24 Fun Things To Do In Berlin – Classic Volkswagen Bus Tour and Urban Monkeys

24 Fun Things To Do In Berlin - Base Flying, VW Bus Tour and Urban Monkeys

24 Fun Things To Do In Berlin - Classic Volkswagen Bus Tour and Urban Monkeys Letโ€™s talk about the best FUN things to do in Berlin. That is why you made it here.

We wrote a big guide to the coolest hostels in Berlin; now we cover the stuff to do around.ย  Time to hit German capital and all the amazing fun things to do in Berlin. When you Backpacking Europe, there is no way you can skip visiting Berlin.

It is very affordable, super stylish, and loaded with worldโ€™s history. Is it even the most important city in the 20ths century?

Most of the time we are seriously bored by regular city guides, especially for such big cities like the German capital. Do you agree? Here is a solution!

List of FUN Things to do in Berlin

We have been several times to Berlin. We are lucky to say: we have many friends living here. Thanks to our local friends we know the city quite well.

This is why we created this guide to the best and fun things to do in Berlin.

Psssst. Again, we wrote a big guide on the best hostels in Berlin. We also wrote a detailed guide on the best party hostels in Berlin.

In a nutshell, these are:

  1. The Circus Hostel โ€“ great for couples
  2. Grand Hostel Berlin Classic โ€“ top pick for female solo travellers
  3. Wallyard Concept Hostel โ€“ best choice for solo travellers and hipster couples

1. Berlin Wall โ€“ Eastside Gallery

If you donโ€™t mind, we start this list with a more obvious one. Eastside Gallery is the largest open gallery in the world. It is around 130km and contains more than 100 paintings by artists all over the world. Entrance is for free!

Good to know: Whatever you do, do NOT miss visiting the Eastside Gallery. This is the #1 Must-Things to do in Berlin.

East Side Gallery in Berlin

2. Anti-Pub Crawl: Alternative Berlin

Take an alternative, intimate pub crawl of Berlin to experience the cityโ€™s nightlife more like a local.

Hop in some of the cityโ€™s most amazing spots and actually meet some of the friendly Berliner. Some of the bars you will visit include a Ping-Pong bar, a Goth horror rock bar, an Absinthe bar, beach bars, squat bars, and even burlesque clubs.

See where Rammstein and Marilyn Manson hang out, play ping pong with the locals in Berlinโ€™s iconic Dr. Pongโ€™s or visit some crazy techno clubs and dive bars.

Try a rave, or a hiphop party in an old, bombed-out abandoned train depot. Perhaps youโ€™d prefer a surreal club 3 floors below the city, with a labyrinth of hidden rooms and oddities that you must descend in an elevator to explore.

Book your Pub Crawl here

Best Pub Crawl in Berlin, Germany

19. Stasi & Bond: Spy Museum Berlin

Scouts, spies, agents, encoders and deceivers are among the oldest professions in the world.

No place is better suited to a spectacular tribute to the major players of this international world of mystery as Potsdamer Platz in the center of Berlin, long considered the capital of spies.

Discover the Berlin of secret agents and espionage at the Spy Museum.

Where the Berlin Wall once divided the city, the Spy Museum Berlin gives a unique insight into the shadowy realm of spying.

Visitors put aside the latest technology to โ€œuncoverโ€ the ingenious and sometimes bizarre methods used by agents and secret services. In Germanyโ€™s only spy museum, experience a thrilling journey through time from the biblical clients to the present and future in the heart of the capital of spies.

Good to know: It is also one of the cool things to do in Berlin for families. Especially kids between 8 and 14 will have fun. Check out the video below. Your kids may enjoy trying to be a spy, not triggering the lasers.

Book Spy Museum here

Compare tickets here: Tiqets.com | Get Your Guide

4. Visit the famous Reichstag (BUT: book ahead of time!)

The German Bundestag is located right around the corner of the Brandenburger Gate (see below).

It is the very city center, you really cannot miss it.

You can visit the building, dome and roof top terrace for free. However, you need to book your visit beforehand on their website. It is free of charge and you need to bring your passport with you.

My best recommendation is booking an actual tour.

Why?

