Survival Guide
Before You Go
When to Go
AWinter (Nov–Feb) Cold and dark, snow possible. Sights are crowd-free; theatre and concert season in full swing.
ASpring (Mar–May) Mild, often sunny. Sights start getting busier; festival season starts; beer gardens and outdoor cafes open.
ASummer (Jun–Aug) Warm to hot, often sunny, thunderstorms possible. Peak tourist season; sights and museums are super-busy; life moves outdoors.
AAutumn (Sep–Oct) Mild, often sunny. Theatre, concert and football (soccer) seasons start up.
Book Your Stay
ABerlin has over 142,000 hotel rooms but the most desirable properties book up quickly, especially in summer and around major holidays, festivals and trade shows; prices soar and reservations are essential during these periods.
AOtherwise, rates are mercifully low by Western capital standards. Options range from luxurious ports of call to ho-hum international chains, trendy designer boutique hotels to Old Berlin–style B&Bs, happening hostels to handy self-catering apartments.
AThe most central district is Mitte. Hotels around Kurfürstendamm are plentiful but put you an U-Bahn ride away from most blockbuster sights and nightlife.
ALodging in Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain is handy for party animals.
ABerlin’s hostel scene is as vibrant as ever with dorms beds available for as little as €10.
Useful Websites
ALonely Planet (lonelyplanet.com/germany/hotels) Lonely Planet’s online booking service with insider low-down on the best places to stay.
AVisit Berlin (www.visitberlin.de) Official Berlin tourist office; books rooms at partner hotels with a best-price guarantee.
ABoutique Hotels Berlin (www.boutiquehotels-berlin.com) Booking service for hand-picked boutique hotels.
ABerlin30 (www.berlin30.com) Low-cost booking agency for hotels, hostels, apartments and B&Bs in Berlin.
Best Budget
Grand Hostel Berlin Classic (www.grandhostel-berlin.de) Connect to the magic of yesteryear at this historic lair imbued with both character and modern amenities.
Wombat’s Berlin (www.wombats-hostels.com/berlin) Fun seekers should thrive at this well-run hostel with hip in-house bar.
EastSeven Berlin Hostel (www.eastseven.de) Friendly and low-key hostel with communal vibe ideal for solo travellers.
Circus Hostel (www.circus-berlin.de)This classic is a superb launch pad for fun-seekers and culture cravers.
Plus Berlin (www.plushostels.com/plusberlin) Next-gen hostel with pool in stumbling distance of bar and club central in Friedrichshain.
Best Midrange
Circus Hotel (www.circus-berlin.de) Perennial pleaser thanks to being a perfect synthesis of style, comfort, location and value.
Orania Hotel (www.orania.berlin) Culturally minded style pad with superb restaurant and live concerts.
Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Checkpoint Charlie (www.adinahotels.com) Ideal base for budget-conscious, space-craving self-caterers.
Michelberger Hotel (www.michelbergerhotel.com) Zeitgeist-capturing crash pad with funky industrial DIY aesthetics and popular restaurant.
25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin (www.25hours-hotels.com) Inner-city playground with easy access to top shopping and rooms overlooking the Berlin Zoo.
Best Top End
Mandala Hotel (www.themandala.de) All-suite city slicker with uncluttered urban feel and top eats.
Hotel am Steinplatz (www.hotelsteinplatz.com) Art-deco jewel with top-notch bar and restaurant.
Hotel de Rome (www.roccofortehotels.com) Posh player in a former bank building with rooftop bar and bank-vault spa.
Das Stue (www.das-stue.com) Charismatic refuge from the urban bustle with understated grandeur and the Tiergarten park as a front yard.
Bed Tax
Value-added tax (VAT; 7%) has long been included in room rates, but since 1 January 2014 an additional 5% ‘city tax’ is added to the net room rates, eg excluding VAT and fees for amenities and services. Business travellers are exempt from this tax.
Arriving in Berlin
Tegel Airport
AAbout 8km northwest of Zoologischer Garten and 13km northwest of Alexanderplatz, Tegel Airport (TXL; 
%030-6091 1150; www.berlin-airport.de; 
gFlughafen Tegel) is Berlin’s main airport.
AThe TXL express bus connects Tegel to Alexanderplatz (40 minutes) via Hauptbahnhof (central train station) and Unter den Linden every 10 minutes. Buses stop outside the main entrance to Terminal A.
AThe closest S-Bahn station is Jungfernheide (S41/S42 or Ringbahn, or circle line). Linked to the airport by bus X9.
AThe closest U-Bahn station is Jakob-Kaiser-Platz, which is connected by bus 109 and X9 to the airport. From Jakob-Kaiser-Platz, the U7 goes to Schöneberg, Kreuzberg and Neukölln.
AAll journeys cost €2.80 (Tariff AB).
ATaxi rides cost about €25 to Zoologischer Garten and €28 to Alexanderplatz and take 30 to 45 minutes. A €0.50 surcharge applies to trips from this airport.
