Quick answerBerlin is the capital and largest city of Germany, with 3,700,577 people inside the city limits in 2025. The wider metropolitan area had about 6.2 million people in 2025. It is best known for the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and the Berlin Wall history. Its official language is German, and its currency is the Euro.
Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany, with about 3.7 million people inside the city limits and around 6.2 million in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region (2025). It stands on the River Spree in north-eastern Germany and is home to the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and the Berlin Wall Memorial.
Key facts
| Country | Germany |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 3,700,577 (2025) |
| Population (metro) | 6,200,000 (2025) · Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region (Hauptstadtregion), around 6.2 million |
| Elevation | 34 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Europe/Berlin |
| Language | German |
| Currency | Euro (EUR, €) |
| Coordinates | 52.52° N, 13.405° E |
Overview
Berlin is the capital of Germany and the centre of the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region. The city covers 891 square kilometres and had about 3.7 million residents at the end of 2025, while the wider metropolitan region holds around 6.2 million people, making it Germany's second-largest metropolitan region after Rhine-Ruhr. Berlin sits on the River Spree in the flat North German Plain, near the Polish border.
The city grew from a medieval trading settlement and became the capital of Prussia, then of the German Empire. In the 20th century it was divided by the Berlin Wall from 1961 until 1989, when the Wall fell and the city was reunified. The East Side Gallery, a surviving stretch of the Wall, and the Brandenburg Gate remain the best-known symbols of that history. Berlin is also known for its museums, especially the Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Today Berlin is Germany's political and cultural capital. It hosts the federal government and parliament in the Reichstag, the headquarters of major companies and start-ups, and three large universities. The city is famous for its nightlife, its art scene and its parks and lakes, including the Tiergarten and the Grunewald forest. Berlin is also one of Europe's most visited cities, drawing millions of visitors each year to its history, museums and food.
What Berlin is known for
- Brandenburg Gate
- Reichstag
- Berlin Wall history
- Museum Island
- Nightlife and art scene
Landmarks
- Brandenburg Gate
- Reichstag Building
- Berlin Wall Memorial
- East Side Gallery
- Museum Island
- Berlin Cathedral
- Tiergarten
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Berlin?
About 3.7 million people live inside the Berlin city limits (3,700,577 in December 2025, according to the Berlin-Brandenburg statistics office). The wider Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region holds around 6.2 million people. Berlin is Germany's largest city and the largest city in the European Union by population.
What is Berlin famous for?
Berlin is famous for the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and the remains of the Berlin Wall, including the East Side Gallery. It is also known for Museum Island, its art and music scenes, its nightlife and its history as a divided city during the Cold War. The city hosts the German federal government and parliament.
Where is Berlin located?
Berlin is in north-eastern Germany, on the River Spree, near the border with Poland. It is the capital of Germany and of the state of Berlin, which is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg. Its coordinates are 52.52° N, 13.41° E, and its time zone is Central European Time.
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Keep exploring
- Germany — the country Berlin is in
- Hamburg — another city in Germany
- Munich — another city in Germany
- Cologne — another city in Germany
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- Ludwig van Beethoven — German music figure
- All cities in Germany
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.