Last Updated: August 29, 2022
Berlin Vs. Amsterdam
If you’re in Europe or intending to go that way then two cities on your list to visit will be Amsterdam and Berlin, but since you can’t go to every capital city in Europe, which one should you choose between Amsterdam vs Berlin?
Having traveled to both, in fact, my sister lived in both, so I could be considered a semi-local, I have to say, there is no wrong answer, they are great cities to visit and should both be seen if you have the time and the funds.
That being said, they are quite different cities and one is likely to suit you more than the other, so which one is more suited to you? That’s what we are here to find out as we take a look at Berlin vs Amsterdam.
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Things To See And Do
One very important consideration for any city break is what is on offer for you to see, do and explore while you’re in town. The last thing you want is to be bored on your travels and have nothing interesting to do or new to see. When it comes to Berlin vs Amsterdam you are kind of spoilt for choice as they are brimming with culture, history, museums, art galleries, and more.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the land of canals and bicycles which makes it a beautiful city to explore. There are loads of pedestrianized zones that make walking around the city easy, the architecture is lovely, and nothing beats having a street-side crepe covered in Nutella whilst walking down the side of a picturesque canal.
There is something for everyone in Amsterdam, whether you want to visit museums like the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, and The Royal Concertgebouw, which are all found on the Museumplein. You can also visit the sex museum, go to Anne Frank’s house and loads more.
There are other options too like going on a canal cruise, renting a pedalo and exploring the canals, going to rooftop bars, explore the stunning neighborhood of Jordaan, enjoy the Vondelpark where you can lie on the grass and have a good picnic and a good walk.
Between the museums, the park, the canals, and the great neighborhoods to explore, you can easily fill 3-4 days with hundreds of different things in Amsterdam, rest assured you will never be bored. In the evenings, head to Dam Square to see the palace lit up and take a wander through the red light district to see something that you don’t see every day.
Berlin
Berlin is a very unique city when it comes to things to do, and this is thanks to its history. When Berlin was split into East and West Berlin after the war, it became pretty much two cities, each with its own entertainment infrastructure and when the Berlin wall came down, the two cities become one huge city with double the infrastructure of most others.
This means that you will never be bored in Berlin as there is always something new to see. If you have never been to Berlin then you will probably want to see some of the iconic historical landmarks that were part of the war. Things like the Memorial of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, The Topography of Terror, and The Holocaust Memorial should all be at the top of your list.
While visiting these historical monuments is important, it’s also a little heavy and you should try and mix them up with some happier visits like to the many museums or to the Berliner Dom and the Friedrichstadt-Palast. There are also fun museums like the Spy Museum, Classic Car Museum, and even the Berlin Museum Of Technology all of which are great for kids.
Berlin isn’t all museums and memorials either. There are a lot of great parks, one in particular to visit is Mauer Park where they do live Karaoke in a kind of amphitheater. You can also find stunning gardens like Tiergarten, see excellent architecture at the Charlottenburg Palace, and visit loads of different art galleries too.
The Food
Something I always look forward to when visiting a new country or city is sampling all the food I haven’t managed to try yet. Now, neither German or Dutch food has the lure of cuisines such as French, Italian, Japanese, or Thai, etc, but it’s worth knowing what’s on offer before you go ahead and choose between Berlin vs Amsterdam.
Luckily, since both Amsterdam and Berlin are world-class cities, they are home to restaurants that serve cuisines from all over the world, including the ones mentioned above, so you don’t have to rely on their local cuisine to match your tastes.
Amsterdam
The Dutch had quite a history of colonization which has diversified their local cuisine quite a lot, and it mainly comes from their conquers in Asia, particularly Indonesia. They have some awesome rice dishes in Holland and thus Amsterdam and you are likely to find Dum Sum everywhere and great ones too.
If you like chips aka fries, then Amsterdam is the place to be. You will find street vendors selling chips and mayonnaise, the Dutch love mayonnaise, on almost every street corner.
