Berlin and Munich are the two most visited cities in Germany and two of the most iconic cities in the country. Berlin is known for its modernist architecture mixed with its historic buildings. Munich is known for its old town, Oktoberfest, and its Bavarian culture. If you are trying to decide between Berlin or Munich, here is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city to visit.
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Berlin or Munich Overview
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and one of the most famous cities in all of Europe. Although its history is seen everywhere, the city has evolved into one of the most progressive cities in Europe. It is a massive city with 3.75 million living in the city and 6.15 million living in the metro area. Roughly 1/3 of the city’s area is forests, parks, gardens, or waterways. Because much of Berlin was devastated during WW2, the architecture here is very diverse ranging from pre-war to extremely modernist designs. Museums, galleries, and musical venues are found in an abundance here.
Munich
Munich is the capital and largest city in Bavaria. The city is home to 1.5 million people and has a metro area of 6 million people, making it the 3rd largest city in Germany and the 11th largest city in the European Union. It has been ranked as having one of the highest qualities of living in the world. Munich is known for its incredible beer, beer gardens, and incredible Old Town. The world-famous Oktoberfest is held in Munich every year. Munich is also home to the headquarters of BMW.
Places to See
Berlin
Brandenburg Gate is the large gate to the city, once seen as a symbol of a divided country, but is now the symbol of unity for the country. It is the equivalent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris or as in many other European cities.
Berlin Cathedral was built in a New Baroque style and features a 75-meter-high dome. It is one of the most popular sights to see in Berlin.
Reichstag is a Neo-Renaissance palace that was turned into the German Parliament building in 1999.
East Side Gallery is a section of the Berlin Wall that is covered in incredible murals and paintings. It attracts 3 million visitors every year.
Gendarmenmarkt is one of the largest city squares in Berlin. The French Cathedral, the German Cathedral, and the Konzerthaus are all situated on the sides of the square.
Munich
Marienplatz has been the main city square since 1158. The city hall was completely destroyed during WW2 but has been rebuilt the same as the original.
Nymphenburg Palace is one of the biggest palaces in Europe. It was built by the rulers of Bavaria and was completed in 1675.
St. Peter’s Church is a Roman Catholic church in the heart of the city. It was also heavily damaged during WW2.
Karlsplatz is a large square in central Munich. It features remnants of the gate to the city which is leftover from the original city fortifications.
Food
Berlin
Berlin is now known for being a very innovative city which means its food has also been evolving. They are heralded for having excellent vegetarian and vegan restaurants throughout the city. Currywurst continues to be one of the most popular traditional dishes in the city. Berlin is also home to one of the largest chocolate stores in the world, Fassbender & Rausch. Berliner Weisse is a common beer drank by the people of Berlin. It is a low-alcohol beer with a tart flavor.
Munich
Munich is famed for its many types of sausages especially the Weißwürste which is boiled, white veal sausage. Sausage is, of course, one of the staples within the world-famous beer gardens found in Munich. The city is home to over 60 beer gardens. Beer has actually been considered a food group in Munich. During Oktoberfest, over 7 million liters of beer is consumed every year. Other traditional cuisines found here are Haxen or braised pork knuckle and Leberkäse which is a loaf-formed sausage.
Getting Around
Berlin
Berlin has a series of underground trains called the U-Bahn. It also has the S-Bahn which is a network of trains above ground. Bus and tram are also great ways to get around the city. The city is very flat which is great for walking and many of the main attractions in Berlin are within walking distance of each other. You might want to consider getting a 48-hour public transportation pass if you want to see attractions outside of the city center like the East Side Gallery or the Victory Column.
If you are staying near the Old Town, you can walk to many of the city’s attractions. If you want to see some of the landmarks and attractions on the outskirts of the city, then you will want to use public transportation. You can use the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses. A single trip will cost 2.70 Euro but a 3-day pass costs 15.50 Euro so I recommend you invest in a 3-day pass. Renting a bike is also an efficient way to explore the city. Riding bike in the Englischer Garten could occupy you for an entire day because it is one of the largest urban parks in the world.
Nightlife
Berlin
Berlin is known for having world-renowned nightclubs. If you are into techno, you might want to consider being around the areas of Friedrichshain or East Berlin. If you are into the bar scene you might want to consider staying in the Schlesisches Tor area. Some of the best nightclubs in the world are here which also means that they are not always easy to get into and you can almost always expect to be waiting in a sizable line to get in.
Berghain is the most famous nightclub in Berlin and one of the most famous in the world. If you want to go to Berghain, make sure you have a backup plan because there is a good chance you won’t get in. Do your research before you go clubbing here because you will be questioned at many of the clubs you try to get into.
Munich
Munich is known for having a young and lively nightlife. The two most popular areas to find nightlife here are around Schwabing and the Glockenbachviertel. Schwabing is located closer to the university. Being known for its beer, bars can be found anywhere in the city. There are also many clubs to be found in the city. Blitz, Pacha, and Palais are some of the best nightclubs in the city.
Day Trips
Berlin
- Potsdam is a city on the outskirts of Berlin, making it a perfect day trip. There are beautiful palaces and churches to visit.
- Dresden is just under two hours away from Berlin by train. Dresden has many sights to see and would be worth a day or two if you have time to spare.
- Pfaueninsel is an island near Potsdam and just south of Berlin. You can easily walk the whole island and see all of the landmarks on the island for a nice day trip.
- Devil’s Bridge is a picturesque stone bridge north of Berlin. Many Instagrammers take this day trip to capture the beauty of the bridge.
Dresden is a little further away but would also be great for a short trip from Berlin.
Munich
Neuschwanstein Castle is a Romanesque Revival palace in the southwest of Germany, Bavaria. It is one of the most iconic castles in the world.
Augsburg is one of Germany’s oldest cities. It is only 30 minutes from Munich.
Dachau is a concentration camp from WW2. It is 40 minutes from Munich.
Salzburg and Innsbruck are not very far away from Munich and would definitely be worth visiting for a couple of days.
Overall
Berlin and Munich are arguably the two most iconic cities in Germany. Berlin is known for its historic landmarks blended with modernist architecture as well as its world-famous nightclubs. Munich is known for its traditional Bavarian culture, Oktoberfest, and its high quality of living. Both cities should be explored by everyone because they offer very different experiences. Both Berlin and Munich deserve a full three days to explore although you could see most of the main sights in 2 full days.
