Travel Tips | Berlin (Eng.)

BERLIN

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OVERVIEW

Situated in northeastern Germany, Berlin has been rebuilt and is incredibly anxious for your visit. It is the perfect place for those seeking adventure or a romantic getaway or even for those seeking a family trip. Everybody has good reasons to visit this fantastic city.

Even though the division of Germany is extinguished, Berlin remains with the marks from the past. Brutally bombed in World War II, its western side has been completely rebuilt, so it has a contemporary and modern architecture, while the eastern side still has memories from the past. But it has been re-urbanized and it is becoming a traditional city with beautiful buildings from the new century. Still on the eastern side, you can see the remains of the famous Berlin Wall. Getting to know a little more about the history, this wall was a symbol of a difficult period worldwide. This milestone not only divided Germany, but the entire world. On one side had the capitalist countries under the influence of the United States, and in the other side, communist countries were guided by the Soviet Union. It was only in 1989 that the Berlin Wall was destroyed, unifying Germany and promoting the happiness of the German population.

Berlin is not only the capital but it is also the biggest city in Germany. It is considered one of the largest centers of culture and sciences of Europe, and offers an intense cultural life. Tourists can visit countless monuments, more than one hundred museums, hundreds

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSBERLIN

From April to September the climate is quite pleasant, because it is spring and summer there. During this period the temperatures are between 4° C / 15° C and 14° C / 28° C. In addition to the more favorable climate, during these seasons the nature is extremely beautiful. In the winter, temperatures are extremely low, easily going below 0°C. From October to February the weather gets too cold and icy. In the fall the temperatures are between 6°C / 13°C in winter are around -5° C / 3° C. It rains throughout the year, specially during the months of June and August.

When it comes to climate, Germany is a very cold country, so the best time to visit the country is in the summer. From May to September is the perfect time to discover Berlin.

of art galleries, cinemas, theaters, concert halls, nearly five hundred churches and more than five thousand bars and pubs with the extremely famous German beers.

There are countless attractions for tourists, making the trip very busy. The big question is where to start. Leaving the Brandenburg Gate and going towards the huge Alexanderplatz (Alexander square), you can visit the most important places in Historical Downtown. The Unter der Linden Avenue, the National Library, St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, Santa Maria church, the City Hall building. Each one of them has its particular and splendid architecture.

Another reason to visit the German capital is the city’s reference in classical music, jazz and also in the underground music style.

To communicate is easy, there are several phone booths around town yellow. They are usually on the corners and some have information in English, French and German. To buy phone cards there is also very easy. You can find them in bookstores, post offices, newsstands, train stations, and at places where they have vending machines with this service.

Germany has a temperate climate with wet winds that overcome throughout the country. Because of its geographical location, the country receives a lot of cold currents from northwest Russia. On the other hand, this is a country where tornadoes, large droughts are extremely rare to occur.

There are several entertainment options throughout the year.

In February, there is Berlinare. It is the famous film festival in Berlin and is considered one of the most important in Europe. This event occurs on Potsdamer Square (Potsdamer Platz).

In the summer (from July to September), the most famous festival in the city takes place, Love Wall. During the days of the event, Berlin becomes the world capital of electronic music. There are over a million people in the Tiergarten park.

Another attraction that you have to look for when you book your trip is the Nacht der Museen Läangste, or Museums Long Night. This event happens twice a year, and during

this night, most of the city museums are open 24 hours, attracting hundreds of people. The dates change every year.

TRANSPORT

In Berlin, there are buses, trams, subway, trains that run throughout the city and even to other countries, where they run perfectly. Regardless the means of transport chosen, the best option is to use the interconnected service. It will allow using all means of transport in one ticket, which can be used for two hours, or one day, or a week or a month.

SUBWAYKnown as U-Bahn, is connected to all four sides of the city and is extremely efficient. Almost every road is underground and they have been operating since 1902 and were built to relieve urban traffic. There are nine lines with more than 170 stations.