There is something about chips and mayonnaise in Amsterdam, it somehow tastes better than anywhere else, especially on a fresh winter’s day. I’m not sure what they do to the potatoes or add to the mayo, or maybe it’s just the place, but they are delicious.
Other typical local foods to look out for are pancakes, waffles, and if you’re in a bar hankering for a little snack then try some Bitterballen. These crispy breaded meatballs are delicious as the meat inside is slow-cooked as a stew first, then dipped in bread, deep-fried, and served with mustard.
If you want to go full dutch, make sure to try a herring sandwich from a street vendor, a load of Dutch cheese, and go out for brunch, as they love perfectly cooked eggs, and yes you can have them with cheese and mayonnaise.
Berlin
The food in Berlin is something you will love if you’re into either Asian food, sausages, desserts, and excellent bread. Something that the city seems to live on, and that you can find from street vendors anywhere, is Currywurst.
Currywurst is sausage cooked in a spicy curry sauce that is served on a paper plate with chips. It’s just what you need when you’re looking for a snack and it warms you up during the colder winters. The sausage choices don’t end there, you should also try some delicious Bratwurst, which is pretty much a hot dog except it’s made with a German sausage that is full of flavor.
You can’t leave Berlin without having a schnitzel either which is usually made by flattening out some veal or chicken, then covering it in bread crumbs and frying it. The meat is super tender and the crispy texture is to die for.
Berliners, like Amsterdammers, also love their brunch and their meatballs, so if you’re looking for a great bar snack or a big breakfast you won’t go wrong. Then of course you have to have a fresh giant pretzel and some apple strudel too.
Berlin has also adopted some foods from around the world. Some of the best donner kebabs can be found in Berlin along with every kind of Asian food on the planet. If you love sushi, ramen, Thai, Japanese, or Chinese food, then you will love trying them all in Berlin where they are cooked to perfection.
Nightlife
Whenever I visit a new city, or almost any city for that matter, seeing the nightlife and getting involved is a must. There is no better way of feeling like a local than getting involved and enjoying a night out on the town.
When it comes to nightlife and considering Berlin vs Amsterdam, you have got two of Europe’s best party cities going head to head, but Berlin has to win the electronic music side of things, as it is the home of house and techno and some of the best clubs that put on a show, but Amsterdam isn’t far behind.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a reputation for being an awesome party city and tit’s not surprising why with venues like Warehouse Elementenstraat and the Sugar Factory attracting major artists across genres such as techno, deep house, trance, EDM, and hip-hop. If you only have one night out in Amsterdam, be sure to book a ticket to one of these venues so you can have a boogie with the locals.
The clubs are open until around 4 am and you can even find much smaller more intimate venues if you care to look into the underground scene that it’s known for.
Berlin
Berlin is Europe’s party capital, and there is no contesting it. The clubs in Berlin run all night, some run for 24hrs a day Friday to Monday, and the most famous of all of the Berlin clubs is Berghain.
Berghain is no easy club to get into and you can’t book either, it all comes down to the bouncers sizing up what kind of person you are based majorly on your queue behavior and how you’re dressed. You might queue three times and get in once, so be prepared for that.
Berghain isn’t the only club in Berlin, and you’ll find hundreds more to choose from all playing anything from techno to house, hip-hop to funk, and lots lots more.
Public Transport
Visiting a city with a poor public transport system is a pain in the ass, to be honest. You have all these wonderful things you want to see but you spend most of your time trying to get there or spend loads of money on taxis to get around the poor public transport.
Luckily, both Berlin and Amsterdam have excellent public transport systems which make getting around them very quick and easy, but they are very different sizes which is where they differ most.
Amsterdam
The public transport in Amsterdam is excellent. There are trains, subways, trams, boats, buses, and taxis that are all there to get you where you want to be, and quickly. The one form of transport that wins in Amsterdam is cycling.
Amsterdam is a relatively small city and if you rent a bike you can pretty much get to any of the places you want to within 30 minutes. So it’s a good option especially if you only have one day to explore. Be warned though, biking in Amsterdam is not for the faint-hearted and the locals tend to get quite annoyed with tourists messing up their cycling lanes, so be prepared to cycle at their pace and follow the rules.
