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 kicks off; 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

y Top Tip To minimise travel time, avoid staying in a hotel outside the S-Bahn ring.

AWith more hotel beds than New York, competition is fierce among Berlin properties and prices are low compared to other capital cities.

AThe most central district is Mitte. Hotels around Kurfürstendamm are plentiful and close to the trade fairgrounds, but put you a U-Bahn ride away from most blockbuster sights and happening nightlife.

AKreuzberg and Friedrichshain are ideal districts for party animals.

ABerlin has a vibrant hostel scene with dorm beds starting at just €9 per night.

ABudget designer hotels with chic interiors but minimal amenities are all the rage.

ANostalgic types should check into an old-fashioned B&B, called Hotel-Pension or simply Pension; most prevalent in western districts, especially around Kurfürstendamm.

AFurnished flats are a popular alternative to hotels.

ASeasonal room-rate variations are rare but prices spike during major trade shows, festivals and public holidays.

AReservations are essential around major holidays, cultural events and trade shows.

AMany properties set aside rooms or entire floors for nonsmokers.

Useful Websites

Lonely Planet (lonelyplanet.com/germany/berlin/hotels) Lonely Planet's online booking service with insider low-down on the best places to stay.

Visit Berlin (www.visitberlin.de) Official tourist authority.

Berlin30 (www.berlin30.com) Specialises in accommodation costing less than €30 per person.

Best Budget

AEastSeven Berlin Hostel (www.eastseven.de) Small and delightful hostel close to hip hang-outs and public transport.

AGrand Hostel Berlin (www.grandhostel-berlin.de) Historic lair blending character with modern comforts and amenities.

AMeininger City Hostels Kreuzberg (www.meininger-hostels.de) Hotel-hostel combo with a comfort level to rival budget hotels.

AMotel One Berlin-Alexanderplatz (www.motel-one.de) This budget designer chain is an excellent choice for those who value location over luxury.

Best Midrange

ACircus Hotel (www.circus-berlin.de) Our favourite budget boutique hotel: unique mod rooms with thoughtful design details and quality beds.

AHotel Amano (www.amanogroup.de) Affordable designer hotel with inviting public areas and efficiently styled rooms.

AMichelberger Hotel (www.michelbergerhotel.com) The ultimate in creative crash pads, perfectly encapsulating Berlin's offbeat DIY spirit.

A25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin (www.25hours-hotels.com) 'Urban jungle'–themed hip lifestyle outpost.

AHotel Askanischer Hof (www.askanischer-hof.de) Character and vintage flair with a Roaring Twenties pedigree.

AAckselhaus & Blue Home (www.ackselhaus.de) Charismatic retreat in a 19th-century building.

Best Top End

ADas Stue (www.das-stue.com) This delightful refuge from the urban bustle has understated grandeur and the Tiergarten park as front yard.

AHotel Adlon Kempinski (www.kempinski.com) The full symphony of luxury in spacious, amenity-laden rooms and suites with timelessly regal decor.

AMandala Hotel (www.themandala.de) Swish cocoon of sophistication and unfussy ambience.

ACasa Camper (www.casacamper.com) Plenty of design cachet, day-lit bathrooms, and lounge with free breakfast and refreshments, in Scheunenviertel.

Short-Stay Apartments

AMiniloft Berlin (www.miniloft.com) Eight stunning lofts in an architect-converted building, with modern designer furniture and kitchenettes.

ABrilliant Apartments (www.brilliant-apartments.de) Stylish and modern units with full kitchens and neat historic touches; some have a balcony.

AT&C Apartments (www.tc-apartments-berlin.de) Huge selection of stylish, hand-picked, one- to four-room apartments.

Arriving in Berlin

Berlin-Tegel Airport

AThe TXL express bus connects Tegel to Alexanderplatz (€2.60, tariff AB; 40 minutes) via Hauptbahnhof (central train station) and Unter den Linden every 10 minutes.

ABus X9 goes to Kurfürstendamm (€2.60, tariff AB; 20 minutes) every 10 minutes.

AThe closest U-Bahn station is Jakob-Kaiser-Platz, served from Tegel by bus 109 and X9. From here, the U7 runs to Schöneberg and Kreuzberg. Trips cost €2.60 (tariff AB).

ABus X9 connects Tegel with the closest S-Bahn station at Jungfernheide, a stop on the S41/S42 (Ringbahn, or circle line).

ATaxis cost about €20 to Zoologischer Garten and €25 to Alexanderplatz and take 30 to 45 minutes. A €0.50 surcharge applies to trips originating at Tegel.

Berlin-Schönefeld Airport

AAirport-Express trains make the 30-minute trip to central Berlin twice hourly. Note: these are regular regional trains denoted as RE7 and RB14 in timetables.

AThe slower S-Bahn S9 runs every 20 minutes and is useful if you’re headed to Friedrichshain (eg Ostkreuz, 30 minutes) or Prenzlauer Berg (eg Schönhauser Allee, 45 minutes).

