How to Spend a Sunday in Mitte, Berlin (Guide)
Last updated: May 8, 2023
Berlin has plenty of beautiful and intriguing neighborhoods to explore. Although I love seeing as much of the city as I can, taking the time to explore a single neighborhood and all its curious corners is just as - if not more! - rewarding.
As a lover of Berlin, food in Berlin, and Sundays in Berlin, these are my recommendations for a perfect Sunday in Mitte, Berlin. Find a map here with all locations tagged and find my favorite Sunday combinations at the end of this post.
I include a variety of choices to fit more preferences and many of these activities can also be enjoyed throughout other days in the week. You can pick one or two fun activities from this list to have a great day in the neighborhood or include more to have a wonderfully busy day in Berlin’s central district. Whatever suits your mood, timing, and budget! This post focuses mostly on Mitte the neighborhood rather than the district of Mitte (which is significantly larger), although there are options for making your way to the outskirts of the neighborhood as well.
Let’s get into it, shall we?
Brunch
A perfect Sunday starts with some brunch. What’re you craving?
If it’s a sunny day then Father Carpenter is a lovely choice. Their courtyard is both classic and picturesque, and their food is quite good. They’re a bit more on the pricier side, making them a perfect ‘treat yourself’ kind of spot. You can make reservations in advance to secure a seat outside but if you arrive right when it opens or after the brunch rush you should be able to find a spot. Sofi also has a sweet courtyard and specializes in baked goods like croissants and sweet rolls, as well as sandwiches. Distrikt Coffee offers similar vibes and tasty food, however they’re indoor only, making them an especially great spot if the weather’s a bit sour.
If you’re with company that has dietary restrictions Aera is a safe bet. They’re fully gluten free and also offer great vegan options (their rosemary plant-based grilled cheese is delish). The interior walls are painted a radiant blue color, creating quite an aesthetically pleasing look. If you’re looking for a healthier breakfast (all that schnitzel and currywurst can get to you) then Avocado Club is a nice choice, assuming you like avocados. They have a couple smoothie bowls, plenty of vegetable-based plates, and start offering salads at noon.
If you can’t decide on sweet or savoury look no further than Puffle Bees. I like to go for a savoury main and enjoy a delectable egg drop sandwich, then share a croffle (croissant waffle) with whoever I’m with. The salted peanut banana caramel one is incredible.
For a breakfast of baked goods I would recommend either Zeit für Brot or Frea Bakery, both are great representations of Berlin’s modern baking scene. Zeit für Brot has several locations throughout Germany, and although they didn’t start in Berlin, they grew to be quite popular here. They use no additives, focus on sourdough, and create high quality freshly baked bread. Frea also focuses on sourdough, in addition to being a fully plant-based and zero-waste bakery. Their ingredients are locally-sourced and everything they serve from cardamom buns to napkins is fully compostable. They compost their waste and food scraps themselves, which is then transformed into fertilizer, and given back to their suppliers.
Museum
If you’re lucky it’s the first Sunday of the month and you’re just in time for Museum Sunday. Museum Sunday is a city-wide initiative to make museums more accessible by offering free museum admission at dozens of museums on the first Sunday each month. I recommend you reserve a ticket in advance (tickets become available one week in advance but they drop more throughout the week, oftentimes on Wednesdays), although some museums also allow walk-ins on this day. Also, if you want an easier way to scan for tickets my savvy partner Dan created this great tool.
Even if it’s not Museum Sunday, an after brunch museum is a nice way to spend a few hours, after all you’re in the museum hub of Berlin. (Feel free to skip ahead if you want a less committed Sunday or are shorter on time).
The obvious choice is of course Museum Island, a collection of five museums clustered together in the heart of Berlin. These museums are the Bode Museum, the Pergamonmuseum, the Altes (old) Museum, the Altes Nationalgalerie (old national gallery), and the Neues (new) Museum. They’re all very refined museums so it’s easy to discover which one is most suitable to your interests. Their exteriors are just as notable so it’s totally worth walking around and admiring the buildings even if you don’t plan on visiting their exhibits.
