the morning. Don't be shy, get up on stage and sing!
- Where it is and how to get there: The park is located in the Prenzlauer Berg district. The nearest underground station is Eberswalder Straße, a 10-minute walk away.