A solo female traveler's guide to Berlin

Solo female travel in Berlin

Welcome to the vibrant and eclectic city of Berlin, Germany! For solo female travelers searching for an adventure that combines rich culture with an open-minded embrace, Berlin is the ultimate destination for a solo trip. 

We’ve put together a Berlin travel guide to make your Berlin solo female travel experience one to remember. From alternative food spots to locally known insights, we’ve got you covered.

Must see places in Berlin

From being a scientific, artistic, and philosophical hub in the Age of Enlightenment, to being a focal point of industrialization, two World Wars, and the takeover and fall of the Soviet Union – Berlin has seen it all! There are many landmarks that showcase these eras, and most are within walking distance of each other.

• Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor): this impressive neo-classical landmark was commissioned by the King of Prussia and built in the 18th century. The gate later became a symbol of a divided then reunited Berlin.
• Bundestag (Reichstag Building): the well-known German legislative building is accessible to the public. To tour the building and enter into the iconic glass dome you need to register prior to your visit.
• The Berlin Wall (die Berliner Mauer): what was once the epitome of a divided Germany, is now the symbol of freedom. Head to the East-Side Gallery and discover the remains of the wall, now covered in powerful, expressive murals. There’s also a museum where you can learn more about the wall’s history and what it meant for Germany.
• Checkpoint Charlie: when Germany was divided post-Second World War, this checkpoint in Berlin was a crossing point between the East and West. Now tourists can visit a recreation of it as well as a museum.
• Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe: pay your respects to this immersive memorial, designed by Peter Eisenman, which commemorates the millions of Jews who were killed in the Holocaust and under the Nazi regime. 
• Stumbling Stones (Stolpersteine): dotted around the city, you may also notice small golden plaques which are laid to honor the victims of Nazi persecution.

Things to do in Berlin

With more art galleries and museums than you can shake a Bratwurst at, Berlin offers the best experience for those wanting a slice of culture and history from Germany and beyond. We recommend adding these gems to your itinerary:

• TV Tower (Berliner Fernsehturm): Berlin’s tallest structure is located at the heart of the city in Alexanderplatz and can be seen from all over the city. Built during the German Democratic Republic (GDR), you can now go all the way to the top of the tower and enjoy 360-degree views of Berlin as well as a sky restaurant and bar.
• Museum Island (Museumsinsel): located on the River Spree is an island that holds five museums (The Pergamon Museum, The Bode Museum, The Neues Museum, The Alte Nationalgalerie, and The Altes Museum) and the Berlin Cathedral. Tickets are required for the museums and, for €24, you can buy a day pass for all five – a day well spent, we think. Note that The Pergamon Museum is closed until 2027 due to renovations.
• Hamburger Bahnhof: this former railway station is now a large contemporary art gallery that showcases a range of diverse and exciting art pieces and collections.
• Futurium: discover many future alternatives in this interactive exhibition site where “science and culture, politics, business and society meet”. Better yet, it’s free to enter.
• Schwules Museum: founded in 1985, this is one of the most important queer museums in the world, showcasing the art, culture, and history of the LGBTQ+ community.
• König Galerie: a slightly smaller, but no less mighty contemporary art gallery, which hosts impressive art exhibitions with a range of mediums and cultural backgrounds.
• DDR Museum: this museum takes you back in time to a post-war, soviet East Berlin, with interactive exhibitions.
• Tours: there are many tours that will take you around Berlin’s best tourist attractions by boat, bus, or foot. Some offer a free walking tour with an optional tip at the end.
• 3-day museum pass: this pass covers over 30 museums and exhibitions, including the Museum Island, for just €32. So, if you’re wondering what to do in Berlin alone, this pass is a great way to easily capture the essence of Berlin.
• Enjoy traditional Berlin food and drink: if you’re on a mission to eat and drink like a local on your solo trip, Berlin is particularly famous for currywurst, gemüse döner, and bretzels, all of which can be bought at food stands all over the city. If you’re a fan of beer, make sure to try Berliner Pilsner, simply ask for “ein Pils, bitte.”

