What to do in Berlin on Monday: 25+ Museums & More

Berlin on Mondays can be tough for a tourist because it seems like so many museums are closed. But I can assure you, there are plenty of museums and tourist attractions that don’t close on Mondays. Aside from that, there are so many other ways to enjoy this amazing city. I’ve got lots of great ideas for what to do in Berlin on Monday.

Places like Museum Island and the Bernauer Strasse Wall Memorial visitors center are closed on Mondays, so you’ll need to plan on visiting these attractions on other days. But keep reading because there’s more than enough to fill up a Monday in Berlin.

Berlin on a Monday

Got a case of the Mondays? No fear, here’s what to do in Berlin when so many places are closed. Some people worry about things being closed on Sundays in Berlin, but it’s really Mondays that tourists need to plan for.

TV Tower

The Berlin TV Tower, or Fernsehturm in German, can be seen from almost anywhere in Berlin. It’s 368 meters (1,207 feet) tall, making it one of the tallest structures in Germany and the European Union.

Built by the Soviets and inaugurated on October 3, 1969, it was originally meant to represent the strength of communist East Germany. Today it is a symbol of the reunification of Germany and a symbol of Berlin itself.

The Berlin TV Tower is open on Mondays and it’s a great spot for views of Berlin since it’s so tall. You can take the elevator to the viewing platform at about 200 meters high for 360 degree views of the city. There’s also a revolving restaurant on a different level where you can enjoy a nice meal while admiring the views.

It is highly recommended to buy priority tickets online ahead of time to reduce your wait.

Location: Panoramastraße 1A, 10178 Berlin
Observation deck opening hours: November – March, 10 am to 10 pm / April – October, 9 am to 11 pm
Entrance: starting at 22.50 euros

More places for views that are open on Mondays

The TV Tower has good views because of its height, but it’s not the only good spot for views of Berlin from above. Here are a few others I love that are open on Mondays:

Victory Column
Sitting at a major roundabout in the middle of Tiergarten, the views from the top of the Victory Column are spectacular. There’s no elevator, so you’ll have to climb 285 stairs for the view, but I promise, it’s worth it. Read more about visiting the Victory Column.

Panoramapunkt
This attraction boasts the fastest elevator in Europe. It takes you to the 24th floor in 20 seconds, and then you can enjoy the views. Panoramapunkt is easy to reach at Potsdamer Platz. Read more about visiting Panoramapunkt in Berlin or buy tickets here.

Park Inn
The viewing platform at the Park Inn hotel is possibly the best view in Berlin because it’s right at Alexanderplatz. This gives you fantastic up close views of the TV Tower itself. Take the elevator to the 35th floor, climb 80 stairs to the viewing platform, and pay a small fee for the views.

East Side Gallery

The East Side Gallery is a large section of the Berlin Wall that sits along the eastern bank of the Spree River in the Friedrichshain district. Fun Berlin fact: At 1.3km (0.8 mile) long, it’s considered the longest open air gallery in the world.

Shortly after the Berlin Wall fell, artists from 21 countries came here to paint murals to celebrate Germany being reunited, and also to remind the world of terrible things that occurred here. Over the years, the some of the art has changed and many of the original paintings have been redone and better preserved.

Not only is it open on Mondays, but it’s open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Read more about the East Side Gallery and other places where you can see the Berlin Wall.

Location: Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin
Opening Hours: 24/7
Entrance: free

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Also known as the Holocaust Memorial, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe honors the large number of Jewish people who were killed by the Nazis. It’s one of the most important World War II sites in Berlin.

The memorial consists of 2,710 concrete blocks of varying heights, and the ground they sit on is an uneven slope similar to a wave. The indoor information center showcases letters, diaries, photographs, and biographies of the victims to help personalize the experience. The inside is closed on Mondays, but you can still visit the outdoor memorial any day of the week. Read more about visiting the Holocaust Memorial.

Location: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin
Outdoor memorial opening Hours: 24/7
Entrance: free

Take a Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

Hop On Hop Off sightseeing buses can be a good way to get an overview of a city and visit a bunch of the easier-to-see attractions in a short amount of time.

The sightseeing buses in Berlin run nearly every day of the year so it’s a good option for a Monday in Berlin. Book Big Bus Berlin here or City Sightseeing Berlin here. Or you can read my full article about which Hop On Hop Off bus to take in Berlin.