Berlin
Berlin’s public transport system is similar to Amsterdam’s in terms of its diversity. There are also trains, trams, subways, taxis, and buses that help get you around the city. The best way to get around Berlin is on the train system though, and this is because of how big Berlin is.
As I mentioned earlier, Berlin is pretty much a merger of two cities East and West Berlin which makes it huge and therefore it does take some time to get from place to place, so using a train system is by far the most efficient way around.
The city is also well set up for cycling and if you’re not planning on going far but want to rent a bike for a day, it’s a great option. Also, the cycling in Berlin is a lot more relaxed than in Amsterdam for some reason. It’s far more pleasant to ride a bike around than Amsterdam.
Cost Of Travelling
Unfortunately, your budget always has to be a consideration when choosing between two cities such as Berlin vs Amsterdam and there is quite a big difference between these two when it comes to prices. Neither of them is cheap by global standards but one of them is expensive by European standards, and that one is Amsterdam.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is an expensive city by European standards. It’s not Paris, Olso, or London expensive but it is expensive, and quite a lot more so than Berlin. Everything is more expensive from the price of a beer to the costs of a pass for a bus or metro.
When you visit Amsterdam, expect to be paying around 10-29% more for everything or more when compared to Berlin. When you start thinking about the cost of your hotel, taxis, drinks, dinners out, and more, Amsterdam’s bill racks up a lot faster than Berlins.
Berlin
Berlin is a very affordable place to visit, especially considering that it’s one of the most popular European cities to visit and it’s world-class too. A beer in Berlin will cost you just 4 euros whereas you’ll pay 6 euros in Amsterdam. A hotel in Amsterdam is around 150 euro a night, in Berlin, it’s 100 euro, a hostel is 77 euro a night in Amsterdam, and 50 euro a night in Berlin.
If you have a strict budget for your holiday, then by visiting Berlin, you’ll have way more experiences for your money when than compared to Amsterdam.
The Weather
The weather is something I always pay close attention to when going on a trip and I’ll often choose the warmer sunnier destination as life is just way better in the sun, it makes us humans much happier for some reason.
When it comes to the weather and Berlin vs Amsterdam, there isn’t much difference between the two. They are both north European cities and suffer from similar weather systems. The main difference from a location perspective is that Amsterdam is near the sea and Berlin is quite far inland.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is pretty much cloudy all the time, all year round, it doesn’t matter whether it’s mid-winter or mid-summer, chances are the sky is dull and overcast.
During winter, the temperatures in Amsterdam only get down to around 1 Celsius but they are very windy. Whereas in summer, Amsterdam is a very pleasant temperature ranging between 20 and 22 Celsius.
Berlin
Berlin is quite a rainy city, and on average it experiences around 7-10 days of rain every month, so make sure to bring your rain jacket when got to Berlin as chances are, you might experience a downpour or two.
Winters in Berlin are a little harsher than Amsterdam and get down to around minus 2 Celsius on average, but it can get a lot lower. In summer, Berlin is warmer than Amsterdam hitting around 22 to 24 Celsius on average. but be warned the wettest months in Berlin are during the summer months of June and August.
If you want to experience the best of the weather Berlin has to offer, go there around May, September, and October.
Berlin vs Amsterdam – Verdict
Now that you know almost everything you need to know to choose between Amsterdam and Berlin, which one is it going to be? If you want my advice, here it is, and it all comes down to your budget and whether you’re traveling as a family.
If you’re young and looking to have an awesome time while pushing every dollar as far as it can go, then you have got to go to Berlin. It’s incredibly inclusive, has loads going on, and is generally a bit more fun than Amsterdam in my opinion.
If you’re looking for a peaceful family-friendly holiday, and a deep dive into culture, then Amsterdam is the better option. Sure it costs a little more but strolls down the canals, the hundreds of museums, and its smaller size all make it a better place to visit at a slower more peaceful pace.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