  • They take care of the entrance ticket for you (no hassle!!)
  • Skip The Line Ticket
  • enter the roof top terrace and other restricted areas only tours can access

There is many different tours from Cake Tours to Private Tours. I recommend the Guided Tour in English, giving you a personal guide and fun history facts.

Good to know: If you want to eat a cake and drink a coffee at the roof top terrace, you have to prebook this too!

Book Reichstags Tour in English here

Find all tours of the Reichstags here.

Visti German Reichstag in Berlin; one of the coolest things to do for sure

5. Restaurant: Cafรฉ Auszeit at the river bank

โ€žCafe Auszeitโ€œ is a lovely restaurant off the tourist path, located in the district of Wedding.

If you are looking for an authentic Berlin restaurant, this is the place to be. Here you can get some finger food, pasta, burger and a large breakfast if you fancy. The location is very beautiful to visit as it is located at the river bank.

Cafรฉ Auszeit is especially recommended during summer as they have a big terrace here and delicious home made lemonade. They have some vegetarian options like Halloumi -Burger and vegetarian anit-pasti. Are you looking for vegan food? Then check out the vegan guide to Berlin here.

This restaurant is a 20 minutes walk away from Wallyard Concept Hostel โ€“ via public transport 10 minutes.

Address: Kiautschoustr. 12a, 13353 Berlin, Germany

Another Summer Tip: You can also hop on a river cruise. It takes around 1 hour and takes your along the Berlin Reichstag and the Cathedral. Especially when you are in Berlin over Summer, this is wonderful.

6. The Monkey Bar

We have to admit, this one is slightly touristic, okay okay.

BUT, in our defense: it is pretty cool indeed!

Climb up the monkey bar, get a drink and enjoy the view. The monkey bar is a hip hotel terrace with a direct view to the Berlin Zoo (therefore the name!) and a beautiful view over Berlin.

Find more information and events at the Monkey Bar here.

Address: Budapester Str. 40, 10787 Berlin, Germany

7. Mauerpark on a Sunday

This is probably on top of all the coolest things to do in Berlin in summer!

โ€žMauerparkโ€œ simply means โ€žwall parkโ€œ and refers to its former status being part of the Berlin wall and death strip.

It is a public park which is a great place to visit, not necessarily beautiful, but super cool and hip โ€“ could this be any more Berlin?!

The Mauerpark is a cultural and artistic center.

Join the numerous events from Karaoke on Sundays, flea markets, exhibitions, live music and more. You can find all events at Mauerpark.info

Good to know: The park is extremely popular for locals. If you are planning to visit on a Sunday, try to be there before noon. It will get super busy afterwards โ€“ still cool though!

Here is also a video of the Mauerpark Karaoke. If you join the Karaoke, make sure you drop us a photo in instagram ๐Ÿ™‚

Address: Schwedter Str. (Bernauer Str.), 12305 Berlin, Germany

8. Oasis: Flughafen Tempelhof during summer

The former Tempelhof airport is now a public park.

But not just any.

It is a huge green park in the heart of Berlin, a perfect place for cycling, skating, BBQing, and living.

Address: Tempelhofer Damm 1-7,12107 Berlin, Germany

9. Free Walking Tour (perfect to start!)

We love to take a free walking tour on our first day visiting a city.

We tested out several tours and in our opinion Sandemanโ€™s Free Tour is the most compact walking tour.

The tour covers interesting facts about Berlinโ€™s history and Berlin today plus some cool fun facts!

Again, especially recommended for your very first day in Berlin, as you can ask the guide basically everything!

Anyways, thereโ€™s so many cool walking tours in Berlin. Simply ask your hostel. For sure they know a great one too!

Free Walking Tour Berlin

10. Brandenburger Tor & Holocaust Memorial

There is no way on earth you can miss the Brandenburger Tor (English: Brandenburger Gate).

This is where the wall was opened for only a few minutes before the fall itself. This is where worldโ€™s history happened. Curious enough, today there is still the embassy of the U.S.A, France, and Russia.

Around the corner of Brandenburger Gate you will find the world famous Holocaust Memorial โ€“ another must-visit in Berlin.

You can walk through the Memorial itself.

Many tourists play here hide&seek while other see this as not appropriate. Please remember that this memorial symbolizes a dark part of German, European and world history.

