7 things to do on a rainy day in Berlin

And then you are in the capital of Germany: Berlin. Not just any city, but one with a very rich history. Unfortunately, the weather is less positive, so unfortunately we have to cancel the planned bike ride. Too bad, because I’ve done cycling through Berlin before and I really recommend it. This time we will continue with plan B, because even when the weather is bad, Berlin remains inspiring. Therefore, 7 tips to do on a rainy day in Berlin:

1. Visit one of the many museums in Berlin.

No city is as rich in museums as Berlin (more than 175). During a weekend visit to this city you will not make it to all the museums. If you like history and culture, it’s best to start with the best: the German Historical Museum. From Nazi Germany, war to a reunited Germany. You can find all the history of the country here, so you can spend a day with it. In addition, the museum has changing exhibitions, which means that a repeat visit will also be innovative.

Address: Unter den Linden 2 | Public transport: S Hackescher Markt | Entrance fee: 8 euros

2. Enjoy good food & drinks

The range of restaurants in Berlin is large. There is always something to be found that you love. Most are around Alexanderplatz, Oranienburger Strasse, everything around Ku’damm or Potsdamerplatz. The new heart of the old metropolis beats on Potsdamerplaz. Here you will find nice restaurants, shops & cinemas. That makes this area nice to spend some time. We ate a delicious hamburger at one of the restaurants in the Sony center. It was a cozy Australian restaurant, with good food and nice and close after a long day in Berlin.

But also look beyond these large touristic squares, because many streets have nice eateries. Just like in many other cities, Berlin also has more restaurants outside the tourist center.

3. Hop on, hop off the bus

Okay, this is touristy through and through, but if you are only in Berlin for a short time on a rainy day, this means of transport offers a solution. There are several routes, but the classic route is best for a first visit to this metropolis. You’ll be nice and dry, can look outside, explore the city with your eyes and get out whenever you want to catch a glimpse of the highlights. Every 10-15 minutes a new bus comes, so if it rains too hard you can take shelter until the next bus takes you to your new destination. There are a total of 13 stops, so you will always find a pick-up point near you.

4. Visit Historic Buildings – Reichstag

The Reichstag including the Dome, the Berliner Dom, the Federal Chancellery and the City Hall are the most important historical buildings in the city that you can also take a look inside. We chose (just like many tourists) to take a closer look at the Reichstag. There is no more powerful symbol in German history than this building. The building was renovated in 1997-1999, making it one of the most modern parliament buildings in the world. It is the official seat of the Bundestag, the German parliament and one of the city’s most popular landmarks. From the egg-shaped dome you have a fantastic view over the city.

Note: if you want to visit the dome, it is best to register first via www.bundestag.de (2-3 days in advance). It is also an option to try this on the day itself at the tourist office opposite the Reichstag entrance (open 8am – 8pm). I would definitely go for the first option, because there is often a long queue at the tourist office and that is a waste of your time!

5. Day at the zoo

Traveling with children? Or just crazy about animals? The zoo(s) in Berlin offer a good daytime activity on a rainy day. There is much to see inside and between the showers you can see everything that is outside.

Berlin has a lot of doubles. For example, there are several operas, universities, but also zoos. One zoo is located in the former West Berlin (Zoologischer Garten) and the other zoo (Tierpark Berlin) about 15 kilometers away in the former East Berlin.

• The Zoologischer Garten (Zoo Berlin, Berlin Zoo) is one of the oldest and species-rich zoos in the world. This zoo is the favorite family spot with a large playground, restaurants and coffee shops.
• The Tierpark Berlin has the largest surface of all zoos in Europe (approx. 60 ha). This not only makes it a pleasant park to visit, but it is also very pleasant for the animals.

Both zoos are worth a visit. Check out the websites of the zoos to find the one that best suits your visit to Berlin.

6. Go shopping/ KaDeWe

Shopping is excellent in Berlin. Throughout the city you will find typical German shops, but also mostly well-known brands that we also have in the Netherlands. Around the Kurfürstendamm you will find many well-known European brands, the Friedrichstrasse is the place where you see many expensive shops and at Alexander Platz is the place with large department stores and electronics stores.

KaDeWe, however, is typically Berlin, located near the busy Kurfürstendam. This is the second largest department store in Europe after Harrods in London. At first, a visit to this department store didn’t seem worth it to me, but because many people spoke positively about it, we went there anyway. However, for me it remains just a department store where you can shop well.

But there is also something positive. Do you not feel like shopping, but more in the mood for something delicious? Then my advice is to go straight to floor 6. There you will find all kinds of fresh food. You can of course buy these, but it is even more fun to have the chefs prepare something fresh for you and enjoy it there. In addition, you are nice and dry! The KaWeDe is closed on Sundays, as are all other shops in Berlin.

Address: Tauentzienstrae 21-24| Public transport: Wittenbergplatz

7. Visit Berlin Wall

There are several places where parts of the old Berlin Wall can be found. But with bad weather you can have the best fun at the places below.

• • Memorial to Bernauer Strae
    It’s hard to imagine what life must have been like with the wall, especially for those who didn’t consciously experience the cold war. To get an idea it is worthwhile to visit the Gedenkstätte Bernauer Straße. Here you will find an original piece of wall with no man’s land, a watchtower, a museum and various information boards about the escape attempts that took place here. From the viewpoint at the museum you look directly at the Todesstreifen and a watchtower which is still intact. It gives a good impression of how stark the boundary line must have been.
    Address: Bernauer Straße 111 | Public transport: S Nordbahnhof or U8 Bernauer Straße | Entrance: free
  • The open-air exhibition Berlin 1933–1945This part of the wall is unjustly sometimes skipped by tourists. Shame! Here you will not only find a piece of wall, but also panels with photos and texts with the subject ‘Between propaganda and Terror’. This exhibition focuses on Nazi policy in the German capital and how it affected the city and its inhabitants. Thanks to the photos and explanations you get an idea of ​​how Hitler wanted to develop Berlin into the world capital of Germania. The exhibition is definitely worth a visit. Moreover, it is partly covered and on a rainy day it is perfect to learn more about the propaganda terror of Hitler at the time. Make sure that you start at the front with the year 1933, then the story is best to follow.

Address: Niederkirchner Straße 8 | Public transport: Within walking distance of Potsdamer Platz Station or Anhalter Bahnhof | Entrance: free