In this video, we’ll cover all you need
to know before traveling to Berlin,
including maps, transportation, where to stay, prices,
best apps, best city views, and much more.
We want to thank Ceptics, a number one choice
for travel adapters on Amazon,
for sponsoring this video.
Here are our 11 essentials tips:
NUMBER 11: THE MAP OF BERLIN
Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany
and lies on both banks of the river Spree.
For orientation, let's start with the historic
Brandenburg Gate,
an iconic 18th-century gate featuring
with ancient Goddess of Victory.
Just a short walk from the Brandenburg
Gate is Bundestag or Reichstag,
the national parliament
of the Federal Republic of Germany.
If you go south of the gate, you will find
the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe,
Right in the heart of the city is the Potsdamer Platz,
a prominent public square and traffic intersection.
You can see Berlin Wall Remains in front of
the Topography of Terror museum,
located in the former headquarters of the Gestapo.
If you continue towards the east
you will find the famous Checkpoint Charlie,
used as a border crossing between
the East and West Berlin in the Cold War.
If you continue south, you will arrive at
the Jewish Museum Berlin.
Kreuzberg district is famous for art galleries.
Markthalle Neun is a popular spot for those who
want to experience international and local food.
If you cross famous Oberbaum Bridge from 1896,
you will get to the Wall Museum
and a famous East Side Gallery,
a place where 118 artists
covered a part of the Berlin Wall with graffiti
and art as a tribute to the fall of the Wall.
Raw Temple is where the alternative culture
thrives in its bars, clubs, beer gardens,
food trucks, and a Sunday flea market.
Close to the Molecule Man, the famous sculpture
on the river, there is a Badeschiff,
a floating swimming pool, and beach bar.
If you continue up the river, you will arrive
at another riverside beach club YAAM
and World Trash Center.
Museum Island is a complex with five noteworthy
museums.
Further down is Alexanderplatz
home to the Berlin TV Tower.
If you continue towards the north, there is the
Auguststraße, one of the centers of contemporary art
and the Berlin Wall Memorial.
Now let's go back to the Brandenburg Gate.
If you continue west from the Brandenburg Gate, you'll arrive at the Tiergarten district,
famous for Victory Column, a ZOO,
a large park, Neuer Zee
Landwehr canal, Soviet War Memorial,
and much more.
Close to the zoo, there is also the Kaiser Wilhelm
Memorial Church, which was destroyed in 1943.
The beautiful baroque summer palace Charlottenburg Palace,
featuring beautifully decorated rooms,
lush gardens and lakes
is located in the western part of Berlin.
The Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum
houses approx. 22,000 different plant species.
All the attractions you see here, plus many
additional ones are covered in our travel guide,
which comes with dedicated Google maps.
Tegel Airport is located about 8 mi. or
12 km from the city center and
Schonefeld Airport is located approximately
14 mi. or 23 km from the center.
To get a better sense of distances, 1 mile
or 1.6 km walk from Brandenburg Gate to
Checkpoint Charlie takes about 20 minutes
and approximately 5 minutes less
if you combine walking and public transport.
If you walk from Brandenburg Gate to East
Side Gallery it takes about 1 hour
or approx. 30 min if you combine walking
and public transportation.
Attractions in Berlin are spread out, and
if you want a fun, fast, and eco ride in the city
we recommend using an electric scooter.
NUMBER 10: WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Berlin has a moderate continental climate,
with cold winters and hot summers.
Temperatures in winter are generally right
below or around freezing.
The coldest months are December and January.
The temperatures range between 28 °F to 41 °F
or -2 °C to 5 °C.
There’s not a lot of sunshine,
and snow is common.
Snow and ice can often cover the city for
longer periods of time.
In the spring, the weather is pleasant with
mid-March as the start of the season.
The temperatures range between 39 °F to 55 °F
or 5 °C to 13 °C.
Summer has some of the warmest months with
some rain and longer days.
The warmest months are often June, July, and
August.
Temperatures range between 54 °F to 75 °F
or 12 °C to 24 °C.
The temperature can sometimes exceed 88 °F or 30 °C.