If you prefer modern art, consider visiting the KW Institute for Contemporary Art. It’s a small museum that features the works of three artists each season. €8 might seem steep for the size of the exhibits but it’s still a nice option. I would recommend the German History Museum as I liked it when I visited, but their permanent exhibit is under construction until 2025 so it’s not as worth the visit at the moment.
If you’re looking for a free museum to save a buck after brunch then Mitte is still a great place to be. A few recs:
The Jewish Museum is the largest Jewish museum in Europe. I appreciate that it discusses Jewish history throughout the ages rather than just focusing on the trauma their community went through. When tragedies are discussed it’s done in a very powerful and informative way. One of my favorite exhibits is in this museum: a room listing out every law and order put in place that eventually ended with 6 millions Jews being murdered Holocaust. The room absolutely commands your attention and illuminatingly demonstrates that tyranny doesn’t happen overnight.
The Tränenpalast is a former border crossing point active during the time the city was divided. Now it’s a museum with exhibits about the people effected by divided Berlin, the Cold War, and how Germany reunified. If you don’t know much about this subject, it’s an excellent place to start.
Futurium is a great museum if you want more of a hands-on experience. This museums revolves around all things relating to the future: new technology expected to be created, how to preserve our Earth, and what things like diseases or vacation days could look like in a hundred years. The museums also focuses on how much has changed and developed in just the past hundred or so years. It’s fascinating and does a great job at balancing information so you still leave the museum feeling hopeful. Be sure to head to the rooftop at the end to get a view of the city.
Café
After spending some time in a museum you might be appreciate a little sitting and chill time. Germans love their kaffee und kuchen time so you can get a cheeky slice of cake with your coffee. You can hit up one of the bakeries, like Zeit für Brot, you missed during brunch or take a look at the next few recs.
If you’re a coffee connoisseur then Ben Rahim or Five Elephant are good choices (although you’ll find fantastic coffee all over Mitte), plus they both have some tasty pastries. If you want to chill for awhile then fans of tea will love Tadshikische Teestube, a tea room serving Russian and Eastern teas. Their tea ceremony for €8.50 is a fun choice. If you prefer matcha then Matchasome is an aesthetically pleasing and delicious spot for all things matcha.
For some time in the sun visit Café Bravo, and sit in their courtyard. Princess Cheesecake is a little more pricey but great for cake, and Du Bonheur has lovely pastries, although they have limited seating. If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up on a budget head to Lois for 90 cents espresso. And if you’re plant-based and looking for a sweet treat head over to Huadou Soy Concept Store. Their cakes are absolutely gorgeous and made from ingredients like silken tofu, soy, vegan butter cream, and nut milk. Be sure to try something with black sesame and/or matcha. Café Três V or Sakura are also good. Sakura offers more classic cakes and Café Três V has more creative takes like cruffins, along with classic cakes like carrot and chocolate.
Flea Market
After some revitalizing time at a café it’s time to visit a flea market! Now most shops won’t be open on Sundays in Berlin, but flea markets certainly will be available! If you’re around northeast Mitte at this point then the flea market at Arkonaplatz is a sweet spot lovers of second-hand items like art and jewelry. I especially love the rings table here. Some of these beautiful and funky pieces will set you back just €2 or €3. If you’re looking for even more goodies you can even venture into the neighboring Prenzlauer Berg and find Berlin’s most popular flea market at Mauerpark. It’s about a ten minute walk from Arkonaplatz.
If you’re in more central Mitte I highly suggest you head over to the Berlin Art Market. Here you can find plenty of stalls displaying art curated and made by locals. You’ll find things that fit practically every budget from €1 postcard size prints to tapestries to original pieces. You can find art from the local artists Peter Wood, U.Berlin, and Ryoko Nagara here, three of my favorite Berlin-based artists. Plus the book and trinket market outside the Bode Museum is just down the street. This market doesn’t typically have the most interesting stuff, but it’s worth a gander if you’re strolling that way.
View
I love a good skyline! If you’re looking for a nice view of Berlin’s buildings then the Humboldt Forum is a nice choice. It’s €3 to enter and you have to reserve tickets prior to visiting. You can easily make a reservation in advance or even fifteen or so minutes before you head in if you want to remain more flexible with your timing. Once inside scan your ticket with the attendant and take the elevator up to the fourth floor terrace to enjoy a panoramic view of Mitte.
