Berlin is a city of leafy boulevards, grand Neoclassical buildings, world-class art, glitzy shopping arcades, and funky graffitied neighborhoods with gourmet street food. It’s big and bombastic—the showcase city of kings and kaisers, of the Führer and 21st-century commerce.
Huge names have left their mark here, from the 18th-century King Frederick the Great, who turned Prussia from a purely militaristic state to a cultural hotspot, to Otto von Bismarck, whose over-the-top egotism unified modern Germany, then drove it—and all of Europe—into a devastating Great War.
Of course, Berlin is still largely defined by its tumultuous 20th century. The city was Europe’s counterculture capital during the cabaret years, but drastically changed course when Hitler came to power in 1933—ultimately leaving Berlin (and much of Europe) in ruins. In the post-WWII years, Berlin became the front line of a new global conflict, the Cold War between Soviet-style communism and American-style capitalism. The East-West division was set in stone in 1961, when the East German government surrounded West Berlin with the Berlin Wall.
Since the fall of the Wall in 1989, Berlin has been a constant construction zone. Standing on ripped-up streets and under a canopy of cranes, visitors have witnessed the city’s reunification and rebirth. Today Berlin is a world capital once again—the nuclear fuel rod of a great nation. Berliners joke that they don’t need to travel anywhere because their city’s always changing. A 10-year-old guidebook on Berlin covers a different place.
As one of Europe’s top destinations, Berlin welcomes more visitors annually than Rome. There’s no shortage of diversions. In the city’s top-notch museums, you can walk through an enormous Babylonian gate amid rough-and-tumble ancient statuary, fondle a chunk of the concrete-and-rebar Berlin Wall, and peruse canvases by Dürer and Rembrandt. A series of thought-provoking memorials directly confront some of Germany’s most difficult past of the last century. And some of the best history exhibits anywhere—covering everything from Prussian princes to Nazi atrocities to life under communism—have a knack for turning even those who claim to hate history into armchair experts.
Beyond its tangible sights and its enthralling history, Berlin is simply a pleasurable place to hang out. It’s captivating, lively, fun-loving—and easy on the budget. The city vibrates with an anything’s-possible buzz. It’s a magnet for young expats from around the world who want to live in a dynamic and trendy city, but can’t afford London rents. Entire neighborhoods have been overtaken by Americans, Brits, and Aussies—many of whom get by just fine without ever bothering to learn German.
Spend a day here...or a week. Go for a pedal in a park, or a lazy cruise along the delightful Spree riverfront. Step across what was the Berlin Wall and through the iconic Brandenburg Gate. Nurse a stein of brew in a rollicking beer hall, slurp a bowl of ramen at a foodie hotspot, or do like the Berliners do, and dive into a cheap Currywurst. Ponder present-day “street art” (a.k.a. graffiti) on your way to see the famous bust of Nefertiti or a serene Vermeer. Grab a drink from a sidewalk vendor, find a bench along the river, watch the sun set over a skyline of domes and cranes...and simply bask in Berlin.
Rick Steves Berlin is a personal tour guide in your pocket. The book divides Berlin into convenient neighborhoods (shown on the “Berlin Sightseeing Modules” map on here). Inside, you’ll find the following chapters:
Orientation to Berlin has specifics on public transportation, helpful hints, local tour options, easy-to-read maps, and tourist information. The “Planning Your Time” section suggests a schedule for how to best use your limited time.
Sights in Berlin describes the top attractions and includes their cost and hours.
The Self-Guided Walks cover Berlin’s main historic and touristy zones—the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, the communist sights of the former East Berlin, and Fascism and Berlin Wall sights south of downtown—as well as two of its most enjoyable-to-explore residential neighborhoods, Prenzlauer Berg and the Scheunenviertel.
The Self-Guided Tours lead you through Berlin’s most fascinating museums and sights: the museums of Museum Island, including the Pergamon Museum; the German History Museum; the Berlin Wall Memorial; and the Gemäldegalerie and Kulturforum.
Sleeping in Berlin describes my favorite hotels in appealing neighborhoods, from good-value deals to cushy splurges.
Eating in Berlin serves up a buffet of options, from street food to inexpensive cafés to upscale splurges, arranged by neighborhood.
Shopping in Berlin gives you tips for shopping painlessly and enjoyably, without letting it overwhelm your vacation or ruin your budget.
