Berlin Travel Guide

The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in morning light, with Pariser Platz in front.
Brandenburg Gate · Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de / CC BY-SA 3.0

Germany's capital, home to the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of reunification, the Reichstag building with its walk-through glass dome, and Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can trace the Berlin Wall, explore twelve boroughs with very different characters, and take an easy day trip to Sanssouci Palace in nearby Potsdam.

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At a glance

Currency
EUR (€)
Power & plugs
220V · Type C/F
Driving side
Right
Tipping
Check official sources
Local language
Deutsch
How long to stay
3 to 4 nights

Emergency numbers

When to go

Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) 1991–2020 normals for the Berlin-Tempelhof station show daytime highs of 20–25°C from May to September, the most comfortable time to explore. January is cold, with highs around 4°C and lows around -1°C. Monthly rainfall ranges from about 29 mm to 72 mm, highest in July and lowest in April. Every autumn the free Festival of Lights runs for 8 days in October, and the Christmas market season traditionally begins on the first Sunday of Advent at the end of November, with a few markets opening from early November (visitBerlin).

Monthly climate normals

Warmest: Jul (avg high 25.2°C) · Coolest: Jan (avg low -1.4°C) · Wettest: Jul (71.7 mm)

High °CLow °CRain mm
Jan3.6°-1.4°47.7
Feb5.1°-0.8°36.0
Mar9.0°1.4°40.5
Apr15.1°5.2°29.3
May19.6°9.3°52.3
Jun23.1°12.8°58.2
Jul25.2°15.1°71.7
Aug24.9°14.7°58.1
Sep19.9°10.9°46.6
Oct14.0°6.6°43.9
Nov8.0°2.7°41.7
Dec4.4°-0.1°44.2

Monthly averages of daily highs and lows, and average monthly rainfall. Any given year can differ.

Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) · Berlin-Tempelhof station · 1991–2020 normals —View source

Airport to the city

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): Airport Express FEX

The airport station (Flughafen BER) is right under Terminal 1 on level U2. According to the airport, the FEX runs every 15 minutes from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. via Südkreuz, Potsdamer Platz and Hauptbahnhof; until December 2026, the FEX and RE20 together run four trains per hour. The airport is in fare zone C, so you need an ABC ticket to the city.

Time ~23 min to Hauptbahnhof, ~19 min to Potsdamer PlatzCost ABC single ticket €5.00

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): S-Bahn S9 & S85

From the same airport station. The S9 runs via Schöneweide, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof and Zoologischer Garten to Spandau; the S85 runs via Ostkreuz to Frohnau. Both run every 20 minutes.

Time check officialCost ABC single ticket €5.00

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): Express bus X7 & night buses

From stops A6-7 in front of Terminal 1 on the arrivals level (E0), the X7 runs every 5-10 minutes to U Rudow on the U7 subway line. If you arrive late at night, the N60 (towards Alexanderplatz, every 30 minutes) and N7 night buses serve the airport. The airport site sometimes posts service disruptions, so check before you travel.

Time check officialCost ABC single ticket €5.00

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): Taxi

Arriving passengers at Terminals 1 and 2 use the north and south taxi ranks in front of T1 on level E0, where licensed taxis wait. Only get into marked taxis at these ranks. Unless another route is agreed, the driver must take the shortest route, and must give you a receipt on request.

Time check officialCost check official

Getting around

Fare zones A, B, C & single tickets

Zone A is the inner city up to the S-Bahn ring, B runs from the ring to the city boundary, and C covers about 15 km around Berlin, including the airport and Potsdam. Within the city an AB ticket is enough. A single ticket costs €4.00 (AB) or €5.00 (ABC) and is valid for 120 minutes for a one-way journey with changes, but not for round or return trips. A short-trip ticket (3 stops by S-Bahn/U-Bahn or 6 by tram/bus) costs €2.80.

24-hour ticket

Unlimited rides for 24 hours from validation: €11.20 (AB) or €12.90 (ABC), and one adult may bring up to three children aged 6-14. A small-group ticket for up to five people costs €35.30 (AB).

Berlin WelcomeCard

Described by BVG as the official tourist ticket: unlimited public transport plus up to 50% off at over 170 partners. The 72-hour card costs €39.50 (AB) or €45.50 (ABC), and the 48-hour card starts at €28.50. Buy it in the BVG apps, at station machines or at Tourist Info centres.

Apps, machines & validation

Buy tickets in the official VBB, BVG or S-Bahn apps or at machines in stations and the airport. Paper tickets from machines must be validated before you ride. The Deutschland-Ticket, a €63 monthly subscription for local and regional trains across Germany, does not cover long-distance IC, EC or ICE trains.

Where to stay

Mitte (around Museum Island & Unter den Linden)

Good for: First-timers, walking to sights

The historic heart of Berlin, which grew from a 13th-century settlement on the Spree. Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral, the Humboldt Forum and the Brandenburg Gate are close, and the streets around Hackescher Markt are full of small shops and courtyards.

Prenzlauer Berg

Good for: Cafés, strolling, a relaxed feel

Part of the Pankow borough, with cafés and eateries around Helmholtzplatz and Kollwitzplatz, and designer shops along Oderberger Straße and Kastanienallee.

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

Good for: Nightlife, street food, Wall history

Two neighbourhoods linked by the Oberbaum Bridge, close to the East Side Gallery and packed with bars, clubs and street food. The area around Warschauer Straße and, in Kreuzberg, Oranienstraße and Mehringdamm comes alive in the evening.

