You booked a trip to Berlin! Yay! Now what?
If you’re anything like me, you’ll procrastinate until you arrive and then try to figure out what to do! Story of my life! 🤣 So, don’t be me! You can follow this Berlin itinerary with road trips or use it as a guide to create your own. This is what we did on our trip, and we had a blast!
If we had more time, I would’ve loved to spend extra days exploring Erfurt, Leipzig, Dresden, and Saxon Switzerland National Park. We spent two nights away from Berlin, but you could easily stretch the road trip to stay overnight in each city. I highly recommend it!
🚗 You’ll need a car for this itinerary! While public transport covers most cities, getting to the Bastei Bridge and The Devil’s Bridge (Rakotzbrücke) is a challenge without one.
⚠️ Speeding tickets alert: We received three speeding tickets in the mail since getting home to San Diego—all caught by cameras. We were only going 4-5 mph over the limit (approximately 9 kph)! The fines are small, but German traffic cameras don’t mess around. The autobahn is where you can go fast, but the speed limit can change quickly, so watch closely.
ℹ️For a deeper dive into the road trip locations in this Berlin itinerary, including additional sights you can explore at each place, drive times, and a map 🗺️, check out 👉 Exploring Germany: 7 Amazing Day Trips from Berlin By Car.
Berlin Itinerary with Road Trips Summary
Day 1: Arrive in Berlin
Day 2: Explore Berlin (City Walk Tour + Tiergarten)
Day 3: Day trip to Potsdam
Day 4: Day trip to Oranienburg
Day 5: Road trip begins — Erfurt + Leipzig
Day 6: Leipzig + Dresden
Day 7: Bastei Bridge, Devil’s Bridge (Rakotzbrücke), and back to Berlin
Day 8: Free day in Berlin — One last look around + Pack
Day 9: Depart
Day 1: Arrive in Berlin
➡️Check into your hotel
We loved the JW Marriott for its comfy rooms and a breakfast buffet so good we never ate breakfast elsewhere. It’s near Tiergarten Park and a 10- to 15-minute walk to good restaurants. For a detailed review, read JW Marriott Hotel Berlin: A Luxury Hotel at an Affordable Price.
➡️Walk around and grab dinner
Shake off the jet lag with a stroll and a hearty meal. Try Paulaner or Lindenbräu for authentic German beer, paired with classic dishes like schnitzel or bratwurst.
📷Day 1 Photo Highlights
Day 2: Explore Berlin
Your first full day is all about exploring Berlin’s iconic landmarks.
➡️Morning at Tiergarten Park
Start with a walk or jog through Tiergarten Park. This massive, serene park is full of statues, ponds, and shady paths. Bonus: It’s on the way to the Reichstag Building, where your city tour begins.
➡️Berlin City Walk Tour
The Rick Steves Berlin City Walk Tour (87 minutes, self-paced) is the best way to see Berlin’s historic core. Highlights include the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Jewish Memorial, Hitler’s Bunker, and Museum Island. Read more about the tour here Berlin City Walk Tour: The Best Way to Explore Berlin in One Day.
➡️Shopping at Alexanderplatz:
After the tour, browse local shops, such as German Design, for authentic German souvenirs. The sweetest couple runs this small shop and they sell cuckoo clocks, ornaments, steins, clothing, dolls, and more.
➡️Lunch or early Dinner
Refuel at Little Italy with some yummy Italian food. If you’re in the mood for something different, this area has a bunch of other cafes, like Bavaria Berlin, Alt-Berliner Wirtshaus, and Ram Indian Cafe & Cocktail Bar.
➡️Quick Stop at Potsdamer Platz
Burn some more calories by walking to Potsdamer Platz. There, you can see remnants of the Berlin Wall and get a sense of East and West Berlin.
➡️Craft Cocktails
After a day of walking in Berlin, treat yourself to some well-earned drinks (you’ve racked up those steps!). For craft cocktails, The Alchemist is amazing—their smoky drinks are so much fun! We stopped by around 6 PM before it got busy for the evening.
📷Day 2 Photo Highlights
Day 3: Head to Potsdam
Just a 30-minute drive from Berlin, Potsdam is an adorable town with several palaces and neighborhoods with traditional houses.
➡️Sanssouci Palace
Book a 45-minute tour of this elegant Rococo palace (same-day reservations worked for us, but book a day or two ahead for prime slots). You can also wander the free gardens and grounds before or after to capture some scenic photos. Read How to Visit the Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, Germany, for more details on visiting.
➡️Dutch Quarter
Take a walk through this picturesque area, which features 134 red-brick buildings, cute cafes, shops, and art galleries.
➡️Dinner
Enjoy tapas and sangria at El Puerto by the harbor, or grab a bite at a cozy cafe in the Dutch Quarter.
📷Day 3 Photo Highlights
Day 4: Visit Oranienburg
A scenic 35-minute drive from Berlin, Oranienburg offers a mix of somber history and regal beauty.
➡️Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum
This former concentration camp is a poignant visit, but it’s a part of history worth exploring. You can choose an audio tour, a guided tour, or explore independently.
➡️Oranienburg Palace
If you prefer a lighter activity or want to do both, visit the Oranienburg Palace
nearby.
➡️Lunch or early dinner
We loved Grillhaus Papa Asada for a delicious meal. Other options include Lieschen & Louise (at the palace), Donna Rosa, L’Oasi, and Oranien Burger.
