20 most Instagrammable places in Berlin – Photo guide to Berlin

Looking for the most Instagrammable places in Berlin? Look no further! In this guide, I’ll share the best photo locations and Instagram spots in Berlin, including the best roof terraces and the most beautiful panoramic locations, cute cafes, tourist hot spots and unusual and alternative places. 

Berlin is not the most beautiful city in Europe – it could be gritty and rough at times, and the city centre doesn’t have a whole architectural ensemble like Prague or Paris – everything is spread around the city and built in different styles. Nonetheless, Berlin is insanely photogenic and has so many amazing photo locations all around the city. In my opinion, Berlin is one of the best cities for photos in Germany and maybe even the whole of Northern Europe. 

Heading to Berlin for a few days? Read my post about the best unique and alternative things to do in Berlin >

Instagrammable hotels in Berlin

If you haven’t booked your accommodation in Berlin yet, here are some amazing options. These are some of the most Instagrammable hotels and apartments in Berlin:

TSH Berlin: we stayed there and it was amazing – it has a very cool lobby

Hüttenpalast – a truly unique hotel that consists of different huts and caravans located indoor

Hotel Amano – a hotel with a fantastic rooftop terrace and views of Berlin

Provocateur Berlin – a gorgeous hotel with luxurious red rooms that reminds me of Chicago and Moulin Rouge at the same time

Down town Motel – basically a motel with a traditional 50s design from the USA

25hours Bikini Berlin – probably the most Insta-famous hotel in Berlin with hammocks and stunning views over Tiergarten

Alright, without further ado, let’s start with the most Instagrammable spots in Berlin!

20+ Instagrammable spots in Berlin: the best photo locations

Haus Schwarzenberg at Rosenthaler Strasse 39

If you like street art and unusual locations, this place is for you – Haus Schwarzenberg is the meeting spot for street art artists from all over Berlin. It’s located in a narrow alley, which you would probably miss unless you knew what you could find there. Besides street art, you can find a museum (Anne Frank Museum), a couple of really cool bars and a few shops and creative spaces there. If you’re a fan of street art, perhaps, you can also take a street art tour of Berlin, you can check the prices and availability here > 

Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) during sunset

If you’re lucky and it’s been sunny all day (or at least a large chunk of the afternoon closer to the sunset), perhaps you can see sunset near Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate). It’s one of the main highlights of Berlin, but it’s especially beautiful and good for photos during the evening hours (at sunset). There will be crowds, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to take a good shot! 

Klunkenkranich Rooftop

Another wonderful location for one of the best sunsets in Berlin is Klunkenkranich. For me, it’s difficult to categorise Klunchenkranich – I’m not sure what it is. It’s not a nightclub because it closes fairly early, especially by Berlin nightclub standards. It’s not a bar, because you need to pay to enter (around 6-7 euros per person). It’s not a lounge bar because it’s very laid back. Klunkenkranich always has a live DJ (sometimes even two, as there is another space on the second floor of the main building). There are a few buildings to sit inside, but the main area is located outside, so it’s better to go there when it’s not raining. You can’t reserve a table – it’s like a street food market, where you need to come early (mind that it opens around 4pm, you need to check the schedule, as it might change) to get the best table with the best views. However, you can see the views even from the parking lot where you will be queuing, and the views are amazing. In my opinion, it’s the best view of Berlin!

At Klunkenkranich, there are very few food options, but what there is (burgers, hot dogs, buns) is exceptionally delicious! However, if you want a proper meal, you need to eat beforehand or afterwards. 

Museuminsel (Museum island)

Museuminsel is the most beautiful part of Berlin and that’s where a lot of museums and other historical buildings are located. It’s a perfect spot for photos as the views are amazing from there. If you’re in the mood to take photos of (or in front of) beautiful buildings, that’s the place to go. 

East Side Gallery

East Side Gallery is the longest surviving stretch of Berlin Wall. This part of the wall was painted with a lot of exciting and meaningful art. You can easily spend an hour there, admiring art and seeing all of the artworks, as the East Side Gallery is very long! You probably have heard of East Side Gallery before, even if the name doesn’t ring a bell – that’s where the famous painting of the kiss between Brezhnev and Honecker is located! The entrance to the East Side Gallery is free of charge and you’re allowed to take as many photos as you like! Sometimes taking photos is tricky as there are a lot of people walking in front of the paintings – I recommend coming there on a working day around 11am or maybe around 3pm, when there won’t be too many people! 

However, even on a busy Thursday evening after work, we were able to take some photos there! 

If you’re interested in learning more about Berlin Wall and cycling at the same time, you can take this exciting Berlin Wall cycling tour. 

Frank Cafe

One of the most Instagrammable cafes (coffee and brunch spots) in Berlin is Frank Cafe. Frank Cafe has a large open-air terrace that is open on sunny days and a relatively large and stunning place inside. You can come there to drink a cup of good coffee and eat their specialty – a delicious French toast (keep in mind that they stop serving it after 3pm). 

