16 Fun facts about Berlin

There is a lot to discover in a city like Berlin, from the history of famous places such as the Brandenburg Gate or the Holocaust Memorial to typical German snacks and beer. Many people already know some of these fun facts about Berlin, while others are far less familiar. Below, we share some of our favourite facts that give you an extra insight into the city of Berlin.

1. Berlin is older than Germany

The history of Berlin dates back to the 13th century when there were two villages on either side of the Spree River: Berlin and Cölln. The villages decided to work together as a result of the threat of attacks by the Mongols and the rulers of Bavaria and became one city. Historical records first mentioned Cölln in 1237 and Berlin a few years later in 1244. After the two villages merged in 1307, they formed the city we now know as the capital of Germany. Compared to other major cities in the world, Berlin is a relatively young city. Germany only became a unified empire in 1871, which means Berlin is older than the country itself.

2. Berlin is nine times the size of Paris

Did you know that Berlin is nine times larger than Paris? It may not seem that way, because it appears as if more people live in the French capital. This is not the case, because Berlin's population is much higher than that of Paris, as is the total area of the city. In 2025, around 3.8 million people lived in Berlin, a city covering an area of 892 square kilometres. Paris has an area of 105.4 square kilometres and had a population of around 2.2 million in 2025. Berlin seems smaller because its population density is much lower. And here's an extra fact: Berlin is the largest city in Germany and in the European Union.

3. The origin of the name Berlin

Historians describe two possible origins of the name Berlin. One says that it comes from the Slavic word for swamp: berl. Others believe that it is based on the name of Margrave Albert I. This margrave, who founded Brandenburg, was called “Albrecht the Bear”. However, historians have found no evidence that Berlin owes its name to him. Either way, the bear is the symbol of Berlin.

4. Berlin is home to the largest open-air gallery

The East Side Gallery is a special place to visit along the River Spree. With a length of 1.3 kilometres, it is the longest open-air gallery in the world and the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall. Almost immediately after the fall of the Wall in 1989, artists from all over the world came to Berlin to decorate this now iconic piece of history. One of the most famous paintings in the East Side Gallery is the Fraternal Kiss, created by Dmitri Vrubel. This painting shows the former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and former GDR leader Erich Honecker exchanging a kiss.

5. Berlin is the greenest city in Europe

About a third of Berlin consists of parks, forests and gardens. Berlin is the greenest city in Germany, but also in Europe. Berlin has around 432,000 trees, 71,000 gardens and 2,500 parks. The most famous garden in Berlin is Tiergarten, also known as the lungs of the city. A lesser-known place is Teufelsberg. People created Teufelsberg using rubble from the Second World War. It is a dense forest that is particularly popular with locals for walking, picnicking and relaxing. Teufelsberg also offers a panoramic view of Berlin.

6. It is home to Germany's tallest structure

The television tower on Alexanderplatz is the tallest structure in Germany. The tower is 368 metres high and has a viewing platform at 203 metres and a revolving restaurant at 207 metres. Here you can enjoy spectacular views of the city, and in the restaurant you can enjoy a simple snack, high tea or a 3-course menu.

7. Berlin has more waterways than Venice or Amsterdam

Although both Venice and Amsterdam are known for their canals, more water flows through Berlin than through both cities combined. Given that Berlin is nine times the size of Paris, it is no wonder that there are 180 kilometres of waterways in the city. However, when it comes to bridges, Amsterdam still ranks above both cities with more than 2,000 bridges, compared to 1,700 bridges in Berlin.

8. Berlin has more museums than rainy days

Although it is difficult to say how often it rains in Berlin, sources say between 106 and 170 days a year, it is easier to find out how many museums there are in the German capital. One thing is certain, there are more museums. Currently, there are about 190 museums and non-commercial galleries in the city.

9. A gastronomic capital

Berlin truly shines as a gastronomic city, which the number of Michelin-starred restaurants clearly shows. There are 22 restaurants in Berlin with one, two or three Michelin stars. Seventeen of these restaurants have one star, four restaurants have two and one has three stars! Berlin also has the most restaurants with green Michelin stars in Europe, as these restaurants are very sustainable. And as if that weren't enough, Berlin also has the most vegan restaurants in Europe. In total, there are 225. These include 114 vegan restaurants and 111 restaurants focused on vegetarians. And one last fun fact about Berlin restaurants: the oldest restaurant dates back to 1621, still has its doors open, and none other than Napoleon himself has dined there! This oldest restaurant is called Zur letzten Instanz.

