10 Best Scenic Walks in Berlin

The starting point for the 5.5-km walk discovering the Berlin Wall from East Side Gallery to Mauerpark is right by the river Spree. The East Side Gallery, once part of the Berlin Wall, is now a 1.3-km-long colourful and thought-provoking open-air art gallery.

Continue along Holzmarkstraße and enjoy the perfect views of the river. On Alexanderstraße, stop at the peacock fountain to rest your feet. Soon you’ll reach the busy Alexanderplatz with the iconic Fernsehturm and its amazing views of the city. On Schönhauser Allee you can admire gorgeous street art as you continue to Mauerpark, once part of the Wall, now an open green space. Here you can find the famous flea market and open-air karaoke on Sundays.

For a taste of German culture, explore Berlin-Mitte from Museum Island to Rosenthaler Platz and visit great museums, churches and parks. This 1.5-km walk starts at the Berliner Dom, the 19th-century cathedral with striking views. Museum Island offers 5 unique museums filled with breath-taking works of art and artefacts. You’ll find the famous 3,000-year-old bust of Nefertiti in Neues Museum.

Friedrichsbrücke takes you across the river Spree where you can catch your breath in the green and leafy James-Simon-Park or Monbijoupark. Continue through the picturesque Hackesche Markt and Hackesche Höfe shopping areas to Rosenthaler Platz, a square that was once a gateway to the city and, just before the German reunification, was used as a temporary border crossing.

The Spreebogen from Brandenburg Gate to the Holocaust Memorial walk takes you to the most famous landmarks in Berlin. The starting point, Brandenburg Gate, is the perfect backdrop for holiday photos. Walk through this iconic 18th-century monument and make your way to the Reichstagsgebäude, the Parliament building, another recognisable landmark with its glass dome and panoramic views of the city.

In Spreebogenpark, find Bundeskanzleramt, the offices of the German Chancellor, and gaze at the porthole-shaped windowpane that gives the building the nickname of “the Federal washing machine”. Spreebogenpark is a great place to admire the river Spree and watch the sightseeing boats pootle by. Continue through the Tiergarten park to the thought-provoking and sombre Holocaust Memorial.

Explore Prenzlauer Berg from Hackescher Markt to Mauerpark, and find treasures in its luxury boutiques, eccentric shops and flea markets. Start at Hackescher Markt, where you can purchase new and cool Berlin-based labels and designers. Walk over to the labyrinth of 8 charming courtyards at Hackesche Höfe and stroll from one boutique to another hunting for bargains or rarities. Then, continue to the neighbouring Rosenhöfe and Rosenthaler Höfe shopping areas.

Carry on with your shopping spree on Rosenthaler Straße and Torstraße, both great retail streets. On Fridays, Arkonaplatz hosts an amazing weekly market that offers local food whereas, on Sundays, people flock to Mauerpark and its famous flea market for bargains and great atmosphere.

Discover Boulevard Unter den Linden from Brandenburg Gate to Museum Island with its long history, striking buildings and great museums. This impressive boulevard is lined not only by linden trees but also with many embassies, shops and restaurants.

At the Madame Tussauds wax museum near Brandenburg Gate, take a selfie with German celebrities or characters from the “Babylon Berlin” TV show. At Bebelplatz, you’ll find the underground memorial of the historic book burning of 1933, and the Deutches Historishes Museum is another must-visit for history buffs. For free exhibitions of 19th-century sculptures and more, stop at Friedrichswerdersche Kirche or at the magnificent Humboldt Forum. Finally, continue on to Museum Islands where yet more amazing history and culture awaits.

During your stroll around the picturesque Nikolaiviertel neighbourhood from St. Nicholas' Church to Klosterstraße you’ll travel back in time to the 12th century. The first houses in Berlin, including the impressive St. Nicholas Church, were built here in the Middle Ages. Today the narrow cobblestone alleys are dotted with quaint shops, cafés and restaurants. At the end of Propststraße, you can even see the impressive statue of St. George, the dragon slayer.

On the nearby Klosterstraße you’ll find the intriguing ruins of a monastery church from around 1250 and the oldest Baroque houses in Berlin, Palais Podewil and Parochialkirche. To conclude your saunter through history, visit the remains of the ancient city wall from the 13th century just behind Parochialkirche.

The walk around Kreuzberg SO36 from Görlitzer Park to Landwehr Canal shows you the diversity and variety of Berlin. Now known for its multicultural and inclusive atmosphere, this Kreuzberg neighbourhood area was once the centre of the alternative movement in the 1970s and 80s. Start at the vast recreation area Görlitzer Park, or Görli, and move on to Oranienburger Straße, where you’ll find inexpensive bars, pubs and traditional restaurants.

Wander to Adalbertstraße and the surrounding streets for an authentic kebab with delicious garlic sauce before continuing to Admiralbrücke and cross the Landwehr Canal. This lovely, cobbled bridge is a popular place to watch the sunset. Stroll around the stunning parks on either side of the canal to finish your walk.

Discover the hip and international neighbourhood of Moabit from Hauptbahnhof to Bellevue Palace on this fun walk that puts the River Spree in the spotlight. Start at the busy Hauptbahnhof, the main railway station, which is a great place to shop for snacks to keep you sustained. Head to the riverside walkway past the glass cube building of Cube Berlin on Rahel-Hirsh-Straße.

The impressive Moltkebrücke offers an excellent view of the river and a perfect backdrop for photos. Cross Paulstraße to a picturesque park and then head to the Gerickesteg bridge to cross the river. Bellevue Palace, the residential home of the German President, has a gorgeous garden and a large green area with a teahouse right next-door.

True hikers will enjoy this walk around Schlosspark Niederschönhausen from Buch to the Bundestag, which is almost 20 km long. Start at the S-Bahn station Buch and head straight to the lush Panke riverside. Stay on the meandering footway to admire the rich nature around the Karow Ponds reserve, including romantic waterfalls and many community gardens. It’s hard to believe you’re still in a bustling city.

Pursue the Panke to Schloss Schönhausen and its amazing park, a great location for a lunch break. After Schulzendorfer Straße, follow the urban-side river Südpanke all the way to the Mündung Südpanke where the river flows into Spree. Cross here and continue to your final destination – the Bundestag and its wonderful glass domes.

This exciting exploration along Teltow Canal from Tempelhof Harbour to Steglitz City Park takes you from the busy Templehofer Hafen mall to the Steglitz neighbourhood. This 5-km walk on the beautiful riverside walkway meanders through wild vegetation and residential areas. From the mall, head to the canal and take in the impressive exterior of Ullsteinhaus. Continue to Techtowbrücke, one of the many bridges on this walk and an excellent place to stop and admire the view and boats and ships of many shapes and sizes.

From Am Eichgarten, head towards Steglitz City Park. This is a scenic city park with ponds, rose gardens, fountains and a restaurant – the perfect place to relax with an apple strudel after a long walk.