Berlin

Introduction

Soviet War Memorial

© stepsdevil

Berlin, the capital city of the Federal Republic of Germany, was first mentioned in the 13th century. It has been the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire, the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich, but was divided after World War II. East Berlin became the capital of the German Democratic Republic while West Berlin remained part of West Germany, surrounded by the Berlin Wall. This lasted from 1961 until 9 November 1989, when the Berlin wall came down, and the communist regime was ousted. A year later, Germany was reunited and Berlin was once again the nation’s capital.

Apart from being the capital city, Berlin is one of the sixteen states of Germany. It is the largest city (population 3.4 million within city limits) in the country. Metropolitan Berlin, with its 4.9 million inhabitants, is the fifth largest in the European Union.

Architecture (both modern and historical), world-renowned museums (the city is home to 153 museums), nightlife and festivals have made Berlin a major attraction for about 5.1 million people every year. Since 2005, Berlin has been on the UNESCO’s list of Cities of Design.

Neighbourhoods

Reichstag

© dworgan

Berlin can be seen as a cluster of centres. Berlin has many boroughs (Bezirke), and each borough is composed of several localities (Kiez or Viertel) - each of these boroughs and localities have their unique style. Some boroughs of Berlin are more worthy of a visitor's attention than others. Berlin used to be divided into 23 boroughs, and these boroughs are used in Wikivoyage as they remain foremost in popular conceptions of the city and are generally of a good practical size and cultural division for visitors. In January 2001, the number of boroughs was reduced from 23 to 12 for administrative purposes - mostly by fusing old boroughs together - sometimes across the former inner-Berlin border. The boroughs can roughly be grouped into six districts:

Mitte (Mitte)

The historical centre of Berlin, the nucleus of the former East Berlin, and the emerging city centre. Cafés, restaurants, museums, galleries, and clubs are abundant throughout the district, along with many sites of historic interest.

City West (Charlottenburg, Wilmersdorf, Schöneberg, Tiergarten)

Ku'Damm (short for Kurfürstendamm) is, along with Tauentzienstraße, one of the main shopping streets in former West Berlin, especially for luxury goods. Many great restaurants and hotels are here and also on the side roads. The district also contains the Schloss Charlottenburg, Tiergarten and the Olympic Stadium. Schöneberg is generally a cosy area for ageing hippies, young families, and LGBT people.

East Central (Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg)

Associated with the left wing youth culture, artists, and Turkish immigrants, this district is somewhat noisier than most, packed with lots of cafés, bars, clubs, and trendy shops, but also with some museums in Kreuzberg near the border to Mitte. These districts are undergoing gentrification as they are popular with students, artists and media professionals.

North (Spandau, Reinickendorf, Weißensee, Pankow, Wedding)

Spandau and Reinickendorf are beautiful old towns, which feel much more spacious than the inner city. Pankow was once synonymous with the East German government, and the villas the East German "socialist" leaders inhabited still exist.

East (Lichtenberg, Hohenschönhausen, Marzahn, Hellersdorf)

The museum at the site of the 1945 surrender to the Soviet army is of interest, as is the former Stasi prison, an essential visit for anyone interested in East German history. Marzahn-Hellersdorf's reputation for being a vast collection of dull high-rise apartment blocks is undeserved because it is the home of the "Gardens of the World" , a large park where various ethnic styles of garden design are explored.

South (Steglitz, Zehlendorf, Tempelhof, Neukölln, Treptow, Köpenick)

The South is a mixed bag of different boroughs. Zehlendorf is one of the greenest and wealthiest boroughs in Berlin, while Neukölln is one of the city's poorest. The Northern part of Neukölln (sometimes labeled "Kreuzkölln") is becoming gentrified. Köpenick's swaths of forest around Berlin's largest lake, Müggelsee, and the nice old town of Köpenick itself beg to be discovered on bikes and using the S-Bahn.