9th of November Platz

One of my favorite Cold War sights in Berlin that often gets overlooked is the 9th of November 1989 Platz (Platz des 9th November 1989 in German) near the Bornholmer Strasse Sbahn station.

Here you’ll see a remaining piece of the Berlin Wall, plus an interesting display about the fall of the Wall. The former border crossing here was the first place the border opened up on November 9, 1989, so it holds a lot of history.

November 9th was an infamous date in German history before the fall of the Wall, and you can also learn about other dark events that took place on that day in history. This is also an especially nice place if you’re visiting Berlin in spring because there are cherry blossoms here.

Location: Bornholmer Str. 61, 10439 Berlin
Opening Hours: 24/7
Entrance: free

The audio guide is 20 minutes long, but you can spend more time enjoying the outdoor terrace before or after. The views are pretty nice from up there too. You have to book ahead and bring official ID with you. The booking process involves several emails, so check out my guide to visiting the Reichstag Building for all the info.

Location: Scheidemannstraße 5, 10557 Berlin
Opening hours: daily 8am to 9:45pm, some exceptions
Entrance: free

Brandenburger Tor

No first time visit to Berlin is complete without snapping a photo of Brandenburg Gate.

This was once one of the city gates of Berlin, even though today it is very much in the center of the city. During the Cold War, the border between East and West Berlin ran just to the west of the gate, and the Berlin Wall was built around it so neither side could reach it.

Location: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin
Opening hours: 24/7
Entrance: free

Tempelhof

Tempelhof is one of the most loved parks in Berlin, and it’s quite interesting to see because it used to be an airport. The airport building and runways still stand, and the park is open every day.

People love running, cycling, roller blading, and more on the runways. There are fenced in dog run areas, designated grilling areas, bird protection zones, and plenty of space to enjoy a picnic. You can also take a guided tour (for a fee) in the airport building, available most days including Mondays. It’s a super interesting tour, I definitely recommend it.

Location (airport building): Platz d. Luftbrücke 5, 12101 Berlin
Park opening hours: dawn to dusk
Entrance: free

Berlin Zoo

Berlin Zoological Garden—or simply Berlin Zoo—is the oldest and most famous zoo in Germany. Situated within Tiergarten, it was inaugurated in 1844 and spans more than 35 hectares. Berlin Zoo is home to more than 20,000 animals, and even boasts its very own aquarium. And it’s open on Mondays.

And in case you didn’t know, Berlin actually has two zoos, one in the west and one in the east. The one in the east is called Tierpark, and it’s Europe’s largest animal park with 7,250 animals from 840 species around the world. It’s located on the grounds of the former Friedrichsfelde Palace. Check out more family activities in Berlin.

Berlin Zoological Garten
Location: Hardenbergpl. 8, 10787 Berlin
Opening hours: late March to late September, daily 9am to 6:30pm; hours are shorter at other times of the year
Entrance: starting at 9 euros for kids, 19 euros for adults

Tierpark
Location: Am Tierpark 125, 10319 Berlin
Opening hours: late March to late September, daily 9am to 6:30pm; hours are shorter at other times of the year
Entrance: starting at 8.50 euros for kids, 17.50 euros for adults

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Have questions about planning your trip to Berlin?

Join the Facebook group here to chat with Ali (she runs this site) and other people who have been to Berlin for tips.

Spandau Citadel

Berlin’s most famous castle, Charlottenburg Palace, is closed on Mondays, but the Spandau Citadel is open on Mondays. It’s a very different kind of castle, but that’s one of the reasons I like it. The Citadel dates back to the 12th century, and it was strategically built where the Havel and Spree Rivers meet.

Location: Am Juliusturm 64, 13599 Berlin
Opening hours: Friday to Wednesday 10am to 5pm, Thursday 1pm to 8pm
Entrance: 4.50 euros

Botanical Gardens

For a little escape from the urban streets of Berlin on a Monday, check out the Botanical Gardens. This tranquil space is the perfect place to be among the tropical plants, succulents, flowers, and calming waterways. It was first opened in 1889 to create the world in a garden, and today you can still see flora from around the world in its arboretum, tropical greenhouse, and Italian garden.

Location: Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8, 14195 Berlin
Opening hours: 9am to 8pm
Entrance: 6 euros

Take a Food Tour

Food tours are a great way to learn about the cuisine and culture of the place you’re visiting, and they’re my favorite way to start a trip.

