Berlin, Germany Destination Guide
Section 1: Intro to the Destination
Berlin is considered the New York City of Germany, everything that exists is here - fantastic food, the arts, history, education, politics, and capitalism. It’s easy to get lost in the many neighborhoods, but thanks to the easy-to-use (and access) U-Bahn and S-Bahn, one can quickly navigate from one Museum to another or find the best spots for an awe-inspiring meal. No matter what, there is a place for everyone here, just make sure you leave enough time to find your spot!
Which of the Following Phrases Best Describes this Destination?
Historic, Edgy, and BIG
What’s the Destination Known For?
Berlin is a city full of history, working hard to capture the essence of its past, honor, and remember it going into the future.
Street Art and the Berlin Wall, together and separate, the two can be found throughout the city capturing the story of the then and now
Urban Innovation, Berlin does a fantastic job bring the old and falling apart back to life with flavor and flair.
Berlin is a very diverse city with residents and visitors from all over the world. The city’s undisclosed motto is that everyone is welcome, no matter race, ethnicity, background, language, sexual orientation, etc.
The bear is Berlin’s city symbol
Berlin is the capital city of Germany
Cafes, Restaurants, Bars, and more! Berlin is the city of fine dining, Hipster bars, and eclectic cafes. No matter what you are in the mood to eat, it can be found in Berlin and in very good form
Getting There
Location: Flughafen Schönefeld, 12521 Berlin
located on the southern outskirts of Berlin
Visa: American citizens will receive a 90 day tourist visa when they arrive
Tram: S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 connect to the city center
Bus: connect from the city center to Terminal A, bus lines 163, 171, X7, N7, N60
Car: 45 minute drive from Alexanderplatz in the center, however, there is really no need to rent a car while you are just visiting the city of Berlin
Uber: around 40-50,- € with UberX
Location: Zufahrt zum Flughafen Tegel, 13405 Berlin
located in Berlin's northern district Reinickendorf, closer to the city than Schönefeld
Tram: no direct link to the S- or U-Bahn
Buses: connect from the Main Station to Tegel by the TXL Express Bus. The bus travels in six-minute intervals and takes about 37 minutes. Fare: 2.80 € one way.
Car: 29 minute drive from Alexanderplatz in the center
Uber: around 25-30,- € with UberX
BER Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt
Currently being built near Schönefeld, and will eventually be the one major airport in Berlin.
Location: Hauptbahnhof, Europaplatz 1,10557 Berlin
Local Etiquette
Tipping: 5-10% for wait staff, bartenders, and tour guides
Farewell: Always say goodbye to everyone before leaving a party
Gestures: Keep your hands out of your pockets while talking to someone
Table Manners: Keep your hands in sight while eating, and when finished lay fork and knife across the right side of the plate
Toasting: make eye contact while clinking glasses
Words/Phrases to know:
Hello – Hallo! Guten Tag!
Please – Bitte
Thank you – Danke
Yes – Ja
No – Nein
Goodbye – Tschuss. Auf Wiedersehen.
Do you speak English? – Sprechen Sie Englisch?
I don’t speak English – Ich spreche kein Deutsch
I don’t understand – Ich verstehe nicht
Everything is good! – Alles ist gut!
Cheers! – Prost!
One espresso, please – Ein Espresso, bitte
How much is it? – Wieviel kostet das?
Weather
Temperatures:
Spring:
High: 66F / 19C
Low: 32F / 0C
Summer:
High: 73F / 23C
Low: 54F / 12C
Fall:
High: 66F / 19C
Low: 36F / 2C
Winter:
High: 39 F / 4C
Low: 27 F / -1C
Elevation: 111ft / 34m
The best month for swimming is July, the average temperature is 64F. The wettest month of the year is June.
The weather is best between June and August with the sunshine lasting between 8 hours. Fantastic months for warm weather and not so many crowds would include May and September. In winter, it will be very chilli with very little sunshine lasting only 1-2 hours per day.
How to dress: In layers! The weather can be very unpredictable, with cold fronts and high winds rolling in very quickly to the city, but the sun can also shine and really warm up the city.
