Berlin
Berlin
Welcome to Berlin - the capital of Germany, which has been enormously affected since the Wall came down, commanding global interest as a destination. In no other European metropolis has so much changed in recent years. Walking through Berlin you will see evidence of different historic periods in a short time, from medieval buildings to the famous sightseeing landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and East Side Gallery. Today Berlin presents itself as a young, dynamic metropolis open to the world right in the heart of Europe, setting new trends in architecture, art and fashion. Discover its diversity – enjoy Berlin!Find your trip
A thrilling journey into the fascinating world of spies in Berlin’s high-tech museum: Decipher a range of secret codes, negotiate the laser- beam obstacle course, see how secure your favourite password is, learn about Facebook and NSA and hack into your favourite websites
Colourful on the outside, tasty on the inside. Experience the unique world of chocolate in a new way. In the heart of Berlin. Near Gendarmenmarkt. In an area covering almost 1,000 m² visitors can freely enjoy, discover and create. In our SchokoCafé you can enjoy our selected menu offerings all about chocolate. Explore the SchokoPfad to learn how our chocolate is created and everything else that you ever want to know about chocolate. At our SchokoKreation you can also create your own personal dream bar from exceptional ingredients, such as gummy bears or pink peppercorns. You will find many other RITTER SPORT gift ideas at our SchokoShop. Admission is free.
Show entertainment with these unique dimensions cannot be found anywhere else in Europe but at the Palast. Jean Paul Gaultier designed the over 500 daring and extravagant costumes. Recommended by the New York Times as "Must-See in Berlin". Tickets from € 19.80. Also suitable for international guests, who do not speak German.
Once the heart of the former East Berlin, Alexanderplatz is today the largest inner-city square in Germany and has developed into a popular shopping attraction. The view from the Television Tower, its height of 368 metres (1,207 ft) making it the tallest tower in Germany, is absolutely fantastic. A perfect 360° all-round view is provided by the revolving restaurant, which rotates at a rate of twice an hour.
It’s Berlin’s most famous landmark and became the symbol of overcoming the division of Germany once the Berlin Wall came down. From an architectural perspective, the sandstone structure, built by Carl Gotthard Langhans, is one of the most magnificent examples of German classicism. Nowadays the Gate serves as a backdrop for festivals, big sporting events or New Year’s Eve parties.
Not far from the Brandenburg Gate is located the Memorial for Europe’s Murdered Jews, a site of stelae (concrete slabs) arranged in a grid pattern on a sloping field accessible from all sides. It serves as a central place of remembrance and admonition and is supplemented by an underground information centre, containing the names of all known victims and details on the places of horror. There is no charge for admittance.
An East German Trabant car, which appears to be breaking through the concrete. Honecker and Breschnew locked in a kiss of brotherly, socialistic love. With the East Side Gallery, a segment of the Berlin Wall has been turned into the longest open air gallery in the world. The Kunstmeile, or art mile in English, is located along the banks of the river Spree in Friedrichshain is 1316 metre long is also the longest segment of the Berlin Wall that is still standing. Right after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the East Side Gallery was painted by 118 artists from 21 dif-ferent countries. Using various artistic means, the artists commented on the political events that took place in 1989 and 1990 in over 100 works of art found on the eastern side of the wall.
Many Berliners believe that the Gendarmenmarkt is the most beautiful place in Germany and indeed in all of Europe. Well, however that might be, it really is a must-see for all visitors to Berlin. This is the case because the Gendarmenmarkt is a beautiful example of an architectural ensemble full of harmony and it includes both the French and the German cathedral as well as the Concert House.
A thrilling journey into the fascinating world of spies in Berlin’s high-tech museum: Decipher a range of secret codes, negotiate the laser- beam obstacle course, see how secure your favourite password is, learn about Facebook and NSA and hack into your favourite websites
Colourful on the outside, tasty on the inside. Experience the unique world of chocolate in a new way. In the heart of Berlin. Near Gendarmenmarkt. In an area covering almost 1,000 m² visitors can freely enjoy, discover and create. In our SchokoCafé you can enjoy our selected menu offerings all about chocolate. Explore the SchokoPfad to learn how our chocolate is created and everything else that you ever want to know about chocolate. At our SchokoKreation you can also create your own personal dream bar from exceptional ingredients, such as gummy bears or pink peppercorns. You will find many other RITTER SPORT gift ideas at our SchokoShop. Admission is free.
Ampelmann Restaurant
A well-lit and friendly restaurant located in the historic S-Bahn Arches with large terrace and beach bar directly on the Spree. Mediterranean & Italian cuisine – most of it home-made. Favourably priced lunch.
Tavern brewery and restaurant with beer garden. Food from the menu or a buffet for groups. Book a guided tour with the master brewer – this includes tasting!. Occasional Live music.
There’s an uncomplicated and classy welcome awaiting you in the DUKE restaurant with Mediterranean and Asiatic flavoured dishes, selected wines and exquisite cocktails.
