Berlin tourism cools in 2025: recovery slows after pandemic surge

Berlin tourism faces a reality check: overnight stays fall short

The familiar scent of opportunity, once so strong in the German capital, seems to be fading slightly. Berlin's tourism sector experienced a notable slowdown in 2025, failing to reach the ambitious 30 million overnight stay mark. This marks a shift from the robust recovery witnessed in 2024, a period that initially hinted at a full rebound from the pandemic’s disruption.

2025 Figures: a step back from 2024’s high

Visit Berlin, the city’s tourism board, officially released the figures, revealing 29.4 million overnight stays and 12.4 million guests for 2025. While still substantial, these numbers represent a decrease compared to the previous year's performance, where 30.6 million overnight stays were recorded with 12.7 million guests. This puts the city below its 2019 record, the last full year before the pandemic, when nearly 14 million tourists generated over 34 million overnight stays.

The resilience of berlin: a european powerhouse

Despite the dip, Visit Berlin CEO Burkhard Kieker remains cautiously optimistic. He emphasizes Berlin’s strong position within Europe, consistently ranking among the top five tourism destinations. The city continues to attract a significant number of solo travelers, outperforming many of its European counterparts, with only Dublin ranking higher in this category.

Trade fairs and congresses: key to future growth

Kieker and industry experts alike underscore the crucial role of trade fairs and congresses in driving tourism. These major events draw large international crowds and represent a vital source of revenue for the city. Increased promotion of these events is seen as essential for sustaining growth in the years to come. The upcoming year promises a strong lineup of major events, including ILA (the leading aerospace exhibition) and InnoTrans (focused on transport technology), both held in even-numbered years.

Visitor origins: a shifting global landscape

Domestic tourism remained the dominant force in 2025, accounting for over 58.9 percent of all overnight stays, with over 17.3 million. The United States, Great Britain, and the Netherlands remained key international markets, though all experienced a decline compared to 2024. The Netherlands saw the most significant drop, exceeding 15 percent.

However, some markets showed impressive growth. Turkey (+8.5%), China (+14.4%), and Israel (+9.5%) all experienced significant increases, signaling a shift in global Travel patterns and presenting new opportunities for targeted marketing efforts.

Berlin vs. its rivals: a tale of two recoveries

While Berlin leads in overall tourism volume within Germany, surpassing Munich (19.7 million overnight stays) and Hamburg, the recovery has been less pronounced than in its peers. Munich and Hamburg have largely returned to 2019 levels or even exceeded them, demonstrating a more robust rebound. Experts suggest that general consumer caution isn’t the sole explanation for Berlin's slower growth, pointing to challenges specific to the city.

Connectivity concerns: a criticism of federal policy

Kieker has voiced strong criticism of the federal government and Lufthansa, alleging that their policies are hindering Berlin and eastern Germany's air connectivity. He argues that Lufthansa prioritizes flights from western hubs like Frankfurt and Munich, directing long-haul passengers away from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). This perceived disadvantage is a significant concern for the city’s future tourism prospects.