Schönefeld Airport
AAbout 22km southeast of Alexanderplatz, Schönefeld Airport (SXF; %030-6091 1150; www.berlin-airport.de; 
dAirport-Express, RE7 & RB14, 
bS9, S45) is served by S-Bahn and regional trains.
AThe airport train station is 400m from the terminals; free shuttle buses run every 10 minutes.
AAirport-Express trains (denoted as RE7 and RB14 in timetables) travel to central Berlin twice hourly (20 to 30 minutes). The slower S-Bahn S9 train departs every 20 minutes.
ABuy tickets from vending machines in the station tunnel and on platforms (EC cards and cash; change given) and validate them before boarding.
AThe nearest U-Bahn station, Rudow, is served by the U7 and about a 10-minute ride on bus X7 or bus 171 from the airport. It’s useful for travel to Neukölln or Kreuzberg.
AAll journeys cost €3.40 (ABC tariff).
ACabs to central Berlin need about an hour and cost €45 to €50.
Hauptbahnhof (Central Train Station)
ABerlin’s central train station is just north of the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate and is served by the U-Bahn, the S-Bahn, trams and buses.
ATaxi ranks are located outside the north exit (Europaplatz) and the south exit (Washingtonplatz).
AThe left-luggage office (€5 per piece, per 24 hours) is behind the Reisebank currency exchange on level OG1, opposite the Reisezentrum.
Zentraler Omnibus Bahnhof (ZOB, Central Coach Station)
AThe newly upgraded Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB, Central Bus Station; %030-3010 0175; www.zob-berlin.de; Messedamm 8; bMesse/ICC Nord, 
XKaiserdamm) is near the trade fairgrounds on the western city edge. Flixbus also stops at around a dozen other points in town, including the airports and Alexanderplatz.
AThe closest U-Bahn station to ZOB is Kaiserdamm, about 400m north and served by the U2 line, which travels through the city centre. Tickets cost €2.80 (Tariff AB).
AThe nearest S-Bahn station is Messe Süd/ICC, about 200m east of ZOB. It is served by the Ringbahn (circle line) S41/S42 and handy for such districts as Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain and Neukölln. You need an AB ticket (€2.80).
ABudget about €14 for a taxi ride to the western city centre around Zoo station and €24 to the eastern city centre around Alexanderplatz.
Getting Around
U-Bahn
AThe U-Bahn is the quickest way of getting around Berlin.
ALines (referred to as U1, U2 etc) operate from 4am until about 12.30am and throughout the night on Friday, Saturday and public holidays (all lines except the U4 and U55).
AFrom Sunday to Thursday, night buses take over in the interim.
S-Bahn
AS-Bahn trains (S1, S2 etc) don’t run as frequently as the U-Bahn, but they make fewer stops and are thus useful for covering longer distances.
ATrains operate from 4am to 12.30am and all night on Friday, Saturday and public holidays.
Bus
ABuses run frequently between 4.30am and 12.30am.
ANight buses (N19, N23 etc) take over after 12.30am.
AMetroBuses, designated M19, M41 etc, operate 24/7.
Tram
ATrams (Strassenbahn) operate almost exclusively in the eastern districts.
ATrams designated M1, M2 etc run 24/7.
Bicycle
ABicycles may be taken aboard designated U-Bahn and S-Bahn carriages (look for the bicycle logo) as well as on night buses (Sunday to Thursday only) and trams.
AYou need a separate bicycle ticket called a Fahrradkarte (€1.90).
Taxi
AYou can order a taxi (%030-210 202, 030-443 322, 030-210 101; www.taxi-in-berlin.de) by phone, flag one down or pick one up at a rank. At night, cars often wait outside theatres, clubs and other venues.
AFlag fall is €3.90, then it’s €2 per kilometre up to 7km and €1.50 for each additional kilometre.
AThere’s a surcharge of €1.50 if paying by credit or debit card.
ATip about 10%.
AThe Kurzstreckentarif (short-trip rate) lets you ride in a cab for up to 2km for €5 provided you flag down a moving taxi and request this rate before boarding.
Essential Information
Accessible Travel
AAccess ramps and/or lifts are available in many public buildings, including train stations and museums.
AMost buses, trains and trams are wheelchair-accessible and many U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations are equipped with ramps or lifts. For trip-planning assistance, contact the BVG (%030-194 49; www.bvg.de).
AFor a databank assessing the accessibility of cafes, restaurants, hotels, theatres and other public spaces (in German), check with Mobidat (www.mobidat.de).
Tickets & Passes
One ticket is valid for all forms of public transport.
The network comprises fare zones A, B and C with tickets available for zones AB, BC or ABC.
AB tickets, valid for two hours, cover most city trips (interruptions and transfers allowed, but round-trips are not). Exceptions: Potsdam and Schönefeld Airport (ABC tariff).
Children aged six to 14 qualify for reduced (ermässigt) rates; kids under six travel free.
