FAQ by and for Berlin visitors
Before visit: Itinerary planning and booking
How much days shall I Plan for a Berlin visit?
Minimum 4 to 5 full days because Berlin is a big city with a lot of sights. Recommendation: Plan 1-2 days for city tours and top sights and follow your special interests the next days. May be add 1 day each for Potsdam and Oranienburg.
Is Berlin safe? Also for solo travelers?
Yes, Berlin is in general a very safe area. There are no no-go areas. At touristic and crowdy places be aware of tricky pickpockets and fraudsters. VisitBerlin posted some tips about safety in Berlin. A prevention brochure of Berlin Police Department shows some tricks.
Solo traveling women shall stay away from free drinks and drugs to avoid contact to knock-out substances.
Solo traveling women shall stay away from free drinks and drugs to avoid contact to knock-out substances.
is there a best season to visit Berlin?
Berlin is an all-season destination. Every season has pros and cons and some special events. Berlin has a climate with very different weather conditions in summer and winter; in summer the daylight is also significant longer than in winter.
Do I need to apply for a visa to visit Berlin?
Check table of countries whose citizens require / do not require visas to enter Germany. It depends on your country of residence and if you have any other visa from other countries already agreed. To get more infos or to apply for a visa check the official visa regulations of Germany. Germany is EU and Schengen member (overview see page 2).
Where in Berlin shall I stay?
The city of Berlin has an eastern and a western center (map).
- The eastern center is located in the area between Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz: Most sights are located here because it is the historic center of old Prussian and German Berlin.
- The western center is located around Breitscheidtplatz at Tauentzien and at Kurfürstendamm. It is much closer to Potsdam and fairgrounds (Messe Berlin), has also some sights and attractions, a manifold lifestyle part with good restaurants and cafes as well as shopping streets instead of malls.
Do I need a rental car for getting around in Berlin?
No, a rental car makes only sense to explore the wider countryside.
Berlin has an excellent public transport system, operated by BVG, S-Bahn and VBB (all one ticket and price system). Even Potsdam, Oranienburg and some other suburbs can be reached easily.
Other mobility solutions are:
Info: Uber and Lyft do not operate the way people may know it from other countries.
Berlin has an excellent public transport system, operated by BVG, S-Bahn and VBB (all one ticket and price system). Even Potsdam, Oranienburg and some other suburbs can be reached easily.
Other mobility solutions are:
- Taxis: regulated tariff and metered pricing (use taxi call or MyTaxi app)
- Velo-Taxis / rickshaws
- On-demand drive-sharing, e.g. BerlKoenig (English app)
- Segway
- Car, scooter- and bike-sharing
Info: Uber and Lyft do not operate the way people may know it from other countries.
How Do I get to / from Berlin?
By plane: Berlin has two airports. Berlin-Tegel (TXL) within city borders and Berlin-Schönefeld (SXF) south of Berlin. Both airports are well connected to public transport operated by BVG. The new airport is currently built.
By train: International and domestic trains operated by Deutsche Bahn arrive at several stations in Berlin.
By bus: Several bus tour providers connect Berlin with national and internatonal destinations. Largest provider is Flixbus. Main bus terminal in Berlin is Zentraler Omnisbusbahnhof Berlin (ZOB) but some buses also stop at the train stations, at Alexanderplatz (eastern city) and at Zoologischer Garten (western city).
By car: Berlin is well connected into the Autobahn network of Germany. Visitors shall be aware that the whole center of Berlin is an environmental zone in which cars need to have a sticker classifying the emission class of a vehicle (more here). Additionally drivers of Diesel engine vehicles have to be aware of some Deisel ban streets in the future.
A Berlin basics map gives an overview of the concrete locations.
By train: International and domestic trains operated by Deutsche Bahn arrive at several stations in Berlin.
- Main / central station (Hauptbahnhof or "Hbf") in the middle of Berlin (station map).
- Berlin-Südkreuz is the southern station for national trains (station map).
- Berlin-Spandau is the western station for national trains.
- Berlin-Ostbahnhof is the eastern station for national trains (station map).
- Berlin-Gesundbrunnen is the northern station for national trains.
- Some national trains stop also at Berlin-Alexanderplatz (station map) and Berlin-Friedrichstrasse (station map) - both located in eastern city.
By bus: Several bus tour providers connect Berlin with national and internatonal destinations. Largest provider is Flixbus. Main bus terminal in Berlin is Zentraler Omnisbusbahnhof Berlin (ZOB) but some buses also stop at the train stations, at Alexanderplatz (eastern city) and at Zoologischer Garten (western city).
By car: Berlin is well connected into the Autobahn network of Germany. Visitors shall be aware that the whole center of Berlin is an environmental zone in which cars need to have a sticker classifying the emission class of a vehicle (more here). Additionally drivers of Diesel engine vehicles have to be aware of some Deisel ban streets in the future.