Hackesche Höfe

Another picture-perfect location in Berlin is Hackesche Höfe. Hackesche Höfe is a series of beautiful courtyards with a lot of shops, workspaces, cafes and restaurants. You can buy a lot of souvenirs there, eat some ice cream, buy a watch or just walk around and take some photos there.

Gendarmenmarkt 

A visit to Berlin cannot be completed without visiting Gendarmenmarkt – the most beautiful square in Berlin. Gendarmenmarkt has two nearly identical buildings (French Church and German Church) s at the opposite parts of the square and a Concert Hall in the middle. In November and December, you can also find a stunning Christmas Market there! 

Humboldt-Forum

Another of the best Instagram spots in Berlin is Humboldt-Forum. Even though it looks like a historical building, it was actually completed in 2020! Inside, there is a museum and a few creative spaces. There is also a free terrace, from where you can see the panorama of Central Berlin. Unfortunately, it was closed for 2 weeks when we were visiting Berlin, but the view you can see from there is fabulous & the area outside – you can also take amazing photos of the TV tower from there.

The House of Small Wonders

The House of Small Wonders was always mentioned as the most Instagrammable cafe in Berlin due to its stunning staircase in the middle of the cafe. Unfortunately, since they moved locations, they haven’t rebuilt the staircase in their new place, so you won’t be able to find it there. However, regardless of the staircase, it looks beautiful inside and has amazing food – it was the best brunch we had in Berlin! 

Berliner Dom

Berliner Dom is an excellent location for photos (and not only for photos, of course) on a sunny day, as the light is so beautiful there in the afternoon (when you go up the stairs, right near the entrance).

Holzmarkt 25

Holzmarkt 25 is another of the cool and alternative spots to visit and it’s also one of the best photo locations in Berlin if you like unusual places. Holzmarkt 25 is a street food market, but not an ordinary one, with a few stalls in a parking lot and people sitting on the plastic tables nearby. Instead, everything is made of wood there, tables are located right by the river and there is a lot of street art. It gets insanely full in the evenings, though, so make sure to come early if you want to take some photos. 

Clärchens Ballroom

Clärchens Ballroom is one of the only surviving ballrooms in Berlin. It’s absolutely marvellous inside, however, on a sunny warm day, you can also dine outside. I recommend booking it in advance to avoid disappointment! We loved everything there – the food was great, the drinks were unique (we got to try green beer), and the restaurant wasn’t too expensive either. It’s also one of the most beautiful photo locations in Berlin! You can take some photos in the garden or inside as well.

Auguststrasse 

Auguststrasse or August street is the most gorgeous street in Berlin, in my opinion. Actually, you don’t need to go too far because Auguststrasse is where both The House of Small Wonders and Clärchens Ballroom are located. This street has a lot of gorgeous buildings covered in ivy and other plants and is a perfect spot to take great photos in Berlin! 

Kulturbrauerei

Another one of the best photo locations in Berlin is Kulturbrauerei. Kulturbrauerei is a former brewery located in a very cool and hipster neighbourhood called Prenzlauer Berg. On some weekends, you can find a street food market inside, but most of the time, it’s a space, where you can find a theatre, a museum, a restaurant and a hub, from where a lot of cycling tours around Berlin depart. 

Walk along the Spree river

One of the most scenic walks in Berlin is a walk from the Jannowitzbrücke U-Bahn and S-Bahn station all the way to Museuminsel. We were staying at TSH Berlin just minutes away from the Jannowitzbrücke and the walk along the river Spree to the historical part of Berlin was amazing! I recommend taking this walk as you will be able to take some beautiful photos along the way, especially if you walk in the afternoon, during the golden hour. 

Scheunenviertel for boutiques and beautiful streets

If you’re interested in another beautiful area to walk around, take some photos and maybe even do a little bit of shopping, head to Scheunenviertel close to Alexanderplatz. It’s difficult to describe where exactly this area is, but you can find it by looking for The Alley Bubble tea, Lululemon and Cos shops – they all are located nearby. 

Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie is the last surviving checkpoint between East and West Berlin & and it also has a small museum and installation. It looks like something straight out of a movie and it’s pretty sad to think that it was a reality in the past. I wouldn’t call it an “Instagrammable place” as a lot of people have lost their lives there and it represents the dark past of Berlin, but if you generally post about history and culture, this is a very meaningful place to take a photo. 

“Make art not war” mural at Mehringplatz.

We were walking around Berlin and just randomly came across the “Make art not war” mural near Mehringplatz. While the area around is not remarkable, it’s worth walking there just for this mural! 

Mall of Berlin 

Finally, if you still have some time left, head to the Mall of Berlin – you can take some lovely photos there as well, however, keep in mind that it’s very busy on Saturdays and closed on Sundays!

Summary of the Instagram guide to Berlin

I hope you enjoyed this round-up of the 20+ most Instagrammable places in Berlin, including landmarks, alternative spots and meaningful and historical places. Berlin is a large city and everyone can find something they like and enjoy (and find beautiful and photogenic there).

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