Weather at the beginning of the fall is still
pleasant, but it then quickly becomes colder,
rainy and sometimes snowy.
Temperatures range between 42 °F to 55 °F
or 5 °C to 13 °C.
Of course, these are all just averages.
The weather and temperatures can be different
when you visit, so remember always to check
the weather forecast before you travel.
NUMBER 9: BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Berlin is between May
to September.
Of course, summer gets the most tourists and prices are
higher, but the weather is still pleasant.
The cheapest time to visit Berlin is in the
fall when there are fewer tourists, and the
prices of accommodation are lower, and the
weather is still pleasant.
However, you'll probably have a great time
regardless of the season since Berlin is full
of amazing attractions and things you can
do all year long
and regardless of how cold it is.
And how can you figure out the best days and
hours to see the attractions?
Just check Google to see how crowded a specific
location is at a particular time of day.
Of course, we recommend going early during
the week and/or in the morning.
Many travelers stay in Berlin for three days
to see its main attractions
and soak in the atmosphere of this fascinating city.
If you want a more relaxed experience, you
can stay an extra day or two.
NUMBER 8: WHERE TO STAY
AND PRICES OF ACCOMMODATION
If this is your first time in Berlin, choose to stay
in the Mitte neighborhood around Potsdamer Platz,
where you’ll have many of the best sights,
bars, and restaurants just minutes away.
For nightlife, stay in Kreuzberg, with great
clubs and underground culture.
If you’re on a budget, stay outside of the
city center, for instance, in Friedrichshain.
The public transportation is good, and it
wouldn’t take too long to travel to different
parts of the city.
If you’re traveling with the family, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorg is a good option
since it’s near the family-friendly attractions.
A mid-range hotel double room in Berlin costs
from 80 to 100 EUR per night.
For budget hotels, you can find one starting
from 45 EUR on average.
Hostels cost around 10 to 15 EUR per night.
Alternatively, you can rent an Airbnb for
about 55 EUR per night.
Again, these are the average prices, and the
ranges for different hotel categories are
quite extensive, and, in the summer, or during
the weekends,
accommodation can be more expensive.
But with a little research online, you
can get better deals, especially if your dates
are flexible and don’t travel in high season.
Check out our video on the best apps
for booking your stay.
NUMBER 7: TRANSPORTATION
FROM AND TO THE AIRPORT
To get to and from Tegel Airport (TXL), you can use:
A TXL Express Bus that will take you to
Berlin Central Station in 15 minutes
or bus X9, which runs between
Zoological Garden and the airport
and takes 16 minutes.
You can also take bus lines 128 and 109.
Taxi, Uber and and car rentals
To get to and from Schonefeld Airport, you can use:
Train, specifically the S-Bahn Railway: S9 and S45
An Airport Express Train: RE7, RB14, and RB22,
which takes about 30 minutes to get to Berlin Central Station.
Bus lines 163, 171, X7, N7, and N60.
Taxi, Uber, and car rentals.
ARRIVING BY TRAIN
You can travel to Berlin by train from numerous European cities.
The main train station is Berlin Hauptbahnhof
AKA Berlin Central station.
ARRIVING BY CAR
You can use Google Maps to get driving directions to Berlin.
For parking, you can opt to park in one of
the car parks in the city.
There are also parking spots in the city where
you can buy a parking ticket.
Parking usually cost between 1 to 4 EUR per hour.
Alternatively, you can book one of the many
hotels in the city that offer parking.
GETTING AROUND THE CITY
There are many ways to get around Berlin,
and it's easy to get lost and confused because
of its interlinked networks.
You can cover some of the attractions on foot,
but if you don't feel like walking all day,
you can use the following options:
S-Bahn Railway
U-Bahn or underground
Tram and metrotram
Bus
Taxi
Electric scooters
Bikes
Car Sharing
River cruises and boat trips
and other forms of transportation
If you're using public transportation, you
should know there are three zones in Berlin.
A single ticket valid for 2 hours covering zones A and B costs 2.80 EUR,
3.10 EUR for zones B and C,
and 3.40 EUR for all three zones.
A short distance ticket costs 1.70 EUR,
and a day ticket is 7 EUR.