Sights and Activities

The Wall

The Berlin Wall was the symbol of Berlin and the Cold War for nearly 40 years. Built in 1961 to stop the outflow of East-Germans and torn down in 1989, it separated families and friends and left a big scar in Berlin's history. There is not a lot left of the original wall, although you can find some small remains. The best chance to see something of the wall is to dive into one of the many souvenir shops, although critics will tell you that the entire wall must have been sold several times by now. The line where the wall once stood is marked by a double row of cobblestones. Some original pieces can be seen at the Potzdammerplatz, and near the Friedrichshain train station.

Reichstag

Reichstag: Looking down on the main hall of the parliament

© Sander

The Reichstag is the German parliament (Bundestag). It was build in the last part of the 19th century, and opened in 1894. Before and during the second World War the building was badly damaged. First in 1933 by Marinus van der Lubbe, who set the building on fire, and after that by several air raids during the battle of Berlin in 1945. After that it took years before the building got renovated, and was opened again for the public. After the reunification of Germany the building again underwent a major renovation. This time a huge glass dome was added to the building and reopened in 1999. The Reichstag and the dome can be visited but waiting times can be long.

Fernsehturm & Alexanderplatz

The most visible of the sights is the 368-metre-high Fernsehturm (television tower) on the Alexanderplatz. It was constructed between 1965 and 1969 and is visible from most places in Berlin-City, making it a good reference point when wandering around Berlin. In the sphere there is a visitor's platform at 204 metres above the ground, and above the platform there is a rotating restaurant, that makes the 360 degrees in 30 minutes. Lifts will take you to the visitor's platform in 40 seconds.

The Alexanderplatz is maybe the most well known square in Berlin, and made more famous in the Fassbinder film Berlin, Alexanderplatz. Around the Alexanderplatz, you can find the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall), the little Marienkirche and close to it the Weltzeituhr (World time clock). Besides being one of the most famous squares it is also an important hub for people taking the U-bahn.

Brandenburger Tor

Not far from the Reichstag lies one the landmarks of Berlin. The Brandenburger Tor is a former gateway into Berlin situated at the beginning of the major shopping street Unter den Linden. On top of the gate is a statue of a chariot drawn by 4 horses called the Quidriga. For many years it was the symbol of the division of Germany as it stood right behind the Wall, and on the eastern side a smaller wall also prevented East-Germans from reaching the gate. During this time the Quidriga had been facing towards the East. After the reunification it was turned back into its original position. When you visit Germany you are likely to have some Brandenburger Gates in your pocket, as it features on the 10, 20 and 50 eurocent coins that are pressed in Germany.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

The Jewish Memorial

© StephenJen

About 2,700 black stones all with the same outline, but varying in height from 0.2 to 4.8 metres make up the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, which is situated near the Brandenburger Tor. It was not the first memorial to be erected as a memorial for the holocaust. An earlier project which was to be a huge sloping surface, with all the known names of holocaust victims, was vetoed by then Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Instead the memorial that we know now was erected and opened in 2005. Under the ground there is a museum located at the sight of the memorial.

Berliner Dom

The Berliner Dom is not as old as it looks. It only dates back to 1905. Nevertheless it's an impressive building, which had earned the nickname "the Protestant St. Peter", as it was considered the Protestant answer to St. Peters Basilique in Rome. During the war it was severely damaged, and renovations did not start until 1975 and lasted until 1993.

Gedächtniskirche

Berlin - Gedächtniskirche

© sabrinakam

The Gedächtniskirche, officially called the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche, was built by Emperor Wilhelm II in the 1890's, in honour of his grandfather Kaiser Wilhelm I. In 1943 the Church was damaged, and a big part of the tower came down. At present only the damaged spire remains. Next to the church a new church was built.

