The Most Overrated Spots in Berlin (And Where You Should Go Instead)
- Filip
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Berlin is sexy, but it’s not stupid. So why do so many people treat it like an Instagram theme park with overpriced currywurst and techno Disneyland vibes?
Don’t get us wrong—Berlin is magic. But it’s the kind of magic that wears secondhand velvet and smells like yesterday’s cigarette. If you want the real Berlin, you’ve gotta know what to skip. So here it is: the straight-up, no-bullshit list of Berlin’s most overrated spots—and where to actually go instead.
1. Brandenburg Gate
Yes, it’s iconic. Yes, it’s historic. But honestly? It’s a glorified photo op wedged between tourist buses and souvenir hawkers selling beer steins and gummy bears.
Go instead: The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a few minutes away, offers an immersive, sobering, and deeply moving experience. Or: hop on the U-Bahn and get lost in a lesser-known Kiez like Moabit or Wedding, where real life hums under the surface.
2. Berghain (Yeah, we said it)
Look. It’s a church. A legend. A techno mecca. But also? It’s six hours in line for a maybe. The mystery is part of the brand, but the hype is exhausting—and for many, exclusionary.
Go instead: Try ://about blank, Sisyphos, or even the grungy wonderland that is Club Ost. You'll still get your all-night techno fix without sacrificing your little time in Berlin with standing in line.
3. Curry 36 & Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap
We get it. Berlin street food is iconic. But standing in line for an hour for a kebab? No thanks.
Go instead: Hit up Imren Grill in Neukölln for the real döner deal. Or Curry Baude in Gesundbrunnen, where locals go to inhale currywurst without influencers blocking the condiment station.
4. Checkpoint Charlie
Unless you have a Cold War reenactment fetish, skip it. It’s less historic monument, more tourist trap with actors in costumes charging you for selfies.
Go instead: Stasi Museum in Lichtenberg. It's gritty, creepy, and fascinating—in a way that makes you feel the paranoia, not just read about it.
5. Hackescher Markt & the Alexa Mall
Overpriced boutiques, knockoff fashion, and high school energy. If you came to Berlin for culture, this ain’t it.
Go instead: Head to Nowkölln Flowmarkt or the flea market at Mauerpark. Support local artists, haggle over vintage jackets, and dance with strangers to Balkan brass bands. Actual soul included.
6. TV Tower (Fernsehturm)
Sure, the view is cute. But the vibe? Tourists drinking overpriced cocktails in a rotating restaurant like it’s 1998.
Go instead: Klunkerkranich in Neukölln. Rooftop views, affordable drinks, and a vibe that says, “I found this place by accident and now I live here.”
7. East Side Gallery
Yes, it’s the Berlin Wall. Yes, some of the art is stunning. But in peak season it’s just selfie sticks and chaos. Hard to reflect when someone’s blasting TikToks next to you.
Go instead: Visit the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße. It’s quieter, more immersive, and doesn’t feel like a backdrop for clout.
8. Kreuzberg’s tourist trap bars
You know the ones. They all serve “craft cocktails” and play techno lite. Usually crawling with Erasmus bros and people asking where the nearest U-Bahn is.
Go instead: Wander east into Reuterkiez or up into Wedding. Try bars like Das Gift (Scottish dive realness), Velvet Bar (tiny and sexy), or Geist im Glas for whiskey and queer chaos.
9. Tiergarten picnics (on sunny weekends)
Love the idea. Hate the reality. Swarms of people, lukewarm beers, and nowhere to pee without negotiating with nature.
Go instead: Hasenheide or Volkspark Friedrichshain. More trees, more weirdos, less pressure. Or really go rogue and hop a train to Schlachtensee for lakeside daydreaming.
10. Berlin Welcome Card
Unless you're planning to hit 27 museums in 48 hours, it’s not worth it. Most Berliners don’t even know it exists.
Go instead: Get a 24-hr AB transit pass and just vibe. Or better: rent a bike and let your inner flâneur lead the way.
Skip the Line, Find the Magic
The real Berlin doesn’t beg for your approval. It doesn’t have a filter. It’s slow-burning, rough around the edges, and deeply rewarding if you’re willing to go off-script.
So skip the tourist traps. Go get lost. Talk to strangers. Make out in the park. Berlin’s not a postcard—it’s a process.