Best time to visit Berlin

Summer

Summer is the capital city’s most vibrant time of the year, making it one of the best seasons for traveling to Berlin. Although be warned, it gets hot! Here are some things that locals and tourists do to cool down and make the most of the summer months:

• Lakes: there are many lakes to choose from which are normally located around the outskirts of Berlin but are easily accessible by public transport. Some popular lakes are Wannsee, Flughafensee, Krumme Lanke, and Müggelsee.
• Festivals: summer is of course festival season; and where better to spend it than in Berlin, where a range of festivals and concerts are on offer for all ages and interests. Some events you might be interested in are Lollapalooza, Carnival of Cultures, and Berlin Classic Open Air Festival.
• Berlin Pride celebration: known as Christopher Street Day in Berlin as a nod to the Stonewall Riots, Pride usually takes place at the end of July. Walk through Berlin with hundreds of thousands of people in this vibrant demonstration and celebration.
• Beer gardens and rooftop bars: the best way to spend a summer evening in Berlin is at a beer garden or rooftop bar. Enjoy a waterside refreshment at Café am Neuen See in the Tiergarten, Zenner Biergarten in Treptower Park, or Holzmarkt 25; watch the sunset with fantastic views of Berlin at Klunkerkranich in Neukölln; or be transported back in time at Clärchens Ballhaus.
• Fleamarkets (Flohmarkt): there are many fleamarkets dotted around the city, but some favorites are the trendy RAW-Gelände and Mauerpark.
• Tempelhofer Feld: this former airport is now a hotspot in Berlin for locals to gather for after-work drinks, picnics, rollerskating, and even festivals and events.

Winter

In contrast, you need to wrap up warm if you visit Berlin in the winter. The capital still has a lot to offer in these colder months: see Berlin shine bright with its many Christmas markets and there’s also a very good chance there will be snow. Savor some mulled wine (Gluhwein), Flammekueche, Lángos, and Raclette at markets such as:

• Gendarmenmarkt: one of Berlin’s favorite Christmas markets. Enjoy a huge range of stalls selling traditional German and European food and gifts. 
• The Historical Christmas Market (Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt): the grounds of the RAW-Gelände transport you back in time to a medieval Christmas market. Fire pits, people dressed in historical attire, and music from a bygone era – what’s not to like?
• Heissa Holzmarkt: the riverside Holzmarkt cultural hub doesn’t disappoint at Christmas, providing a cozy Christmas market with stalls selling local and sustainable goods.

Most Christmas markets are only open from the very end of November to the start of January, so December is the best time to go so you don’t miss out. 

You can also enjoy a visit to the Berlin Christmas Garden at this time, and if you really get cold, you can warm up in one of Berlin’s saunas, like Vabali Spa.

Finally, finish off your Christmas shopping in continental Europe’s largest department store, Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe).

Getting around Berlin

Travel Berlin-style with the city’s efficient public transport systems, offering underground (U-Bahn), overground (S-Bahn), tram, and bus networks. You can easily buy a ticket at a U-Bahn or S-Bahn station or on a bus or tram. Alternatively, travel in Berlin stress-free with the BVG app where you can buy tickets instantly and check public transportation routes. 

For those traveling alone at night, most of Berlin’s public transport runs 24/7, and there are also Ubers available if you want a faster journey. Finally, every U-Bahn station has free BVG wifi which is useful if you find yourself without phone signal.

When traveling in Berlin, it’s always worth double-checking that your ticket is in-date and valid for the correct zones. Undercover ticket checkers will charge you a heavy fine if they catch you without a valid ticket. Even if you forget to validate your paper ticket at the station – yikes!

Accommodation for solo female travelers in Berlin

There are many hotels and hostels in Berlin to choose from and it’s hard to say which area is the best for a female solo traveler. Berlin has many districts with different qualities, so staying in central Berlin (Mitte) might not always be the right choice for you. 

While it’s difficult to sum up the different neighborhoods, some of the best-known districts are:

• Mitte: where all the main tourist attractions and official buildings are.
• Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg: seen as the “party neighborhoods”, you’ll find most of the major clubs here as well as alternative bars, cafes, and vintage stores.
• Neukölln: one of the most culturally diverse districts – best for authentic international cuisine and bustling bars.
• Charlottenburg: known as one of Berlin’s “more laid-back boroughs” with cute cafes and beautiful streets.
• Schöneberg: known for its LGBTQ+ scene, it also has many parks and neighbors the iconic shopping street Kurfurstendamm. Fun fact: Schöneberg is where David Bowie stayed in Berlin for a period in the 1970s.
• Prenzlauer Berg: with trendy cafes and restaurants and picturesque squares, this district is one of the most gentrified areas in Berlin and attracts a lot of families.