Museums

• The Pergamon Museum - The Pergamon Museum on Berlin's Museuminsel has an antiquity collection consisting of pieces from Greece and the Middle East. It houses three main reconstructions of monumental buildings that incorporate original pieces/parts from the excavation sites: the Pergamon Altar, the Gateway of Miletus, and the Gate of Ishtus. The Pergamon Altar came from a temple that stood in the Ancient Greek city of Pergamon. It has a 113-metre-long frieze, depicting the battle between the Gods and the giants. Although the frieze is not intact, it gives a good impression how it looked in ancient days. To help visitors even more, the missing pieces are drawn on the walls. The Gateway of Miletus and the Gate of Ishtus were reconstructed from pieces that were excavated under German supervision from sites of ancient cities of Miletus and Babylon. The museum also houses the Museum of Islamic Arts and the Middle East Museum. Parts of the original collection were taken away after WWII by the Russians, and can now be found in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Pushkin Museum in Moscow. The museum is the most visited art museum in Germany.
• Neues Museum - The Neues Museum reopened after a renovation in October 2009 and house the Collection of Egyptian Antiquities. It is to the north of the Altes Museum on Museum Island. The Neues Museum is one of Berlin's excellent Public Museums Some of them are highlighted below, but this website offers more information if you read German.
• The Film Museum - The Film Museum focuses on television as well as film.
• Bauhaus Archive - The Bauhaus Archive, with its adjoining museum, focuses on the Bauhaus movement, and is worth a visit for design fans and those without a background in the subject alike.

Art Museums

• Deutsche+Guggenheim - The Deutsche+Guggenheim is arguably Berlin's foremost Modern and Contemporary Art museum, offering excellent exhibitions, lectures, educational opportunities and special events throughout the year.
• KW or Kunst-Werke - KW or Kunst-Werke features rotating exhibitions and frequent workshops on contemporary art, in addition to hosting artists in residence. KW also founded the Berlin Biennale, which will take place next in 2012.
• Hamburger Bahnhof - The Hamburger Bahnhof, housed in a former train station, from which its name derives, is yet another excellent contemporary art museum.
• Neuer Berliner Kunstverein - Neuer Berliner Kunstverein is more than a contemporary art museum: it is also an 'artothek,' a library for art that allows members to borrow art.

History Museums

• Jewish Museum - The Jewish Museum shows 2,000 years of relationships between Germany and the Jews, with of course a lot of emphasis on the darkest pages of German history, the holocaust.
• DDR Museum - The DDR Museum highlights daily life in the former German Democratic Republic.
• Mauermuseum/Haus am Checkpoint Charlie - The Mauermuseum/Haus am Checkpoint Charlie is devoted to the history of the Berlin Wall, and specifically the famous "Checkpoint Charlie."
• The German Historical Museum - The German Historical Museum

Venues

• Kulturbrauerei - The Kulturbrauerei (Schönhauser Allee 36, Prenzlauer Berg) is not only a venue for all kinds of music, but it also is home to a lot of bars, restaurants and a cinema. It's built inside an old courtyard of a brewery.

Cinema

• Kino in der Kulturbrauerei - Kino in der Kulturbrauerei art-house films and selected Hollywood-movies at Schönhauser Allee 36.

Lesbian & Gay Berlin

Berlin is one of Europe's queerest cities. Whether you're visiting for business or cruising, Berlin is full of colourful venues for queer culture or just some delicious Kaffee & Kuchen for you to enjoy!

Museums

• Schwules Museum is a must for any queer visitors to Berlin. Rotating and permanent exhibits, an archive and library, as well as frequent events and lectures make the museum an interesting destination any day. Its location at Mehringdamm 61, near the Mehringdamm U-Bahn station is convenient also for visiting a number of fabulous vintage shops and queer-friendly cafés.
• Das Verborgene Museum features female artists, with rotating exhibits and a permanent collection. The museum aims to provide a forum where the work and life stories of women artists can be shared and appreciated. Schlüterstrasse 70, near the U-2 stop Ernst-Reuter-Platz.

Archives

• The Gunda Werner Institute, in the Heinrich Böll Foundation, houses an archive as well as various conferences and events throughout the year. Schumannstr. 8
• Spinnboden Lesbian Archive offers print references, personal advice, exhibits, and more! Make sure to check the archive's hours before you head out, because they're only open a few hours a week. Anklamerstrasse 38, near the U-stop Bernauerstraße.

Films

• MonGay Films are screened weekly at Karl-Marx-Allee 33.
• Xenon Kino screens a variety of queer and queer-related films at Kolonenstrasse 5-6.

