Things to do in

Museum Island

Discover some of the key landmarks of Berlin on a sightseeing boat tour. Enjoy a relaxing river cruise on the Spree to take in the sights at the heart of this bustling city.   Depart from Friedrichstraße or Nikolaiviertel. Your 1-hour sightseeing tour will take you past the Reichstag (German Parliament Building), through the new Regierungsviertel (Government Quarter), all the way to the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures). After turning at the Lutherbrücke (Luther Bridge), keep a look out for Schloss Bellevue (Bellevue Palace), the "Beamtenschlange" (civil servant housing), and the Siegessäule (Victory Column). Marvel at Hauptbahnhof (Central Station), Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), Museumsinsel (Museum Island), and the Nikolaiviertal, the oldest residential area in Berlin. Arrive back either Friedrichstraße or Nikolaiviertel to finish the tour.

Embark on a 1-hour cruise through the city of Berlin and the government district on a boating vessel optimized for panoramic views of the city. Learn about Berlin from your professional guides and boat operators and explore the city from the unique vantage point of the water. Hop aboard one of the two glass panorama ships in MS Carola and MS Franziska and listen as your tour guide presents the one-hour boat trip. Listen to live explanations and stories about the exciting cityscape of Berlin. Embark on a daily trip from March to December and take in the panoramic view with a beer, cup of coffee, or long drinks. Thanks to the large window areas, everyone is ensured an optimal view when the guides explain the highlights of Berlin, such as the Berlin Cathedral or the Reichstag. In the warmer months the window area will be fully opened however the windows can shut in the event of cold or adverse weather conditions; ensuring your comfort throughout the trip.

Discover the center of Berlin via its major waterway, the River Spree, on a 2.5-hour boat cruise. See the main sights of the city from the water and feel the heartbeat of the bustling city. Start your roundtrip sightseeing tour on Friedrichstrasse and pass by the Federal Chancellery to reach Bellevue Palace, overlooking the Beamtenschlange (civil servant accommodation) and the Victory Column. Enjoy informative audio commentary as you see Berlin Central Station and the Interior Ministry before continuing on to Charlottenburg Palace. From there you will cruise past the Westhafen Canal, the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal, the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Hamburger Bahnhof. You will then cruise back to Friedrichstrasse.

Explore Berlin and learn about the city’s history and sights via audio commentary, available in several languages. Experience the beauty of the forests, parks, gardens, rivers, and lakes that cover nearly a third of the city. This city has witnessed many groundbreaking historical events. See the corresponding sites, as well as the city's most famous streets and squares, with your ticket for this hop-on hop-off tour. The Classic Route gives you the chance to see all the main sights of the city, including the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, and the East Side Gallery, to name just a few. The Trendy East Berlin & Wall Route gives you the chance to explore Rotes Rathaus, Oranienburger Strabe, East Side Gallery and much more! Classic Tour Stops: 1) Tautzienstrasse 2) KaDeWe 3) Lutzowplatz 4) Potsdamer Platz / Hist. Ampel 5) Gropiusbau 6) Checkpoint Charlie 7) Gendarmenmarkt 8) Neptunbrunnen 9) Alexanderplatz 10) Lustgarten 11) Unter den Linden / Friedrichstrabe 12) Brandenburger Tor 13) Reichstag 14) Hauptbahnhof 15) Siegessaule 16) Zoo / Elefantentor 17) Cafe Kranzler 18) Kurfurstendamm 236 Trendy East Berlin & Wall Tour 1) Rotes Rathaus (Neptune Fountain) 2) Oranienburger Strabe / Krausnickstrasse 3) Bernauer Strabe (Cafe Bar Central) 4) Mauerpark, Bernauer Strabe 45 5) Park Inn Hotel, Alexanderplatz 7 6) Karl-Marx-Allee (Computerspielemuseum) 7) East Side Gallery (Mercedes-Benz Arena) 8) Ostbahnhof (Intercity Hotel) Choose the Tour of Lights bus tour to enjoy the city's annual light festival and enjoy a tour aboard an open-top bus with live commentary.