By house sitting with TrustedHousesitters, you’ll get the chance to visit Berlin’s diverse neighborhoods and truly live like a local. Plus, you’ll get to spend time with a pet companion, which is an extra “yay!” if you’re a pet-loving Berlin solo female traveler. 

Is Berlin safe for solo female travelers?

If you’re wondering, “Is Berlin safe to travel alone as a female traveler?”, then yes, Berlin is generally considered a safe destination for a solo female traveler and prides itself on its inclusivity and diversity.
The Solo Female Travelers Club has marked Germany as a safe country for female solo travelers. However, just like other big cities, it’s unfortunately not always 100% risk-free for women traveling alone.

Berlin for solo female pet sitters

Got a new local friend that has four legs and a tail? Berlin is a very dog-friendly city, packed with large parks and many cafes, restaurants, and even bars that welcome dogs. So there’s no need to worry about keeping your deutscher Hund entertained. 

In Berlin, small dogs can travel for free on public transport but must be placed in a travel box or bag. Large dogs travel at a reduced fare but must be placed on a leash and wear a muzzle. 

Things to do with dogs in Berlin

Here are some fun ideas that can make exploring Berlin fun for you and your new furry bestie:

• Go to the park: parks such as Templehofer Feld, Volkspark, Humboldthain, and Mauerpark are dog-friendly. With no “keep off the grass” signs in sight, you and your four-legged chum can explore these parks, enjoy a picnic on a sunny day, and make use of the dog exercise areas.
• Go to the movies: many outdoor cinemas, such as the Open Air Cinema Volkspark Friedrichshain, allow you to bring dogs if they’re kept on a leash. Bring snacks and snuggle up with your new pup pal to watch your favorite blockbuster on the big screen.
• Go to the beach: head over to the dog beach (Hundestrand) at Grunewald Lake (Grunewaldsee) for some time in the sun with your new bestie. You may even meet some new pup friends too!
• Go on a river cruise: river tours like Spreefahten allow dogs on board so you can discover iconic landmarks and Berlin history by boat with your pup pal.

Dog friendly bars and restaurants in Berlin

Most cafes, restaurants, and bars welcome dogs (sometimes with water and pup treats) – just look out for a “Hunde verboten” (“No dogs allowed”) sign before entering. Certain bars and restaurants can get quite noisy, with smoking permitted in some venues, so it’s best to avoid going to these places with your furry friend.

House and pet sits

Thinking your trip to Berlin, Germany as a solo female traveler would be better with a pawsome pet pal? Head on over to see pet and house sitting opportunities in Berlin with TrustedHousesitters.

Meeting people and connecting with locals

The capital city has a very diverse, international community, and there are many Berlin solo travelers or people who’ve recently moved and are looking to meet new people. Facebook groups and apps such as Meetup and Bumble BFF are great places to make new travel friends as a Berlin solo female traveler. 

Attending group events, workshops, tours, or social events at hostels is also a proven way to get chatting with both fellow travelers and locals. If you’re pet sitting with TrustedHousesitters, you can use our Community Forum to see if other pet sitters in Berlin would like to meet up or perhaps join a dog-walking group.

Don’t know any German? No problem. However, if you want to practice your German language skills in Berlin, you might be a bit disappointed. Most Berlin locals have a high level of English and a lot of the international community don’t speak German as many workplaces in Berlin operate in English. 

Tips from a local

• Keep an open mind: there are so many cool and quirky things to do in Berlin, from alternative art scenes to eating a burger from a converted public toilet at Burgermeister Schlesisches Tor!
• Try international cuisine: don’t just stick to German food. Berlin has attracted many people from all corners of the world, and with that their delicious cuisine.
• Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of nightlife: while Berlin is known as the Techno Capital, there is so much more to the city than that. You can explore a world of history, culture, and fantastic food, and still be in bed at a reasonable hour.
• Free museum entry: make sure to look out for Museum Sundays, a lesser-known way to gain free access to museums in Berlin on the first Sunday of every month.