Venues

• Salon Schmuck is a primarily lesbian café & venue, with yummy food and a cozy atmosphere. Check out their funky seating & interesting clientele, and bring along your laptop, because this is one German café with "W-LAN" (wi-fi, wireless internet access). Skalitzerstrasse 80, practically under the Schlisisches Tor U-Bahn stop.
• WirrWarr (or wiRwaR), hidden behind a "Privé" sign on the inconspicuous entrance in a back courtyard, is well worth seeking out. This gallery and event space is a café by day and club by night, with events ranging from life-drawing classes to film festivals in the evening. Join the hip, mainly lesbian crowd, for a reasonably-priced drink in this funky venue.

Cafés
Two cheap student-run, low-service cafés with a queer-friendly, artsy atmosphere are:

Dürers Mudda/Bei Monis at Koserstrasse 20, first floor, near the Podbielskiallee U-Bahn stop.

Geromat at Habelschwerdter Allee 45, between the Thielplatz and Dahlemdorf U-Bahn stations. Geromat also boasts a special family event on Wednesdays after 2:00pm.

Other ones include:

Bookstore Anakoluth at Schönhauser Allee 124, near the U-2 station, offers a carefully curated selection of literature in German and English. Founded in 1998 by Christiane Hahn, this independent bookstore features fine fiction, beautifully illustrated children's books, graphic novels, modern poetry, philosophical works, and cultural magazines. The shop prides itself on maintaining a literary selection that doesn't bow to bestseller lists or market pressures.

Begine Café at Potsdamer Straße 139 near the Bülowstr. U-2 stop is Berlin's last major autonomous women's cultural center that has survived without being threatened by rent increases. Established in 1986 in a squatted building, it serves as both a meeting point and cultural venue for lesbian and feminist women. The space hosts regular events including readings, concerts, workshops, discussions, art exhibitions, women-only parties, karaoke nights, film screenings, and educational gatherings.

Café Berio at Maaßenstrasse 7 near Nollendorfplatz station (U-1, 2, 3, & 4) is a classic, old-fashioned establishment known for its extensive breakfast menu and afternoon coffee and cake service. This elegant café by day transforms into a lounge by night and offers popular weekend brunches. With its colorful crowd of mostly gay men and rotating art exhibits, Café Berio remains a fixture in the vibrant Nollendorfplatz neighborhood.

Café Himmelreich at Simon-Dach-Straße 36 in Friedrichshain is the only lesbian bar on this street known for its vibrant nightlife and alternative scene. The café-bar offers an elegant atmosphere and welcomes all, but hosts LGBT-specific evenings such as Women's Lounge on Tuesdays specifically for a lesbian audience. Open daily from 5pm to 2am (4pm on Sundays), it's located near Warschauer Straße S-Bahn station.

Café Morgenrot at Kastanienallee 85 near the U-2 Eberswalderstr. stop is a Berlin landmark famous for its alternative crowd and delicious vegetarian weekend brunch buffets starting at 11:00am. The café operates on a sliding scale payment system (€5-9, with €7 being the average) where guests pay what they can afford. The space offers vegan treats, coffee, and occasionally hosts concerts featuring local hardcore and punk rock bands.

Hotel Sarotti-Höffe's café at Mehringdamm 59 near Mehringdamm underground station is a 3-star hotel offering a rich buffet breakfast and trendy bar. The property is located off the bustling Bergmannstrasse Street, just 4km from Berlin's city center and a short drive from Alexanderplatz. The café is more visibly queer-friendly by its rainbow flag in the window than by the clientèle and boasts decadent cakes and strong wi-fi.

Marietta at Stargarderstrasse 13 near the Schönhauserallee U-bahn station of the U-2 is a charming neighborhood café and lounge locale.

Melitta Sundström, right next to the Schwules Museum at Mehringdamm 61, is a café/bookstore with heart.

Windows Café's namesake architectural feature lends itself to a perfect past-time for this neighborhood: watching passersby. Take the U-4 to Viktor-Luise-Platz, and the café is at Martin-Lutherstrasse 22.

