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Berlin Travel Guide Berlin Travel Guide

Berlin Travel Guide

Willkommen travellers to the Holiday Extras guide to Berlin – the only place you need to come to find all you need to know essentials before travelling to Germany's capital city. We've covered all the most important information here including, travelling to Berlin, transport when you get there and our top recommendations for things to do and places to see.

What you will find in this guide:

Practical Info

Getting around Berlin

Top things to do in Berlin

Best museums in Berlin

Best markets in Berlin

To say that we've been to Berlin a few times is a bit of an understatement, which says a lot about how fantastic we think the place is, and also how much there is to do there. It also means that we've weeded through the tourist traps and underwhelming experiences to bring you our top travel recommendations for when you land. So sit back, grab a bratwurst and a beer and join us in discovering everything Berlin has to offer!

Practical Info

What time zone is Berlin in?

GMT +1

What currency do they use in Berlin?

Euro EUR

What language do they speak in Berlin?

German

What power adapters do you need for Berlin?

Type C & F

What is the average flight time to Berlin?

Avg 1 hour 50 mins

How easy is it to get to Berlin?

Berlin offers you the choice of not one, but two airports, Schönefeld and Tegel. Both are international with the majority of the budget airlines arriving at Schönefeld, but whichever airline you fly with you'll still find yourself conveniently located within a 45-minute journey of the city centre.


Getting to Berlin from the airport

Brandenburg Airport

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is now the primary international airport serving Berlin, replacing the former Tegel and Schönefeld airports. Situated in the southeast, about 18 km from the city centre, BER is seamlessly connected by Berlin's efficient public transport system.

To reach the city centre, your best bet is to take the S-Bahn. The S9 line will get you to Alexanderplatz, while the S45 will take you to Südkreuz. The S-Bahn runs every ten minutes, and depending on where you alight, the journey takes about 45 minutes. A single ABC ticket costs €3.80 and covers all your public transport needs in Berlin.

Alternatively, you can opt for the Airport Express trains (FEX, RE7, RB14), which run twice an hour to Berlin's city centre and the main station, Hauptbahnhof. This trip is a bit quicker, taking about 30 minutes.

If you have a lot of luggage or prefer a more direct route, taxis are readily available and will get you to the city centre in approximately 30 minutes.

For those who prefer driving, car rental services like DriveNow offer the Drive'nFly package. This allows you to pick up a car at the airport and drive yourself to your destination as soon as you enter the address into the GPS.

Getting around Berlin

Now you've got an idea of the lay of the land, let’s take a look at how to get around.

Firstly, we can’t but help mention again just how good the Berlin transport system is. Berlin is served by ten underground lines, eight of which also run at night. The tram network is made up of 22 routes, with nine operating around the clock. And of 154 bus routes, 17 travel their usual routes at night in addition to the 62 dedicated night bus lines particularly catering to the needs of night-time travellers. You find a really helpful map of the Berlin transport network with this useful journey planner.

It's fast, reliable, cheap and what's more, it's simple to use. This is in part down to the fact that it is almost all run by one company, BVG (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe). They run all the trams and buses in Berlin as well as the U-Bahn, and work hand in hand with the S-Bahn and local Deutsche Bahn to ensure you have a seamless journey from one mode of transport to another using just one ticket. All vehicles of the BVG go round the world 16 times in only one day! The underground travels 2,28 billion kilometres a year; Berlin's buses 1,34 billion kilometres, and trams, 538 million kilometres.

Travelling on the underground

  • Berlin is divided into three tariff zones: A, B and C.
  • Tickets are available to buy for the combined zones AB, BC or ABC, as needed.
  • Adults pay the regular fare with the reduced fare being able for children 14 and under.
  • Children under six do not need to buy a ticket.

If you're planning to explore the city at a fair length we would really recommended getting either an unlimited day ticket or a week ticket, which are €7 and €30, respectively. This will get you unlimited travel across the whole network and a worthwhile investment. Berlin is huge - walking around the entire city can be long and tiring so it’s worth thinking about.