📷Day 4 Photo Highlights
Day 5: Erfurt and Leipzig
Buckle up for a 3-day road trip! Today’s drive to Erfurt (3.5 hours) is the longest, but it’s so worth it.
➡️Explore Erfurt
Park near the Town Square (try Domplatz Parking Garage, Parkplatz am Binderslebener Knie, or Parkplatz Bundesarbeitsgericht). Visit the stunning Cathedral of St. Mary and Merchants’ Bridge (Krämerbrücke), a medieval bridge lined with shops. Then, wander the Town Square (Domplatz).
➡️Dinner in Erfurt
We enjoyed Hofbräu at the cathedral (Hofbräu am Dom) for a classic meal. For craft beer lovers, Altstadtkneipe Noah has a lush patio and quirky decor. The Cathedral Biergarten (halfway up the Cathedral of St. Mary’s stairs) also looks great for grilled food and drinks.
➡️Drive to Leipzig (1.5 hours)
Arrive in the evening and check into the Leipzig Marriott, which is a very short walk from the Historic Market Square (Marktplatz).
➡️Evening in Leipzig
Stroll the Market Square for nightlife. We stumbled upon a lively outdoor concert with DJs, lights, and grilled brats—the best we had all trip! Enjoy the festive atmosphere, grab a beer, and soak in the energy.
📷Day 5 Photo Highlights
Day 6: Leipzig to Dresden
Continue your road trip with history in Leipzig and charm in Dresden.
➡️Monument to the Battle of the Nations (Leipzig): Spend a couple of hours exploring this massive monument, and climb to the top for panoramic city views. Check out the full guide here 👉 Monument to the Battle of the Nations: A Must-Visit in Leipzig.
➡️Visiting during the holidays?
Explore Leipzig’s Christmas Market in the Market Square.
➡️Drive to Dresden (1.25 hours):
Check into a hotel near the Old or New Market Squares or Inner New City for a walkable experience. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott, but it was a bit far from areas of interest, and the long walk to the Inner New City wasn’t the nicest—consider an Uber or a closer hotel.
➡️Explore Inner New City
Wander the Inner New City and grab dinner at El Español for delicious tapas (if you haven’t noticed, we love tapas!) or another local spot.
📷Day 6 Photo Highlights
Day 7: Bastei Bridge, The Devil’s Bridge, and back to Berlin
Today’s adventure takes you to two breathtaking bridges before returning to Berlin.
➡️Morning in Dresden
If you’re not in a rush, stroll through Old or New Market Squares for a mix of history and modern vibes. Or you can get an early start and head to the Bastei Bridge after breakfast, like we did. 👇
➡️Bastei Bridge (45-minute drive):
Hike the trails, cross the stone bridge, and take in incredible views of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The Panorama Biergarten is a wonderful spot to relax before heading to your next attraction. Here’s a full guide to visiting 👉Bastei Bridge: How to Visit This Stunning Attraction in Germany.
➡️The Devil’s Bridge (Rakotzbrücke) (1.5-hour drive): Explore this fairy-tale bridge in Kromlauer Park. This was one of our favorite places! (Note: You can visit this on Day 8 if you prefer to split the driving.) For more details, check out How to Visit The Devil’s Bridge: A Fairytale Adventure in Germany.
➡️Return to Berlin (2-hour drive)
Head back and settle in for your final days.
📷Day 7 Photo Highlights
Day 8: Free Day in Berlin
You’re back in Berlin with a full day to explore at your own pace.
➡️Relax or Explore
Revisit a favorite spot and buy any souvenirs you forgot.
➡️Optional Day Trip
If you skipped The Devil’s Bridge yesterday, drive there and back (a 2-hour drive each way).
➡️Get Ready for Your Trip Home (or your next destination!)
Pack up those memories along with your bags.
Day 9: Farewell, Berlin
Depending on your departure time, you may have time for a final stroll or one last croissant and coffee at a nearby café.
➡️Head to the Airport
How to Customize Your Berlin Itinerary
There are many different ways to customize this itinerary. Below are a few options. For less days, you’ll probably want to stick to short day trips or decrease the duration of the road trip.
➡️Shorten to 5-7 days by skipping Oranienburg, Potsdam, or Erfurt. Alternatively, you could cut out Dresden, Bastei Bridge, and Devil’s Bridge. It just depends on what you want to see the most.
➡️Extend to 10 days or more by adding nights in Leipzig, Dresden, or Saxon Switzerland National Park.
➡️Swap the free day in Berlin (day 8) for another day trip or extend your road trip another night.
This Berlin itinerary with road trips blends city life, history, and natural beauty. If you have extra time, stretch the road trip portion and slow down the pace. If you’re short on time, you can cut or change up the road trips from Berlin. Enjoy!
Related posts to help you plan a trip to Germany
- Berlin City Walk Tour: The Best Way to Explore Berlin in One Day
- Exploring Germany: 7 Amazing Day Trips from Berlin By Car
- Bastei Bridge: How to Visit This Stunning Attraction in Germany
- How to Visit The Devil’s Bridge: A Fairytale Adventure in Germany
- Monument to the Battle of the Nations: A Must-Visit in Leipzig
- How to Visit the Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, Germany
- JW Marriott Hotel Berlin: A Luxury Hotel at an Affordable Price