Charlottenburg (around the Ku'damm)

Good for: Shopping, palace, a calmer atmosphere

Kurfürstendamm (Ku'damm) was West Berlin's main street during the Wall years and is now a major shopping boulevard. It starts at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, and Charlottenburg Palace lies to the west.

Map of stays in Berlin

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Top sights

  1. Brandenburg Gate

    Built in 1791, it is Berlin's landmark and the symbol of reunification. You can visit it and Pariser Platz in front of it 24 hours a day. Take the U5 to Brandenburger Tor.

  2. Reichstag building glass dome

    Walk up the glass dome and roof terrace for views over the government district. The Bundestag's visitor services are free, but online booking is required for the dome and roof terrace. Officially open daily from 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. (last admission), with times varying around parliamentary business. Large luggage is not allowed inside and there is no storage.

    The Reichstag building in Berlin seen from the west, with its glass dome on the roof.
    Reichstag building · Photo: Jörg Braukmann / CC BY-SA 4.0
  3. Museum Island & Neues Museum

    A UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Bode-Museum and Pergamonmuseum. The Neues Museum, home of the bust of Nefertiti, is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets cost €14 for the Neues Museum or €24 for the Museum Island ticket; visitors up to 18 get a free ticket. The Pergamonmuseum is officially set to reopen on 4 June 2027.

  4. Berlin Cathedral

    The cathedral on Museum Island, with the Hohenzollern crypt and a panoramic walkway about 50 m up on the dome. Officially open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 12-6 p.m. (last admission 5 p.m.); tickets cost €15 including an audio guide. Bags larger than A3 and suitcases are not allowed inside.

    Berlin Cathedral reflected in the River Spree, seen from the west.
    Berlin Cathedral · Photo: Ansgar Koreng / CC BY 3.0 DE
  5. Berlin Wall Memorial (Bernauer Straße)

    An original section of the Wall with a watchtower shows what the border defences looked like. The outdoor exhibition is open daily 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and the Documentation Center Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., with free admission. Take the S1, S2, S25 or S26 to Nordbahnhof. This is a place of remembrance for the victims of division, so visit quietly.

  6. East Side Gallery

    At over 1,300 metres, the longest surviving section of the Wall, painted after its fall by 118 artists from 21 countries. Walk from Warschauer Straße station (S-Bahn, U1, U3). Free to visit.

  7. Charlottenburg Palace

    Berlin's largest palace complex, centred on the Old Palace built in 1700, with a wide Baroque garden. Closed on Mondays; open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:30 from April to October and 10:00-16:30 in November and December. The Old Palace ticket costs €12, and the charlottenburg+ day ticket (€19) for the palace gardens' sites includes a timed entry to the Old Palace. Take bus M45.

    The illuminated south front of Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin at night.
    Charlottenburg Palace · Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
  8. Sanssouci Palace (Potsdam, day trip)

    The summer palace Frederick the Great loved most, above its vineyard terraces. Entry is by timed slot and daily numbers are limited, so buying online in advance is recommended. Closed on Mondays; open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:30 from April to October; tickets cost €14. Potsdam is in zone C, so you need an ABC ticket.

    Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam standing on the slope of its vineyard.
    Sanssouci Palace (Potsdam) · Photo: Steffen Heilfort / CC BY-SA 3.0

Tours & tickets →

What to eat

Currywurst

Berlin's classic snack: a fried sausage covered in tomato curry sauce, sold at snack bars all over the city and a typical quick lunch.

Eisbein with pea purée

Boiled pork knuckle; in Berlin it comes with sauerkraut and homemade green pea purée instead of mashed potatoes.

Königsberger Klopse

Hearty meatballs traditionally served in Berlin on Sundays.

Bulette

Meatballs that are the typical Berlin pub food, a hearty accompaniment to a beer.

Pfannkuchen (Berlin doughnut)

More like a doughnut than a pancake; called a Berliner elsewhere in Germany but always Pfannkuchen in Berlin. Once eaten on New Year's Eve and at carnival, now sold at bakeries all year.

Daily budget (per person)

BudgetTransport: €4.00 per AB single ride, €11.20 for an AB 24-hour ticket. The Museum Island ticket is €24 (free up to 18) and the Berlin Wall Memorial is free. Hotel and food costs vary a lot by date; check booking sites
Mid-rangeA 72-hour WelcomeCard (AB) at €39.50 plus paid sights: Berlin Cathedral €15, Charlottenburg Old Palace €12, Sanssouci Palace €14. Check booking sites for hotels and food
ComfortAccommodation is most of the budget, and paid overnight stays carry a 7.5% city tax. Compare prices for your dates on booking sites

Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.

Suggested itinerary

  1. Day 1

    FEX from the airport to Hauptbahnhof and check in → the Reichstag glass dome (booked in advance) → Brandenburg Gate and Pariser Platz → a walk along Unter den Linden.

  2. Day 2

    Museum Island (Nefertiti in the Neues Museum; closed Mondays) → Berlin Cathedral and the dome walkway → evening around Hackescher Markt.

  3. Day 3

    S-Bahn to Nordbahnhof for the Berlin Wall Memorial (Documentation Center Tuesday-Sunday) → Warschauer Straße for the East Side Gallery → evening in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg.

  4. Day 4

    A day trip to Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam with an ABC ticket (buy a timed ticket in advance), or bus M45 to Charlottenburg Palace and the Ku'damm. Both palaces are closed on Mondays.

Local tips

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Prices and times are approximate as of 2026-09 and may change. Always re-check visa and entry rules with official sources before you travel.

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