10 free things to do in Berlin

Willkommen and welcome to Berlin. Whether your pockets are full or not, visiting Berlin requires a bit of organisation if you want to make the most of Germany's capital. As a French expat living in Berlin, I figured sharing some insider tips with fellow English speakers was the right thing to do. At Bricovoyage, we love sharing ideas for things to do in Berlin and nowhere else. The city's identity, distilled into a capsule of activities.

So here it is: 10 free things to do in Berlin, and nowhere else. Do one, do all ten, but for those watching their budget, there are easily 2 to 3 days of activities here that won't cost you a penny. Bonus: I've even dropped a map into the article so you can plan your visit like a pro. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, this guide is for you.

Sure, it's just a bridge and architecturally speaking, it's no Rome. But hear me out, because once I give you a couple of facts about this place, you might see it in a whole new light.

First things first: from the bridge, you get a great view of the Mitte district in the distance, perfect for a few charming shots. If you're into quiet photo spots and sunsets that actually deliver, this one's worth bookmarking. The bridge stretches 200 metres and was built to replace the northern section of Schwedter Straße, which was demolished to make way for the S-Bahn tracks. It now connects the neighbourhoods of Pankow and Prenzlauer Berg, and gives you quick access to Mauerpark.

Since the Wall once ran through this exact area, the Schwedter Steg is also part of the Berliner Mauerweg  a trail that takes you across modern Berlin by following the former path of the Wall. Either way, the Schwedter Steg is a great starting point for a free stroll through Berlin.

The memorial honours the 6 million Jews killed under the Nazi regime. This field of stelae, inaugurated in 2005, was designed by American architect Peter Eisenman. In total, there are 2,711 grey concrete stelae arranged in rows across undulating ground. You can walk right through the heart of it, the blocks grow taller as you venture deeper into this silent labyrinth. No dates, no engraved names, no religious symbols. Just raw concrete, silence, and an oppressive sense of space. The memorial is accessible at all times, entry is free. The underground information centre Ort der Information traces the history of the Holocaust through testimonies and archives. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm, free entry. Access via S-Bahn from Brandenburger Tor station.

I said I was sharing free activities in Berlin, I never said they'd all be cheerful. But let's be honest, Berlin and its rich, tortured history was never going to throw in a free visit to the Museum of Fluffy Bunnies. So we continue our journey through time, with a visit to a museum built on the former headquarters of the Gestapo and the SS. Its name, as the title suggests: Topographie des Terrors. A deep dive into the horrors of Nazism, no compromises, no sugar-coating. It's cold, brutal, spine-chilling, conversation-stopping. If you want to broaden your understanding of the mechanisms of repression, mass executions, torture, deportation and the Holocaust in all its absolute horror, you will find plenty to learn here. Outside, a different era, but a permanent exhibition on Berlin during the Wall years is displayed alongside the remaining vestiges of the Wall. The museum is open every day from 10am to 8pm. A basement library is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm. Best access by U-Bahn: Kochstraße.

A must-see, the famous Checkpoint Charlie. No, the name does not come from the guard who manned the checkpoint. "Charlie" comes from the NATO phonetic alphabet. Why the third? Simply because Charlie was the third checkpoint of the Alliance. Here, you are standing on the border between Mitte (Soviet sector) and Kreuzberg (American sector).

Today, what remains is a guardhouse, the portraits of a Soviet and an American officer, some decorative paraphernalia, all very cheerful. But back in the day, the tension was palpable, and this checkpoint could easily have been the starting point of World War Three. On October 27th 1961, after an American diplomat was stopped by East German soldiers, American and Soviet tanks faced each other down for 16 hours straight. It must have been sweaty work, and more than a few pairs of underwear probably didn't make it through the day! Numerous escape attempts, often fatal, also took place right here.

Without a doubt one of my favourite spots in Berlin, and certainly one of the most beloved gathering places for locals. Tempelhofer Feld was Berlin's former airport, located right in the heart of the city. It was also the oldest commercial airport in the world. For me, there are two things that make this place special, and they are connected (at least in my mind). The Berlin Blockade of 1948 to 1949 forced the Allies to open an airlift from Tempelhof. It was relentless, with a plane landing almost every two minutes carrying food and supplies. Since 2008, the airport has been closed and Tempelhofer Feld has become the go-to free park in Berlin, one of the most appreciated free activities in Berlin among locals. The park is taken over by cyclists, joggers, beer drinkers and casual wanderers. What I love most is that this airport, once a symbol of a divided city, has become a symbol of unity. There is something precious about watching a country reclaim its history and turn it into something better, something good. Best access via Tempelhofer Damm (U6/S42/S47).