Events and Festivals

• Berlinale Film Festival - One of the city's largest cultural events is the Berlinale Film Festival, which takes place each year in February. For two weeks film professionals, actors, and movie fans gather in the city to watch and discuss new movies. Definitely worth a visit, if you are a cinema enthusiast.
• Carnival of Cultures - The Carnival of Cultures is a hugely successful event that has been held in May for the past decade in Berlin. This four-day street festival hosts extravagant culturally-fueled parades and various parties throughout the city. It's a celebration of the diversity of cultures reflected in the "melting-pot" of Berlin. It brings together professional artists with the amateur, and it connects members of Berlin's many different ethnic communities.
• Berlin Beer Festival - Typically held during the first weekend of August, this festival boasts the longest beer garden in the world - a whopping one mile long! Approximately one million people come to this festival each year, with stalls offering over 2,000 types of beer from over 300 breweries from 86 countries! The festival hopes to introduce visitors to smaller, lesser known, private breweries. If the beer isn't enough for you, live music and a variety of shows play throughout the festival to keep the crowd entertained.
• The Festival of Lights (10 Oct 2012 - 21 Oct 2012) - During this event, important landmarks and prominent buildings in downtown Berlin are illuminated in a colorful light display. A spectacle requiring both technical ability and artistry, this unique opportunity to see the city of Berlin in a new light (pardon the pun), is sure to inspire!

Weather

Berlin has a moderate continental climate with generally warm summers from June to September, around 24 °C during the day, and sometimes rising to over 35 °C. Nights are pleasant, around 15 °C. In winter, from December to February, daily maximum temperatures are a few degrees above zero and nights a few degrees below. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, but summers tend to be a bit wetter with occasionally very heavy showers and thunderstorms. There is about 50 mm of rain (some snow in winter) on about 10 to 15 days each month.

Getting There

By Plane

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is the main airport serving Berlin, replacing the former Schönefeld and Tegel airports. Berlin Brandenburg Airport opened in October 2020, with the former Schönefeld Airport now operating as Terminal 5 of BER.

There are numerous airlines flying to destinations in Europe and beyond, as well as serving many domestic destinations. Airlines include Lufthansa, German Wings, Air Berlin and Condor as well as major international airlines like Air France-KLM and budget airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet.

To/from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)

Rail: Berlin Brandenburg Airport has its own railway station directly beneath Terminal 1. The S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 connect the airport to the city, running every 7-13 minutes during daytime. The journey to central Berlin takes approximately 45 minutes. Regional express trains also operate from the airport, reaching the city center in about 30 minutes.

Bus: Several bus lines connect the airport with Berlin and the surrounding area. Tickets cost €3.30 for adults, and buses are equipped with comfortable seating and large windows for viewing the city.

Taxis take around 25-30 minutes to get to the city centre, with fares starting from approximately €56.

Rental cars are widely available with companies like Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Avis, with prices starting from about €87 per day.

Former Tegel Airport (TXL)
Berlin-Tegel Airport closed permanently in November 2020. The 500-hectare site is being redeveloped into Berlin TXL – the Urban Tech Republic, a research and industrial park for urban technologies, and Schumacher Quartier, a new residential district. Currently, parts of the former airport are being used as refugee accommodation, expected to continue until the end of 2025. The first companies are expected to move into the Urban Tech Republic area in 2027/2028, with construction in the Kurt-Schumacher-Quartier beginning in 2026.

By Train

State-owned Deutsche Bahn (DB) has numerous train connections throughout the country and to other European countries (including nearby cities - Copenhagen, Szczecin and Poznań). Berlin is a major city on the west-east line from London to Moscow.

A new high-speed direct train service between Paris and Berlin launched in December 2024, running daily and taking approximately eight hours. The train departs Paris Gare de l'Est at 9:55am and arrives at Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 6:03pm, offering a faster alternative to previous routes that required connections.

By Car

Numerous roads, both highways as well as local roads, run into Berlin (e.g. Leipzig, Munich, Hannover, Hamburg, Rostock in Germany and Szczecin and Poznań in Poland). Traffic is always busy but avoid morning and late afternoon rush hours. Parking places are available in garages, but prices are steep. By any means if you can go by public transport.