Don’t forget to validate your ticket when
you enter the railway, tram, or bus.
Check out our travel guide for more information and prices.
BTW, our travel guide is a mobile-friendly .pdf document that you can store for offline use.
It covers the Top 10 things to do in Berlin
plus 10 additional attractions, maps, links,
opening hours and other information that will help make your trip to Berlin stress-free.
NUMBER 6: GENERAL INFORMATION
Here are some other things you should know
for a pleasant and smooth experience in Berlin.
DRINKING WATER
It is perfectly safe to drink tap water in Berlin.
While some drinking water fountains are available
throughout the city, if you can’t find one,
you can just buy bottled water in a store.
Most restaurants also won’t serve tap water,
but they will give you some if you ask for it.
TOILETS
While there are many public toilets in Berlin,
most of them have attendants at the entrance,
and you may need to tip them about 0.50 EUR.
If you can't find a public restroom near you,
you can easily use a restroom of a bar or
a restaurant, but you will have to pay either
way, even if you are a guest there.
So, make sure always to have enough coins
ready.
If you want to see where public toilets are
located, you can use an app on your phone.
More about that later.
FREE WIFI: You can get free Wi-Fi at plenty
of outdoor and indoor hotspots
all over the city, including restaurants,
fast food places, cafés, bars, and hotels.
CROWDS & LINES
Berlin is a popular destination, so be prepared
to wait in line, especially in the summer
months and around big tourist attractions.
The same goes for restaurants and other public
places.
Even if you can't avoid all the crowds, you
can do some things to make your trip to Berlin
a more pleasant experience.
You can:
Avoid peak seasons such as August and October
Avoid traveling during rush hours
Get up early in the morning to explore the
city without the crowds or just before closing time
Book tickets and reservations in advance to skip the lines
Use Google Maps or similar apps to check how
crowded a specific location is at a particular
time of day
Explore the suburbs once you’ve visited
the must-see attractions at the city center
or get combination tickets and/or sightseeing
passes or tourist passes
SAFETY: Berlin is generally a very safe place for tourists.
A few areas are better avoided by night,
but they are usually not located near tourist attractions.
Typical for all major cities, of course,
beware of pickpockets, especially around significant
attractions and in big public squares.
Watch your valuables and use common sense.
For emergency services, dial 112.
NUMBER 5: FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS
TRAVEL ADAPTERS
If you’re coming from outside Europe or from the UK,
you will probably need a special European travel adapter to charge your phone and other devices.
Berlin has Type F power plugs,
so we recommend purchasing a travel
adapter before traveling to the city.
In fact, it is worth buying a universal travel adapter
so you can use it in other countries too.
Did you know that different adapters
charge your phone,
laptop, and other devices at different speeds?
Sometimes charging goes nowhere, and when
you're traveling,
you need your devices ready speeds?
Ceptics just released a brand-new travel adapter
designed to charge your devices more quickly.
We've used it on our trip to Berlin.
With multiple attachments, it allows us to
charge up to four devices at once,
which is convenient, considering most hotel rooms only
have a few outlets.
Also, we can just bring the right attachment
in a pouch.
Visit Ceptics’s user-friendly website to
find adapters that fit your needs.
And visit their new YouTube channel with travel
advice videos.
The link is in the description.
CURRENCY: Berlin uses Euros, a currency
used in most European countries.
At the time of the making of this video
1 EUR equals approximately
1.10 USD or 0.85 GBP.
While most hotels, stores, and restaurants
in the city accept major credit cards like
Visa or MasterCard, it is always wise to have
some Euros in your wallet
especially if you plan to visit outdoor
markets and other similar places.
Also, remember to always check the current
exchange rate before traveling.
LANGUAGE
The Language spoken in Berlin is German.
Most tourist places, such as restaurants,
hotels, bars, and major attractions, have
someone who speaks English.
ATMs AND MONEY EXCHANGE
You can easily find an ATM in Berlin.
However, you will probably be charged a fee,
so try to reduce the number of times you use the ATMs.