Every walking tour will cover this sight too.

Fair enough to say: It is not a fun thing to do in Berlin, but one we absolutely recommend.

There is also amazing walking tours for this area. The tour costs only 14โ‚ฌ and takes you to the most important sights and parts of town. It also includes the Holocaust Memorial and other places you just want to see and experience.

Book Walking Tour here

Holocaust Memorial Berlin

11. Spreepark, the Abandoned Theme Park

There is always something special about abandoned theme parks.

We visited the abandoned water park in Hue, and the Spreepark in Berlin easily competes.

Pack your camera!

Located in south-east Berlin, the Spreepark has been abandoned since 2002. The theme park was actually build in the formerly part of the GDR-controlled East Berlin, and it was actually used until 2002.

Good to know: Unfortunately you cannot visit Spreepark on your own anymore. It is forbidden to enter the area without a guided tour. Although people do it still anyways.

Find more information here.

12. Underground Berlin

A tour of underground Berlin takes you through World War Two air raid shelters and tunnels used to smuggle people out from East to West Germany.

But not just that. It is also about Bunkers and Hitlers plans of โ€œGermaniaโ€. If interested in the late history of Germany and Europe, then go here.

Visit the website Berliner-Unterwelten.de to find out more about their tours.

13. Eat at TV Tower Berlin

The famous TV Tower of Berlin, in German โ€œFernsehturmโ€.

This building will help you almost every single time to get directions on where you are in the city.

But not just that.

Same as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, you can actually go up here and eat.

After all, thereโ€™s a restaurant.

Enjoy the panorama floor of Berlinโ€™s TV Tower and take a seat by the window. See the city and all its sights, such as Potsdamer Platz, the Brandenburg Gate, the cathedral and the Olympic Stadium, from 200 meters above the city.

You can actually pre-book a table in the restaurant in the TV Tower for a VIP dinner. Take in scenic views as you enjoy a 2-course lunch from your window seat at the โ€œSphereโ€ restaurant of Berlinโ€™s TV Tower. See iconic sights such as the Reichstag or Brandenburg Gate from one of the tallest freestanding structures in Europe.

This is obviously one of the romantic things to do in Berlin. Good idea for a date!

Good to know: Do you want to visit the Tower itself, no dinner? Then get the Skip-The-Line Ticket.

Book your TV Tower here

TV Tower in Berlin

14. Drive a Trabbi Car through Berlin โ€“ Unique!

One of the unique things to do in Berlin is this one: Take a Trabbi Tour!

Seriously, that is a bit like driving a vintage car through Paris, or take a Mario Kart through Tokyo.

Take a trundle back in time, in your much-loved vehicle, over the cobblestones of Berlin.

After your second hair-raising corner, youโ€™ll have caught the Trabi-fever, and never want to get out again.

All good things must come to an end, but donโ€™t worry: as a souvenir of this unique experience, weโ€™ll give you your very own Trabant driverโ€™s license!

During the tour, you will pass by popular Berlin sights including:

  • Potsdamer Platz
  • the Brandenburg Gate
  • Unter den Linden
  • the Berlin Cathedral
  • the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall)
  • the TV Tower
  • East Side Gallery
  • the Oberbaum Bridge
  • Checkpoint Charlie.

Good to know: You are actually driving the Trabbi by yourself. So you need to bring a valid drivers license.

Book you Trabbi Safari here

Drive a Trabbi Car through Berlin - Unique!

15. Sightseeing Tour in classic VW Bus

While we already love the idea of a Trabbi Safari, the classic VW Bus really had an impact on us.

Both tours in the classic car is amazing. While you drive your own Trabbi car in the tour above, you will be driven by a drive in the classic Volkswagen Bus.

Still cool though!

Enjoy an exceptional and exclusive sightseeing tour in the legendary VW T1 Samba bus. Discover the history of almost 50 (!!!) sights of Berlin in two hours in a vehicle for 7 people.

Travel the guided route through small but interesting side roads, so that your friendly chauffeur can tell you about the different eras of Berlin in just two hours. You also get to know almost forgotten places and discover the origins of the city.

Book your VW Bus Tour here

Vintage Volkswagen Tour in Berlin

16. Berlin Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie

Of of my favorite museums in Berlin: The Wall Museum!