Explore Berlin's top sights on a convenient hop-on hop-off bus ticket. Listen to facinating stories about the city with live commentary. Have the freedom to jump on or off throughout the validity of your ticket. Visit top areas like Tiergarten, Gendarmenmarkt, and Potsdamer. One of the stops is the historically significant Potsdamer Platz. In the 1930s, it was one of the most public squares in Berlin. After the Second World War, this was no man’s land, where the Berlin Wall divided the city. Today, seeing the vibrant life and the newly erected towers reminiscent of New York’s urban canyons, you will hardly believe that for years there was nothing here other than the Berlin Wall, spring-guns and GDR soldiers. Also, the Legoland Discovery Center is on Potsdamer Platz. From there, continue to Berlin’s other important historical sites. In the Niederkirchner Straße you can find the city parliament, the Martin-Gropius-Bau, a museum with changing exhibitions, the Topography of Terror, which exhibits the history of the Nazis and of the Jews’ suffering under the Nazis, as well as the Ministry of Finance, which was once the Nazi Ministry of Aviation. After the Gendarmenmarkt it’s on to Alexanderplatz and the TV Tower. The stop for these sights is the Neptune Fountain. This used to be the Berlin City Palace. Here you will also have the opportunity to go shopping. The next stop is Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, in front of the Radisson Hotel. From here you can transfer on to a boat if you wish to experience Berlin by boat as well as bus. From here you can also admire the golden dome of the New Synagogue on Oranienburger Straße. The “Hackeschen Höfe” are only a few minutes away. Next you'll go over the glamorous street Unter den Linden to the Museum Island, Bebelplatz, Humboldt University and to the stops Unter den Linden 36 (Friedrichstrasse) at ZDF Capital City Studios and Unter den Linden 74, where one of Berlin’s most important attractions is located: Madame Tussauds Berlin. From here the ride continues to the Brandenburg Gate. On the way you will see the UK, Russia, France and US embassies, followed by the Holocaust Memorial. The stop there is at Platz des 18. März. The road leads on past the Reichstag and the government district. You will soon reach the new Hauptbahnhof. From here you have the world-famous view of the German Chancellery, the Reichstag and – as a special surprise – Berlin’s “Fujiyama”. Finally you will cross Berlin’s ‘green lung’, the Tiergarten. This park is bigger than New York’s Central Park. The tour then brings you past the Congress Hall to the stop at Bellevue Palace, the official residence of the President of Germany. From here you can also see the Siegessäule with the golden Victoria statue at the top.

The Museum Island Ticket/Museumsinsel-Ticket is valid for one day in all houses of the Museum Island (Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Bodemuseum, Das Panorama, Alte Nationalgalerie). From 24.10. guests with this ticket do not need a time-slot-ticket in the museums (required for Neues Museum, Panorama, Altes Nationalagalerie). Exception: special exhibition Secessions (here the time window ticket remains). By visiting all of them you can learn about ancient Greek and Roman culture, history, Egyptian treasures and art of different periods. If you would like to see Egyptian and Nubian art, head to the Neues Museum, which is most known for the famous bust of Nefertiti. The Bode Museum offers sculptures dated in the Middle Ages up until the early Renaissance and a collection of artifacts from Byzantine art. If you wish to see ancient Greek and Roman decorative art, you should visit the Altes Museum that contains a permanent collection of ancient Greek and Roman vases and statues. From the outside, it is considered to be one of Berlin's most impressive neoclassical buildings. Please be aware that Pergamon Museum is close.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Berlin with a flexible Hop On - Hop Off bus tour. Dive into the heart of the city at your leisure on our panoramic sightseeing buses uncovering the treasures of Berlin’s landmarks such as the Museum Island, the Berlin Palace, the iconic Ku'Damm, and witness the historic remnants of a divided city at Checkpoint Charlie. These comprehensive bus routes cover the entire city, offering you the opportunity to visit landmarks like the majestic Brandenburg Gate or the Reichstag with its stunning glass dome. Delve deeper into the city’s secrets and culture with the Essential and Explore options that include a delicious CurryWurst (Sausage with CurrySauce) and the incomparable 1.5-hour Walking Tour focused on the Third Reich. Explore Tickets include as well an amazing Evening Tour that tours past the remnants of the Berlin Wall and shows you the vibrant districts of Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg. You can also top up your adventure by choosing options with the 1-hour boat tour along the Spree river. The stops for the bus tours are: Red Line (Bus) • Alexanderplatz • Rotes Rathaus • Museum Island • Friedrichstrasse • Brandenburger Tor • Reichstag • Hauptbahnhof • Haus der Kulturen der Welt • Bellevue Palace • Siegessäule (Victory Column) • Kurfürstendamm • KaDeWe • Lützowplatz • Kulturforum • Potsdamer Platz • Remnants of the Berlin Wall • Checkpoint Charlie • Gendarmenmarkt Blue Line (Bus) • Alexanderplatz • Frankfurter Allee • East Side Gallery • Ostbahnhof

