Berlin was the first stop of our Interrail adventure across Europe, and looking back, it couldn’t have been a better place to start.
Arriving with huge rucksacks on our backs (and smaller ones strapped to our fronts), we were excited, slightly overwhelmed, and ready to explore one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. Berlin isn’t the kind of place that charms you instantly with postcard beauty like Prague or Budapest. Instead, its appeal lies in something deeper — its raw history, creative energy, and effortlessly cool atmosphere.
We spent three days exploring Berlin, discovering everything from historic landmarks and powerful memorials to floating swimming pools and open-air cinemas. Here’s what our first days of the Interrail trip looked like.
- Day 1: Arriving in Berlin and Exploring the City
- Day 2: Parks, History and a Floating Pool
- Day 3: Walking the Berlin Wall
- Why Berlin Was the Perfect Start to Our Interrail Trip
Day 1: Arriving in Berlin and Exploring the City
Berlin was our first destination, arriving early in the morning at Schönefeld Airport. After taking slightly longer than expected to figure out the surprisingly simple train system into the city, we eventually made our way to our accommodation — Industriepalast Hostel.
Travelling with huge backpacks makes everything feel like an expedition, but once we dropped our bags off in our eight-bed female dorm, things immediately felt easier. The hostel was much nicer than we expected and located in a lively area of the city.
With our bags finally out of the way, we wasted no time heading out to explore.
Our first task was practical: reserving our train tickets for the next leg of our journey to Prague. Once that was sorted, we started wandering through the city and eventually stopped at the Capital Beach Bar, a relaxed riverside spot where we grabbed a drink and sat in the sunshine watching the world go by.
It was the perfect introduction to Berlin’s laid-back atmosphere.
Afternoon: Free Walking Tour of Berlin
Later in the afternoon we joined a free walking tour with Sandemans New Berlin Tours, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip.
The tour begins at the Brandenburg Gate and lasts around two and a half hours, covering many of Berlin’s most important historical landmarks. It’s an excellent way to get your bearings while learning about the city’s complex past.
Along the route we visited several key sites, including:
- Brandenburg Gate
- the location of Hitler’s bunker
- the Hotel Adlon, famously where Michael Jackson once held his baby over the balcony
- government buildings and embassies
- sections of the Berlin Wall
The guide explained Berlin’s history in a fascinating and accessible way, helping us understand how the city has evolved through war, division, and reunification.
By the end of the tour we were completely exhausted. Instead of heading back out into the city, we spent the evening relaxing at the hostel and chatting with other travellers.
It had been a long but brilliant first day in Berlin.
Day 2: Parks, History and a Floating Pool
The next morning we decided to start the day slowly.
We picked up some sandwiches and fruit before heading to Tiergarten, Berlin’s huge central park located just beside the Brandenburg Gate.
The park felt incredibly peaceful — wide green spaces, tree-lined paths, and hardly any noise from the busy city around it. After wandering around for a while searching for somewhere to sit, we eventually gave up and settled on a fallen tree trunk.
Honestly, breakfast always tastes better outdoors.
Visiting the Holocaust Memorial and Reichstag Dome
After breakfast we walked to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial. During the walking tour the day before we hadn’t had time to stop for photos, so we returned to take a closer look.
The rows of concrete slabs create a powerful and unsettling space that invites quiet reflection.
From there we walked to the Reichstag, the historic German parliament building, where we had booked a visit to the famous glass dome.
After passing through security, we took a large glass elevator to the rooftop terrace before beginning the walk up the spiral ramp inside the dome. As you slowly circle upward, the panoramic views across Berlin gradually reveal themselves.
Standing at the top, you get an incredible perspective of the city.
Afternoon: Badeschiff – Berlin’s Floating Pool
Later that day we headed to one of Berlin’s coolest summer spots: Badeschiff.
The name literally translates to “bathing ship”, and it’s exactly that — a floating swimming pool built into the River Spree. With sun loungers, music from a DJ, and views across the city skyline, the atmosphere is incredibly relaxed.
We arrived early enough to claim one of the coveted deckchairs and spent the afternoon alternating between sunbathing and swimming in the bright blue pool.
While relaxing there we ended up chatting with some travellers from Palestine and Lebanon. Travel has a funny way of bringing together people from completely different places, and moments like that are always memorable.
Evening: Open-Air Cinema in Kreuzberg
After heading back to the hostel for a quick shower, we made our way to Freiluftkino Kreuzberg, Berlin’s oldest open-air cinema.
Watching a film outdoors on a warm evening felt like the perfect way to end the day. The movie we saw was Jack, a German film with English subtitles, and the whole experience — sitting under the stars surrounded by trees — made it feel special.
By this point in the trip we were already saying the same thing:
we really didn’t want to leave Berlin.
Day 3: Walking the Berlin Wall
Since our train to Prague was leaving later that afternoon, we woke up early to make the most of our final morning in Berlin.
After breakfast and packing our bags, we walked over to the East Side Gallery, the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall.
Stretching for around 1.3 kilometres along the River Spree, this section of the wall has been transformed into the world’s largest open-air gallery.
Artists from around the world have painted murals across the concrete panels, turning what was once a symbol of division and oppression into a space filled with creativity and expression.
Walking along the wall felt strangely powerful. It’s a reminder of how recently Berlin was divided, but also how the city has reinvented itself.
We spent a long time walking along the murals, taking photos and simply taking in the atmosphere before eventually heading toward the train station.
Why Berlin Was the Perfect Start to Our Interrail Trip
As our train rolled toward Prague, I remember thinking that Berlin had left a strong impression on me.
It’s not a traditionally beautiful city like Prague or Budapest, but that’s not the point. Berlin’s appeal lies in its edge, its creativity, and its honesty about history.
It’s a city that feels alive — constantly evolving, full of stories, and impossible to fully understand in just a few days.
And as much as I loved those first three days, I knew one thing for sure:
I’d definitely be back someday to experience Berlin’s famous festivals and nightlife.
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