It is located directly at the famous Checkpoint Charlie, another sight you have to visit anyways.

The museum was founded on October 19th, 1962, shortly after the construction of the Berlin Wall, as a protest against the Wall and to provide assistance to the people seeking help.

The Berlin Wall Museum was formed with the purpose of fighting against human rights violations as a result of the wall. Gradually the museum increased its exhibition space and contributed to the fall of the Wall.

The museum had a vital role in history and the objects on display in the museum provide evidence of this.

They are original artifacts from successful escapes such as a hot-air balloon, a mini-submarine, cars and airplanes. People helping East Germans to flee used the museum as a base from which they planned the escapes and organized resistance to the unjust GDR regime.

After escaping, the refugees and their helpers donated their various means of conveyance and other objects to the museum.

If I told you a few things on how people escape from East Berlin, you wouldnโ€™t believe it.

Again, if you are interested in German and late European History, come here. You will enjoy this one. It takes you around 2 hours to visit everything in the Berlin Wall Museum.

Good to know: You see, this is not a museum built AFTER the fall of wall, it was actually part of it. Seriously one of the unique things to do in Berlin.

Get Wall Museum Ticket here

17. Street Art, Graffiti Tour and Workshop

Berlin and Graffiti โ€“ that goes literally hand in hand.

Learn the story of graffiti in Berlin on a graffiti walking tour, seeing the latest and best examples of Berlin street art. Later, make your own urban masterpiece in a hands-on workshop with real local artists.

It is one of the cheap things to do. And for sure, a very โ€œberlinyโ€ activity, weโ€™d say.

Book the Street Art Tour

Street Art, Graffiti Tour and Workshop

18. Foodie Tour: Culinary Food Tour in Kreuzberg

Foodies, please listen up! This is one for the hipster things to do in Berlin.

Experience a special food tour in one of Berlinโ€™s most famous hotspots, Kreuzberg. Enjoy a 3-hour trip through the streets, backyards, and restaurants of the unique neighborhood.

Berlin has all types of cuisines, and you can eat all day long everything you want. Almost.

Anyways, make sure you put some budget on the side for eating your way through Berlin. There is even cooking classes. Iโ€™d keep that open for your Barcelona trip though.

For Berlin, hop on the Food Tour. Guten Appetit!

Book your Food Tour here

Berlin Food Tour, one of the hipster things to do in Berlin

19. Bar Live Music: โ€œAn einem Sonntag im Augustโ€

We felt in love with this place on our very first day we visited Berlin back in 2008.

โ€žAn einem Sonntag im Augustโ€œ simply means on a Sunday in August. Enjoy a delicious brunch with not a big but tasty selection, or the daily menu.

But wait, here is our actual recommendation: This place is 100% typical Berlin.

Stop by for the evening or a special event. There are quite a lot of music concerts to enjoy, so get their latest updates and events on their Facebook page.

Last but not least: The area is fantastic to discover more of the Berlin nightlife. Beer garden, simple bar or cocktail bar โ€“ you have a wide selection of choice here! They also host live concerts here.

Address: Kastanienallee 94-103, 10435 Berlin, Germany

20. Visit a Fleamarket

Another super popular thing to do in Berlin is visiting a Flea Market.

There is quite a few, and personally we have been to only two of them. But shame on us, we do not even know their names.

So here is the most popular flea markets in Berlin:

  • Flea Market at Marheinekeplatz
  • Flea Market at Arkonaplatz
  • Flea Market at Rathaus Schรถneberg
  • Fesche Lotte Flea Market
  • Antique and Book Market at Bode Museum
  • Art and Flea Market at Fehrbelliner Platz
  • Flea Market at Boxhagener Platz
  • Flea Market on StraรŸe des 17. Juni
  • Antique Market at Ostbahnhof
  • Nowkรถlln Flea Market
  • SO36 Night Flea Market

Find more information about flea markets in Berlin here.

21. Bitcoin Bar Berlin: Room 77

Rock n Roll Bar and Burger in Berlin that only accepts Bit Coin.

The place calls itself โ€œthe restaurant at the end of capitalism: warm beer, cold women and fast food made slow.โ€

The food is really good. So good that guests are actually surprised.

