3 days in Berlin by bike

Yes, Berlin is a big city, but with a bike you can get anywhere quickly. In three days you can discover the most beautiful corners of Berlin, the most famous sights as well as parks and rivers.

Day 1: Explore the most popular sights by bike

On your first day in Berlin, take a bike ride to Berlin’s top sights. You can travel from one place to the next quickly on two wheels.

We start at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s most famous landmark. In the past, it was a symbol of the division of the city into East and West. Today, it is lies at the heart of the city and is the perfect starting point for your city tour by bike.

You’ll find the Reichstag, where the German parliament sits, just behind the Brandenburg Gate. Park your bike, admire the building and soak up the historic atmosphere. Important: You have to register in advance if you want to enter the Reichstag and visit the dome.

After the Reichstag, the tour continues through the government district to the Bundeskanzleramt (Federal Chancellery). From there it travels along the River Spree up to the Victory Column, then it’s a short journey to the Office of the Federal President and Bellevue Palace, the residence of the Federal President.

From there you’ll travel onwards to the Hansaviertel locality, which is in the Tiergarten area. If you are a fan of architecture, you will be thrilled: The Hansaviertel is a typical example of New Objectivity after the Second World War. Modern buildings were built by renowned architects from all over the world – including Walter Gropius.

From the Hansaviertel our tour takes you back along the Spree towards the Tiergarten. But don’t ride into the Tiergarten just yet, go to the Landwehr Canal instead.

Then we’ll go back through the Tiergarten: It’s wonderful to cycle in Berlin’s largest park. Once you have crossed the Tiergarten, turn into Ebertstraße and make a detour to Potsdamer Platz. Our tour ends here – and hopefully you will have gained a memorable first impression of Berlin.  

More about Berlin's top sights

Day 2: Bike ride along the Berlin Wall

The second day is dedicated to the eventful history of Berlin. We recommend that you bike along the inner-city Berlin Wall cycle path.

This leads along the former inner-German border through the centre of Berlin. Where today there is a lot of activity going on, the Berlin Wall and its death strip once stood here.

Sights on the Berlin Wall cycle path:

• East Side Gallery
• Checkpoint Charlie
• Topography of Terror
• Potsdamer Platz
• Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Straße

Our tip: Take the time to ride the complete 160 km Berlin Wall cycle path – it leads all the way around former West Berlin. The ride takes you along waterways and through green areas.

View the complete ride along the Berlin Wall cycle path

Day 3: Bicycle excursion to Tempelhofer Feld

Let your third cycling day in Berlin be a little more leisurely. No matter which direction you’re coming from, it seems like all roads lead to Tempelhofer Feld. The former airfield borders on the districts of Tempelhof, Neukölln and Kreuzberg.

It is the only runway in the world you can ride a bicycle on. This feeling of space and freedom is incomparable. You’ll come across skaters, joggers and other recreational athletes here. There are also barbecue and urban gardening areas.

The history of Tempelhofer Feld dates back over 700 years. There used to be a temple of the Knights Templar here. In the 18th century it was a parade ground, during the Nazi era it had the only official concentration camp in the Berlin urban area and during the Berlin blockade in 1948/49 the Western Allies supplied West Berlin’s population via the legendary Berlin Airlift. You can find out about all this and much more on the Tempelhofer Feld information trail. Guided tours of the former airport building are also offered.  

More about Tempelhofer Feld

Our tips for your bike trip to Berlin

Safety first! Berlin is a big city and there are numerous road users here. That’s why it’s important that everyone follows the rules. We have compiled our 15 most important tips for safe cycling through Berlin here.

If you already know the famous sights in Berlin, how about a tour of the Berlin neighbourhoods? Each of the twelve districts consists of several neighbourhoods (each known as a “Kiez”) and has special offers for cyclists. So you can ride along lakes or in the countryside without actually leaving the city at all. We have many more bike ride suggestions: you can find all routes through Berlin here.

You can read about the most beautiful bike rides in summer on the visitBerlin blog.