Which Places in Berlin Can You Visit for Free
Berlin is one of Europe's most fascinating capitals, and many of its main sights can be seen without spending a single euro. Here are the free places and a few tips on saving money in the city.
1. Brandenburg Gate
The symbol of Berlin and all of Germany on Pariser Platz in the Mitte district. See it both by day and in the evening, when it is beautifully lit.
Getting there: S+U Brandenburger Tor station or bus 100.
2. Reichstag Dome
The glass dome above the Bundestag building is free to visit and offers a view over the whole city centre. Visits must be registered in advance on the Bundestag website, and you need to bring your passport.
3. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
A field of 2,711 concrete stelae a few steps from the Brandenburg Gate. The memorial is open around the clock, and the underground information centre is also free.
4. Museum Island
An island in the Spree with five famous museums: the Altes and Neues Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie, the Bode Museum and the Pergamon Museum, which is currently being renovated. Even without a ticket it is a pleasant place to walk and see Berlin Cathedral.
On the first Sunday of every month, Museumssonntag gives free entry to about 60 Berlin museums, including those on Museum Island, if you book a time slot online.
5. East Side Gallery
The longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall in Friedrichshain, painted in 1990 by artists from 21 countries. It is a free open-air gallery more than a kilometre long.
Getting there: Ostbahnhof or Warschauer Straße stations.
6. Unter den Linden
Berlin's best-known boulevard runs from Pariser Platz to the Palace Bridge. Along the way you will see Humboldt University, the State Opera, the State Library and the German Historical Museum.
Getting there: Unter den Linden U-Bahn station (line U5).
7. Hackesche Höfe and the Hackescher Markt courtyards
Next to Hackescher Markt station are the Hackesche Höfe, eight connected Art Nouveau courtyards, and the Haus Schwarzenberg courtyard with street art and small galleries. Entry to the courtyards is free.
8. Tiergarten
One of Berlin's largest city parks, covering about 210 hectares. It has shady paths, the Neuer See lake with boat hire and the Victory Column at its centre.
Getting there: Potsdamer Platz, Bellevue or Tiergarten stations.
9. Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße
The best place to understand what the Wall looked like: a preserved border strip, a watchtower and a viewing platform. Entry to the memorial grounds is free.
10. Museum Berlin-Karlshorst
A museum in the building where Germany's surrender was signed on 8 May 1945, of interest to anyone keen on Second World War history. Entry is free.
Address: Zwieseler Str. 4. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
11. Tempelhofer Feld
The former Tempelhof Airport has become a huge park: people cycle and skate on the runways, fly kites and have picnics.
12. A free walking tour
Berlin has pay-what-you-wish walking tours: a guide takes you around the centre, and at the end you decide how much to tip. You can choose a date and time on the New Berlin Tours website.
13. Berlin Welcome Card
The card is not free, but it helps you save: it covers public transport and gives discounts on museums, tours and attractions.
Frequently asked questions
Which Berlin museums are free?
On the first Sunday of every month about 60 museums are free during Museumssonntag. Museum Berlin-Karlshorst, the Topography of Terror and the Bernauer Straße memorial are always free.
Is the Reichstag dome free?
Yes, but you must register your visit in advance on the Bundestag website.
What can I see in Berlin in one day for free?
The Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag dome, the Holocaust Memorial, Unter den Linden, Museum Island and the East Side Gallery.
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