Berlin

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Berlin has everything. It is one of the best cities to visit in Europe, with vibrant culture, fabulous cuisine, great parties, and tons of history. Berlin’s heritage is extremely tangible, from visiting the grounds of the Prussian Charlottenburg Palace to walking around the Berlin Wall.

This beautiful city is a centre for artists, museums, and art. Due to its leading orchestras, such as the internationally renowned Berlin Philharmonic, and the city’s three massive opera houses, where magnificent operas and ballets are performed, Berlin is a legendary destination for classical music lovers from all over the world.

Berlin is a fast-paced city that cannot stand still for long. Despite this, the city maintains a relaxed atmosphere, with lots of green spaces where residents can get some fresh air. Berlin is Germany’s greenest city, with sprawling parks, wooded areas, and lakes.

Top destinations:

Reichstag

When the Federal Government was relocated to Berlin, it was time to reawaken the Reichstag building from its long slumber on the Mauerstreifen, the military zone that separated the two sides of the Wall. The Reichstag has now been modernised fully, and we recommend seeing – from the building’s glass dome – the amazing view of the city’s hustle and bustle. The Bundeskanzleramt (Federal Chancellery) and the Brandenburg Gate are among the government buildings in the Reichstag’s immediate vicinity.

Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate is, without a doubt, Berlin’s most famous landmark. It was built in 1791 as one of the old city gates around Berlin, which was still a manageable scale at the time. The decorative Pariser Platz was built at the foot of the gate and now houses many of the city’s significant buildings, including the historic Hotel Adlon and the Akademie der Kunste.

Humboldt Forum

A modern cosmopolitan centre for arts, literature, and research has opened in the heart of Berlin, directly opposite Museum Island: the Humboldt Forum. It occupies an area of about 30,000 square metres and is visible from afar. The facades of the restored baroque palaces are a vivid quince gold. Under one canopy, on five stories, you can find cutting-edge immersive exhibits. At the end of 2021, the world-famous collections of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art will also be on display here.

Berlin Television Tower

he Berlin Television Tower, also known as the Fernsehturm by Berliners, stands out in the skyline at 368 metres, making it Berlin’s tallest structure. Visitors to the tower, built in the 1960s, will enjoy a unique 360° panorama of the capital. We recommend you to use your Berlin Welcome Card to save up to 25% on your visit to the TV Tower. The Berlin Welcome Card entitles travellers to free travel on all public transportation systems in Berlin. The Berlin WelcomeCard gives you a full “carefree” package with over 200 partners and excellent discounts.

The Gendarmenmarkt

Situated near Friedrichstraße, Berlin’s exclusive shopping street in the central Mitte district, is one of the city’s most beautiful squares. The Concert House, designed by Schinkel, and the German and French Cathedrals (the Deutscher Dom and the Französischer Dom) are three of the most outstanding examples of architecture in the capital city.

Where to stay

For the most part, you will be wanting to spend most of your time out immersing yourself in the city but finding the best place to rest is key. Here are some of our top tips for places to stay:

The Adlon Kempinski

A legendary 5-star hotel in Berlin’s Mitte, right next to the Brandenburg Gate, epitomising luxury. A two-Michelin-star restaurant and a shopping arcade are among the state-of-the-art amenities. The Hotel’s central position has easy access to some of Berlin’s most important landmarks. Within a 10-minute stroll, you’ll find the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, and Pariser Platz. Antique furnishings with lavish twists and marble bathrooms offer the rooms a sophisticated allure. WiFi is accessible, as is a modern media device, and some rooms have views of the Brandenburg Gate.

Hotel Indigo Berlin

Our personal favourite – stylish 5-star hotel lies between the Mercedes-Benz Arena and the East Side Gallery, the remaining iconic section of the Berlin Wall. It has free WiFi, business service, and a rooftop bar with spectacular views of the capital. Every space at Hotel Indigo Berlin – East Side Gallery is beautifully decorated. Each air-conditioned room has a flat-screen TV, a desk, a kettle, and a private bathroom with a shower.

Titanic Comfort Mitte

A modern hotel in Berlin’s Mitte district is located between Alexanderplatz and Potsdamer Platz, just a 5-minute walk from Spittelmarkt Underground Station. It has a bar open 24 hours a day and rooms with free Wi-Fi. Every room has air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with free Sky Cinema channels and a desk in most cases.