Getting Around
In-city transportation:
Metro: S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and Bus
Short distance ticket is 1.70 €
Day ticket is 7,- € (zone AB) & 7.70 € (zone ABC)
7 Day Ticket is 30,- €
Small-group Day Ticket is 19.90 €
Uber/MyTaxi: both exist in Berlin
Bikes: Berlin is a very bike friendly city, it can just sometimes take awhile to get from one side of the city to the other.
Includes zones AB and Tegel Airport on the tram, bus, underground, and suburban train
You can get the card at ticket machines, the BVG and DB sales points, or online
Price: 48 hrs - 16.90 €, 72 hrs - 23.90 €, 4 Days - 29.90 €, 5 Days - 33.90 €
Price: 14 - 20,- €
Walking: Berlin is very large and is a great place for walking if you are just exploring one neighborhood at a time, but the U-Bahn is highly recommended for getting from one side of the city to another.
Section 2: What to See, Do, and Eat
Breakfast
European, German
$$
Location: Vor dem Schlesischen Tor 2, 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Times: Monday to Friday from 12am, Saturday & Sunday from 10am Breakfast Buffet
Casual Dress
One of the oldest restaurants in the area, right on the water
Best dish: Breakfast Buffet on the weekends
Cafe, German
$$
Location: Gabriel-Max-Str. 18, 10245 Berlin
Times: Monday to Friday: 9:30 - 18:00, Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00
Casual Dress
The Cafe is located in Berlin Mitte, it is very cosy with rustic decor
Best dish: fantastic eggs and sourdough bread
Cafe, Vegetarian, European
$$
Location: Pannierstr. 64, 12043 Berlin
Times: Monday: closed, Tuesday to Friday: 9:30-18:00, Saturday & Sunday: 10:00-18:00
Casual Dress
The Cafe is a very Hip place located in the Neukölln neighborhood
Best dish: fantastic healthy brunch menu, homemade Chai Tea and cake
Brunch
Cafe, Healthy, German
$$
Location: Reichenberger Str. 122, 10999 Berlin
Times: Sunday & Monday: 9:00-17:00, Tuesday & Wednesday: closed, Thursday to Saturday: 9:00-23:00
Casual Dress
The Cafe is located in Kreuzberg, and is known for their massive Breakfast plates
Best dish: Eggs & Pancakes
Bar, Brunch, Vegetarian
$$
Location: Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 13, 10178 Berlin
Times: Monday to Friday: 7:30-19:00, Saturday & Sunday: 9:00-18:00
Casual Dress
Sunday brunch includes a buffet and bottomless mimosas for 20,- €, from 10:00-16:00
Cafe, Healthy, Vegetarian
$$
Location: Rosenthaler Str. 1, 10119 Berlin
Times: Monday to Friday: 7:30-24/2am , Saturday & Sunday: 8:30-24/2am
Casual Dress
Located in Berlin Mitte at the Circus Hotel
Best dish: Breakfast Tacos
Lunch
Curry 36
Fast Food, German
$
Location: Mehringdamm 36, 10961 Berlin
Times: Monday to Sunday: 9:00 - 17:00
Casual Dress
You can’t visit Berlin without trying the most famous Currywurst spot
Best dish: Currywurst & Pommes (french fries)
Fusion, Vegetarian
$$
Location: Krossener Str. 16, 10245 Berlin
Times: Monday to Sunday: 12:30 - 20:00
Casual Dress
The portions are very large, packed with wonderful flavor
Known for Potatoes being covered in fresh veggies
Madami (Mom’s Vietnamese Kitchen)
Vietnamese, Asian
$
Location: Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 3, 10178 Berlin
Times: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 - 23:00
Casual Dress
One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Berlin
Best dishes: glass noodle chicken rolls, beef pho soup, chicken coconut curry
Dinner
Italian, Mediterranean
$$$
Location: Strausberger Platz 2, 10243 Berlin
Times: Monday to Sunday: 12:00 - 24:00
Upscale Dress
Reservations are highly recommended!