You can buy a ticket from a multitude of locations including over 330 kiosks and station shops across the city. You will find ticket counters in the larger stations but can find multilingual ticket machines on the platforms of most S-and U-Bahn stations easily. Bus fares are paid to the driver and at machines inside the trams.

There are also mobile apps for both Android and Apple which you can download to purchase your tickets and make cashless purchases. There are two different types on offer:

  • The free “FahrInfo Plus” app allows you to use your mobile phone as a ticket, journey planner and save favourite routes. Apple. Android.
  • There is also the BVG Berlin tickets app for both platforms which is very similar but doesn’t have the journey planner element making it more simple to use. Apple. Android.

A word of warning: you absolutely must, without fail, make sure you validate your ticket before every journey. The entire Berlin transport network relies on an honesty policy and there are no barriers at the train, tram or bus stops. But don’t let that trick you into thinking you can get a free ride. If you get stopped by an undercover inspector and they catch you without a validated ticket you will be fined up to €60 on the spot. To validate your ticket make sure you stamp it at the yellow or red boxes on the platform or stop.

The are other options available for tourists including either the Berlin Welcome Card, or, the City Tour Card. Both offer discounts on travel and attractions so it’s worth checking to see how much you can save depending on what and where you want to go.

With most UK mobile networks adopting the same price plan in Europe as the UK, using your phone in Germany to help you get around shouldn’t be a problem. We loved using Citymapper to guide us around Berlin.

Driving in Berlin

With its narrow streets, confusingly random one-way roads and large population of cyclists, driving in Berlin isn’t recommended as such! While it is, of course entirely possible, there are some key things you need to think about before getting behind the wheel.

The centre of Berlin is an environmental zone or Umweltzone and you will need a badge to drive into the centre. These come in the form of a windscreen sticker and the easiest way to obtain one is to apply online for one before you go if you’re bringing your own car. No badge? Expect a fine in the region of €80.

While is famed for its unlimited-speed Autobahn, it’s worth keeping in mind that the German authorities will not tolerate speeding of any kind in the cities or surrounding areas! To avoid hefty fines, keep within the speed limit of 50km/h (approx. 31mph), and 100km/h (approx. 62 mph) on the surrounding highways. 5km/h over the speed limit and you are more than likely to find yourself with a fine. No seatbelt? Add another fine. You get the picture. Bad driving can be costly in Berlin.

Of course, there are some situations in when only a car will do. So, if you need your own set of wheels in Berlin, or indeed want to explore the wider country, then you can sure you're getting best deal on car hire with Holiday Extras.

Cycling in Berlin

If the weather is good and you don’t mind a bit of exercise then exploring Berlin by bike is a great option. Cycling is a popular mode of transport in Berlin meaning the city is designed for cyclists; it's really flat and there are long stretches of bike paths that even have their own traffic light system. In fact, for every ten people in Berlin there are seven bikes! You can pick up a rental bike from all sorts of places across the city including supermarkets, hostels and outside train stations. There are also dedicated companies such as Fat Tire Tours that run dedicated bike tours of Berlin so you can take in all the sights while getting fit and learning about the city from someone in the know. A massive plus is that if you find yourself running out of steam at any point you can always pop on yourself and your bike on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram or any regional train - just remember that you will need a separate additional bike ticket!

Berlin Airport Transfers

Berlin Airport Transfers

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Germany Car Hire

Berlin Car Hire

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Top things to do in Berlin

Since there is so much to do in Berlin, it would be impossible for us to give you the definitive list of the top tourist hot spots but we've rounded up the top five things we think shouldn't be missed in Berlin.

Top things to do in Berlin | The Reichstag

The Reichstag

Home of the German Parliament, the Reichstag is one of the most visited sites in Berlin and once you’ve been you can see why. Take a lift to the top of the building to the roof terrace and dome to experience unparalleled views of Tiergarten, the Hyde Park of Berlin covering 519 acres of forested land. If you want to go to the top you really need to book in advance. You can book on the day but there’s no guarantee of space. We’d also recommended booking an early appointment to avoid the crowds of school parties and tourists. And don’t forget your passport. No passport. No entry..

