Berlin

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144==Getting There==144==Getting There==
145145
146===By Plane===146===By Plane===
147Berlin 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.
148
149There are numerous airlines flying to destinations in Europe and beyond, as well as serving many domestic destinations. Airlines include [[http://www.lufthansa.com/|Lufthansa]], [[http://www.germanwings.com/|German Wings]], [[http://www.airberlin.com/|Air Berlin]] and [[http://www10.condor.com/tcf-eu/index.jsp|Condor] ] as well as major international airlines like Air France-KLM and budget airlines like [[http://www.ryanair.com|Ryanair]] and [[http://www.easyjet.com/|Easyjet]].
150
151[b]To/from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)[/b]
152
153[b]Rail[/b]: 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.
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155[b]Bus[/b]: 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.
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157[b]Taxis[/b] take around 25-30 minutes to get to the city centre, with fares starting from approximately €56.
147[[Berlin Schönefeld Airport]] (SXF) and [[Berlin Tegel Airport]] (TXL) are the two main airports that serve Berlin. While Tegel is in the city itself, Schönefeld is at the southern border, about 18 kilometres from the centre.
148There are numerous airlines flying to destinations in Europe and beyond, as well as serving many domestic destinations. Airlines include [[http://www.lufthansa.com/|Lufthansa]], [[http://www.germanwings.com/|German Wings]], [[http://www.airberlin.com/|Air Berlin]] and [[http://www10.condor.com/tcf-eu/index.jsp|Condor] ] as well as major international airlines like Air France-KLM and budget airlines like [[http://www.ryanair.com|Ryanair]] and [[http://www.easyjet.com/|Easyjet]].
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150[b]To/from Schönefeld Airport[/b]159[b]Rental cars[/b] are widely available with companies like Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Avis, with prices starting from about €87 per day.
151* [b]Rail[/b]: Berlin Schönefeld Flughafen railway station, a short walking distance away from the airport terminal has connections. Berlin S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 each run every 20 minutes. The RE AirportExpress train is the only direct link to the city centre of Berlin. It runs every 30 minutes, and stops at the most important stations of Berlin, including Berlin Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Central Station (30 minutes), and Zoologischer Garten railway station.
152* [b]Bus[/b]: The airport is also linked by local BVG bus lines 162 (towards Adlershof) and 171. At night, the underground replacement N7 bus is available. A dedicated DB express bus runs to Berlin Südkreuz.
153* [b]Taxis[/b] take around 30 minutes to get to the city centre and are obviously the most expensive option.
154* [b]Rental cars[/b] are widely available with companies like Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Avis.
155160
161[b]Former Tegel Airport (TXL)[/b]
162Berlin-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.
156[b]To/from Tegel Airport[/b]
157The airport is linked by several BVG bus lines, which offer connection to the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, as well as to Regional Express trains and long distance trains:
158* The JetExpress TXL bus runs to Beusselstrasse S-Bahn station, Central Station (20 minutes), Unter den Linden, and Alexanderplatz (40 minutes).
159* Express bus X9 runs to Jakob-Kaiser Platz U-Bahn station (5 minutes), Jungfernheide S-Bahn and Regional Express station, and Zoologischer Garten U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Regional Express station (20 minutes).
160* Bus number 109 runs to Jakob-Kaiser Platz U-Bahn station, Charlottenburg S-Bahn and Regional Express station (within 20 minutes), and Zoologischer Garten U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Regional Express station (30 minutes).
161* Bus number 128 runs to Kurt-Schumacher-Platz U-Bahn station (10 minutes) and Osloer Straße U-Bahn station (25 minutes).
162* Taxis, shuttle services and rental cars are all widely available at Berlin Tegel Airport as well.
163163
164===By Train===164===By Train===
165State-owned [[http://www.bahn.de/|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]].
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167A 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.
165State-owned [[http://www.bahn.de/|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]].
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167===By Car===169===By Car===
168Numerous 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. 170Numerous 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.
169171
170===By Bus===172===By Bus===
171[[http://www.eurolines.com/|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. 173[[http://www.eurolines.com/|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.
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173Another bus company is [[http://www.berlinlinienbus.de/|BerlinLinienBus]] . They serve mainly destinations in Germany, including Hamburg and Munich but they can also sell tickets for Eurolines buses.175Another bus company is [[http://www.berlinlinienbus.de/|BerlinLinienBus]] . They serve mainly destinations in Germany, including Hamburg and Munich but they can also sell tickets for Eurolines buses.
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175The 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 SFX airport is approximately 2 hours and about 1 hour to TXL.177The 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.
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177179
178==Getting Around==180==Getting Around==
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214==Drink==216==Drink==
215217
216===Bars===218===Bars===
219
220[b]100 Gramm Bar[/b] 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.
221
222[b]Badfish Bar[/b] 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.
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224[b]Mein Haus am See[/b] 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.
225
226[b]Knutschfleck[/b] 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.
217* [b]Paloma Bar[/b] at Skalitzer Str. 135, just by U-Bhf Kottbusser Tor, is a small and tucked-away upstairs bar/lounge. With its live DJ, mixed crowd and reasonably priced drinks, the bar is usually pretty packed, so it's advisable to get there early. Opening hours: Thursdays to Saturdays from 9:00pm to 5:30am.
218* [b]Süß War Gestern[/b] on Wühlischstraße 43, U-Bhf Samariterstraße, is a definite must! This club/bar comprises of several rooms. It has it all - cosy seating areas for those wanting to just chill (there's even a corner with a Super Nintendo!), an area with kicker tables and then also space for those wanting to dance. This is another place that gets pretty busy, but it's definitely worth a visit.
