Berlin - Location: Berlin is located in its own state in the North East section of Germany. Coordinates: Longitude 13:25 E, latitude 52:32 N. Berlin is 34 m above sea level.
Berlin Population: Berlin is the largest city in Germany, with around 3.5 million people.
Berlin Airports: Three airports serve Berlin: Berlin Brandenberg Airport in Schoenefeld, Berlin International Airport in Tegal, and Berlin Brandenberg International (BBI), the newest airport. Information on Berlin airports is found in our
Berlin Transportation Resources.
Berlin Tourist Offices: There are three tourist offices in Berlin, the main one located in the Europa center (Zoo Station). Other locations are the south wing of the Brandenburg Gate and at the base of the TV tower at Alexanderplatz. There are also information posts at the airports. At the centers you can make hotel reservations, buy discount cards, get a map of Berlin, and arange tours of the city and environs. Web Site:
Berlin Tourist Information Berlin Train Stations: Berlin has two main train stations:
Zoologischer Garten and
Ostbahnhof (where most high-speed trains dock in Berlin), plus four other stations in Lichtenberg, Spandau, Wannsee and Schönefeld. All train-stations are connected to other forms of public transport. The Zoologischer Garten station is near the Europa Center, where you'll find the main tourist office referenced above.
Train Resources: German Rail Passes.
Berlin Weather and Climate - When to go: Summer temperatures are quite pleasant; daily temperatures range from 22-23 °C (72°F), but can go up to around 30°C (86°F). Winter highs are around 35°F. So, summer is the obvious choice, but Berlin is a cultural wonderland, so winter can be interesting as well. There are quite a few Christmas markets in Berlin, and New Years is a big deal at the Brandenburg Gate. For Berlin Weather and historical climate Charts, see
Berlin travel weather.
Berlin Tourism has offers WinterMagic Berlin, a web site devoted to the enjoyment of the colder months.
Berlin Discount Cards: The
Berlin Welcome Card provides travel on all buses and trains within the A, B and C fare zones in Berlin for one adult and up to three children below the age of fourteen for either 48 hours (16€) or 72 hours (22€). Other discount tickets are also provided in a ticket book. Available at Tourist Info Centers, many hotels, and the S-Bahn offices.
Tourist Info Centers offer a 50% Ticket-Special for selected events on the day of the performance.
Berlin Public Transportation: Berlin has one of Europe's premier public transportation systems, featuring S-Bahn and U-Bahn train lines (S-Suburban, U-Urban), busses, and East Berlin Trams. You can buy tickets at vending machines at the station. You must validate the ticket before you use it in the red or yellow machines--the fine for unvalidated or no ticket is 40 Euros. A Tageskarte or Day Ticket costs 5.80 Euros and allows unlimited travel on all systems till 3 in the morning.
Shopping in Berlin: Look for bohemian style crafty items, rather than designer goods in Berlin. The Kurfürstendamm and Tauentzienstraße are highly touted shopping areas. Berlin Tourism Information lists a number of other
shopping areas.
Berlin's Top Attractions: What do you think of first when you think of Berlin? The wall? Well, it's mosly gone. You can see a standing bit of the it on Niederkirchnerstrasse, next to the "Topography of Terror" exhibition center [
map]. You'll also want to see the
Berlin Wall Museum.
Berlin is huge. Make sure you have a good map, available from the tourist office.
Zoologischer Garten - Zoological Gardens were opened in 1844 and are germany's oldest and the world's largest. The Berlin Aquarium is adjacent. Hardenbergplatz 8, western downtown.
Brandenburger Tor - The Brandenburg Gate is the symbol of Berlin and the last remaing big piece of the Berlin wall system.
Museumsinsel - Museum Island fits between the rivers Spree and Kupfergraben. Museums on Museum Island include The National Gallery, The Old Museum (Altes Museum), The Pergamon Museum and The Bode Museum. The Pergamonmuseum is a must--and it's immense. You may need two days here. Mitte district.
The Tiergarten - Berlin's green heart is good for a walk. The 630 acre urban park began as a royal hunting reserve but landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenne thankfully transfored it into a beautiful city park in 1742.
The Reichstag - now home to Parliament once again after the torching of the building by a Dutch Communist in 1933 became the handy excuse that lead to handing Hitler dictatorial powers. The 1999 restoration added a glass dome that's become one of Berlin's main attractions as a view spot. Visit early in the morning to avoid the inevitable long lines, especially in summer.
A Note about Museums: German State Museums are generally a bargain for world-class exhibitions, costing from 6-8 Euros, and free on the four hours before closing on Thursday.
Of course, Berlin has a huge cultural scene. Modern art, caberet and variety shows, one of the world's best philharmonic orchestras are all part of the nightlife. And no closing hours means you can sit at your favorite watering hole for well into the morning.
Enjoy Berlin!