Top things to do in Berlin | The Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate

One of Berlin's most important monuments, The Brandenburg Gate is symbolic of both Berlin's past and also its future. Once a platform, giving visitors a glimpse into the other world behind the Iron Curtain and over the "death-strip" dividing East and West Berlin, it now serves as a symbol of unity over division. When visiting the monument and before crossing over to the other side, the "Raum der Stille" (Room of Silence) situated on the north wing provides a restful place for a short break.

Top things to do in Berlin | The Memoiral to the Murdered Jew of Europe

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Found in the centre of Berlin located between the Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is visited by nearly a million people each year. Honouring and remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust the Memorial consists of the Field of Stelae designed by Peter Eisenman and the subterranean Information Centre. Opened in 2005 on a sloping site covering 19,000 square metres, Eisenman placed 2,711 concrete slabs of different heights creating a wave-like form which is different from all angles. Unstable in form and vast in size it is impossible to not be stopped in your tracks. We would also highly recommend taking time to download the Virtual Concert app. The first virtual concert ever recorded, the sound of the instruments changes depending on your location and the route you're taking through the Field of Stelae, growing louder or softer, more passionate or muted.

Top things to do in Berlin | The TV Tower

TV Tower

Standing at an impressive 368 metres Berlin’s TV Tower is the tallest building in Germany. A dizzying symbol of communist power, you can now take the 40-second express lift to the top and its impressive viewing platform. Here you will find spectacular 360-degree panoramic views out across the entire city and beyond! Take time to sit and have a drink at the bar.Or, head to the restaurant which has an outer ring of revolving tables, serving coffee, snacks and reasonably priced meals while revolving once around its axis every hour. Make sure you book before you go as both the tower and restaurant get very busy! It's worth getting your hands on a fast track ticket to beat the queues and the restaurant can get booked up weeks in advance so keep this in mind.

Top things to do in Berlin | Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie

Considered to be one of the most famous sites in Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie is also one of Berlin's busiest tourist locations. Found on the corner of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße the crossing became a symbol for the divide between East and West during the Cold War. The barrier and checkpoint booth, the flag and the sandbags are all based on the original site and it's here that you'll find most of the tourists taking their picture with actors playing the parts of soldiers stationed here. Nearby you can also find Mauermuseum – a Museum dedicated to telling the stories of those fleeing East Berlin and more information about the Berlin Wall.

Overview of Berlin

Culture capital. Party place. Historical hub. However you describe Berlin, there is something for everyone in Germany’s capital. Berlin is a city with a broad and colourful history, but it's also one that's grown and moved on, giving it a young and open-minded spirit that today draws tourists from all over the world.

So, what's the appeal? Well, Berlin has three UNESCO world heritage sites, three opera houses, over 180 museums, a delicious food scene, legendary nightlife and an unrivalled historical past. Revolutions, bombings and dividing walls, to name a few, have all had their hand in the shaping of this incredible city and are still visible in the fabrics of the buildings, lifestyle and culture on offer.

A constant reminder of the wall that once existed between East and West, Berlin is unique in the fact that it doesn’t have one, but three different city centres. With the division of the city, East and West Berlin had their own centres which still exist now; Alexander Platz in the East and the Zoologischer Garten area in the West. When the wall did finally come down in 1989 and East and West were joined together again, Potsdamer became the third, shared city centre.

The East defines cool Berlin. Artists and other creative souls flocked here soon after the wall came down with its promise of cheap rent. While this may no longer be the case, it is very much still the creative centre. Packed with cafes, bars, clubs and trendy shops there’s no mistaking the constant flow of conversation, music and noise that permeates the East side, and the thrill to keep up and the move to update the area is what makes it popular with students, artists and media professionals alike. The East Side Gallery, the longest open-air gallery in the world can be found near the centre of Berlin, on Mühlenstraße in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. Painted in 1990 the gallery consists of 105 paintings by artists from all over the world and has the longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall at 1,316 km.