The Berlin WelcomeCard, available as a 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6-day option, offers a great, cost-effective means to explore the city in-depth. Travel on public transport in fare zones Berlin ABC and receive exclusive discounts of up to 50% with many participating partners. Whether you're taking a city tour or visiting a museum, theater, or restaurant, when you use the Berlin WelcomeCard, you can see all Berlin has to offer at an amazing price. You'll also receive a pocket-size travel guide with lots of tour suggestions and insider tips. Each WelcomeCard includes free transport for up to 3 children between 6 and 14 years old. Children under the age of 6 generally travel for free. Enjoy discounted rates for the following activities and attractions: • Sightseeing tours • Guided city tours • Bike tours • Boat rides • Various attractions • Museums • Theater/stage performances • Palaces • Restaurants & bars  • Shopping & souvenirs • Fun, sport & relax Visit sights and attractions, such as the following: • Berlin Dungeon • Olympiastadion Berlin (Olympic Stadium) • Berlin Dom  • German Spy Museum • Madame Tussauds Berlin • Legoland Discovery Centre Berlin • Tierpark Berlin • Anne Frank Center • Charlottenburg Palace • Comedy tour Berlin • German Opera • Friedrichstadt-Palast • TimeRide Berlin • TV Tower • Botanical Garden • German Historical Museum, German Museum of Technology • Asisi Panorama „Die Mauer“ • Panoramapunkt • DDR Museum • Fork & Walk Tours Berlin • and many more! And of course, you should not miss the following free sights and locations when visiting Berlin: • Brandenburg Gate & Unter den Linden • Reichstag & German Parliament (pre-booking required) • Checkpoint Charlie • East Side Gallery • Gendarmenmarkt • Kurfürstendamm • Potsdamer Platz & Alexanderplatz • Berlin Wall Memorial

See historic Berlin on a walking tour through the city's most significant places. Take an informative, thought-provoking journey that brings the history of Berlin alive. Cover all of Berlin's main sights, from the Berlin Wall to the site of Hitler's bunker. Visit the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin Cathedral, Palace Square, and much more. Choose to take either a shorter or longer tour with a private guide to fit your schedule. Your guide’s superb story-telling skills will weave the themes of Prussian, Imperial, Nazi, Cold War and 21st-Century Berlin into a detailed narrative, stretching from Berlin’s swampy origins in medieval times. Hear tales about controversies over the design of the memorial, to the tragic story of the murdered Jews of Europe. Along the way, meet characters who have left their imprint on the city, including Albert Einstein, Marlene Dietrich, and JFK. Stand above the spot where Hitler took his life in April 1945, and see where daring escapes took place across the Berlin Wall before its momentous fall in 1989.

Join a 1-hour round-trip boat tour that starts close to Hackescher Markt. Sit back and relax as you learn about the captivating history of Berlin from the onboard audio guide commentary. First, cruise along the River Spree to the Eastern part of the city, where you will see the Berlin Cathedral, the newly inaugurated Humboldt Forum, and the Marstall concert hall. Turning in front of the Mühlendammschleuse head back westwards past the oldest part of Berlin, the Nikolaiviertel. A little bit further down the river, learn more about Museum Island before cruising past Friedrichstraße before entering the Parliament district. See the Reichstag building, the Berlin Central Station, as well as the Federal Chancellery. At the House of World Cultures, the boat will turn around again and bring you back to the pier.