Berlin in the rain: 20 indoor things to do

Looking for things to do in Berlin when it rains? I grew up here and still live in the city. Here are 20 indoor activities I’d recommend, from underground tours and museums to escape rooms and places I’ve visited for some rather unusual photos.

I grew up in Berlin and still live here, and there are plenty of places I enjoy visiting when the weather isn’t cooperating. Exploring the bunkers beneath the city is one of my favourites, but I’m just as happy solving an escape room or taking slightly ridiculous photos in an illusion museum.

If rain has interrupted your sightseeing plans, here are 20 indoor activities to consider. I’ve included museums, historical places and a few more playful options, with language information where it matters.

At a glance: my favourite indoor activities in Berlin

You don’t need to read the whole list to find something suitable. These would be my starting points:

What you fancy	Where I’d look first
Learning about Berlin’s history	Berliner Unterwelten or the DDR Museum
An interactive exhibition	Deutschlandmuseum or the German Spy Museum
A free museum visit	Futurium
An afternoon with children	Natural History Museum or German Museum of Technology
Taking unusual photos	Illuseum, The Upside Down Berlin or Deja Vu Museum
Doing something with friends	An escape game or Immersive Gamebox
Spending time with art	Alte Nationalgalerie or Hamburger Bahnhof

My tip: Pick one main activity and give yourself time to enjoy it. I wouldn’t try to fit three museums into a day simply because it’s raining.

For help planning the rest of your stay, start with my Berlin travel guide.

Explore Berlin’s history

1. Head underground with Berliner Unterwelten

I’ve taken four different Berliner Unterwelten tours, and each has shown me another side of my hometown.

The tours take you into bunkers, former shelters and other underground sites. Seeing these spaces while hearing their stories makes Berlin’s history feel much more immediate to me.

“Dark Worlds” is a good introduction. I also found the tour about escape tunnels beneath the Berlin Wall particularly interesting.

Book a session specifically listed in English, and read the instructions for your chosen tour. Meeting points and minimum ages vary. Children under seven cannot participate, and some tours have higher age limits.

2. Look inside an East German apartment at the DDR Museum

The DDR Museum explores everyday life in East Germany, from the objects people used at home to the influence of the state on their lives.

You can walk through a recreated apartment, open drawers and sit behind the wheel of a Trabant in a driving simulator.

I like that there’s so much to interact with. It gives you a more tangible introduction to the subject than simply reading about it.

The exhibition texts are in German and English. The museum normally stays open until 9 pm, so you could also visit after dinner or towards the end of your sightseeing day.

Where: Opposite Berlin Cathedral, with the entrance down beside the River Spree.

3. Visit the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial

At the former Stasi remand prison, guided tours take you through cells and interrogation rooms and explain how political persecution operated in East Germany.

This is a visit I’d set aside proper time for. The subject is difficult, and it deserves more attention than a quick stop between other attractions.

Public tours are available in English. The former prison can only be visited on a guided tour, so book the appropriate language rather than arriving for a general museum visit.

Address: Genslerstraße 66, 13055 Berlin

4. See inside the former Tempelhof Airport

Tempelhof is one of those buildings that makes you curious about what’s behind its enormous façade.

A guided tour gives you a closer look at the former airport and its place in Berlin’s history. For an English-speaking visit, look for the dedicated English programme, including “THF in 60 Minutes”.

Check the route description before booking. Parts of the visit may be outside, and the operator recommends dressing for the weather. I’d keep a jacket with me even though much of the attraction is the building itself.

5. Explore the rooms at Charlottenburg Palace

If you enjoy palaces, Charlottenburg gives you royal apartments, ornate interiors and art collections to explore while the rain carries on outside.

For a wet day, I’d concentrate on the Old Palace or New Wing. You can decide about the gardens afterwards.

English-language content is available through the palace’s visitor app, and selected guided tours are offered in English. Check the arrangements for the part of the palace you want to visit.

Address: Spandauer Damm 10–22, 14059 Berlin

Choose a museum that interests you

6. Think about the future at Futurium

How might we live, work and use resources in the future? Futurium explores these questions through exhibitions about people, nature and technology.