A Berlin basics map gives an overview of the concrete locations.
I do not speak German. Do Germans in Berlin speak English?
In the central parts of Berlin you have a good chance to find English speaking people. In the outer districts and at countryside the ratio of people speaking English is lower. Also younger people speak English more often than people 40+. If these were grown up in former GDR their second language was Russian, not English. Even in the western part some had French, Latin or ancient Greek as second language.
Tip: Install Google Translate or a similar app on you smartphone and pre-load German as "offline" language.
Tip: Install Google Translate or a similar app on you smartphone and pre-load German as "offline" language.
What are attractive destinations or cities to travel next to? And how do I get there?
Often next visited cities are:
Worth visiting next from Berlin:
- Potsdam 's palaces and gardens are UNESCO world heritage listed and can be reached by public transport.
- Hamburg is Germany's second largest city, full of sights, and can best be reached by bus or ICE train (2 hours).
- Dresden is famous for culture and can best be reached by bus or train.
- Hanover is capital of state Lower Saxony and can best be reached by train and bus. Goslar is on the way (see next list).
- Prague, capital of Czech Republic, can best be reached by bus or train.
- Copenhagen, capital of Denmark can be reached best by bus (incl. ferry) and by plane.
- Munich is best reached by train, bus or plane.
Worth visiting next from Berlin:
- Coast at Baltic Sea: For sure a summer destination but also in autumn and spring this coast is worth visiting.
- Mecklenburg Lake District is a unique nature experience and can best be explored by car, also on the way to Baltic Sea.
- Spreewald is a picturesque woodland nd river area located around 100 km southeast of Berlin (train or car).
- Wismar and Stralsund: Their historic centres are enlisted as UNESCO world heritage and can be reached by car, bus or train.
- Schwerin is an old town located northwest of Berlin, capital of state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and can best be reached by train, bus and car. Main sight is fairy tale like Schwerin Palace.
- Goslar's historic town is enlisted as UNESCO world heritage and can be reached by car or train.
- Bamberg's old town is enlisted as UNESCO world heritage and can be directly reached by ICE train. Tip: Visit a brewery and / or try Rauchbier (smoked beer).
Before the journey
What Do I need to pack?
Most important:
A comprehensive packing list is available here.
- Passport including valid visa to entry Schengen zone
- Driver's license (incl. international version if needed)
- Tickets and reservation confirmations
- Individual health supplies, e.g. special sorts of medicine.
- Individual insurance documents
- Payment cards with pin, some EUR cash is recommended
- Clothing / dress code: Except for special events or businesses casual dress is fully accepted in Berlin.
- Power adapter? Germany has power plugs compatible to type C and F (230 V and 50 Hz). Country list.
- Communication networks: In Berlin most locations offer free WiFi (often called WLAN). For mobile availablility either ask your provider for a cheap tariff / plan for Germany or order a SIM card for Germany.
A comprehensive packing list is available here.
What weather will be the next day(s)?
Check regional forecast from public TV and radio rbb. Forecasts longer than 4 days are not very reliable.
For a rough estimation of max., min. and average weather data of months from last years look at climate table of Berlin.
For a rough estimation of max., min. and average weather data of months from last years look at climate table of Berlin.
How much budget do I need in Berlin per day?
If you have booked accomodation already you need food, transport and entry fees for sights and locations.
- Food: Breakfast in bakeries and cafés is available between 5 and 15 EUR, lunch 8 to 20+ EUR and dinner 10 to 30+ EUR. You can also buy some food in supermarkets.
- Public transport is vailable for 7 EUR per day per person within Berlin city limits (AB ticket).
- Entry fees need to be checked at the websites of the venues. WelcomeCard and similar products allow reduced or included fees for attractions.
Do I need cash in Berlin?
Yes, recommended because not all shops, cafes and restaurants accept cards. At arrival easy going because taxis and public transport ticket machines at main spots accept cards. Only for lockers you need cash (1 and 2 EUR coins). Most travelers recommend to get money from bank-related ATM machines at day of arrival or the next day.
Are there any events in Berlin during my stay?
VisitBerlin provides an event calendar with possibility to search for events in a certain date period.
At arrival
How do I get best from train station or airport to ...?
Good hotels and hostels offer information on their website how they can be reached on different ways.
Best general options are public transport or taxi. For details look up the websites of the transport locations:
Best general options are public transport or taxi. For details look up the websites of the transport locations:
- Airport Berlin-Tegel (TXL): Taxis stand in line in front of the terminal, buses are offered by public transport.
- Airport Berlin-Schönefeld (SXF): Taxis stand in line in front of the terminal, trains and buses are offered by public transport.
- Berlin Main Station (Hauptbahnhof / Hbf): Taxis stand in front of north and south exit (map). Various local train, bus and tram connections are offered by public transport.
- For further and date / time related public transport requests look up BVG website.
What is the price From / to airport or train station?