Alternatively, you can always exchange your
money at a money exchange, remember to
just always compare the exchange rate on your phone
to the board displayed at the currency exchange office.
PREPAID SIM CARDS AND POCKET WIFI
In Berlin, there are over 5,000 free wifi hotspot areas.
The WiFi in those areas is free, and there's
no registration so that anyone can use it.
Check out our travel guide for the list of
areas with free WiFi.
You can also purchase a prepaid SIM card to
access the Internet on your phone.
Some options provided by local carriers are
Vodafone, Telekom, and O2.
You can buy a travel plan that includes the
Internet at any of their stores in Berlin.
A local sim with at least 1GB of data costs
15 EUR.
O2 is the cheapest, followed by Vodafone Telekom.
If you’re from the US and travel a lot,
consider using Google Fi.
See our travel guide for more information.
NUMBER 4: BEST APPS
Here is a list of useful apps:
BVG: For finding routes,
tickets, and timetables for public transportation.
Uber for getting a ride
FREE NOW if you prefer to book a taxi
Lime, Jump, or any other electric scooter
app so you can reach your destination faster
and enjoy the city on the way there.
The Berlin Wall, to discover where exactly
the Berlin wall ran.
TripAdvisor and Yelp for reviews of restaurants,
hotels, museums, tours, etc.
WithLocals or Eatwith for food and other experiences
with local guides
Google Maps or Apple Maps for walking,
publict ransportation, driving, etc.
Google Maps also lets you download maps,
which is a great option if you don’t want
to use transportation, driving, etc.
SitOrSquat or Flush for finding public restrooms
WiFi Map or WiFi Finder, which helps you find WiFi throughout Berlin.
Check out our travel guide for links to download
these apps on iOS and Androidmore
and for more great app suggestions.
NUMBER 3: FOOD & PRICES
Berlin has plenty of dining options
and offers a great variety of international
and traditional German food.
We suggest using Yelp or TripAdvisor to find
nearby places with good reviews.
Try to avoid restaurants at or next to major
tourist attractions
you'll often get a much higher price-quality ratio
at local place away from the main attractions.
An inexpensive restaurant meal
can cost up to 25 EUR,
and a three-course meal at a mid-range
restaurant is about 30 to 40 EUR.
A full traditional German dish is from 15
to 25 EUR.
A traditional German dish like Wiener Schnitzel
is around 15 to 20 EUR depending on the portion.
A popular Currywurst will cost from 2 to 3 EUR.
As for drinks in bars, a coffee costs from
around 2 EUR, a bottle of water about 1 EUR,
a bottle of soda about 2.50 EUR,
a pint of beer and a glass of wine for
about 4 to 5 EUR each
while cocktails for about 5 to 8 EUR.
Of course, prices are higher in front of the
famous tourist places.
There are plenty of great cheap eats in Berlin.
Check out our guide for maps with the best apps and  cheap eats.
And just a quick note with regards to tipping,
restaurants already include a service
charge in their bill.
However, if you want, you can leave a 5-10%
tip in cas you really liked the service.
NUMBER 2: CITY PASSES & EXPLORING THE CITY
If you’re planning to visit at least a couple
of attractions and want to save some money,
you can get a Berlin WelcomeCard
or a Berlin Pass.
Both options offer free entry to some top
attractions, various kinds of discounts, free
river cruise, and more.
Check our travel guide for current prices
and links.
There's also the Berlin Museum Pass,
where you have access to more than 30 
museums in 3 days.
A great way to discover Berlin is by a walking
tour organized by professional guides who
know a great deal about the city's rich history.
Some providers even offer free walking tours.
However, at the end of the tour, it is recommended
to make a donation.
See our travel guide for links to websites
of free-guided tours and other exciting tours of Berlin.
NUMBER 1: BEST VIEWS OF BERLIN
You can enjoy amazing views of Berlin from
one of the following places:
The Berlin TV Tower (The Fernsehturm)
Reichstag Dome
Victory Column
Panoramapunkt
Berlin Balloon
Viktoriapark or Prussian Monument for
the Liberation Wars
25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin
and Klunkerkranich
And don’t forget to check out Top 10
things to do in Berlin. Just click here.