By Bus

Eurolines connects to several German cities to and from Berlin. Reservations can be made in Berlin at the Mannheimerstrasse 33/34 - tel: 030.86.09.60 / 0180.15.46.436 or by internet.

Another bus company is BerlinLinienBus. They serve mainly destinations in Germany, including Hamburg and Munich but they can also sell tickets for Eurolines buses.

The bus stop for almost all buses is at the central omnibus station (ZOB) near the Funkturm (not to be confused with the TV Tower). This is in the western outskirts of Berlin near U Kaiserdamm and S Messe/ICC Nord. Transfer time with public transport from the ZOB to BER airport is approximately 1.5 hours.

Getting Around

By Car

As in most of the big cities of the world the parking areas are rare and not cheap. But it's possible to drive through Berlin by car.

By Public Transport

metro berlin

© gom

The underground, or as it's know in Berlin the U-Bahn is a good way to get around, especially as it is combined with the S-bahn. The only shame is that the airport of Tegel is not connected to the U-bahn, but you need to take a bus from the airport. Luckily there are enough and there are enough place where you can get off the bus, and change to the U-Bahn. (If you need to be in the eastern part of town, the stop at Osloerstrasse is a good point to make the change from the bus (number 128 to the underground.)

If you don't have many time but want to see a lot of sights the best way is to take the Bus 100 and/or the Bus 200.
Bus 100 starts/ends at the Alexanderplatz and ends/starts at Zoologischer Garten (Zoo). The route passes a lot of sights (Berliner Dom, Lustgarten, Brandenburger Tor, Regierungsviertel with Reichstag, Siegessäule etc.). If any sights seems to be interesting to you, you can push one of the red 'STOP'-buttons and exit the bus to take a closer look at the sight. 10 minutes later the next Bus (number 100) will come to pick you up.

By Foot

It is possible to get around by foot, but know that sights can be far apart, of course depending what sights you want to visit.

If you like to feel the spirit of Berlin you have to walk a bit. favourites routes include:
1. S-Bahn station 'Hackischer Markt' to U-Bahn station 'Weinmeisterstraße' (takes about 20 minutes (no stops included)).
2. exit S-Bahn station 'Hackischer Markt' and walk along the Oranienburgerstraße.
3. start at 'Alexanderplatz' and walk the whole way to 'Brandenburger Tor' ('Unter den Linden') (takes at least 1 hour).

By Bike

Berlin is mostly flat and while it will be a long time until Berlin is as bicycle-friendly as Amsterdam or Copenhagen serious efforts are being made. You can easily find rental bikes in the city, keep your eyes peeled for brochures distributed at hostels and at tourist attractions. Make sure you have a good map of the city when you set out. Ride defensively, don't insist on rights of way when confronted with a truck.

Eat

A staple in Berlin is currywurst. It's a bratwurst covered in ketchup and curry powder. You can find them all over Berlin by street vendors. It's a must try when in Berlin. Two renowned Currywurst stands are "Konnopke's Imbiss" below Eberswalder Strasse U-Bahn station on line 2 and "Curry 36" opposite the Mehringdamm U-Bahn station in Kreuzberg (only two stops south of Checkpoint Charlie). Both of these offer far friendlier service than many of Berlin's more upmarket eateries.

Another famous thing to eat in Berlin is Döner, a flat bread filled with lamb or chicken meat and vegetables, available at many Turkish stands.

Eating out in Berlin is incredibly inexpensive compared to any other Western European capital or other German cities. The city is multicultural and many cultures' cuisine is represented here somewhere, although it is often modified to suit German tastes.

Berlin may seem like carnivore Heaven, but vegetarians and vegans can eat quite well. Berliners are generally environmentally conscious, and that extends to their food; most of the inner neighborhoods have a handful of good healthy vegetarian or vegan restaurants using local ingredients, though they tend to be more expensive than the ubiquitous kebab and sausage stands. If you're a vegetarian on a limited budget, many kebab restaurants have a good selection of roasted vegetables and salads, and you can usually get falafels (fried chickpea balls, suitable for vegans) and halloumi (a type of dense cheese) in place of meat.