I’d put this near the top of your list if you want an indoor activity without adding another admission fee to your trip.

General admission is free, and the digital audio guide includes English tours. Bring your smartphone and headphones. Futurium is normally closed on Tuesdays; workshops and special events may have separate charges.

Address: Alexanderufer 2, 10117 Berlin, near Hauptbahnhof

You’ll find more help with your travel budget in my guide to how expensive Berlin is.

7. Meet the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum

The dinosaur hall is the part I find particularly impressive at the Museum für Naturkunde. But there’s much more to see, including animals, minerals and displays about the natural world.

This is a good choice if you’re travelling with children and want somewhere substantial enough to fill several hours.

There’s an English audio guide, including a version for children, so younger visitors can follow along too. www.museumfuernaturkunde.berlin

Address: Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin

8. Give yourself an afternoon at the German Museum of Technology

Aircraft, ships and trains are the exhibitions I find particularly interesting at the Deutsches Technikmuseum. Other sections cover subjects such as photography, so you can follow your own interests around the museum.

For me, this is somewhere to allow a generous amount of time. There’s enough here that a rushed visit would mean making quite a few choices.

Adult admission is currently €15 online or €17 at the ticket office. Under-18s enter free but still need a free ticket.

Money-saving tip: Everyone can enter free on the first Friday of each month from 1 pm. Reserve the appropriate free ticket online.

Address: Trebbiner Straße 9, 10963 Berlin

9. Play a few old favourites at the Computer Games Museum

At the Computerspielemuseum, you can follow the development of video games through old machines, consoles and games.

What I particularly like about the idea is that some of them are playable. Seeing a game behind glass is one thing; finding out whether you still remember the controls is another.

If you’d enjoy some extra context, the museum lists a public English-language tour on Saturdays at 12.30 pm. Check the programme before visiting.

Address: Karl-Marx-Allee 93a, 10243 Berlin

10. Walk through the Deutschlandmuseum

The Deutschlandmuseum introduces 2,000 years of German history through walk-through settings, sound, projections and interactive elements.

I’d consider this if you’re curious about German history but know that a museum full of lengthy information panels isn’t how you want to spend your afternoon.

Texts, films and games are available in both English and German. It also opens on Mondays, which is useful when some other museums are closed. Ticket prices vary by time slot.

Address: Leipziger Platz 7, 10117 Berlin

11. Try the challenges at the German Spy Museum

The German Spy Museum combines the history of espionage with gadgets, codes and interactive challenges.

The laser maze is a particular highlight: you can test how carefully you move rather than just watch fictional agents do it on screen.

I’d look at this for an outing with friends or older children who enjoy puzzles and hands-on activities.

The museum is fully bilingual in English and German. Tickets use timed entry, with prices depending on the session.

Address: Leipziger Platz 9, 10117 Berlin

12. Spend time with art at the Alte Nationalgalerie

The Alte Nationalgalerie is an option for anyone who enjoys 19th-century paintings and sculpture, including Romanticism and Impressionism.

I’d choose this because the collection interests you, rather than feeling that a Berlin trip automatically needs a visit to every museum on Museum Island.

Check the ticket options for your date, especially if you want to see a temporary exhibition or visit another Museum Island museum afterwards.

Address: Bodestraße 1–3, 10178 Berlin

13. See contemporary art at Hamburger Bahnhof

If contemporary art appeals to you more, have a look at the exhibitions at Hamburger Bahnhof.

The former railway station is an interesting setting in itself. I’d check what’s on before choosing a date, as the changing programme is an important part of a visit.

Standard admission is currently €16, and under-18s enter free. New opening hours apply from 1 December 2026, so check the museum’s visitor information when planning.

Address: Invalidenstraße 50–51, 10557 Berlin

Have some fun with games and illusions

14. Test your perception at Illuseum Berlin

Illuseum plays with perspective, balance and the way your brain interprets what you see.

The interactive rooms and optical illusions also give you plenty of unusual photo opportunities. I’d consider it when you want something lighter between Berlin’s historical sights.

Exhibit descriptions are available in English and German. Children under 14 must visit with an adult who also has a valid ticket.