Gourmet restaurant in a central location. Chef Matthias Diether, Berlin Master Chef 2013, conjures up light, modern, European dishes based on French haute cuisine. Also an exceptional wine list with 1,500 choices is available.
A cosy spot not far from the Scheunenviertel, the Hackesche Höfe, and Oranienburger Straße. offerings fresh, varied and regional German cuisine and an extensive beer and wine selection.
The Unique Bar – unrivalled! Live music, more than 200 cocktails, and an unforgettable atmosphere await you from Monday to Saturday.
Enjoy Berlin specialities and classics in an old-school Berlin ambience until 6 in the morning! Choose from 18 kinds of draught beer from all over Germany. Sunday brunch 10 am–2 pm.
Enjoy Austrian classics and modern international cuisine in a timelessly elegant ambience or on the beautiful terrace on the river Spree.
Ampelmann Restaurant
A well-lit and friendly restaurant located in the historic S-Bahn Arches with large terrace and beach bar directly on the Spree. Mediterranean & Italian cuisine – most of it home-made. Favourably priced lunch.
Tavern brewery and restaurant with beer garden. Food from the menu or a buffet for groups. Book a guided tour with the master brewer – this includes tasting!. Occasional Live music.
Numerous shops line Friedrichstraße. There’s no need to travel to Paris to shop Les Galeries Lafayette, there’s a branch right here in Berlin, offering the best of France in its fine foods and fashion departments. Also worth a visit is Dussmann, which calls itself a department store for culture. You could hours here exploring the books and other media offered over several floors.
Kurfürstendamm
Kurfürstendamm, also called “Ku’damm” and Tauentzienstraße are Berlin’s most famous shopping streets for tourists in the western part of the city. The western end of Kurfürstendamm tends to be home to exclusive designers like Lagerfeld, Lacoste, and Tommy Hilfiger. Luxury brands such as Bulgari, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Valentino and Gucci line the boulevard between Uhlandstraße and Adenauerplatz. while the quieter side streets in either direction off Uhlandstraße also offer plenty of charm. High-end boutiques offer an exclusive range of fashion and design in grand houses from more than a century ago, with many chic cafés and restaurants in the neighbourhood offering perfect spots for a break.
Hackescher Markt
Not far from the Museum island and the cathedral, countless small shops are a perfect spot to take a break for some shopping. There’s something for everyone here and around the nearby Hackesche Höfe, from boutiques to designer stores and internationally known fashion chains. The cafés are also an ideal place to sit and watch the goings-on.
Mulackstraße und Alte Schönhauser Straße
The looks of true fashionistas will most likely be found in the neighbourhood around Alte Schönhauser Straße and Mulackstraße, home to many designer flagship stores and one-of-a-kind boutiques. Just the right mix to make this neighbourhood a popular destination for a shopping trip.
Kreuzberg: Oranienstraße und Bergmannstraße
Striking looks and vintage finds are on offer here in Kreuzberg. Vintage stores and young, fashionable boutiques plus a good share of junk and design shops. Bergmannstraße is anything other than your standard German shopping street. It is home to many cafés and restaurants and plenty of small shops. Oranienstraße, meanwhile, offers a creative mix of old and new.
Alexanderplatz
This square has been a centre for shopping since the 19th century. The Galeria Kaufhof is one centrally located department store, as is Alexa, which contains a variety of shops, labels, and restaurants. Alexanderplatz also offers seasonal markets and events from Oktoberfest to Christmas markets, all under the shadow of the TV Tower.
Numerous shops line Friedrichstraße. There’s no need to travel to Paris to shop Les Galeries Lafayette, there’s a branch right here in Berlin, offering the best of France in its fine foods and fashion departments. Also worth a visit is Dussmann, which calls itself a department store for culture. You could hours here exploring the books and other media offered over several floors.
Kurfürstendamm
Kurfürstendamm, also called “Ku’damm” and Tauentzienstraße are Berlin’s most famous shopping streets for tourists in the western part of the city. The western end of Kurfürstendamm tends to be home to exclusive designers like Lagerfeld, Lacoste, and Tommy Hilfiger. Luxury brands such as Bulgari, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Valentino and Gucci line the boulevard between Uhlandstraße and Adenauerplatz. while the quieter side streets in either direction off Uhlandstraße also offer plenty of charm. High-end boutiques offer an exclusive range of fashion and design in grand houses from more than a century ago, with many chic cafés and restaurants in the neighbourhood offering perfect spots for a break.
Passport / Visa
Germany can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.
