Berlin is a city that’s long been on my bucket list. There’s so much to discover in terms of culture, food and shopping, and Singapore Airlines flies there via a short stopover in Frankfurt. If you do book on SQ, you can use your flight booking reference code to redeem up to $150 off your travel activities on Pelago. This promotion runs from now till 31 December 2024 and you can see the full terms and conditions on Pelago’s website here. Alternatively, when you sign up for Pelago, you’ll get 10% off your first two bookings.

See below for NYLON’s recommendations on the essential activities in Berlin that you can book on Pelago.

Fotografiska

Fotografiska Museum Berlin is an incredible exhibition space that spans across multiple floors and 5,500 square metres. It’s the ultimate destination in Berlin to discover world-class photography and to get inspired by the displays and even the people attending.

Above: from the hiphop: Conscious, unconscious exhibition.

During our visit, Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious was the main showcase, and the photographs trace over 50 years of hip hop history, and feature OGs like Tupac, Snoop and The Notorious B.I.G. More than 50 renowned photographers have their photos of hip hop stars on display, and this collective expression honours the artists who have shaped the culture and evolution of hip hop.

[click on the images to see more.]

On the ground floor, there’s a cafe bar, and shop where you can pick up some seriously cool merchandise that make excellent gifts. Even if you’re in Berlin for just a couple of days, we highly recommend adding this activity to your list.

Above: a display in the fotografiska shop.

Panoramapunkt

Above: the iconic Panoramapunkt building.

If you want a bird’s eye view of Berlin, head to the Panoramapunkt, which is located directly on Potsdamer Platz. This building has Europe’s fastest elevator; it takes just 20 seconds to reach the 25th floor where you get to see all the key landmarks in the city.

[click on the images to see more.]

If you’re planning to go on a weekend, we suggest booking the VIP admission ticket that lets you skip the line to the elevator.

Above: View from the 25th floor of Panoramapunkt, taken behind the grills.

Craft Beer Tour

Above: inside our first stop.

If you love beer, you’ll love this tour. A guide leads you in a small group through the historic Friedrichshain of the former East Berlin, pointing out eclectic architecture, alternative stores and shares unique stories of the location’s history. Along the way, you’ll stop by several pubs and local breweries where you get to sample various craft brews and accompanying snacks.

Above: A pleasant surprise was visiting the first microbrewery before it opened to the public. Our group of six had the whole place to ourselves.

We had some of the best local food on this tour, and our guide was friendly, entertaining, and helpful. Through the tasting sessions, we also discovered the kinds of beer we each favour, and were given notes on how to order our preferred beers in the future.

[click on the images to see more.]

Above: You get to sample many different types of beer on this tour.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews & Reichstag Tour

Above: the concrete memorial installation.

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (also known as the Holocaust Memorial) is a memorial in the centre of Berlin to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. It’s designed by architect Peter Eisenman and Buro Happold, and is a short walk from the Brandenburg Gate. The memorial consists of 2,711 rectangular concrete slabs placed in a grid pattern on a sloping field, and there are narrow alleys between them where visitors are able to walk.

Above: you can easily get lost in the alleyways between the rectangular slabs as they get higher.

To understand the installation better, you can book an audio guide on Pelago. This “listening” tour guides you through the centre of Berlin, to the iconic Memorial to the Murdered Jews, and ends at Reichstag, a historic legislative government building.

Above: as you venture deeper into the centre of the memorial, the concrete blocks will start to tower above you.

After booking this tour with Pelago, you’ll receive instructions on how to access the audio and GPS map that will walk and talk you through the key history of Berlin. You’ll learn how Germany has transformed in the 1930s and 40s, leading to the rise of the Nazis, and the events of the Second World War.

You’ll just need your smartphone and we recommend using earphones to listen to the audio clearly.

You can book these and other activities on Pelago.com.