219* [b]Mein Haus am See[/b] 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 sat there with their Macs. By night, the cafe transforms into a lively and atmospheric bar with a live DJ.
220* [b]Luzia[/b] on Oranienstraße 34, accessible with the M29 bus and from U-Bhf Kottbusser Tor, is a great place for grabbing a relaxed coffee and cake during the day. At night, this spacious but dim lit bar provides a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. It can get quite busy, so get there early to get yourself a nice table. Opening hours: Mondays to Sundays: 12:00pm - 04:00am.
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222===Clubs===228===Clubs===
229
230[b]Berghain/Panorama Bar[/b] 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.
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232[b]Sisyphos[/b] 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.
233
234[b]Club der Visionaere[/b] 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.
223* [b]Chalet[/b] is located at Vor dem Schlesischen Tor 3, U-Bhf Schlesisches Tor, in the heart of Kreuzberg. Owned by the old Bar25 guys, the club attracts some of the Berlin's best DJs. Parties here typically last the whole weekend, starting on Friday at 10:00pm and then coming to a close on Monday, so this is the perfect place for after hour parties. The striking 150 year-old townhouse venue also has a large garden with a pond, which is particularly impressive in the warmer months.
224* [b]Renate[/b] at Alt-Stralau 70, S-Bhf Treptower Park, is a multi-floor, multi-room club, operating in a worn out apartment block. This quirky venue gives attendees the feeling they're in an eccentric house-party. The club attracts many Berlin-based DJs, most often playing house or techno music. The schedule of events varies but typically there's something going on three to four nights a week.
225* [b]KaterHolzig[/b] is situated at Michaelkirchstr. 22 in Kreuzberg, just next to the Spree. This cool indoor and outdoor club operates in a disused soap factory. The music is typically electro and the crowd of people mixed. The club is open on Fridays and Saturdays all year round, with some extra events on week nights too.
226* [b]Club der Visionaere[/b] is situated at Am Flutgraben 1, U-Bhf Schleisisches Tor/S-Bhf Treptower Park. This cool multi-level Kreuzberg bar by the canal, with outdoor deck and floating docks, provides the perfect venue for relaxed drink in the afternoon or a livelier party later on. The music played is typically minimal techno or house. Renowned for its weekend-long and Sunday afternoon parties, the club opens in the spring and is a must, particularly in the warmer months. The opening hours vary and the line-ups can be quite spontaneous, so do check the website for upcoming events.
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229==Sleep==237==Sleep==
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253==Keep Connected==261==Keep Connected==
254262
255===Internet===263===Internet===
264Free 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.
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266For 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.
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268If 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.
256Internet cafes (rates €1.50 to €5 per hour) are starting to become less common due to widespread offers of free wifi by shops, restaurants or cafes. Sometimes it requires minimum consumption but usually it's free within the premises. Phone shops will often offer internet access, too. In general hotels offer internet access. In several cities, projects exist to provide free "community" hotspots for wireless networking. Passenger lounges at some airports and central railway stations also provide internet access to their customers.
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258Several pre-paid SIMs allow Internet access for a monthly flat fee, for example those available at Tchibo coffee stores (o2 network, €10/month limited to 500 MB, €20/month for 5 GB) or Aldi (E-Plus network). A regular O2 sim card, which can be used for calls and text messages, is €15 and another €15 buys 1GB of data valid for 1 month. Vodafone offers a prepaid sim card for €25 which includes €22.5 of credit, out of which you can get 300 MB of data for 2 days for €15 and be left with €7.5 of credit.270For 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.
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260===Phone===272===Phone===
261See also: [[International Telephone Calls]]273The 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).
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263The 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). The general emergency number is 112 and the additional number for less emergent issues for police is 110.275For 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.
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265Mobile phone coverage on the four networks (T-Mobile, Vodafone, E-Plus and o2) is excellent across the whole country. UMTS (3G data and HSDPA) and EDGE is also available. UMTS is still somewhat limited to urban areas. All mobile providers use GSM technology on the 900 and 1800 MHz frequency ranges. If you stay for a longer period of time, consider buying a prepaid phone card from one of the mobile phone companies; you won't have trouble finding a T-Mobile (in a "T-Punkt"), Vodafone, E-Plus or O2 store in any major shopping area. In most supermarket chains (for example ALDI), there are prepaid SIM cards from their own virtual providers available. These are normally quite cheap to buy, but expensive for international calls (around €1–2/min), but incoming calls are always free and SMS cost around €0.09–0.19. They are available at: Aldi, Lidl, Penny, Netto, Tchibo, Rewe, toom. A registration via Internet or (expensive) phone call is necessary after buying to activate the SIM card.277Mobile 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.
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267The cheapest way to call abroad from Germany is to use the internet cafés run by immigrants. They sell special calling cards that give the best rate to certain countries as well as offer cheap international calls from phone booths. It is also the cheapest way to call landlines in Germany. 279Prepaid 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.
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269===Post===281===Post===
270Germany'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 [[http://deutschepost.de/|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 [[http://www.ups.com|UPS]], [[http://www.dhl.com|DHL]] or [[http://www.tnt.com|TNT]].282Germany'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 [[http://deutschepost.de/|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 [[http://www.ups.com|UPS]], [[http://www.dhl.com|DHL]] or [[http://www.tnt.com|TNT]].