While gazing out the panoramic windows of the Berlin TV Tower during a recent visit to Germany’s largest metropolis, I realized how much this fascinating city has evolved since my earlier, pre-pandemic visit.
Travelers who haven’t been in a while can most certainly find new reasons to plan a trip now, as an array of new attractions, exhibitions and hotels — as well as several impressively refurbished icons — brings a fresh spark to the tourism scene.
Berlin has always been a place rich in culture, creativity and history, and today, it feels recharged. I spent several days exploring some of the newest aspects of the city for travelers — a visit made easier by the Berlin WelcomeCard, a discount program offered by Visit Berlin, the city’s tourism organization.
I highly recommend this card; it offers discounts to many attractions and free mass transit rides, which is especially handy when navigating a city so full of cultural landmarks in multiple neighborhoods.
Immersive Museums and New Exhibits
Among the most interesting cultural stops on this trip was the DDR Museum, where 20th-century East German life is on full display, with full-size reconstructions of an East Berlin apartment and an interrogation room, as well as an actual Trabant, the ubiquitous East German car from that era. A new exhibit, “Playful GDR — Toy Classics from the East,” runs through October 2025 and adds even more nostalgic appeal. I recommend visiting on a weekday to avoid crowds and booking a guided tour for maximum appreciation of the exhibits.
Nearby, the Berlin TV Tower’s Sphere restaurant was closed for renovation during my visit; it reopened in June, now under the direction of Michelin-star chef Tim Raue.
Fotografiska Berlin features contemporary photography and art.
Credit: 2025 VisitBerlinThroughout my visit, I was pleased to see how Berlin’s diverse museum and gallery scene continues to thrive. I enjoyed viewing contemporary photography and art at Fotografiska Berlin, which opened in 2023, as well as 20th-century classic design at “Icons in the Drive,” an exhibit that runs through December 2025 at The Drive at Volkswagen Group Forum, an automotive, pop-culture and design gallery (admission is free, and it’s great for families).
Also worth a visit is the expansive Humboldt Forum, where multiple new exhibitions recently launched, including “Feliciano Lana: The Story of White People” by Brazilian Indigenous artist Feliciano Lana, and “Conservation in Dialogue,” which showcases the museum’s conservation and restoration work. Both exhibits run until June 2026.
The Humboldt Forum is showing several new exhibitions.
Credit: 2025 Humboldt ForumI also stopped at PalaisPopulaire, a Deutsche Bank-sponsored arts and culture venue set in an 18th-century former Royal Prussian residence. Starting this September, it will feature the multimedia work of Charmaine Poh, Deutsche Bank’s “artist of the year,” who focuses on Asian, feminist and queer themes.
New exhibits are also on view at attractions including the THF Tower, the former air traffic control tower at the now-defunct Tempelhof Airport, where new aviation-themed displays complement guided airport tours, as well as the Berliner Medizinhistorisches Museum der Charite (Berlin Museum of Medical History), which is hosting “Inventing-Mania! The Sailing Airship of the ‘Engineer von Tarden,’” focusing on a 1900s psychiatric patient who dreamed of designing a sailing airship.
Where to Stay in Berlin
The hospitality highlight of my trip was a stay at Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin, a gorgeous luxury property with a well-deserved legendary status. Situated just a few steps from the Brandenburg Gate, it offers an unbeatable location, and my suite had views of the landmark from both the spacious living room and handsomely furnished bedroom. In 2024, the hotel unveiled a sumptuously reimagined spa and pool area — a peaceful and ultra-modern wellness center that’s ideal for relaxing after a day of sightseeing.
Cuisine is another highlight of Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin — I savored the Lobby Lounge & Bar’s sophisticated currywurst (a decidedly upscale interpretation of a local favorite, topped with edible gold dust) as well as a mouthwatering doner kebab (yet another popular dish, upgraded with a touch of truffle).
The hotel’s restaurant offerings also include Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, headed by Michelin-star chef Jonas Zorner, and Brasserie Quarre, where French and German cuisine are the specialties; both restaurants also offer photo-worthy views of the Brandenburg Gate. With its lovely settings and remarkable views, it’s no surprise that Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is an especially popular choice for special occasions — especially on New Year’s Eve, when fireworks light up the sky just outside.
The hotel’s spa and pool area was renovated in 2024.
Credit: 2025 Hotel Adlon Kempinski BerlinSeveral other properties have either debuted or reentered Berlin’s hotel scene. Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin in the Mitte neighborhood, for example, reopened this spring following renovations. Radisson Red Berlin Kudamm, meanwhile, marked that brand’s first opening in Germany last fall.
Scheduled to open in 2026 is Estrel Tower, which at 45 stories is billed as Berlin’s tallest building. The property will feature 522 guest rooms, coworking spaces and a 43rd-floor restaurant and bar. Also slated to debut before the end of the year is The Knast, a hotel that’s part of an eponymous cultural center and is set in a former prison building.
The contrasts in these two properties — a shiny new high-rise versus repurposed prison cells — is a perfect example of how Berlin excels at glistening innovation as well as creative reinvention. As far as I’m concerned, both approaches are equally enticing.