For cheap and good food (especially from Turkey and the Middle East) you should try Kreuzberg and Neukölln with their abundance of Indian, pizza and Döner Kebap restaurants. Prices start from €2 for a kebab or Turkish pizza (different from the original Italian recipe and ingredients). If you are looking for a quick meal you could try getting off at Görlitzer Bahnhof or Schlesisches Tor on the U1 line - the area is filled with inexpensive, quality restaurants.

Drink

Bars

100 Gramm Bar at Weinbergsweg 25 in Berlin's Mitte district offers a cosy yet versatile space with stylish interior and comfortable seating. Known for its commitment to Berlin's evolving cocktail culture, they collaborate with local distilleries and guest bartenders to keep their menu fresh and exciting. Signature drinks include their popular Pornstar and Espresso Martinis, with staff who are passionate about sharing their cocktail creations.

Badfish Bar on Stargarder Str. 14 in Prenzlauer Berg brings an American-style dive bar atmosphere that feels effortlessly inviting. With its unpretentious interior, this bar draws a mix of Berlin locals, expats, and travelers. Known for its solid selection of craft beers and classic cocktails at affordable prices, Badfish keeps the atmosphere lively with upbeat music and events that draw in a fun crowd.

Mein Haus am See is situated in the heart of Mitte on Brunnenstraße 197-198, just by U-Bhf Rosenhaler Platz. Open 24/7, by day it's a cosy and chilled-out cafe where you'll spot many people working on laptops. By night, the cafe transforms into a lively bar with eclectic vintage furniture, dim lighting, and tiered seating that creates a living-room-like atmosphere. DJs or live music add to the mellow ambience.

Knutschfleck at Panoramastraße 1A near Alexanderplatz brings together cabaret, cocktails, and vintage Berlin charm. With its colorful, retro-style decor and stage setup, this lively bar hosts entertaining variety shows, cabaret acts, live music, and comedy performances. Their signature cocktails are crafted with creative flair to match the venue's vibrant spirit, making it ideal for those seeking more than just a typical bar experience.

Clubs

Berghain/Panorama Bar at Am Wriezener Bhf in a former power plant near Ostbahnhof is one of the world's most iconic techno clubs. The venue features towering ceilings and raw concrete walls, creating a powerful atmosphere suited to its intense music. The main room focuses on hardcore techno, while Panorama Bar upstairs offers lighter house music. Known for its selective door policy, open-minded atmosphere, and non-stop weekend parties that often stretch into Monday.

Sisyphos is one of the most relaxed and fun spots in the city. With multiple dance floors, a beach area, a pizza stand, and even a mini golf course, this club offers a welcoming atmosphere that appeals to both locals and visitors. The music ranges from techno to house, with a focus on creating a friendly, inclusive environment.

Club der Visionaere is one of the top summer clubs right on a small canal, the Flutgraben, between the Landwehrkanal and the Spree. With outdoor seating and a cozy dance floor with no official closing time, it's the perfect place to start or finish your night out. The club is known for its minimal techno and house music, creating a relaxed atmosphere that's particularly enjoyable during warmer months.

Sleep

To get an idea of where to stay we recommend reading our best areas to stay in Berlin guide.

Work

The current economic climate is stable but to find work in Berlin is not easy. A sound level of German improves your chance as only few multinational companies are present in Berlin. Any kind of skills (especially language) that separates you from the masses will definitely improve your chances for a job.

If you have an academic background then teaching English (Spanish, French & Latin are good, too) or private tutoring (e.g. math) for pupils is always a possibility as Berlin is a young city and education is in strong demand. Otherwise working in a bar might be an option but it'll be tough, because wages are low and big tips are uncommon. Chances are much better when big trade fairs (e.g. "Grüne Woche", bread & butter or ITB) or conventions take place so apply at temp & trade fair agencies. The hospitality industry and call centers are constantly hiring but wages are very low unless you can offer special skills (such as exotic languages) or background.

Berlin has a growing media, modeling and TV/movie industry. For daily soaps, telenovelas and movies most companies look for people with something specific. Apply at the bigger casting and acting agencies.

