By Vicky · Published Jan. 31st, 2024
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Follow this free self-guided walking tour around Alexanderplatz and nearby to discover the famous sights in Berlin east of the Spree River.
Page Contents:
Location
This walking tour starts from the World Time Clock (Weltzeituhr) on Alexanderplatz. It’s just next to Alexanderplatz Bahnhof, which has trains, U-Bahn, bus and tram services.
Berlin Self-Guided Walking Tour Map
Get the route by downloading the .gpx or .kml file below. For navigation with Maps.me on your mobile phone, simply download the .kml file and open to add it to the Maps.me bookmarks.
Tips for Alexanderplatz Walking Tour
- Get tickets to the Berliner Fernsehturm* in advance, especially in the summer, as tickets can sell out.
- Shops are closed on Sundays. On other days most open around 10am.
- Check out other walks on our Germany Hiking Page.
Top Things to near Alexanderplatz
On this self-guided tour of Alexanderplatz and around, you’ll see the main sights of the area. If you prefer, several great guided walking tours of Berlin* explore a similar area.
- Alexanderplatz
- Berliner Fernsehturm
- St Mary’s Church
- Rotes Rathaus
- Nikolaiviertel
- St Nikolaikirche Museum
- Riverside Walk
- DDR Museum
- Oranienburger Strasse
- New Synagogue
- Hackesche Höf
Berlin Alexanderplatz Walking Tour Route
This walking tour starts from the Weltzeituhr on Alexanderplatz.
1. Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz is one of the most famous squares in Berlin, named after the Russian Tsar Alexander I. Today it’s also a transport and shopping hub. Most shops open at 10am and close between 8 and 10pm. They’re all closed on Sundays, including supermarkets. Within the large square, which extends all the way to the river, are several sights of interest, listed below.
Directions: Head towards the obvious Fernsehturm, then right towards the old church and finally to the impressive red city hall Rotes Rathaus).
Berliner Fernsehturm
Key Information: Open every day 10am-11pm. Tickets start from €22.50 for the most basic package, but you can get combination tickets which include skipping the line, a virtual reality experience, a drink in the bar, or dinner in the restaurant.
The Fernsehturm (TV Tower), opened in 1969, is one of Berlin’s most iconic structures and a symbol of Berlin. It’s 368 metres tall and offers panoramic views of the city from a viewing deck at 203m. There’s also a revolving restaurant on the floor above!
St Mary’s Church
Key Information: Open every day 10am-4pm. Free entry.
St. Mary’s is one of Berlin’s oldest churches, surviving various wars and reconstructions, with the original structure dating back to the 13th century. The most notable element inside is the famous Totentanz (Dance of Death), a medieval fresco.
Rotes Rathaus
Key Information: Free entry, open weekdays 9am-6pm.
The Rotes Rathaus is a striking red-brick building from the late 19th century. It combines both Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival styles, giving it a distinctive appearance. If you watch the TV series Babylon Berlin, you’ll recognise it as the main police station! There’s a small exhibition inside including sculptures and a lego model of the building.
Directions: Head across the road to the right of the Rotes Rathaus and down a little way before taking a right into the cobbled streets of Nikolaiviertel to the church.
2. Nikolaiviertel
Nikolaiviertel is the oldest residential area in Berlin. It has a rich history dating back to the medieval period, with the church at its centre. There are charming cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways, and plenty of cute cafes.
St Nikolaikirche Museum
Key Information: Open daily 10am-6pm. Tickets are €7/free for adults/children.
The St Nikolaikirche Museum is about the Medieval history of Berlin, including its architecture and urban development. There’s a good audioguide in several languages.
Directions: Head through the old quarter to the river and turn right.
3. Riverside Walk
There’s a nice walk along the river here, from which you can see several of the important buildings in central Berlin. First you cross Alexanderplatz again, with Museum Island on the other side. On the other side, down the steps is the DDR Museum. Continuing onwards, you get good views of the fancy museum buildings on the island, along with the distinctive Berlin Cathedral. After walking through a park, you pass the end of Museum Island and come to Friedrichstraße Bridge.
DDR Museum
Key Information: Open daily 9am-9pm. Tickets cost €13.50/8.00.
The DDR Museum showcases life in East Germany (the German Democratic Republic or DDR) during the Cold War era. It’s a very interactive museum that aims to immersive visitors in the daily life of East Germany. You can even try out a simulated Trabant car ride, or enter a recreated Stasi prison.
Get tickets to the DDR Museum*
Directions: Turn right at Friedrichstraße Bridge, past Friedrichstadt-Palast (a famous theatre) and to the junction with Oranienburger Strasse. Turn right down this large street.
4. Oranienburger Strasse
Oranienburger Strasse is home to various cultural institutions, galleries, and exhibition spaces, and is also known for its nightlife. Several buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries remain, while the New Synagogue is the most noteworthy. Built in the mid-19th century and partially destroyed during the Kristallnacht pogrom in 1938, the synagogue was fully restored at the turn of the century. Today its colourful domed roofs are rather lovely.
Directions: Walk down Oranienburger Strasse and follow it as it bends left. You’ll reach a triangle junction of roads. Turn left here and the entrance to the next stop is soon on your left.
5. Hackesche Höf
The Hackesche Höf is a historic ensemble of eight interconnected courtyards, each with its own unique character and charm. The complex is a great example of Berlin’s Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) architecture, and the courtyards feature colorful mosaics, stylish staircases, and artistic details. Today, the courtyards house a variety of businesses, including boutiques, cafes, theaters, and galleries.
Directions: This is the end of the Alexanderplatz & Around Walking Tour. From here you can walk back to Alexanderplatz, continue shopping in the area, or head elsewhere.
Guidebooks to explore more of Germany
For more walking tours and hikes in Germany, see our Germany hiking page.
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