Despite Setback, Berlin Remains a Top Destination for Tourists with Strong Domestic Market

Published on November 17, 2025

As of the starting point of 2025, Berlin saw the first 9 months of the year 2025 reflect the first decrease in international visitors, going down 3.5 per cent compared to the previous year, with the first 3 quarters seeing just under 9.2 million visitors. According to the City of Berlin’s Office of Statistics, Overnight stays fell even more, in degree, down 4 per cent, with 22 million stays.

Berlin tourism is most probably reflecting the phenomena of the new normal after high-volume years. This high volume surge year just passed and included the European Football Championship (Euro 2024) and a host of other sports events seeing the city filled oblivious to the city’s previous record national volume. The decline in volume of international tourism impacts and reflects, among other factors of course, the contestable position of the city tourism in the European leisure and culture tourism arena.

Impact on International Travel to Berlin

Decrease in levels of International Travel to Berlin, most particularly in loss of International Arrivals. In the first 3 quarters of 2025, International Visitors are down about 3.37 million, reflecting about a 6 per cent drop from the previous year. This is in turn down a corresponding number of overnight stay,s reflecting a decrease of the length of stay from the International Visit base, indicating a change.

The Euro 2024 event is now a point of comparison, and again, we’ve witnessed a large tourism boost in Berlin. The football championship held in the previous year was a “successful” event as it garnered the attention of fans and travelers from all across Europe, making the city a center of vibrant activities and appeal. With Euro 2024 now in the past, Berlin has experienced a much quieter year now that the streets are less full of people and there is a lack of international travellers.

While there was a substantial drop in international tourism, in comparison, domestic tourism has shown greater robustness. The drop of German visitors to Berlin was only 1.5%, demonstrating that domestic tourists are still choosing Berlin for weekend getaways, cultural visits, and short holidays.

Reasons for the Decline of International Tourists in 2025

There is a number of reasons as to why there has been a drop of international visitors to Berlin in 2025. For one, the Euro 2024 event was a tremendous boost of tourism for the city as it attracted large crowds and brought a high entertainment value into the city. For the city to reach an entertainment high, it is only natural for there to be a drop in visitors as the entertainment and tourism levels for the city go down.

Secondly, other prominent digital global phenomena, for example, international festivals, conferences, and tourism fairs, may also account for the dispersion of tourism traffic across other European cities. With the pandemic and resultant travel restrictions easing during 2025, tourists may have also altered their travel preferences, visiting different parts of Europe, and even beyond.

Alongside these macroeconomic stresses, perhaps a different pattern of tourism in the form of greater interest in alternative destinations, perhaps contributing to the movement of tourists away from the historically favoured cities, such as Berlin. Travellers may also be more conscious of their budget, perhaps in search of undiscovered, less congested places in Europe.

Domestic tourism in Berlin preserves the status quo

While International Tourism continues to grapple with the crisis, the seamlessness of Domestic Travel in Berlin continues to be a fundamental coping mechanism for the city. With the city’s endurance to quick trips and short visits, Berlin continues to appeal to Domestic Travelers for weekend escapes, and the cultural tourism across the city’s historical and art rich diverse neighbourhoods. During the continuous crisis, prominent cultural and historical sites such as the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, and the Berlin Wall remain to be the city’s tourism magnet.

Theatres, galleries, and museums in Berlin have a significant number of customers who are domestic tourists, emphasising Berlin’s importance in cultural tourism. Domestic tourism’s stability allows Berlin to withstand the international recession, as the city’s economy domestic tourism Berlin’s.

Predictions for prevailing tourism in the year 2026.

There are various factors to consider in predicting 2026 for Berlin’s tourism. Firstly, there is an advantage to ongoing investments in the tourism sector to support the city’s promotional potential in the future. There are several museums in the city, and it hosts many exhibitions of art, as well as performances.

The city also has excellent international connections, and there are direct flights to Europe, North America, and Asia, so there is no doubt that Berlin will continue to attract tourists. Due to the failure to attract international tourists in 2025, that will continue to be highly anticipated due to what Berlin has already shown in terms of vibrant culture, modern tourism, and monuments of historical value.

In tourism potential, it will be determined by the ever-increasing number of unsuspected tourists to Berlin.

Conclusion

Berlin’s international tourism data shows a minute downturn for the first three quarters of 2025, and is a testimony to the challenges of growing tourism in the city post-Euro 2024. Nevertheless, Berlin’s domestic tourism sector is solid, and the city continues to draw visitors for her unique cultural and historical offerings. Berlin’s growth potential as a sought-after European destination is also boosted by her recent tourism support investment and by her growing desire to achieve a higher level of sustainability. Berlin, and her diverse and evolving tourism offerings, firmly establish the city as a destination of choice for visitors, and as a must see 2026 plus location.