Entertainment in Berlin is your guide to fun, including live music, cabaret, and more—from tango dancing in the park to swing dancing in a century-old ballroom.
Berlin Connections lays the groundwork for your arrival and departure, covering transportation by train and plane, with detailed information on Berlin’s airports and main train station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof).
Day Trips from Berlin include the opulent palaces and lush parks at Potsdam, the sobering concentration camp memorial at Sachsenhausen, and Martin Luther’s hometown, Wittenberg—each within an hour’s train ride of downtown Berlin.
Germany: Past & Present gives you a quick overview of the country’s tumultuous history and contemporary challenges.
The Practicalities chapter near the end of this book is a traveler’s tool kit, with my best advice about money, sightseeing, sleeping, eating, staying connected, and transportation.
The appendix has the nuts and bolts: useful phone numbers and websites, a holiday and festival list, recommended books and films, a climate chart, a handy packing checklist, and German survival phrases.
Throughout this book, you’ll find money- and time-saving tips for sightseeing, transportation, and more. Some businesses—especially hotels and walking tour companies—offer special discounts to my readers, indicated in their listings.
Browse through this book and select your favorite sights. Then have a wunderbar trip! Traveling like a temporary local, you’ll get the absolute most out of every mile, minute, and dollar. As you visit places I know and love, I’m happy that you’ll be meeting my favorite Berliners.
This section will help you get started planning your trip—with advice on trip costs, when to go, and what you should know before you take off.
Five components make up your trip costs: airfare to Europe, transportation in Europe, room and board, sightseeing and entertainment, and shopping and miscellany.
Airfare to Europe: A basic round-trip flight from the US to Berlin can cost, on average, about $1,000-2,000 total, depending on where you fly from and when (cheaper in winter). If Berlin is part of a longer European trip, consider saving time and money by flying into one city and out of another; for instance, into Berlin and out of Munich. Overall, Kayak.com> is the best place to start searching for flights on a combination of mainstream and budget carriers.
Transportation in Europe: For a typical one-week visit, allow about $30 for transit tickets and a couple of day trips by train. To get between Berlin and the airport, figure around $4 per trip by bus, or closer to $30-40 for a taxi.
Room and Board: You can thrive in Berlin on $100 a day per person for room and board. This allows $10 for lunch, $20 for dinner, $5 for beer and Eis (ice cream), and $65 for lodging (based on two people splitting the cost of a $130 double room). Students and tightwads can enjoy Germany for as little as $65 a day ($35 for a bed in a hostel, $30 for cheap meals and picnics).
Sightseeing and Entertainment: Consider the Museum Pass Berlin, which covers many sights in the city (for more information, see here). You’ll pay about $30 for a three-day pass. Without a Museum Pass, figure about $10-15 per major sight, and $5-10 for minor ones. Add $20-60 for bus tours and splurge experiences (such as walking tours and concerts). An overall average of $40 a day works for most people. Don’t skimp here. After all, this category is the driving force behind your trip—you came to sightsee, enjoy, and experience Berlin.
Shopping and Miscellany: Figure $3 per ice cream cone, coffee, or soft drink. Shopping can vary in cost from nearly nothing to a small fortune. Good budget travelers find that this category has little to do with assembling a trip full of lifelong memories.
May, June, September, and October are my favorite months for Berlin—most likely to be not too hot, not too cold. However, these are also the most crowded months; there can be lines at sights and higher prices at hotels.
Summers (July and August) are lively—Berliners love to hang out in parks and along riverbanks, as if enjoying a continuous open-air party. Be aware that the city can get unpleasantly hot and humid. If you wilt in the heat, look for a room with air-conditioning (which can be scarce).
Berlin is a decent winter getaway—its museums are ample and offer an escape from bad weather. However, many of the important historical sights are outdoors. And in general, Berlin is an exuberantly outdoor-oriented city—a scene that wintertime visitors miss out on. Night draws the shades on your sightseeing early, and you’ll want to dress warmly, with layers. Expect cold (even freezing lows) and rain (hats, gloves, scarves, umbrellas, and thick-soled shoes are essential). For specific temperatures, see the climate chart in the appendix.
You’ll have a smoother trip if you tackle a few things ahead of time. For more information on these topics, see the Practicalities chapter (and www.ricksteves.com, which has helpful travel tips and talks).