AThe train station is about 400m from the terminals. Free shuttle buses run every 10 minutes; walking takes five to 10 minutes.

AFor all rides you need a tariff ABC transport ticket (€3.20).

ATaxi rides average €40 and take 40 minutes to an hour.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport

At press time, no opening date had been set for the much-delayed new central airport. Check www.berlin-airport.de for the latest.

Hauptbahnhof

ABerlin’s central train station is served by buses, trams, the S-Bahn and the U-Bahn.

ATaxi ranks are located out the north exit (Europaplatz) and south exit (Washingtonplatz). Expect to pay about €14 to Alexanderplatz, €13 to Zoologischer Garten.

ZOB (Central Coach Station)

AMost coaches arrive at the Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB; GOOGLE MAP ; www.iob-berlin.de; Masurenallee 4-6; bKaiserdamm, dMesse/ICC Nord) near the trade fairgrounds on the western city edge.

AThe closest U-Bahn station, about 400m north, is served by the handy U2, which runs straight through the city centre.

AThe nearest S-Bahn station is Messe Süd/ICC about 200m east and served by the S41/S42 Ringbahn (circle line), handy for Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain and Neukölln.

ATaxi rides cost about €14 to the western city centre and €23 to Alexanderplatz.

Getting Around

Tickets & Passes

AThe public transport network is operated by BVG.

AOne ticket is good on all forms of public transport. Most trips within Berlin require an AB ticket (€2.60), valid for two hours (interruptions and transfers allowed, round trips not). Trips to Potsdam and Schönefeld Airport require an ABC ticket (€3.60).

The short-trip ticket (Kurzstreckentarif; €1.50) is valid for three stops on any U-Bahn or S-Bahn or six stops on any bus or tram.

AChildren aged six to 14 qualify for reduced (ermässigt) rates, while kids under six travel free.

AOne-day travel passes (Tageskarte) are valid for unlimited travel on all forms of public transport until 3am the following day. The cost for the AB zone is €6.70. Group day passes (Kleingruppenkarte) for up to five people travelling together cost €16.20.

ABuy tickets from vending machines in U- or S-Bahn stations and aboard trams, from bus drivers and at station offices and news kiosks sporting the yellow BVG logo. Don’t buy tickets from scammers selling used ones outside stations. Some vending machines accept debit cards. Bus drivers and tram vending machines only take cash.

ASingle tickets, except those bought from bus drivers and in trams, must be stamped before boarding. Getting caught without a valid ticket incurs a €40 fine payable on the spot.

U-Bahn

y Best for... Getting around Berlin quickly.

AU-Bahn lines are designated as U1, U2 etc.

ATrains operate from 4am until about 12.30am and all night Friday, Saturday and public holidays (all lines except U4 and U55).

AFrom Sunday through Thursday, night buses (designated N2, N5 etc) follow the U-Bahn routes between 12.30am and 4am at 30-minute intervals.

AFor information and trip planning, see www.bvg.de.

S-Bahn

y Best for... Covering longer distances within Berlin.

AS-Bahn trains make fewer stops than the U-Bahn. Denoted as S1, S2 etc, they operate from 4am to 12.30am and all night on Friday, Saturday and public holidays.

AFull details at www.s-bahn-berlin.de.

Bus

y Best for... City sightseeing on the cheap.

ACity buses run frequently between 4.30am and 12.30am.

AHalf-hourly night buses take over in the interim.

AMetroBuses, designated M19, M41 etc, operate 24/7.

ABuses 100 and 200 follow routes linking major sights.

AFor information, see www.bvg.de.

Tram

y Best for... Covering neighbourhoods not served by other transport.

ATrams only operate in the eastern districts.

ATrams designated M1, M2 etc run 24/7.

Bicycle

y Best for... Exploring local neighbourhoods.

AMany hostels and hotels have guest bicycles, often for free or a nominal fee.

ARental stations abound and range from kiosks and petrol stations to bike shops and bike ranks.

AThe websites www.bbbike.de and www.vmz-info.de are handy for route planning.

AWith a Fahrradkarte (bicycle ticket, €1.70), bicycles may be taken aboard designated U-Bahn and S-Bahn carriages (usually the first and last ones; look for the bicycle logo).

Taxi

y Best for... Late nights and groups sharing the cost.

ATaxis can be ordered by phone (030-443 322 or 030-210 202), flagged down or picked up at a rank.

AFlag fall is €3.40, then it’s €1.79 per kilometre up to 7km and €1.28 for each additional kilometre.

AThe short-trip rate (Kurzstreckentarif) lets you ride for up to 2km for a mere €4, but only if you flag down a moving taxi and request this rate before the driver has activated the regular meter.

ATip about 10%.

Essential Information

Business Hours

y Top Tip Many boutiques and smaller shops don’t open until noon and close at 6pm or 7pm.

Bars 6pm to 1am or later

Clubs 11pm to 5am or later

Restaurants 11am to 10.30pm

Shops 10am to 8pm Mon-Sat

Discount Cards

y Top Tip The Museumspass Berlin buys admission to the permanent exhibits of about 50 museums on three consecutive opening days. It sells for €24 (concession €12) at Berlin tourist offices and participating museums.

