Free self-guided walk · Berlin

From the Reichstag to Museum Island

A free self-guided walk from the Reichstag through the Brandenburg Gate, past the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and along Unter den Linden to Museum Island.

Distance
3.7 km
Walking time
49 min
Allow
About 2.5 hours with stops
Stops
7

Open the route in Google MapsBerlin city guide

About this walk

Berlin's historic centre lines up along one grand avenue, Unter den Linden, running from the Brandenburg Gate to Museum Island. This walk starts at the parliament building, crosses the line of the Wall at the gate and follows the avenue east.

Distances in Berlin are long; this is the compact core.

  • Terrain: Flat and paved all the way, with wide pavements. Step-free throughout.
  • Best time: Any time of day. The Brandenburg Gate is quieter early in the morning.

Route map

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Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Reichstag

    The parliament building with its glass dome. Visits to the dome are free but must be booked online in advance.

  2. Brandenburg Gate

    The city's symbol. A double row of cobbles in the road marks where the Wall ran.

  3. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

    A field of concrete slabs of different heights, with an information centre underneath.

  4. Unter den Linden

    Walk east along the lime-lined avenue past embassies and the State Opera.

  5. Bebelplatz

    The square where the Nazis burned books in 1933; a glass panel in the ground looks down on empty shelves.

  6. Gendarmenmarkt

    A short detour south to one of Berlin's finest squares, framed by two matching churches and the concert hall.

  7. Lustgarten and Berlin Cathedral

    Finish on Museum Island, by the cathedral and the park in front of the Altes Museum.

Tips

  • Book the Reichstag dome on the Bundestag website, and bring photo ID.
  • Many museums close on Mondays.
  • The U5 runs under Unter den Linden between the Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island.

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Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-10-28. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.