Berlin has a unique variety of German food and food from other countries, so taking a food tour is a fun way to experience this. I highly recommend this one in Friedrichshain.

Go for a Hike

If you’re visiting Berlin during warm weather, Monday could be a good day for a hike. Despite being a big city, there’s actually a lot of green space here. Check out the Grunewald, a big leafy forest in the southwest corner of Berlin, or simply go for a long walk in Tiergarten.

Take a boat tour

Sightseeing boat tours are a fun way to learn about the city, and they run every day of the week, including Mondays. There are lots of choices for boat tours on the Spree River. Note that some of the boat tours might have limited availability during winter.

Here are a few boat tours we recommend:

• Berlin One Hour City Tour by Boat with Guaranteed Seating
• Berlin 2.5 Hour East Side Boat Cruise
• 3.25 Hour Spree River and Landwehrkanal Boat Tour

And here are a few that go farther out to some of the nearby lakes:

• Berlin-Wannsee to Potsdam 3 Hour World Heritage Cruise
• Berlin Spree Boat Tour to Müggelsee

Go Shopping

This is the biggest problem for visitors in Berlin on Sundays, that most retail shops are closed. But they open up again on Monday for you to do some shopping in Berlin. Whether you want the high end shops on Kurfürstendamm and at KaDeWe, or you’re more interested in secondhand shops scattered around the city, there are lots of options.

Enjoy the Beer Gardens

Berlin has lots of excellent beer gardens, and it’s a great way to relax and soak up the local atmosphere. Even if you don’t drink beer, you can order wine or a non-alcoholic beverage at Biergartens. Check out some of our favorite beer gardens in Berlin.

Check out some Craft Beer Bars

No matter the weather, craft beer bars are a good place to go on a Monday in Berlin to enjoy a quality beer. Some brew their own, while others have beers from a variety of breweries. Here are some of our favorite places for craft beer in Berlin.

Berlin Museums Open on Mondays

There are actually quite a few Berlin museums open on Mondays, so I’ve gathered them in a separate list here.

Stasi Museum

The Stasi were the secret police in East Germany. They carried out the communist idea of control and played a big part in East German life.

The Stasi Museum is located at the original headquarters of the Stasi, and it’s an excellent to learn about the history of this organization and the extent of their control on every day life. Not only is the museum open on Mondays, but that’s also one of the days you can take a guided tour. German tours are at 1pm, English tours are at 3pm, and it’s worth booking ahead here.

Location: Normannenstraße 20/Haus 1, 10365 Berlin
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am – 6pm, Weekends and Holidays: 11am – 6pm
Entrance: 10 euros, plus 5 euros if you want to take the tour

Humboldt Forum

One of the newest museums in Berlin, the Humboldt Forum just opened in July 2021, and it’s located right across the street from the Berliner Dom and Museum Island. It’s also one of the best free museums in Berlin. This art and culture museum is open on Mondays, and instead, it’s closed on Tuesdays.

Location: Schloßpl. 1, 10178 Berlin
Opening hours: Wednesday – Monday, 10:30am – 6:30pm; closed Tuesday
Entrance: free, except for special exhibitions; some free exhibits still require booking an advanced timed ticket

DDR Museum

The DDR Museum is an interactive museum where visitors get to experience what life was like in East Germany including details about the Stasi, the Berlin Wall, and other historical facts. You’ll find regular exhibitions where guests are encouraged to touch and interact with historical artifacts.

It’s a museum for all ages with interactive exhibits for kids, like the Kindergarten installation. This immersive exhibit takes kids into the world of East Germany and shows them what life would have been like for them at that time. Consider booking a skip the line ticket for the DDR Museum to save time.

Location: Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 1, 10178 Berlin
Opening Hours: daily 9am to 9pm
Entrance: 13.50 euros

Computerspielemuseum

Berlin’s computer game museum is one for all the video game lovers out there, whether your generation was Pokemon or Pac-Man. It aims to collect, preserve and protect the legacy and physical artifacts of gaming through the decades from its earliest origins to the present day.

The Computerspielemuseum actually has the largest collection of consoles, games, and gaming magazines in Europe. With more than 300 items, you’ll be pleased to know that you can try some of them out for yourself, too.