Make sure your passport is valid. If it’s due to expire within six months of your ticketed date of return, you need to renew it. Allow up to six weeks to renew or get a passport (www.travel.state.gov).
Arrange your transportation. Book your international flights. You won’t want a car in congested Berlin, but if you’ll be touring the countryside beyond, figure out your main form of transportation: You can buy train tickets as you go, get a rail pass, rent a car, or book a cheap flight. (You can wing it in Europe, but it may cost more.)
Book rooms well in advance, especially if your trip falls during peak season or any major holidays or festivals.
Reserve or buy tickets ahead for major sights, saving you from long ticket-buying lines. To visit the Reichstag dome, reserve a free entry slot online a week or so in advance (see here); if you don’t reserve ahead, you’ll have to line up for tickets, then go back later to enter. The Pergamon Museum also accepts reservations, which can be a good idea to avoid lines (see here).
Consider travel insurance. Compare the cost of the insurance to the cost of your potential loss. Check whether your existing insurance (health, homeowners, or renters) covers you and your possessions overseas.
Call your bank. Alert your bank that you’ll be using your debit and credit cards in Europe. Ask about transaction fees, and get the PIN number for your credit card. You don’t need to bring euros for your trip; you can withdraw euros from cash machines in Europe.
Stick This Guidebook in Your Ear!
My free Rick Steves Audio Europe app makes it easy for you to download my audio tours of many of Europe’s top attractions and listen to them offline during your travels. My Berlin City Walk audio tour links several key sights through the city center, from the Brandenburg Gate to Alexanderplatz. Sights covered by my audio tour are marked in this book with this symbol: 
. The app also offers insightful travel interviews from my public radio show with experts from Germany and around the globe. It’s all free! You can download the app via Apple’s App Store, Google Play, or Amazon’s Appstore. For more info, see www.ricksteves.com/audioeurope.
Use your smartphone smartly. Sign up for an international service plan to reduce your costs, or rely on Wi-Fi in Europe instead. Download any apps you’ll want on the road, such as maps, translation, transit schedules, and Rick Steves Audio Europe (see sidebar).
Pack light. You’ll walk with your luggage more than you think. I travel for weeks with a single carry-on bag and a daypack. Use the packing checklist in the appendix as a guide.
If you have a positive attitude, equip yourself with good information (this book), and expect to travel smart, you will.
Read—and reread—this book. To have an “A” trip, be an “A” student. As you study up on sights, note opening hours, closed days, crowd-beating tips, and whether reservations are required or advisable. Check the latest at www.ricksteves.com/update.
Be your own tour guide. As you travel, get up-to-date info on sights, reserve tickets and tours, reconfirm hotels and travel arrangements, and check transit connections. Visit local tourist information offices (TIs). Upon arrival, lay the groundwork for a smooth departure; confirm the train, bus, or road you’ll take when you leave.
Outsmart thieves. Pickpockets abound in crowded places where tourists congregate. Treat commotions as smokescreens for theft. Keep your cash, credit cards, and passport secure in a money belt tucked under your clothes; carry only a day’s spending money in your front pocket. Don’t set valuable items down on counters or café tabletops, where they can be quickly stolen or easily forgotten.
Minimize potential loss. Keep expensive gear to a minimum. Bring photocopies of important documents (passport and cards) to aid in replacement if they’re lost or stolen.
Guard your time and energy. Taking a taxi can be a good value if it saves you a long wait for a cheap bus or an exhausting walk across town. To avoid long lines, follow my crowd-beating tips, such as making advance reservations, or sightseeing early or late. Before taking day-trips, check the hours and closed days for the sights you plan to visit.
Be flexible. Even if you have a well-planned itinerary, expect changes, strikes, closures, sore feet, bad weather, and so on. Your Plan B could turn out to be even better.
Attempt the language. Many Germans—especially in the tourist trade and in cities—speak English, but if you learn some German, even just a few phrases, you’ll get more smiles and make more friends. Practice the survival phrases near the end of this book, and even better, bring a phrase book.
Connect with the culture. Interacting with locals carbonates your experience. Enjoy the friendliness of the German people. Ask questions; most locals are happy to point you in their idea of the right direction. Set up your own quest for the best Currywurst, microbrew, or jazz club. When an opportunity pops up, make it a habit to say “yes.”
Berlin...here you come!