Here is a free activity in Berlin that is perhaps slightly underrated: visiting the Reichstag dome. It is one of those free things to do in Berlin that I really should do more often when family and friends come to visit. Why? For starters, the building is steeped in history, and that history is explained to you for free via an audio guide available during your visit. Better yet, the audio guide is available in 12 languages. On top of that, the unique architecture of the building is worth the visit in itself. From the dome, you can watch the debates taking place in the Bundestag (the German parliament). The architect Norman Foster, who is responsible for this renovation, designed the dome so that the natural light filtering in and the ability to observe parliamentary debates would symbolise the transparency of German democracy. But what I particularly love is the way the visit works: you make your way up via a spiral walkway that winds all the way to the top.

How to book?

Via this link in English. It is the simplest option. The dome is open until 9.45pm and admissions run every fifteen minutes. Make sure you have your ID with you on the day. This is the best option and the one I recommend, as with 3 million visitors per year, slots fill up fast.

Option 2: head to the Reichstag and find the 2 white containers on the south side near Scheidemannstraße. You can register on the spot for visits within the next 2 days, subject to availability.

Last option, but no longer free: book a table at the rooftop gastronomic restaurant Käfer. Budget accordingly.

Heads up, this free activity in Berlin also happens to be a listed historical monument. For those not familiar with German, Hackesche Höfe might sound like a bit of a mystery. Hof in German means courtyard, so what you have here is a series of 8 interconnected courtyards, each with its own distinct character, tucked between Rosenthaler Straße and Sophienstraße. There is something timeless about wandering through here, and it also makes for a great hideout on hot days. There are boutiques, cafes, and above all it is a top notch photo spot. Nearby, and in a more rococo style, make sure you pop into the Rosenhöfe. They are well worth a look, and you will not have to go far since these two architectural oddities are actually connected. Get off at S-Bahn station Hackescher Markt, 2 minutes walk away.

OK, for this one we are stepping slightly outside Berlin, but since it is our favourite family activity and one we return to several times a year, there was no way I was leaving it out. Gorinsee is a lake to the north of Berlin. Settle down on the sandy beach, or on the grass sheltered by the shade of the trees, and make a day of it. Ideally, pack a picnic and do not forget your water bottle. That said, if you show up empty handed, no panic, there is a restaurant on site and more importantly an Imbiss, which is basically a snack bar selling fries, sausages, ice cream, beers and soft drinks. Worth noting, the snack bar is not always open, but it usually is in summer. A few sausages and a couple of beers and you will go from free Berlin to cheap Berlin, which is still a win.

To get there you have two options. First, rent bikes in Berlin and use those legs of yours to pedal out to Gorinsee, either from the city or from S-Bahn station Buch. Second option, take the S-Bahn to Buch or Zepernick and then hop on bus 891, though this takes considerably longer and requires a ticket covering zones ABC. A fantastic free activity just outside Berlin.

Coming to Berlin without seeing its world-famous Wall is a bit like visiting France without drinking Champagne. You don't do that! When I go, I get off at Ostbahnhof and walk the length of the mural all the way to Warschauer Straße S-Bahn station. Over a kilometre of paintings lined up one after another. It is a long stretch and you could easily spend half a day here. The iconic Oberbaumbrücke is right around the corner, do not miss it. A Trabant bursting through the Wall, Brezhnev and Honecker kissing full on the lips, or the famous hammers from Pink Floyd's The Wall video. Take your pick for your ultimate Berlin Wall image. Me, Pink Floyd for sure!

The tenth and final free activity in Berlin: the Mauerpark market. Every Sunday, entry is...free, obviously. You love homemade goods, handcrafted items, food trucks and flea markets? Great, head to Mauerpark. Thanks, end of article, have a great day, goodbye!

Just kidding, let me tell you a little more about this market. It is not the only one in Berlin, but it is one of the most well known and most popular. Personal anecdote: I always make a trip to Mauerpark whenever a friend of mine has just had a baby, to pick up one of a local artist's illustrations for the newborn. For those of you who like quirky experiences, every Sunday afternoon a giant karaoke sets up in the amphitheatre. I mean it when I say this is quite possibly the coolest karaoke in the world. If you have kids, there is also a recently built playground in the park, so everyone goes home happy. The market runs every Sunday from 8am to 6pm, located at Bernauer Straße, Gleimstraße, Prenzlauer Berg. Best access via S-Bahn Eberswalder Straße.

What an article. A trip built around these activities alone will officially go down as time well spent and a holiday well earned. You will have soaked up the spirit of Berlin without emptying your wallet, which is always good news. This guide is 100% Berlin through and through. Apart from the Reichstag dome, which closes occasionally for a full clean, every other activity in this guide is accessible at all times. You will experience Berlin through its history, but more importantly you will see how Berliners have reclaimed that history (often a deeply troubling one) and made it their own. Once divided, once the world capital of intolerance and responsible for unthinkable horrors, Berlin is now the complete opposite of what it once was. Follow this guide and you will find yourself moving through different eras with every stop. Berlin the modern city, Berlin the innovative city, Berlin the creative city, and for you, Berlin the 100% free city!

And if you want to go even further in your discovery of Berlin, we created The Nefertiti Affair, an outdoor city game that takes you on the trail of an investigation right in the heart of the city. 79€ per team, available in English, French and German.