TRAINTo circulate not only in Berlin but throughout Europe, the train is more suitable. The central station of Berlin (Hauptbahnhof) is the largest interconnection of trains throughout the European Union. It is 70 thousand square meters big, over five floors and a wide network of services. Besides this one, there are five other railway stations for long distance. All of them are connected by the local public transportation, if you want to travel to another location where the rail network does not go. There are also direct trains from Berlin Schönefeld Airport to the city, they leave every 30 minutes.


BUSThere are about 150 lines circulating during the day and 54 night lines in Berlin. There are buses all around town, some work as tourist buses, because they pass by the main sights.

BY CARThere are several car rental agencies at the airports and downtown. The best part of the highways is the lack of tolls, an attractive advantage. Moreover, they are considered one of the best roads in Europe.

BOATIt is an unforgettable experience to go on the boat tour. There are travel packages that include the tour by the river Spree. It is fascinating to see the city’s architecture, the centenarian buildings that takes you to time travel back to the past. On most trips, there are guides telling the history of each attraction in a specific language, remember to ask about if first.

CYCLINGThere are several establishments that rent bikes to tourists. But they are not only used by foreigners; local residents are also benefited from bike lanes and special traffic lights for cyclists, which can be seen throughout the city. This tip goes for the summer months that are not so cold. It is even better if you are guided by the local maps, it can be an unforgettable adventure.

ATTRACTIONS

It seems like there are endless monuments to visit in Berlin. There are hundreds of palaces, churches, galleries. All of them tell their story in a different way.

KULTURFORUMOne of the places that best expresses the cultural strength that this city has. It is a large complex with galleries, museums and concert halls. One of them is the Neue Nationalgalerie, or New National Gallery, where you can find huge paintings of the beautiful international modern art. It is situated in the Herbert von Karajan Strasse (street Herbert Von Karajan).

POTSDAMER PLAZSituated in Mitte, is an important place in town. Before the World War II it was just an intersection of rural roads, today is a magnificent square where there is a contrast of old architecture with new construction. Besides the heavy traffic, this place is also known for the several stores, and even some famous brands. This square was destroyed during the Cold War and after the fall of the Berlin Wall it was rebuilt and today it is a symbol of ‘new Berlin’.

BRANDENBURGER GATEOr Brandenburger Tor. It is, actually, a triumphal arch. With 26 meters high it is the only construction left from other old entries in Berlin. It is situated in Unter den Linden, one of the main avenues. Today is a symbol of reunification of the city.


CHARLOTTENBURG PALACEIs a majestic palace, which was the official residence of the politicians of Prussia. At first it was called Lietzenburger, but King Frederick wanted to do a tribute to his beloved Charlotte. After the death of his wife, he changed the name to Charlottenburg Palace. In an Italian Baroque style, the beautiful and magnificent gardens only add up to its magnitude. Remember that the palace is really big, so take some time from your day to visit it. Each step deserves to be enjoyed in peace.

EGYPTIAN MUSEUM OF BERLINHas an extensive and excellent collection of images, works, Egyptian statues. One of the most popular items is the sculpture of the bust of Nerfetiti. It’s just exciting to see it up close. There are hundreds of monumental

pieces of the period between 4000 BC until the Roman era. The tickets cost five euros, about seven dollars.

BERLIN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRAThe Berliner Philharmoniker is one of the world’s major orchestras. Founded in the late nineteenth century, today it is a public orchestra. Tickets vary widely but are usually very expensive. It is always very popular, so book in advance. Its headquarter is situated in the Herbert von Karajan street, near the boulevard Unter den Linden.

PALACE OF THE REICHSTAGClose to the Brandenburger Gate, it is where the German Federal Parliament works. Built in the late nineteenth century, it was rebuilt after a fire in 1933. When the reunification of


Germany took place, this palace was redone again and remains like this until today. It is a beautiful place with an incredible glass dome on top. It’s the big attraction.

TIERGARTEN PARKSituated in the western part of town, and near Berlin Philarmonic, it is the greenest part of the city. Tourists and the local population go there. It was originally created to be the hunting place for the kings of Prussia (Tiergarten means “animal garden” in German). In 1818, the park was redesigned with British standards and received several statues. Nowadays it is the oldest public park in the German capital.