Public transport ticket options and prices can be found on BVG website. Ticket machines from BVG or S-Bahn with English option can be found at the airports at every train station. For transport within Berlin city limits (e.g. TXL) an AB ticket is needed, for including outer regions choose an ABC ticket.
Taxi prices are regulated in Germany by every county (Berlin taxi tariff in German). Taxis from airport of Berlin-Schönefeld (SXF) take a higher price per kilometer (diffeent county). The driven distances and situations are metered. The price of current ride is shown in front of the taxi in EUR. Berlin taxis offer an online price calculator.
Taxi prices are regulated in Germany by every county (Berlin taxi tariff in German). Taxis from airport of Berlin-Schönefeld (SXF) take a higher price per kilometer (diffeent county). The driven distances and situations are metered. The price of current ride is shown in front of the taxi in EUR. Berlin taxis offer an online price calculator.
IS a rental car recommended?
No, if you want to stay inside Berlin city limits. Cars are not faster in city traffic than public transport. Expect also high prices for public parking in center areas and limited availability of parking options.
During stay
How is the weather tomorrow?
Look at regional forecast and weather map from public local TV / radio rbb.
What kind of tours can I book in Berlin?
In Berlin you can nearly book every kind of guided tour.
- HoHo bus tours: Hop-on-hop-off bus tours will get you around by in Berlin in nearly two hours. The tours have audio comments, so you will get infomation on what you see plus some background information. Depending on provider and tour you can leave and re-enter the next bus on a route at 10-20 stops in the city. Buses will come every 15 to 30 minutes. Even if they have their price, it is a good option to get around in a larger center area in Berlin. In late spring, summer and early autumn you can book river Spree boat tours on top. Public buses 100 and 200 drive parts of the typical routes from HoHo buses between Zoologischer Garten (western center) and Alexanderplatz (eastern center) but they give no explanations on what you see along the route.
- Bike tours: Berlin is a bike-friendly city - even with areas of improvement. For active visitors wanting to explore a larger area a bike tour can be a perfect choice. The very slow and partyish version of these tours are beer bikes.
- Segway tours: A more comfortable way of getting a tour with the same range like a bike are tours on Segways. These stand-one vehicles allow a new experience of moving around but require a driver's license in Germany.
- Walking tours: Even with most limited range walking tours are very meaningful and valuable because very often sights or whatever the tour is focussing on are nearly located to each other.
- River cruises and boat trips: Berlin has two large rivers: Spree and Havel. The Spree river flows in arches through the center of Berlin, south of it runs the Landwehr canal. Therefore, all boat tours through the inner city follow the same route over the Spree river and the Landwehr canal, only length and duration of the boat tours vary, depending on start and finish points. There are also lots of lakes and canals where ships and boats can cruise. From mooring point at S-Bahn station Wannsee there are also boat trips offered to Potsdam and the lakes around.
- Kayak tours: During summer months some providers offer regular or stand-up paddling on different water ways of Berlin. It allows and active and different way to explore the city.
- Car tours: Some tour operators offer tours for self-drivers in various vehicles, e.g. in go-carts or old tiny GDR car Trabant, called Trabbi. You will self drive a vehicle in a guided convoy connected by radio or mobile communication.
- Special interest tours: Berlin offers tours for nearly every special interest such as photography, street art, neighborhoods, history, shopping, architecture, galleries, etc.. Sometimes even special events have their own tours, e.g. Festival of Lights or Berlin Art Week.
Where Can I find a tourist information office?
- Whole Berlin: Overview of Berlin tourist information offices.
- Districts: Overview of tourist informations of the districts of Berlin.
Where can I get breakfast cheaper than in my hotel?
Berlin has many cheap and good breakfast opportunities. They offer either self-service from a counter or service at the table.
- Some self-service cafés, coffee houses and bakery shops have also tables and seating possibilities. For a sandwich and a coffee the prices start at 3 - 4 EUR (to-go) and even the expensive ones cost max. 7 - 8 EUR. Typical brands are Kaffee Einstein, Kamps, Schäfer's (ex Thürmann), Feihl, Steinecke or Wiedemann. A cheaper one is Backwerk (to-go).
- Cafés with service at the table offer various breakfasts including coffee between 6 and 15 EUR.
- Special tip: Very local food are "Schrippen" (water-based white bread rolls), "Knüppel" (milk-based white bread rolls) and "Strammer Max" (a simple dish of mixed bread, ham and fried egg).
How to contact police or emergency rescue?
Phone numbers for emergency cases only.
For regular contact to the police visitors can use the following ways:
- Police: 110
- Fire brigade and medical rescue / ambulance: 112
For regular contact to the police visitors can use the following ways:
- Berlin Police citizen line +49 30 4664 46 64
- Next police station can be found by map.
- At online police station visitors can file a report, submit evidence and ask questions, as well as register assemblies, complain or express your gratitude.