10. Largest department store in Europe

KaDeWe or Kaufhaus des Westens is the second largest department store in Europe, after Harrods in London. This shopping paradise, located on Tauentzienstraße, offers 6 floors and 60,000 square metres of fashion, food, beauty and homewares. Every day, around 50,000 people visit KaDeWe. Kaufhaus des Westens is definitely worth a visit during your stay in Berlin!

11. Oldest zoo

Berlin's Zoological Garden (Zoo Berlin) is 175 years old, making it the second oldest zoo in Europe. It is also the oldest remaining zoo in Germany and works closely with Tierpark Berlin Friedrichsfelde in the east of Berlin. Zoo Berlin is located in the centre of the city and covers 35 hectares. Here you will find homes for lions, tigers, gorillas, chimpanzees, giraffes, hippos, bats, parrots and many more different species of animals. Zoo Berlin is the only zoo in the world with the greatest biodiversity. We are sure you will find your favourite animals here!

12. Public transport in Berlin

Berlin has one of the largest public transport systems in the world. The length of Berlin's public transport network is around 4,473 km, which is enough to travel around the earth 8.7 times every day! You can travel throughout the city of Berlin by bus, metro or tram, or to other cities by train. A great way to discover a big city like Berlin is with the Hop-On Hop-Off bus. This bus takes you to Berlin's most famous hotspots. The great thing about the Hop-On Hop-Off bus is that you can hop on and off whenever you want to take a closer look at a sight.

13. Berlin is a super dog-friendly city

Germans love dogs so much that we are often asked if they can bring their dogs to attractions and tours. In 2011, an official ranking named Berlin the most dog-friendly city in Germany. So feel free to bring your furry friend with you on your city trip to Berlin! There are approximately 126,000 registered dogs in the city, but if you also count the unregistered dogs, there are more than 200,000 dogs in Berlin.

14. Greetings from Berlin

Everyone is familiar with writing a postcard during a holiday, but did you know that the postcard originated in Berlin? Heinrich Stephan, private postmaster of the Berlin General Post Office, introduced the Postblatt in 1865. This was a simple piece of white cardboard with a stamp. Stephan thought this was a good replacement for the standard letter, because it was cheaper, easier to send and the messages were shorter. People did not immediately accept this proposal, as many thought it was a strange idea that everyone could read the contents of your messages. Only after Austria-Hungary accepted the correspondence card in 1869 did Stephan introduce the postcard in Berlin in 1870.

15. Berlin has its own beer

It is well known that you can drink delicious beer in Germany and that every city has its own brewed beer. Berlin's most famous beer is Berliner Weisse, also known as “champagne of the north”, which has been around since the 16th century. This beer is made from wheat, is light yellow in colour and has a slightly sour taste. To reduce the tangy taste, a glass of Berliner Weisse is often served with a dash of raspberry syrup, for example. This Berlin beer has a relatively low alcohol content of around 3%, so you may find yourself drinking several glasses.

16. Berliner doughnut

In German, the citizens of Berlin are called Berliners, but the same name is also used for doughnuts filled with jam or custard. At least, that is, if you ask people in northern or western Germany what these doughnuts are called. People from Berlin don’t call berliners that way. In Berlin, the jam-filled doughnuts are called Krapfen or Pfannkuchen, which means pancakes. The name for these filled doughnuts really varies from region to region. The Berliner is characterised by its sweet yeast dough, jam and icing sugar. Traditionally, a Berliner is eaten on New Year's Eve and during carnival festivities, but nowadays you can eat them all year round! So be sure to try a Berliner when you're in Berlin.

Get to know Berlin

We hope that after reading this blog with fun facts about Berlin, you have got to know the city a little better. But of course, the best way to discover Berlin is to visit for a couple of days. Berlin is a big city with a rich history, lots of fun activities and delicious food. Take a look inside the TV tower, walk past the remaining sections of the Berlin Wall or visit the DDR Museum. And when you get hungry, we recommend trying a currywurst, döner kebab, schnitzel or a berliner! So what are you waiting for? Visit Berlin and it might just become your favourite city.