ALEXANDERPLATZAlexander Square or just Alex, as the Germans calls it. It is situated near the Spree River and is the most important square in Berlin. Every day it is really busy, with people and cars. This is also the local link between most of the city’s public transportation. One of its highlights is the World Clock, a metallic structure that tells the time in several places in the world. There is also the TV Tower, which is the tallest building in Berlin, about 365 meters high. Some floors are open to the public, with restaurants and bars with an impressive panoramic view. There are also revolving restaurants, where you can admire the city landscape during a meal.

BERLIN STATE OPERAOr better known as the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. There is an opera house built in the eighteenth century with headquarter on the famous boulevard Unter den Linden. The presentations there are always lovely. For those who like the musical style is a must go.

MUSEUM ISLAND

In downtown Berlin, on the Spree River. Since 1999 it is considered a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Besides the five beautiful museums, there are also the Berlin Cathedral or Berliner Dom and the Lustgarten (“garden of delights”, in german). All museums are open from Sunday to Monday, from 10am till 6pm and tickets range from four to fourteen euros (five to nineteen dollars, approximately).

There is the Pergamon Museum, that took twenty years to be fully built. The museum is divided into three parts: A Collection of

Classical Antiquity, where you will see Greek and Roman sculptures; the Museum of the Ancient Near East, where there are several masterpieces of ancient Babylon; and the Museum of Islamic Art, where you can see excellent Islamic decorative arts.

The Altes Museum or Old Museum is one of the world’s most important in the segment of ancient art. There is an extensive collection of sculptures, mosaics, vases and other pieces from ancient Rome and Greece.

The Alte Nationalgalerie, or Old National Gallery, has an extraordinary collection of paintings from the nineteenth century. Artists like Lieberman, Monet, Renoir and Menzel.

The Bode Museum was named after Wilhelm von Bode, art historian and first curator of the Museum (called Kaiser Friedrich Museum in the past). There are over 750 thousand sculptures, collections of coins and medals, and other pieces of art. These works are represented in Byzantine art, Middle Ages, Eastern Christianity, the Italian Gothic and early Renaissance.

Last but not less important, there is the Neues Museum, or New Museum. It was first built in 1855, but was severely damaged in the bombing of WWII. It was recently reopened and has exhibitions from the Ancient Egypt, Prehistory and events before the war.


BERLIN ZOOIs one of the oldest. Known as the Zoologischer Garten Berlin, it was founded in August 1844 and remains opened since then. Today there are over thirteen thousand animals and about 1400 species. It is situated northwest of Tiergarten district. Open from 9am to 7pm. The tickets price range from six to twelve euros (eight to sixteen dollars, approximately).

BERLIN WALLThe biggest part that is still up from the wall that divided Germany for nearly thirty years is situated on Mühlenstrasse (Mühlen street). Nowadays, it is a huge painting composed by paintings from over one hundred artists. There are other smaller parts of the wall around the city, you can also take home a small piece of that world-famous wall in souvenir shops.

WHERE TO STAY

This city is very welcoming and there are many places to stay. There are hotels, hostels, pensions and even the possibility of renting an apartment.

To get around easier, choose a place downtown. If you don’t want to worry about a schedule and want more privacy, rent an apartment. There are many options downtown, and some offer leisure areas. If you prefer a hotel because you will not need to worry about cleaning or food, make sure that meals are included in the rates. If you choose boarding houses or hostels, they are the cheapest options. The daily rate of a hostel

is around fifteen euros, about twenty dollars. Many hostels are in downtown Berlin and they are usually young people’s option.

If you want the best location in town, there are all kinds of hotels in Alexander Square, especially four and five stars. At the boulevard Unter den Linden there also some sophisticated even luxury hotel, and there are also many stores.

DINING OUT

The culinary from Berlin offers much more than sauerkraut, sausages and beer. You cannot compare it to the French cuisine or the tasteful Italian food, but the German cuisine is unique and each region has its specialty. Berlin is known for the influence of Silesia (now Poland) with dishes like eisbein, pork knuckle baked with a layer of fat and boulette, meat balls served with white bread and mustard.

