What to do at night in Berlin? Top 10 places

Don’t know what to do at night in Berlin? Whether you’re a party animal or a quiet night owl, a fan of bars, pubs, concerts or other lively places, what better way to feel the atmosphere of a neighborhood where it’s good to go out than by going out at night in Berlin

Here is my selection of the best places to spend a good evening.

As all night owls know, every night the city lights up and comes alive, especially in the districts of Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain and Mitte.

However, in Berlin, culture can be discovered at night as well as during the day! Live music concerts and parties that continue into the morning offer fun and original alternatives to the traditional club and bar nights of the city.

In this article, I’ve put together for you the best ideas for going out in Berlin at night. Follow the guide!

See Berlin at night from the heights

Berlin has many vantage points accessible by day and night from which you can admire the city and its lights.

Reichstag (Free)

The Reichstag, home of the German parliament, was topped with its incredible modern dome in 1999 and offers an extraordinary view of the Brandenburg Gate and Berlin’s city center.

The entrance is free and the dome is open every day until midnight, but you should remember to book your tickets in advance (at least two hours), as the number of seats is limited.

The Berlin Television Tower (Fernseherturm)

A 40-second elevator ride will take you 200 meters above the streets of Berlin to the revolving sphere of the tower, which overlooks the city’s rooftops.

The famous sphere houses a restaurant and an observation deck, so you can sit back and enjoy a meal while admiring the 360° view of the capital without leaving your table or even turning your head.

Berlin’s Protestant Cathedral

To get to the exceptional view of the Berlin Cathedral is worth it.

You’ll have to climb 270 steps to reach the footbridge that goes around the 70-meter high dome, but the sublime view of the Museum Island, the Rotes Rathaus (Berlin’s city hall), and the surrounding area will make this part of your stay in Berlin an unforgettable memory.

The Dome, built in the baroque style and completed in 1905, and the burial crypt of the royal house of Hohenzollern are also worth a visit, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of your passage in the cathedral to extend your visit.

The Berlin Protestant Cathedral (known as the Berliner Dome) is open until 8 p.m. every day (€7, reduced rate €5).

Learn about the sky at the Wilhelm-Förster Observatory and Planetarium (fee)

The Wilhelm-Förster Observatory and Planetarium offer guided stargazing and educational tours several times a week (admission: Observatory 3 €, Planetarium and Observatory 5 to 10 €).

Although stargazing is only possible when the sky is clear, the observatory facilities can be visited on cloudy days.

At the planetarium, you can lie under a virtual sky vault while enjoying programs that feature scientific presentations or pop music concerts.

Pass under the Brandenburg Gate and stroll through Unter den Linden (free)

Berlin’s iconic landmark, the Brandenburg Gate, is illuminated every evening in Berlin, a magnificent sight both day and night.

Walk down the famous Unter den Linden (“under the linden trees”) towards the Museum Island or stop at one of the restaurants on the Gendarmenmarkt square, enjoying the beautiful view of the domes of the Deutscher Dom and the Französischer Dom.

Listen to music of all styles

From the famous Berlin Philharmonic and its three opera houses to small, popular jazz clubs (such as B-Flat and A-Trane), Berlin’s music scene is full of variety and there are plenty of opportunities to go to a concert, no matter what your musical taste.

You can also listen to the big names that regularly perform in the big concert halls like the Mercedes-Benz Arena, the Waldbühne or the Columbia Halle.

Take in a show – from cabaret to ballet

The city of Berlin offers numerous theater and ballet performances throughout the year.

The show at the Palast in Friedrichstadt, a revue theater built in 1984, brings 160 participants on stage for each performance.

If you prefer dance, especially ballet, don’t hesitate to go and admire the beautiful ballerinas of the Staatsballet who will flutter on the stage before your eyes.

You can also attend other quality shows such as the Blue Man Group, which performs on stage among the countless companies in residence in Berlin.

Cultivate yourself during the Long Night of the Museums, the Night of Science and the Night of the Castles

The city of Berlin is known worldwide for its incredible museums. A few nights a year, more than 70 of them open their doors until 2 a.m. during the Long Night of Museums, allowing visitors to explore their incredible collections.

The little extra that changes everything, shuttle buses will take you from one museum to another.

Similar events are organized in research institutes and universities during the Long Night of Science.

The Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam has also copied this model to attract night owls with its Schlössernacht.

Marvel at the Festival of Lights (free)

For one week each year, all of Berlin’s landmarks, streets and buildings are illuminated with colorful lights and temporary installations by international artists.

Stroll through the Mitte district to enjoy the largest concentration of light shows and marvel at all the capital’s famous monuments transformed for a few nights into gigantic works of art.

Discover the nightlife in Berlin

Like many major cities, Berlin and its famous nightlife are defined primarily by neighborhoods, each reflecting unique aspects of the metropolis and its people.

Explore the Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg area, where crowds gather in small, dimly lit bars, or head to Mitte, where Berlin’s wealthiest residents sip chic cocktails in exotic colors.

Go out and dance the night away in Berlin

Berlin’s clubs and electronic music scene are also what the city is known for among techno fans around the world.

The ideal program after a few drinks in the above mentioned bars.

Head to the Watergate or Berghain, the most famous club in town.

But be prepared, you can’t just walk into one of the most exclusive clubs in the world, you can be turned away at the entrance, especially at the Berghain.

Berlin in summer

With its mild summer nights and the sun staying out late into the evening, Berlin seems to bloom like a flower when the summer season comes around again each year.

Residents and tourists alike enjoy a brighter outlook and forget about the grey winters to gather outside and enjoy the entertainment and events of the season.

Open-air cinemas

The city also installs several outdoor movie theaters throughout the city when the temperatures rise and the skies become warmer, where you can see Hollywood blockbusters as well as arthouse films from around the world.

Head to the Kulturforum theater to be closer to the bars of Potsdamer Platz and the Mitte district for a drink after your movie.

Have an evening drink in Berlin at the Beach Bar

Berliners are resourceful people, they know how to enjoy the warm summer nights even if they are not really located on the beach in the heart of this northern European city.

Beach bars have sprung up along the banks of the Spree and in various green spaces, allowing residents and visitors alike to escape the urban jungle and enjoy a coastal atmosphere with their little sandy beaches in the middle of the city and their tropical cocktails.

Go to Yaam in Friedrichshain for a Caribbean atmosphere as if you were there or to Strandbar in Mitte for a splendid view of the illuminated Museum Island at night.