The breakfast restaurant serves a Mediterranean-style buffet every day. The comfortable lobby bar is open 24 hours a day and offers a variety of cocktails and snacks. Tegel and Schönefeld Airport are easily reachable by public transport. Parking spaces are available outside the hotel for an extra fee.

Where to eat

Grill Royal

The riverside Grill Royal, one of the city’s most well-known venues, is a trendy, welcoming, and incredibly meaty experience. Grill is as good for people-watching as it is for steaks and fish. It is not for vegetarians or those on a diet or on a budget. Local suppliers, as well as Argentina, Ireland, and Australia, supply the beef. It is essential to make reservations.

Skykitchen

This Michelin-starred restaurant is located on the 12th floor of Vienna House Andel’s Berlin, with a capacity of up to 55 seats, including eight window seats, and almost unlimited views of the entire city. The exclusive Skykitchen experience is brought to life in an unmistakable and fashionable atmosphere, with gleaming velvety benches on an unpolished concrete floor, one-of-a-kind flea market finds, and high-quality copper elements.

Burgermeister

If burgers are on your mind when in Berlin, this delicious, affordable meal is always a hit. A juicy cheeseburger, salty fries, and a slice of burger paradise are all yours for just €7.20 (£6.20). This isn’t the spot for the upscale diners, but if you’re looking for cheap, high-quality burgers with a decent reputation, this is the place to go.

Curry 36

One of the easiest and tastiest places to get curried sausage in the currywurst capital. Curry 36 has four locations in the area, so you’ll never be too far away from a dish. The queues can seem long at lunchtime, but the service is so swift that you’ll never have to wait long (and it’s well worth the wait). It’s a perfect budget-friendly lunchtime snack that gives you a taste of the country you’re visiting.

Top Tips

If you're a couple

Why not explore Berlin’s Little Venice by bicycle. Little Venice, or Neu-Venedig, is a charming field of wooded riverways and creeks that stretches out from the Müggelsee on Berlin’s south-eastern outskirts. You can get there by Wilhelmshagen on the S-Bahn trains.

The Pergamonmuseum is a beautiful destination to wonder around and get lost in the history of Germany with insightful and beautiful exhibitions.

If You’re A Group Of Friends

You should visit a former spy station and Europe’s largest street art gallery. Teufelsberg, literally “Devils Mountain,” is a former Nazi intelligence station that was repurposed by the American National Security Agency to listen in on Russian communications. And though it’s now coated with graffiti, you can still climb up and discover this unfinished structure. Climb all the way to the top to reach the echo room, where you can listen to your own voice while admiring the stunning artwork.

If you're a family

We recommend visiting the oldest zoo in Germany – Berlin Zoological Garden which is well-known far outside the city limits and has long been popular with both young and old. Berlin Zoo formed the picture of old West Berlin like no other institution, thanks to its remarkable diversity of species and central location.

For more younger kids, Labyrinth Kindermuseum is a great activity to keep children entertained though different activities including role play and interactive games.

Need to know

Currency

-The Euro (EUR) is Germany’s official currency, and the current exchange rate is 1 GBP to 1.17 EUR.

Language
– German, English is widely spoken

Best Time To Travel
–Spring or Fall (Oktoberfest takes place from late September to early October, and the famous Christmas markets begin at the end of November)

Tips

-Power plugs in Germany are type F, with a normal voltage of 230 V and a frequency of 50 Hz. We suggest purchasing a universal adapter (with surge protection) and using a converter for hairdryers and other hot equipment.

Time Difference
– GMT+01:00

Flights
–Directs from Manchester and London – around 1h 45 minutes

Local Laws

It is illegal to cross German pedestrian crossings when the red pedestrian light is on. Offenders risk a fine and payment of all costs in the event of an accident.

Though you are not required to carry your passport while in Germany, if you are asked to show it and you do not have it, the police can escort you to where your passport is stored so that you can show it to them.

Etiquette

You should generally feel free to greet most people you encounter with a hearty Guten Morgen (good morning), used until noon; Guten Tag (good day), used practically every time the sun is up, but mostly in the afternoon; or Guten Abend (good evening), used until sunset (good evening).

Germans use the same word – Entschuldigung – to say ‘excuse me’ (to attract attention) and ‘sorry’ (to apologise).

At the table, say ‘Guten Appetit’ before digging in. When you are drinking wine, the proper toast is ‘Zum Wohl’; with beer, it’s ‘Prost’.

Germans use their left hand to handle the fork and their right hand to hold the knife. Lay your knife and fork parallel over your plate to indicate that you’ve done eating.