Berlin Welcome Card (www.berlin-welcomecard.de) Entitles you to unlimited public transport and up to 50% discount on 200 sights, attractions and tours for periods of two, three or five days.

CityTourCard (www.citytourcard.com) Unlimited public transport and a minimum 15% discount at 40 partner sights, attractions and tours, for two, three or five days.

Electricity

Emergency

Ambulance	112
Fire Department	112
Police	110

Money

y Top Tip The easiest way to obtain cash is from an ATM (Geldautomat) linked to international networks like Cirrus, Plus, Star and Maestro. Check with your bank for fees and daily withdrawal limits.

AThe German currency is the euro (€), divided into 100 cents.

ACash is king in Berlin; credit cards are not as widely used as in other countries. Always enquire first.

AReport lost or stolen cards at 116 116.

Late-Night & Sunday Shopping

AOne handy feature of Berlin culture is the Spätkauf (Späti in local vernacular), which are small neighbourhood stores stocked with the basics and open from early evening until 2am or later.

ASome supermarkets (especially select branches of the Kaiser’s chain) stay open until midnight; a few even through the night.

AShops and supermarkets in major train stations (Hauptbahnhof, Ostbahnhof, Friedrichstrasse) are open late and on Sundays.

APetrol stations also stock some basic supplies, though usually at inflated prices.

Public Holidays

Neujahrstag (New Year’s Day) 1 January

Ostern (Easter; Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday) late March/April

Christi Himmelfahrt (Ascension Day) 40 days after Easter, always on a Thursday

Maifeiertag (May Day) 1 May

Pfingsten (Whit/Pentecost Sunday and Monday) May/June

Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Unification Day) 3 October

Weihnachten (Christmas Day, Boxing Day) 25–26 December

Telephone

ABerlin’s city code is 030; Germany’s country code is 49.

AMobile (cell) phones (Handys in German) operate on GSM900/1800. If your home country uses a different standard, you’ll need a multiband GSM phone in Germany. Check roaming charges with your provider or buy an international plan.

AIf you have an unlocked phone that works in Germany, buying a prepaid, rechargeable local SIM card (eg at Netto, Aldi or Lidl supermarkets) may bring costs down.

Toilets

y Top Tip Men can have a quaint pee in the octagonal Christmas-tree-green pissoirs that are vestiges from the 19th century, when indoor plumbing was less commonplace.

AFree-standing pay toilet pods are scattered throughout central Berlin.

AToilets in malls, department stores, public venues, cafes and restaurants are often attended by cleaners who either charge a fee (usually €0.50) or expect a small tip.

Dos & 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.

ADo bag your own groceries in supermarkets. And quickly!

ADon’t be late for appointments or dinner invitations.

ADon’t talk about WWII with a victor’s mentality.

ADon’t assume you can pay by credit card, especially when eating out.

Tourist Information

The local tourist board, Visit Berlin (www.visit berlin.de), operates a handful of walk-in offices and a call centre (%030-2500 2333; h9am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat, 10am-2pm Sun) whose multilingual staff field general questions and make hotel and ticket bookings. Some useful locations:

A Hauptbahnhof ( GOOGLE MAP ; Hauptbahnhof, Europaplatz entrance, ground fl; h8am-10pm; bHauptbahnhof, dHauptbahnhof)

* Brandenburg Gate ( GOOGLE MAP ; Brandenburger Tor, south wing, Pariser Platz; h9.30am-7pm Apr-Oct, to 6pm Nov-Mar; bBrandenburger Tor, dBrandenburger Tor)

* TV Tower ( GOOGLE MAP ; Panoramastrasse 1a, TV Tower, ground fl; h10am-6pm Apr-Oct, to 4pm Nov-Mar; g100, 200, bAlexanderplatz, dAlexanderplatz)

* Neues Kranzler Eck ( GOOGLE MAP ; Tauentzienstrasse 9, Europa Center, ground fl; h10am-8pm Mon-Sat; bKurfürstendamm)

Travellers with Disabilities

AThere are access ramps and/or lifts in many public buildings, including train stations, museums, concert halls and cinemas.

ANumerous buses and trams are wheelchair-accessible and many U- and S-Bahn stations are equipped with ramps or lifts. Many stations also have grooved platforms to assist vision-impaired passengers.

AFor trip-planning assistance, contact BVG.

ARollstuhlpannendienst (%0177 833 5773; www.rollstuhlpannendienst.de) provides 24-hour wheelchair repairs and offers wheelchair rentals.

Visas

AMost EU nationals need only their national identity card or passport to enter Germany.

AAustralian, Canadian, Israeli, Japanese, New Zealand, Swiss and US citizens need only a valid passport (no visa) for tourist stays under three months.

ANationals from most other countries must apply for a Schengen visa with the consulate of the Schengen country that is your primary destination.

AFor full details and the latest regulations, see www.auswaertiges-amt.de or check with a German consulate in your country.