Address: Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 9, 10178 Berlin

15. Take unusual photos at The Upside Down Berlin

I had plenty of fun at The Upside Down Berlin. You become part of the sets, play with perspectives and end up with photos that look rather different from your usual sightseeing pictures.

If, like me, you keep stopping to try another angle, allow yourself a little extra time.

I’d choose this when taking photos is part of the outing you’re looking forward to. It’s a playful activity, and that’s how I’d approach the visit.

The attraction is at The Playce near Potsdamer Platz. Check ticket prices and available sessions before you go.

16. Explore Deja Vu Museum

Deja Vu Museum combines digital art, optical illusions and interactive installations.

I’ve visited this one too. There are different visual effects and photo settings to explore, making it another option when you want a break from conventional museum displays.

My tip: Choose one of the illusion attractions in this guide that appeals to you most. For a short Berlin trip, I’d leave room for other experiences rather than booking all three.

The museum provides English visitor information on its website.

Address: Rochstraße 14C, 10178 Berlin

17. Play together at Immersive Gamebox

I tried Squid Game at Immersive Gamebox, where you control parts of the game through your movements and by touching the walls.

You work together to complete challenges in a space filled with projections. It’s an option I’d consider with friends or family when everyone feels like doing something active.

The Berlin game overview lists German and English options. Check the language and minimum age for the particular game you’re booking, as these details matter more than the general venue description.

Address: Dircksenstraße 92, 10178 Berlin

18. Solve an escape game in English

Escape rooms are one of my favourite things to do with a small group. Everyone notices different clues, and before long you’re comparing several completely different explanations for the same puzzle.

Escape Berlin is one of my favourites and confirms that its games are available in English and German.

Choose a scenario that suits your group, check the age requirements and specify English when booking. www.escape-berlin.de

Two more ideas for a wet afternoon

19. Build and play at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

If you’re travelling with children who have had enough of walking around the city, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre gives them time to build and play.

There’s also a miniature LEGO Berlin, along with rides and a 4D cinema. I’d keep this as a family option rather than a general sightseeing recommendation.

For standard visits, adults must be accompanied by a child, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Check the language of any particular film or organised activity if your child needs English.

Address: Potsdamer Straße 4, 10785 Berlin

20. Settle into a cinema

Sometimes I’d rather keep the plan simple: choose a film, find a comfortable seat and spend a couple of hours indoors.

Berlin has plenty of independent cinemas, including the Yorck cinemas. Just pay attention to the screening language before booking.

These abbreviations are useful:

• OV: Original version without subtitles. The original language could be English, French, Korean or another language.
• OmU: Original version with German subtitles.
• OmeU: Original version with English subtitles.

For an English-language film, OV or OmU may suit you. For a film in another language, look for OmeU if you need English subtitles.

How I’d adjust a Berlin itinerary for rain

I’d start with the part of Berlin you were planning to explore anyway.

If you’re near Alexanderplatz, look at Illuseum or Immersive Gamebox. The DDR Museum and Deja Vu Museum are also in the wider central area.

Around Potsdamer Platz, you can choose between the Deutschlandmuseum, German Spy Museum, The Upside Down Berlin and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.

Pick the activity you’re most interested in, then leave a little room to see how the day develops. A short shower doesn’t need the same change of plans as a full day of heavy rain.

If you’re following my Berlin in one day itinerary, I’d swap one outdoor section for an indoor visit rather than adding more to the day.

With two days in Berlin or three days in Berlin, you have more freedom to move activities between days.

For me, Berliner Unterwelten would be a first choice for history, while an escape game would be high on my list for an outing with friends. If you want a few playful photos from your trip, I had fun at The Upside Down Berlin too.

For more ideas that work for the whole family, take a look at my guide to Berlin with kids, including interactive museums and indoor attractions.

Continue planning your Berlin trip

• Berlin travel guide: find all my Berlin planning articles
• How many days in Berlin?: decide how long to stay
• Things to do in Berlin: choose more sights for your trip
• How expensive is Berlin?: work out your budget
• Affordable places to stay in Berlin: find accommodation ideas

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Planning your next trip? Here are some useful travel resources to help you find accommodation, book activities, and prepare for your journey.

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