Airports
Berlin has two airports, each with excellent connections to the local public transport network. Schönefeld Airport (SXF) lies southeast of Berlin, approx. 18 km (11 miles) from downtown Berlin. It is connected to the S45 and S9 S-Bahn lines as well as regional express mainline trains departing in half-hourly intervals from the Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz and Ostbahnhof stations. The Schönefeld Airport-Express departs from Spandau via Zoologischer Garten, Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof to Schönefeld. The journey from Hauptbahnhof takes about half-an-hour. Airport Tegel (TXL) lies in the northwest of the city, approx. 8 km (5 miles) from downtown Berlin. It has a close connection to the stadtautobahn (urban motorway) as well as local public transport services with the 109 and X9 bus routes to Zoologischer Garten, the 128 bus route to the northern districts of Berlin and the TXL bus route to the government quarter. Schönefeld Airport 12521 Berlin-Schönefeld +49 180-500 01 86 (0,14 € /Min.) Mainline railway station / IC connection about 300 m ( yds) / 5 Min. S-Bahn station: Berlin-Schönefeld Airport Airport Tegel 13405 Berlin-Reinickendorf +49 180-500 01 86 (0.14 €/Min.) N X9, 109, 128, Jet Express TXL More info, including on the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport:
Taxi
When hiring a taxi in Berlin, you pay a basic charge of €3.90 plus €2.00 for each kilometre travelled. The “Kurzstrecke” (short distance) tariff gives you a journey of up to two kilometres for €5.00 – in this case, however, you have to flag down the taxi yourself. The “Kurzstrecke” tariff does not apply if you order a taxi or get in one at a designated taxi-waiting spot. Taxi Berlin International +49 30 20 20 21 22 0 (English language taxi-ordering service around the clock) taxi-berlin.de Funk Taxi Berlin +49 30 26 10 26 www.funk-taxi-berlin.de
Berlin Tourist Info
Before you go: Hotels.Tickets.Infos. Information available at www.visitBerlin.com or call +49 30 25 00 25. Berlin Tourist Info: Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) Pariser Platz south gatehouse daily 9.30am – 6pm* S+U Brandenburger Tor Europa-Center Berlin Tauentzienstraße 9 ground floor Mon–Sat 10am – 8pm S+U Zoologischer Garten U Kurfürstendamm, Wittenbergplatz Fernsehturm (TV Tower) Panoramastraße 1a daily 10am – 4pm* S+U Alexanderplatz Flughafen Tegel (Tegel Airport) Terminal A, Gate 1 daily 8am – 9pm B 109, 128, X9, TXL Schönefeld Airport Tourist-Information Berlin-Brandenburg Terminal A Mainhall, ground floor, right hand daily 7am – 10.30pm S Airport Schönefeld Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) entrance Europaplatz, ground floor daily 8am – 10pm S+U Hauptbahnhof BBOXX at Berlin Central Coach Station (ZOB) Masurenallee 4-6 14057 Berlin daily 10am – 6pm S + U Messe Nord / ICC U Kaiserdamm *Extended opening hours April to October. Web: www.visitberlin.de/en/plan/on-site
Post
You can buy stamps in post offices and at tobacconist shops. Post office opening times vary – they are normally open between 8 am and 6 pm weekdays and between 9 am and 1 pm on Saturdays. The post office in Georgenstraße, Berlin-Mitte is open every day of the week:
Newspapers
The most important daily newspapers are: Berliner Zeitung Tagesspiegel Berliner Morgenpost Die Welt Every fortnight in alternating weeks the two Berlin programme magazines TIP and Zitty appear containing numerous tips on cultural events and going out.
Dentists
Emergency dental service: +49 30 89 004 333 or at: www.kzv-berlin.de
Pharmacy
On-call medical service: +49 30 31 00 31 or at: www.kvberlin.de Chemists’ emergency service: (Berlin Chamber of Chemists): at www.akberlin.de
Passport / Visa
Germany can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.
Airports
Berlin has two airports, each with excellent connections to the local public transport network. Schönefeld Airport (SXF) lies southeast of Berlin, approx. 18 km (11 miles) from downtown Berlin. It is connected to the S45 and S9 S-Bahn lines as well as regional express mainline trains departing in half-hourly intervals from the Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz and Ostbahnhof stations. The Schönefeld Airport-Express departs from Spandau via Zoologischer Garten, Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof to Schönefeld. The journey from Hauptbahnhof takes about half-an-hour. Airport Tegel (TXL) lies in the northwest of the city, approx. 8 km (5 miles) from downtown Berlin. It has a close connection to the stadtautobahn (urban motorway) as well as local public transport services with the 109 and X9 bus routes to Zoologischer Garten, the 128 bus route to the northern districts of Berlin and the TXL bus route to the government quarter. Schönefeld Airport 12521 Berlin-Schönefeld +49 180-500 01 86 (0,14 € /Min.) Mainline railway station / IC connection about 300 m ( yds) / 5 Min. S-Bahn station: Berlin-Schönefeld Airport Airport Tegel 13405 Berlin-Reinickendorf +49 180-500 01 86 (0.14 €/Min.) N X9, 109, 128, Jet Express TXL More info, including on the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport:
