Tips for a perfect weekend in Berlin

You’ve got just 48 hours in Berlin? No problem. Join us on a tour of the city’s highlights and best-kept secrets.

Berlin may be a metropolis, but its size needn’t be overwhelming thanks to our guide to its most beautiful, significant sights. 

Many of these attractions are central – between Alexanderplatz Square and Brandenburg Gate – and within walking distance of Hotel de Rome, which means you can look forward to a stress-free and sustainable short break in the heart of the

Friday

4pm

After checking in, enjoy a relaxed stroll around our hotel. Built in the late 19th century, it fits seamlessly into the Rococo architecture of Bebelplatz Square, which we overlook. The sweeping façade of the square’s Old Library, the slender columns of the opera house Staatsoper Unter den Linden and the turquoise dome of St Hedwig’s Cathedral – which was modelled after the Pantheon in Rome – were all built at the request of Frederick the Great in the mid 1700s. 

Want to stretch your legs? Humboldt Forum is three streets east, and home to the enormous new sculpture, “Monument to Freedom and Unity”.

6pm

On warmer nights, sip an apéritif on our Rooftop Terrace then saunter south to the two Michelin-starred restaurant Tim Raue to sample gourmet creations by one of the world’s best chefs. Be sure to try the Peking duck and wasabi Norway lobster. End your evening in the vintage flair of the nearby Bellboy Bar, where cocktails are served in extravagant vessels such as a miniature bath or molar.

Saturday

10am

Indulge in our breakfast buffet to prepare for a culture-packed morning on Museum Island, just 750 metres away. Home to five museums that are collectively a Unesco World Heritage Site, the cultural centres house unique exhibits from six millennia. Don’t miss the bust of the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti in Neues Museum and the Babylonian Ishtar gate in Pergamon Museum.

For a stunning view of the landmarks, visit the roof terrace of the Humboldt Forum. Opened in 2021, the forum – a replica of the former Berlin Palace – houses various cultural institutions, including the magnificent Ethnological Museum. When you need a break, Deli Alexander invites you for lunch with internationally inspired bowls and sandwiches, while in good weather you can dine on the terrace with a view of the River Spree.

2pm

Fancy a bit of shopping? Hackescher Markt, in Berlin’s former Jewish quarter, is only a few steps from Museum Island. Here you can unwind in a charming café, put together a cool Berlin-style outfit in an independent boutique or add to your art collection in a gallery hidden in its alleys and pretty courtyards. Don’t miss the smart shopping centre Hackesche Höfe and its neighbouring lane, Haus Schwarzenberg, which is cloaked in street art – a stark contrast that’s typical of Berlin.

6pm

You can almost hear the orchestras in the renowned Staatsoper Unter den Linden and grand concert hall Konzerthaus Berlin from our hotel, but if you’d prefer a more intimate performance, seek out Pierre Boulez Hall and the French Cathedral. So that your stomach doesn’t rumble to the rhythm, we recommend an early dinner in our chic restaurant and bar Chiaro, which serves refined Italian-Japanese cuisine.

Sunday

10am

From Rembrandt to the German painter and sculptor Käthe Kollwitz, all kinds of artists are represented in Berlin’s 150 galleries. Boros Collection, a 10-minute taxi ride away from Hotel de Rome, is particularly special as it is a private collection of contemporary works in a Second World War bunker. Take a guided tour of top-class works by avant-garde artists.

1pm

Take a trip along the Spree on a solar-powered catamaran with SolarWaterWorld. From the harbour near the fairytale Oberbaum Bridge in Friedrichshain, a 15-minute drive away, you’ll glide silently past the East Side Gallery and Federal Chancellery with a cocktail in hand – the perfect end to your weekend in the German capital.

With more time in Berlin you can also sample its alcohol-free beers or enjoy a scenic drive from the city to Munich.