If you find yourself deeper in Tiergarten you can walk up the Victory Column for €4 for an excellent view of the city.
Walk: Monuments, Art & Greenery
After some revitalizing time at a café, spending some time wandering Berlin’s pretty streets is the perfect follow up. Here are some self-guided tours you can follow:
For a shorter walk packed with art and historical buildings start at Ebertsbrücke and snap a pic with the Fernsehturm / TV Tower and Bode Museum in the background. Starting at the Bode Museum make your way around Museum Island and admire the incredible architecture of some of the city’s best museums. Pause at Friedrichsbrücke to get a view of the Berlin Cathedral (if you want to hang around this area a little longer you can chill at Lustgarten or James-Simon-Park or visit the Humboldt Forum if you haven’t yet) before making your way to Rosenthaler Straße via Hackescher Markt where you’ll find Hackesche Höfe, a courtyard filled with shops and art noveau buildings. Walk one courtyard down and stop at Dead Chicken Alley to check out the outdoor street art gallery. From here walk east-side along the river Spree and head to the Neptune Fountain to get an unobstructed view of the Fernsehturm / TV Tower, Rotes Rathaus (mayor’s house), and St. Mary’s Church. Now you’re just steps away from Nikolaiviertel, Berlin’s oldest neighborhood, which was first founded in the year 1200, although much of the neighborhood was destroyed in WWII. It’s a quaint micro-neighborhood to wander through and frequently gets forgotten by city visitors despite being so centrally located.
For a longer monument walk (with a little nature thrown in) pick up where the previous walk ended and carry on to Unter den Linden. Once on this street turn left into Bebelplatz to see the state opera house and the Memorial to the 1933 Nazi Book Burning. From here walk to the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt square before continuing along Unter den Linden. Tip: If you need a pick-me-up you can stop for tasty chocolate at Ritter Sport or Rausch, the latter has excellent hot chocolate. At the end of the street you’ll find several more historical sites including the Brandenburg Gate, Jewish Memorial, and Reichstag. At this point you’re free to roam Tiergarten, Berlin’s largest park, until you’re content. If you walk deep enough you’ll find the Victory Column which you can walk up for €4 to get a fantastic (and well-earned) view of the city. If you’re feeling resilient enough to walk the whole way back head north towards Schloss Bellevue and stroll along the Spree until you’re back in central Mitte. Alternatively you can keep walking through the park til you eventually make your way to Cafe am Neuen See (a beer garden within the park) or just out of the park for an afternoon drink in neighboring Charlottenburg’s Monkey Bar (a rooftop bar with a great view that is best visited in early afternoon before there’s a line).
If you’re not looking for anything in particular and just want to take in the neighborhood feel free to just wander. Torstraße is a busier street that runs horizontally through the most central part of Mitte so if you’re within a few blocks north or south of that street you’re sure to be surrounded by some very pretty streets and a very lovely part of the neighborhood.
Snack
Feeling peckish? Depending on your earlier choices throughout the day you might be stuffed or craving a little something extra.
You can always catch up on kaffee und kuchen now if you didn’t get the chance to before. If it’s summertime cool off with like shaved ice at Shave Ice Berlin or delicious ice cream or gelato at Cuore di Vetro. If it’s in the colder season head to Tadshikische Teestube or Rausch and cozy up with a warm drink.
If you’re craving something savoury head back to central Mitte and grab a bite at Magic John’s or Curry 61! Magic John’s is a NY-style pizza joint that now also offers Detroit pizza slices too. You can optionally add on some garlic knots or key lime pie to your meal. If you want to try some German wurst then Curry 61 is a solid spot! Enjoy fries and grilled sausage served with ketchup and curry powder. Both spots offer plant-based versions of their food as well! Alternatively pick up a snack at The Sanctuary, a fully plant-based artisanal bakery. For a sugary snack try Sammy’s Donuts or Cinnamood.
Mix and match.