The pork is really popular, but roasted goose and carp with potatoes are also traditional dishes.

Another crucial ingredient from the German food is the bread. There are many kinds, flavors and shapes. There are over 1500 types of sausages, from light to super spicy. The meals in Berlin are cheaper than in other cities in Europe.

There are over six thousands kinds of beer in Germany, and you will have to try at least one of them. This drink can be found in eight out of ten food establishments. The nightlife in Berlin is known as one of the most famous in Europe.


There are countless options to suit all tastes. It may be a fun restaurant, a bar a quieter night or even a pub or a nightclub to finish the night only at dawn, literally. The city is very eclectic on this matter.

Anyone seeking entertainment, the alternative district of Kreuzberg is a good tip. It is a meeting point for foreign and local youths.

SHOPPING

There are many good reasons to go shopping in Berlin. There are some products available only here. Prices in Berlin are a lot cheaper than in other cities in Europe, such as London and Paris.

Berlin is a city full of shopping possibilities. There are dozens of streets with several stores, from world-famous brands, thrift stores, book stores and huge department stores.

Kurfürstendamm is the commercial center of Berlin. Very busy, this place connects new German designers and very famous designer brands. It is where the largest mall in the city is. There are over one hundred stores, restaurants and entertainment options. Visit the biggest department store in continental Europe and the famous outlets of international brands, these are situated west of the Mall. There are also bookshops and designer shops. You will find cheap and expensive products here.

At Friedrichstrasse is possible to find many world-known brands and department stores with hundreds of products. There are also publishers who sell books magnificent leaving at excellent prices.

Bergmannstrasse is situated in the Kreuzberg district and is full of bookstores, stores selling records and CDs, thrift stores and design fairs. In Mehringdamm avenue is also possible to find amazing thrift containing wedding dresses

of the Cold War era. Some of these outlets sell clothes by the weight. A kilo is about fifteen euros, twenty dollars.

STREET MARKETSTurkish Market: the Turkenmarkt is located in Maybachufer street in the Kreuzberg area. It is just like being in Turkey. You will notice the different colors and scents. You can find fruits and vegetables, some tents have the region’s delicacies that are worth trying. There are also cheese, wine, crafts, clothing, accessories and many different objects. The goods are always very cheap compared to the stores in town.

Art Market or Kunstmarkt: Situated near the Old Museum, on the street Am Zeughaus, has a huge variety of handicrafts. Open Saturdays from 11am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, it is very popular because its wide selection of gifts and souvenirs.

Flea Market or Flohmarkt: It is situated in Bernauer Strasse, near Arkonaplatz. Students and local residents come here to sell their belongings at a very low price. Almost everything is used but it’s worth to take a look. You can find clothes, appliances, household objects, tools and even bicycles. It is opened on Sundays from 10am to 4pm.

Book Market: the Buchmarkt is situated in Am Kupfergraben in front of the Bode Museum. It’s a fair of old books. Around sixty dealers come here to sell books, records, CDs, crafts and even some furniture. It is opened on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 16hs.

CURRENCYThe Euro, denoted by the symbol € (or EUR), is the official currency of German.

The Euro is divided into a hundred cents, sometimes called Euro cents. All circulating coins have a common side showing the value and a map in the background. The coins also have a national side showing an image specifically chosen by the country that issued them. Euro coins from any European Union(EU) member state may be freely used in any nation that has adopted the Euro.

There are €2, €1, 50-cent, 20-cent, 10-cent, 5-cent, 2-cent, 1-cent coins. The Euro banknotes have common designs on both sides and are issued in €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5 notes.

49112112110

COUNTRY CODE

EMERGENCIES

FIRE STATION

POLICE

INTERNACIONAL AIRPORT

BERLIN TEGEL

49 180 5000 186

TOURIST INFORMATION

GERMANY

69 75 19 03

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

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Travel Tips | Berlin (Eng.)