For English-language jobs, if might be worth checking out the classified ads of this monthly magazine for English-speakers, Exberliner.

Learn

• Free University of Berlin
• Humboldt University of Berlin
• Technical University of Berlin
• The Berlin University of Arts
• University of Applied Sciences
• Deutsch Akademie Berlin

Keep Connected

Internet

Free WiFi is now widely available across Germany, with most cafes, restaurants, and shops offering complimentary access to customers. In Berlin alone, there are over 100 internet cafes as of 2025, reflecting a growing trend throughout the country. Many establishments provide WiFi without requiring a purchase, though some may ask for minimal consumption.

For reliable connectivity, shopping centers like ALEXA Berlin offer free WiFi throughout their premises, with individual stores like Media Markt, Starbucks, and H&M providing their own hotspots. Many hotels, airports, and major train stations also offer internet access to travelers.

If you need dedicated workspace, Berlin boasts numerous laptop-friendly cafes like St. Oberholz at Rosenthaler Straße, which spans two floors and offers reliable WiFi. Mein Haus am See on Brunnenstraße operates 24/7, transforming from a cozy daytime cafe to a lively evening venue. Nothaft Café opens early at 8 AM, perfect for morning productivity.

For mobile internet, several prepaid SIM options are available. T-Mobile offers excellent coverage with plans starting at €9.95 for 4GB data with unlimited calls and texts, or €19.95 for 14GB. Their network aims to cover 99% of Germany with 5G by the end of 2025. Vodafone's "CallYa" prepaid SIM costs €9.95 with €10 credit. If you have an eSIM-compatible phone, consider purchasing an eSIM before arrival, as they're often cheaper than physical SIMs.

Phone

The international call prefix in Germany is 00. To dial out of Germany, dial 00, followed by country code, area code, and the telephone number (for example 00 44 1234 567890). If you're using a mobile phone, simply add the plus sign "+" before the country code to call out of Germany (for example +44 1234 567890).

For emergencies, dial 112 to reach medical services, fire brigade, or police in life-threatening situations. For non-emergency police matters, use 110. Both numbers are free to call, even from locked phones or devices without SIM cards. Additional helpful numbers include 116 117 for medical services outside normal hours and 116 116 for reporting lost ID cards or canceling credit cards.

Mobile coverage is excellent across Germany, with Deutsche Telekom (formerly T-Mobile), Vodafone, and O2 providing widespread service. 5G networks covered 89% of Germany's territory as of mid-2023, with coverage expanding rapidly. Deutsche Telekom offers 5G to 96% of households and aims for 99% population coverage by 2025.

Prepaid SIM cards are readily available at supermarket chains like Aldi, Lidl, Penny, and Rewe, as well as at Tchibo coffee stores. These typically offer good domestic rates but can be expensive for international calls. For calling abroad, specialized calling cards from internet cafes run by immigrants often provide the best international rates. Yolla offers international calls to German landlines from as little as $0.025 per minute and mobile calls from $0.12 per minute.

Post

Germany's postal system is very efficient, their logistics branch DHL is one of the best companies in this field world-wide, with domestic post or within a radius of 400 kilometres, send within a day. The website of Deutsche Post has an online calculator for postage fees as well as a post office finder. Stamps are available at post offices and sometimes at newsagents or shops selling postcards. Also stamp vending machines can be found at a lot of places around the cities. You can purchase every stamp you need from this machines. They are unique as they accept every coin from 1 cent to 2 euro but change is only given in stamps. It costs about €40 to send a small package to Australia and €1.70 to send an old-fashioned letter to any place in the world outside of Europe. Within Germany, sending postcards costs €0.45 and standard letters €0.55, within Europe it is €0.65 for a postcard, standard letters to places in Europe cost €0.75. Outside Europe, the prices for sending a postcard or standard letter are €1 and €1.70 respectively. Although you will find the old post offices (mainly in the city centre), most of the smaller neighbourhood post offices are part of a small tobacco shop or grocery store. For larger package, you might consider competitive private companies like UPS, DHL or TNT.

External Links

• Official Website
• Berlin Tourism Website