Buy tickets from bus drivers, vending machines at U-Bahn or S-Bahn stations, and aboard trams, and at station offices and news kiosks sporting the yellow BVG logo. Some vending machines accept debit cards. Bus drivers and tram vending machines only take cash.
Single tickets, except those bought from bus drivers and in trams, must be validated at station platform entrances.
On-the-spot fine for travelling without a valid ticket: €60.
A range of travel passes offer better value than single tickets.
Business Hours
The following are typical opening hours, although these may vary seasonally and by location (city centre or the suburbs).
Bars 7pm–1am or later
Boutiques 11am–7pm Monday–Friday, to 6pm Saturday
Cafes 8am–8pm
Clubs 11pm–5am or later
Restaurants 11am–11pm
Shops 10am–8pm Monday–Saturday
Supermarkets 8am–8pm or later; some 24 hours
Discount Cards
Berlin Welcome Card (www.berlin-welcomecard.de) Valid for unlimited public transport for one adult and up to three children under 14; up to 50% discount to 200 sights, attractions and tours; available for up to six days.
CityTourCard (www.citytourcard.com) Similar to the Berlin Welcome Card but a bit cheaper and with fewer discounts.
Museumspass Berlin (adult/concession €29/14.50) Buys admission to the permanent exhibits of about 30 museums for three consecutive days. Sold at tourist offices and participating museums.
Electricity
Emergencies
| Ambulance | 112 |
| Fire department | 112 |
| police | 110 |
Money
ACash is king in Germany.
AATMs (Geldautomat) are the best and easiest way to get cash. Most are accessible 24/7.
ACredit cards are becoming more widely accepted (especially in hotels and upmarket shops and restaurants), but it’s best to enquire first.
ASome places require a minimum purchase with credit card use.
Public Holidays
Shops, banks and public and private offices are closed on the following nationwide gesetzliche Feiertage (public holidays):
Neujahrstag (New Year’s Day) 1 January
Ostern (Easter) March/April; Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
Christi Himmelfahrt (Ascension Day) Forty days after Easter, always on a Thursday
Maifeiertag (Labour Day) 1 May
Pfingsten (Whitsun/Pentecost Sunday and Monday) May/June
Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Day of German Unity) 3 October
Weihnachtstag (Christmas Day) 25 December
Zweiter Weihnachtstag (Boxing Day) 26 December
Late Night & Sunday Shopping
One handy feature of Berlin culture is the Spätkauf (Späti in local vernacular), which are small neighbourhood stores stocked with the basics and open until 2am or later.
Some supermarkets stay open until midnight; a few are open 24 hours.
Shops and supermarkets in major train stations (Hauptbahnhof, Ostbahnhof, Friedrichstrasse) are open late and on Sunday.
Telephone
ABerlin’s city code is %030; Germany’s country code is %49.
AMobile phones operate on GSM900/1800.
ALocal SIM cards can be used in unlocked European and Australian phones.
AUS multiband phones also work in Germany.
Do’s & Don’ts
ADo say ‘Guten Tag’ when entering a business.
ADo state your last name at the start of a phone call.
ADo bring a small gift or flowers when invited to a home-cooked meal.
ABring a bag to shop at supermarkets and pack your own groceries.
ADon’t be late for appointments and dinner invitations.
ADon’t assume you can pay by credit card, especially when eating out.
Tourist Information
Visit Berlin (www.visitberlin.de), the Berlin tourist board, operates five walk-in offices, info desks at the airports, and a call centre (%030-2500 2333; 
h9am-6pm Mon-Fri) whose multilingual staff field general questions and make hotel and ticket bookings.
Alexanderplatz (%030-250 025; www.visitberlin.de; lobby Park Inn, Alexanderplatz 7; h7am-9pm Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm Sun; g100, 200, TXL, XAlexanderplatz, bAlexanderplatz)
Brandenburger Tor (%030-250 023; www.visitberlin.de; Pariser Platz, Brandenburger Tor, south wing; h9.30am-7pm Apr-Oct, to 6pm Nov-Mar; bBrandenburger Tor, XBrandenburger Tor)
Central Bus Station (ZOB) (www.visitberlin.de; Masurenallee 4-6; h8am-8pm Mon, Fri & Sat, to 4pm Tue-Thu & Sun; bMesse Nord/ICC)
Europa-Center (%030-2500 2333; www.visitberlin.de; Tauentzienstrasse 9, Europa-Center, ground fl; h10am-8pm Mon-Sat; g100, 200, XKurfürstendamm, Zoologischer Garten, bZoologischer Garten)
Hauptbahnhof (%030-250 025; www.visitberlin.de; Hauptbahnhof, Europaplatz entrance, ground fl; h8am-10pm; bHauptbahnhof, dHauptbahnhof)
Visas
AEU nationals need only their national identity card or passport to enter Germany.
ACitizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the US are among those who need only a valid passport (no visa) if entering as tourists for a stay of up to three months within a six-month period.
ANationals from other countries need a Schengen Visa to enter Germany. Check with a German consulate in your country.