Best in 2 to 3 Days

Best in 2 to 3 Days

Start in western, downtown Berlin by visiting the stark shell of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche (Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church). Catch the double-decker public Bus 100 (in front of the Zoo railway station) and get a seat on top. The entire scenic ride through the park Tiergarten, past the Reichstag, along Unter den Linden, and around Alexanderplatz shows you the prime attractions in Berlin before doubling back again. Save a good amount of time and energy for the museums on Museumsinsel (Museum Island) and the Deutsches Historisches Museum (German History Museum). You can take a break with German cakes and coffee in the Opernpalais on Unter den Linden. On your second day visit the dome of the Reichstag (to avoid long lines, arrive at 8 AM) and Potsdamer Platz, a study in urban renewal and modern architecture. Whatever order you do it in, walk along Ebertstrasse between the sights, as it takes you past the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) and the Denkmal für die Ermordeten Juden Europas (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe). Behind the showy corporate buildings of Potsdamer Platz are the Gemäldegalerie (in the Kulturforum) and Neue Nationalgalerie, two outstanding fine-arts museums. From Potsdamer Platz it's a 10-minute walk to the Topographie des Terrors (Topography of Terror), a free, open-air exhibit on the organizations of the SS and the Gestapo, their crimes, and their victims. The site is bordered by a remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie lies another 250 yards farther east. Spend one evening or some shopping hours meandering the smaller streets around Hackescher Markt in Mitte.

If You Have 3 Days

Follow the two-day itinerary above. After viewing the Topography of Terror, continue on to the Mauermuseum-Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, which is open until 10 PM. On your third day, round out the sights and eras of history you've seen by visiting the royals' apartments in Schloss Charlottenburg and the lovely gardens behind it. After touring the palace, hop the U-7 subway from Richard-Wagner-Platz to Adenauerplatz. Head east and browse through the most elegant of the boutiques within old city mansions along the Kurfürstendamm. Turn left on Bleibtreustrasse to reach the cafés and restaurants in the fashionable but casual Savignyplatz area. Spend one evening at a show, perhaps at Chämeleon Varieté or Bar Jeder Vernunft.