Berlin Wall

The West, on the other hand, has a more sophisticated, sedate feel to it. Tucked in between the remnants of medieval buildings you’ll find luxury shopping boulevards, upmarket restaurants and larger hotels. As well as being home to Europe’s most visited zoo, the Berlin Zoological Garden, you’ll also find the largest department store in continental Europe, KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) on the Western side of Berlin. Founded in 1907, the store covers the equivalent of nine football pitches with 64 escalators and 26 lifts moving more than 80,000 shoppers around the store each day. Many visitors come for its food hall, which showcases over 34,000 different products every day.

Finally, you’ve got Potsdamer Platz, smack bang in the middle of the two. It's considered the international city centre and home to a massive complex of businesses, shopping and culture. Once an empty wasteland with the Berlin Wall running through the middle of it Potsdamer Platz has made something of a dramatic rise from the ashes to become a completely new neighbourhood. As the newest city centre, you will find a plethora of cinemas, theatres, restaurants, shopping centres and some stunning examples of modern architecture in Berlin. If you happen to be at Potsdamer Platz, take a look downwards, because a metal strip laid in the ground marks the route of the Berlin Wall.

Best markets in Berlin

Whether you fancy a stroll, a snack, or are on the lookout for some rare second-hand furniture, Berlin has a plethora of markets that will cater for your every need. Here are our top markets for to check.

Neuköllner Wochenmärkte am Maybachufer

To give it its full name, Neuköllner Wochenmärkte am Maybachufer is our first pick. Often referred to by locals as the ‘Turkish Market’, this twice-weekly event is not to be missed. As the name may suggest its main wares are Turkish specialities including clothing, food and other household goods but keep your eye out for the stalls selling traditional Turkish sweets. Not to be missed.

Winterfeldtplatz

Second up is Winterfeldtplatz in Schöneberg, often considered the best farmers market in Berlin. Here you can find top-quality breads, cheeses, meats, fruit and veg. Enjoy a stroll through the market and pick up everything you need for a picnic or take advantage of the beautiful bars, cafes and restaurants that surround it and just soak up the atmosphere.

Street Food Thursday

If you’re more into tasting your food from the market right away then Street Food Thursday may be your thing. Taking place every Thursday (as the name might suggest) in the heart of Kreuzberg at Markthalle Neun, you’ll find an overwhelming array of food, wine and beer on offer from the incredible independent food stalls. We recommend getting there before 6pm to give yourself a chance to see everything on offer and grab a seat.

Best museums in Berlin

Berlin loves a museum and boasts to have more museums than annual rainy days. That’s 180 museums, at the last count, versus an average 106 rainy days, for those who like a good fact. There are our top three museums we think you should check out.

Berlin Musueum Island

Museum Island

While this might be considered a bit of a cheat as it’s more than one museum, our first recommendation is a trip to Museum Island (Museumsinsel). Found in the middle of Mitte on the Spree River, Museum Island is a unique collection of five museums and was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1999. There are a series of internationally important and architecturally beautiful buildings, like the Bode Museum, that lay home to some of the world's most important art, historical artefacts and exhibits.

  • S-Bahn: Hackescher Markt
  • U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz
Berlin Jewish Museum

The Jewish Museum

Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the Jewish Museumin Berlin has been considered to be an international landmark since it’s opening in 2001. Bringing together exhibitions, educational activities and a diverse program of events, the museum is a wonderful reflection of Jewish history and culture, as well as migration and diversity in Germany.

  • U-Bahn: Hallesches Tor
  • U-Bahn: Kochstraße

The David Hasselhoff Museum

Starting life as a shrine to Berlin’s number one 80s legend; The David Hasselhoff Museum has now reached full blown museum status packed full with artefacts that include photographs, murals and Hoff-related paraphernalia. While his connection with Berlin might not be immediately apparent David Hasselhoff has an almost 30-year long association with the city and the fall of the wall. His hit single, ‘Looking for Freedom’ was number one for eight long week in the summer of 1989 and spoke to what was still a very divided city. This was quickly followed by a legendary New Year’s Eve concert speaking to a newly united Berlin surrounded by the remains of the wall and 100,000 swaying lighters held aloft. Even if The Hoff isn't your cup of tea, at least enjoy the fact that it's free and there's an in-house microbrewery!

  • U-Bahn: Rosenthaler Platz

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