I have written this post as I love Berlin, personally I think it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I immersed myself in the city last summer while living there for a month. The tips in this blog are recommended for a short visit to the city, as there are hundreds of sites and attractions in Berlin. I will shortly add more specific lists of things to do in Berlin, starting with a World War II Berlin top 10 list.

Here are my top 10 things to do in Berlin:

1. Head to Museum island

Museum island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site including five world famous museums:

• Pergamonmusem
• Bode-Museum
• Neues Museum
• Alte Nationalgalerie
• Altes Museum

Although arrive early if you want to avoid the queues, and with these sites you can get a museum pass for the day which includes all 5 sites, which is cheaper and more convenient.

2. Take a Trip to the Zoo

If you’re an animal lover, Berlin accommodates for you with two brilliant zoos; Berlin Zoological garden and Tierpark Berlin. Both are completely different but worth visiting, however Tierpark is quiet and the animals are spread out nicely over a large period of space.

3. Charlottenburg Palace

Wander around Charlottenburg Palace, for some beautiful history and magnificent architecture. The site has beautiful gardens which rival the Palace of Versailles, but which are free to walk around and enjoy until the evening.

4. See The Berlin Wall

When it comes to the Berlin Wall, there are various sites around Berlin; the Berlin Wall Memorial which is free to visit and open air, it gives a glimpse of living with the wall in Berlin. The famous East Side Gallery is worth a visit along the river is a 1.3km stretch of the Berlin Wall covered in graffiti and artists from 21 different countries. Two important museums to visit are the Checkpoint Charlie Museum which gives a history of the Berlin Wall, but also those who escaped or attempted to, within the museum lies cars in which people escaped and personal belongings and stories of these people. The other is the museum Palace of Tears which was a former border crossing from the GDR to West Berlin which documents divided life in Germany throughout the period the wall was standing, it offers insight into personal experiences and testimonies.

5. Relax at Tropical Islands

For a day of relaxation, grab your swimming costumes and go to Tropical Islands, a short journey outside of Berlin. Inside the tropical paradise, there are numerous attractions for all of the family, there is a tropical garden, beach complex, numerous swimming pools, slides, restaurants, there is something for all of the family in this complex, which is open 24 hours a day.

6. Reichstag

To see amazing views of the city, head to the Reichstag not only is this free, if you book in advance, it offers you outdoor access to beautiful views of the city and a free audio guide detailing the sights and surroundings that you are witnessing. Also within the Reichstag the site offers you an intensive history of the Reichstag. And around the Reichstag, there is the famous Brandenburg Gate to visit and to admire, which is a central part of the iconic history of Berlin.

7. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

A visit to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the adjoining museum to commemorate the atrocities that occurred during the war. The museum is quite distressing but gives an insight into individual stories and experiences throughout the war, whilst trying to preserve the memory of the events.

8. Topography of Terror

Following on from number 7, a visit to the Topography of Terror which is free, gives an insight into the Third Reich and details the history of the period, whilst detailing Nazi officials and their victims. The museum being located on the former Nazi headquarters essentially combines history with the present in this exhibition, which is worthy of at least dedicating a few hours to the site.

9. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

A visit to Sachsenhausen concentration camp is a must for people interested in the Holocaust and the Second World War, it has extensive exhibitions throughout the site which still contains barracks, kitchens and various sections which would have been in use. The layout of the site allows viewers to try to understand the history of the site and the inhabitants better.

10. Lustgarten

One of the most beautiful sections of Berlin, has to be the Lustgarten surrounded by the museums of Museum island and the Berliner Dom. The area is a place to sit and relax in the gardens admiring the scenery, whilst planning the route to take, as the area is close to dozens of major attractions and sites.