Anyways, the reason why this place is famous: You can only pay in cash or in BitCoin. Find more information about Room77 on FourSquare.

22. Germans can be funny: Comedy Bus Tour

Discover Berlin on this fantastic 1.5-hour comedy tour.

Explore the city of Berlin on this fantastic comedy tour. Experience the rolling stand-up show and enjoy the entertainment by top comedians such as Cem Ali Gรผltekin, Thorsten Bรคr, or Andrรฉ Kaiser.

Enjoy a unique combination of comedy and historical anecdotes as you explore the famous sights in the German capital.

Good to know: The tour is in English, and loaded with comedy and fun facts. Really entertaining sightseeing.

Book your Comedy Bus Tour here

23. More Live Concerts

What if I told you, you can visit every single day a cool concert!? Well, itโ€™s Berlin, of course it is possible here.

It would be way to long and simply impossible to list all events here.

Check out all events and concerts in Berlin here.

24. Base Flying

Confession time: I did not do this by my own.

But hey, you can! On Alexanderplatz you can actually try out Base Flying. What is Base Flying?

Roped upon a special construction, you will be jumping down a whopping 125m from the roof of the Park Inn Hotel Berlin Alexanderplatz; at almost free-fall speed.

If you are not dizzy already, check out the website for more information and click the video below.

How to get around Berlin

Now that we have covered these cool activities, how do you get around? First things first: Always buy a ticket when using public transport.

If you are planning to use the public transport (and you should), always buy a ticket.

Again: Always!

There are many controls on tickets, so you should try to avoid a penalty.

There are so many different offers on tourist cards and tickets, it is impossible for us to collect them all here.

The easiest and most comfy ticket is the Welcome Berlin Card.

You can choose from 48 hours up to 6 days tickets for public transport and it even gives you discounts to major sights.

The tickets is valid for the areas ABC. It includes as well transport for both Airports Schรถnefeld and Tegel Airport as well as Potsdam and Sachsenhausen Memorial.

Good to know: We always bought a day ticket, which is worth it to take if you plan to take the public transport more than 3 times a day.

Best Hostels in Berlin

As mentioned at the beginning we have been several times to Berlin. We checked out several hostels.

The last time we stayed at the new Hostel in town: Wallyard Concept Hostel!

This accommodation a a stylish Boutique Hostel, combining an industrial design with the hipster vibe of Berlin.

This hostel is not just super stylish. It is also 100% Berlin-like! Stay here, thank us later!

The 3 best hostels are:

  1. The Circus Hostel โ€“ great for couples
  2. Grand Hostel Berlin Classic โ€“ top pick for female solo travellers
  3. Wallyard Concept Hostel โ€“ best choice for solo travellers and hipster couples

Read: complete guide to the best hostels in Berlin, Germany

We prepared a super useful full guide to Hostels in Europe which will help you to save money and choosing hostels!

Wallyard Concept Hostel is the only 5 Star Hostel in Berlin

Airbnb in Berlin

Do you prefer an Airbnb? We got you cover! This amazing studio apartment has everything you need plus good views towards Alexanderplatz.

You can thank us later!

Book your Airbnb here

Airbnb in Berlin, central location

Map of all Fun Things to do in Berlin

We put all our recommendations on the map. As you can see, all our recommendations are throughout the city.

For a Berlin experience, we think, this is perfect.

Every corner of the German capital is different. This way you can get an idea of all the different areas.

Summary: Best Things to do in Berlin

By now you should have taken notes; and your list should be long.

Right?!

Anyway, it is worth it to know, Berlin is quite big. It can take a long time to get from A to B, although it is well connected. Just make sure you plan with enough time and do not rush it too much.

Also, there is many day trips worth it to take a look such as the day trips to Concentration Camps outside the city.

Any questions?

We would love to have this guide as useful as possible for you. If we forgot anything to cover or in case anything is unclear, please help us to help you.

Leave us a comment below. We will get back to you as soon as time allows.

Your question will actually help us to make this article better. It will help you to get your travel plans straight, and it helps your fellow travelers planning their own trip.

Thanks, safe travels and enjoy Berlin!

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24 Fun Things To Do In Berlin - Classic Volkswagen Bus Tour and Urban Monkeys

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