Best dish: speciality fish is filleted at the table
Ushido (Japanese BBQ)
Japanese, Steakhouse
$$-$$$
Location: Lychener Str. 18, 10437 Berlin
Times: Monday to Friday: 18:00 - 23:00 , Saturday & Sunday: 17:00 - 23:00
Upscale Dress
BBQ right on your own table!
Best dish: wagyu and kobe beef
Asian, Fusion
$$
Location: Panoramastraße 1a, 10178 Berlin
Times: Monday to Sunday: 12:00 - 23:00
Casual
Located at Alexanderplatz in the Center
Best dishes: Pho Hanoi, and Burgers
Other
American, Cafe
$
Location: Maybachufer 8, 12047 Berlin
Times: Monday to Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00
Casual
Fantastic place to stop for a snack or sweet treat
Best dish: freshly made homemade donuts and specialty coffee
Bakery, Cafe, Deli
$$
Location: Spandauer Straße 25, 10178 Berlin
Times: Wednesday: closed, Thursday - Tuesday: 11:00 - 18:00
Casual Dress
Great place for afternoon coffee and cake time
Famous For: Cupcakes!
Food market
$-$$
Location: Bikini Berlin, Budapester Str. 38-50, 10787 Berlin
Times: Sunday: closed, Monday to Saturday: 10:00-20:00
Dress code (i.e. guys need a tie and jacket, no flip flops, etc.)
Food market with 13 international eateries at Bikini Berlin
Opened in January 2018
Eateries include: Mexican food, Israeli specialities, Hawaiian poke bowls, Korean cuisine, etc.
Top things to See and Do
The Gate was one of Berlin’s first Greek revival buildings, built between 1788 and 1791. Designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans, inspired by the gateway entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. The Brandenburg Gate is 26 metres high, 65.5 metres long and 11 metres deep.
Today the Brandenburg Gate symbolizes a reunited Berlin, especially after the fall of the Berlin wall.
Location: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin,
Time Open: all day, everyday
Price: free
“The magnificent Neo-Renaissance building is situated in the heart of the capital, in the vicinity of the ‘Lustgarten’ park. With its imposing architecture, four towers, almost 100 metres high dome and the golden Cross, the building remains visible from far away and has established itself as of one of Berlin's great landmarks.”
One of the biggest attractions of the Cathedral is the Hohenzollern family crypt, considered the most important dynastic burial site in Germany.
Location: Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin
Time Open: Monday to Sunday: 9:00 to 20:00
Price: 7,- € entrance fee per adult
Guided Tours: Monday to Saturday: 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM, Sundays and public holidays: 12:15 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM
Holocaust Memorial (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe):
The memorial was opened in May 2015. Designed by architect Peter Eisenman, the memorial is made up of 2,711 concrete blocks of various heights
Location: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin
U-Bahn: Potsdamer Platz and Mohrenstrasse, line U2
Time Open: all day, everyday
Price: free
Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg)
“Charlottenburg Palace is the largest and most significant palace complex in Berlin stemming from the former Brandenburg electors, Prussian kings and German emperors. It was among the favorite retreats of seven generations of Hohenzollern rulers, who repeatedly redesigned individual rooms with luxurious interior décor while also having sections of the gardens transformed into royal grandeur.”
The biggest attractions in the Palace include the Porcelain Cabinet, the Palace Chapel, and the bedchamber of Frederick I
Location: Spandauer Damm 20-24, 14059 Berlin
U-Bahn: Richard-Wagner-Platz, line U7
Time Open: Monday: closed, Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 to 18:00
Price: 10,- € entrance fee per adult
Berlin’s version of NY’s Central Park, covering a little over 519 acres.
Attractions you can find near or in the park include: Bellevue Palace, Victory Column, Open-Air Museum, and Haus der Kulturen der Welt. During the summer time on Sunday, one can find open air concerts at the carillon.
Location: S-Bahn stop is the Berlin-Tiergarten station
Time Open: all day, everyday
Price: free
Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehturm)
Built by the German Democratic Republic and opened up on October 3, 1969. Today the Tower also symbolizes the reunification of Germany
You can explore the TV Tower by visiting the Observation Deck and restaurant
Location: Panoramastraße 1A, 10178 Berlin
Time Open: Monday to Sunday: 9:00 - 24:00
Price: 15.50 € observation deck fee per adult
Victory Column (Siegessäule):
The Column was first finished in 1873 under the Prussian rule, it was slightly moved in 1938-39 under Hitler’s rule. The statue was not damaged during WWII and became a heritage site in the mid-1980s.