It’s difficult for me to pick favorites from this list, but here are a few of the best combinations:
For a sunny Sunday (assuming it’s not too warm) focus on time spent outside! Enjoy brunch at Father Carpenter’s courtyard before making your way around Museum Island and the Berlin Art Market. If you’re in the mood to soak up the sun cool off with some shaved ice at James-Simon-Park or head to Café Bravo for an iced coffee while chilling in their courtyard café. If it’s not too hot then take a nice long walk to Tiergarten where you’ll be rewarded with shade from the ample trees within the park. Finish off with a drink at the park’s beer garden: Café am Neuen See.
On a colder day you’ll want to spend more time inside. Start at a cozy bakery like Zeit für Brot or Frea before visiting a museum on Museum Island to escape the cold and immerse yourself in art. Afterwards wander Mitte a bit before cozying up at Tadshikische Teestube for some afternoon tea. If you’re feeling up for a longer walk follow my walking path until Gendarmenmarkt then take your time roaming Rausch Chocolate House (which is home to the largest chocolate shop in the world) before heading to the chocolate café on the top floor for the best hot chocolate in Berlin. Tip: If the café is full you can also find hot chocolate being sold on the ground floor. It’s also less expensive here too!
For a history packed Sunday in Mitte, fuel up with a satiating breakfast at Distrikt Coffee (arrive when it opens to avoid a queue) before walking to the Pergamon, one of the highest regarded museums in Germany. Afterwards follow the walking tour until you reach the Reichstag. Once at the Reichstag head to the Tränenpalast, a free history museum which houses an exhibition on divided Germany during the time of the Berlin Wall. After two museums and a self-guided walking tour you’re probably in the mood to spend the afternoon relaxing. Grabbing a quick bite to eat at Magic John’s before treating yourself to an afternoon of cake at Princess Cheesecake sounds like the perfect way to end the day.
For an artsy Sunday out start with creative pastries at the trendy Sofi Bakery. Check out the art alley and art noveau courtyard on Rosenthaler Straße before making your way to the Berlin Art Market. From here you can pick a museum to visit. If you’re interested in modern art and short on time try the KW Institute for Contemporary Museum and for a vast assortment of paintings ranging from Impressionism to Romanticism to early Modern Art visit the Alte Nationalgalerie. After your museum visit head to Aera to be treated to a stunning blue interior paired with coffee and a pastry. From here finish up at the Arkonaplatz flea market, and optionally extend your afternoon by paying the neighboring Prenzlauer Berg’s Mauerpark flea market a visit.
For a food-fueled Sunday start at Puffle Bees for brunch. Puffle Bees specializes in two glorious creations: egg drop sandwiches and croffles (croissant dough pressed in a waffle iron). Bring your appetite (or a friend) and try one of each. Afterwards of those spots head up the street to Du Bonheur for a French dessert. Enjoy the rest of your day as you please. For a treat later in the day visit Matchasome for the best matcha drinks in the city (the iced matcha with coconut rice milk and vanilla creme is a dream) or if you’re craving something savoury visit Currywurst 61 to try the curry and ketchup coated sausage that originated in Berlin.
For a vegan food-fueled Sunday start at Aera and experience the best vegan grilled cheese ever. Fill the day as you please, but sure to include also visit to at least one of the following: The Sanctuary, Café Três V, Cinnamood, Sammy’s Donuts, Sakura, and Frea Bakery.
For a Sunday on a budget start the day at Zeit für Brot. Although you’ll find cheaper bakeries in the area, Zeit für Brot delivers quality at a reasonable price. You can find plenty of hearty pastries for just €3 to €4. Skip the coffee here and instead get a 90 cents single espresso shot down the street at Lois. Fill your day with roaming around Mitte (from Museum Island to Nikolaiviertel is a safe bet), hitting up Arkonaplatz for some thrifty finds at their flea market, and perhaps visiting a free museum like Futurium or the Tränenpalast. On sunny days you can spend some time chilling at James-Simon-Park (or Tiergarten if you make it that far out) before ending the day with a €3 slice of pizza at Magic John’s.
Etc.
Well, there ya go!
You can use this post for a bit of inspiration or as a full-blown guide when planning your lovely Sunday in Berlin’s central district. Find a map here with all locations tagged.