Location: Karl-Marx-Allee 93A, 10243 Berlin
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 8pm
Entrance: 11 euros

Little Big City

Little Big City is a place where you and your family can see 750 years of Berlin history in miniature. You’ll see fun miniature versions of important buildings and landmarks, people, projectors, holograms, and more, all depicting important events and time periods in Berlin’s history. There are buttons, pedals, and games, making it a fun and interactive experience.

Opening hours: daily 10am to 5pm, last entry 4pm
Location: Panoramastraße 1a, 10178 Berlin
Cost: starting at 12 euros, buy tickets here.

Spy Museum

Since Berlin is the world’s capital of spies, it is not surprising to find a modern, unique spy museum here. The Berlin Spy Museum focuses on showcasing spies and espionage history, and it’s a fun family activity in Berlin.

Using current multi-media based technology, visitors will gain an in-depth insight into the history of espionage through the ages. The fun and immersive experience will show you how to detect the sneakiest tricks used by secret services and agents.

Opening hours: daily 10am to 8pm
Location: Leipziger Pl. 9, 10117 Berlin
Cost: varies depending on exact day and age of ticket holder, buy tickets here

Berlin Hohenschönhausen Memorial

The Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen, or the Berlin Hohenschönhausen Memorial, is a museum in a former Stasi prison. It was the main prison of the East German secret police. At this memorial, you can learn the history of the Stasi and the communist dictatorship, and stories of the many people who ended up here as prisoners. Some, but not all, guides were former prisoners themselves, making the guided tours even more compelling.

Location: Genslerstraße 66, 13055 Berlin
Opening Hours: daily 9am – 6pm
Entrance: The permanent exhibition is free; tours are 8 euros

Topography of Terror

Topography of Terror is a museum that sits on the former Gestapo headquarters. It’s an important place to learn the harsh reality of what happened in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s.

This museum and memorial is also a place for remembrance so we can avoid letting these mistakes happen again. There’s an outdoor section and an indoor section, so give yourself at least an hour, but more likely two hours. I think this is one of the best World War II attractions in Berlin.

Location: Niederkirchnerstraße 8, 10963 Berlin
Opening Hours: daily 10am to 8pm
Entrance: Free

Jewish Museum

The Berlin Jewish Museum tells the stories of Jewish people in Germany from the Middle Ages to present day. The whole museum, inside and out, is designed to be part of the experience of learning about the diverse Jewish culture and the gaps made by the Holocaust.

Location: Lindenstraße 9-14, 10969 Berlin
Opening Hours: daily 10am – 6pm
Entrance: Free for permanent exhibits, 10 euros for special exhibits

Wall Museums at Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie has lots of historical significance but is pretty cheesy today. You can see it and snap a photo in about a minute, but there are two museums nearby about the Berlin Wall.

Die Mauer – The Wall Panorama Museum focuses on the Berlin Wall and what it was like to live in Berlin during the Cold War. It’s an immersive experience that shows you what it was like living near the death strip in the 1980s.

Location: Friedrichstraße 205, 10117 Berlin
Opening hours: daily 10am – 6pm
Entrance: 11 euros

The Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie documents the escape of East Germans and the tragedies of the Berlin Wall through chaotically displayed photographs. Although many of the stories told here are sad, this historical museum honors the bravery of these escapees and the kindness of the Checkpoint Charlie guards (those who refused to comply with the orders to shoot escapees).

Location: Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10969 Berlin
Opening hours: daily 10am – 8pm
Entrance: 17.50 euros

Futurium

The Futurium is a museum that focuses on what the future might look like and how all possible outcomes are the result of our decisions and actions.

One section focuses on different possibilities for the future, and another section encourages discussion about various topics relating to the future. The third section is where visitors can play around with things like future tech and their own inventions.

Location: Alexanderufer 2, 10117 Berlin
Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday – Sunday 10am – 6pm; Thursday 10am – 8pm; closed Tuesdays
Entrance: Free

Sachsenhausen

One of the most popular day trips from Berlin is Potsdam, but the palaces in Potsdam are closed on Mondays. However, the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is another important day trip that is open on Mondays.

This somber place teaches about Germany’s dark past and how it affects all of us. Read more about visiting Sachsenhausen from Berlin.

Location: Str. d. Nationen 22, 16515 Oranienburg
Opening hours: daily 8:30am – 5pm; outdoor area is open until 6pm
Cost: Free, unless you book a tour like this one

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully list of things to do in Berlin on Mondays is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!