You can climb the 285 spiral staircase to the observation deck to see a 365 degree view of the city
Location: Großer Stern, 10557 Berlin
Time Open: all day, everyday
Price: 3,- € entrance fee per adult
The first museum on Museum Island opened in 1850, and the island became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
The Island holds a total of five world-renowned museums, exhibiting the famous bust of Nefertiti, the Egyptian queen, and the spectacular Pergamon Altar and the astonishing Ishtar Gate.
The 5 museums: Pergamonmuseum (Pergamon Museum), Bode-Museum, Neues Museum (New Museum), Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery), Altes Museum (Old Museum)
Location: the island is located on the Spree river in the central Mitte district of Berlin. A short walk from Alexanderplatz's U and S-bahn stations or from Hackescher Markt S-bahn station
Time Open: Monday: closed, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday to Sunday: 10am - 6pm , Thursday 10am - 8pm
Price: regular admission is 18,- €
Festivals
Berlinale International Film Festival
The Film Festival was first founded in West Berlin in 1951. Up to 400 films are shown and around the top twenty complete for the Golden Bear and Silver Bear awards.
Location: Potsdamer Platz
Takes place in early February
Price: Tickets can be purchased online through the Festival’s Website, in person at theater’s box offices or at a few other special box offices around Berlin.
Long Night of Museums (Lange Nacht der Museen):
The festival began in 1997 with over 6000 visitors.
Visit over 80 museums throughout the night on the convenient shuttle buses that will take you all over the city, while also enjoying a variety of over 800 programs, shows, and concerts.
Location: Meeting place it Museum Island
Takes place in late August, beginning at 18:00 until 2:00 am
Price: 12-18,- € for an adult ticket
Dance in August (Tanz im August):
Tanz im August began in 1988 in West Berlin
Main Attraction: 30 different performances ranging from classical ballet to individual productions.
Location: Box Office, HAU2, Hallesches Ufer 32, 10963 Berlin
Time Open: the festival runs for about 20 days in August
Price range based upon number of performances
Nightlife (bars, clubs, wine bars, rooftops for sunsets, etc.)
Happy Hour until 21:00 with 7,- € cocktails
Known for their fantastic and very strong cocktails
$$
Location: Goltzstr. 39, 10781 Berlin
Time Open: Monday to Sunday: 18:00 - 3:00am
Techno Club
Location: Friedrichshain, Am Wriezener Bahnhof, 10243 Berlin
Time Open: Monday to Wednesday: closed, Thursday: 20:00-5:00 am, Friday: 23:59-9:00 am, Saturday: 23:59-9:00 am, Sunday: all day
Price: 8-10,- €
World wide famous Techno club known for its fantastic soundsystem
Beware! This club can be very hard to get into.
Dance Club, Disco, Bar
Location: Hauptstr. 15, 10317 Berlin
Time Open: Friday 11:59 - Monday 10:00 am
Price: 10,- €
This club offers a little bit of everything: festival, club, beach, bar, pizza, etc.
It’s the perfect place for an original partying experience and lots of dancing
Hidden Gems
The oldest zoo in Germany!
Main Attractions: Hippos, Panda Garden, Eagle Canyon, Penguin World
Location: Hardenbergplatz 8, 10787 Berlin
Time Open: Monday to Sunday: 9:00 - 18:30
Price: 15.50 € per adult / 8,- € per child
Located on Mühlenstraße, the longest open-air gallery in the world, stretching 1316m long on a former remnant of the Berlin Wall. It is a monument to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Main Attraction: 101 images painted directly on the wall
Location: Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin
Time Open: all day, everyday
Price: free
The largest UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in Germany. The city is the capital of Brandenburg and it is a great place for a day trip from Berlin!
Main Attraction: plenty of sightseeing, old town walking tours, and fun on the water
Location: Potsdam, Germany (about 45 minutes to an hour outside of Berlin)
