Berlin: know before you go

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is the city's single airport, about 25 kilometres south of the centre. The Airport Express (FEX) regional train runs from the station beneath Terminal 1 to Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 23 minutes, with stops at Potsdamer Platz and Südkreuz. S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 also serve the airport, each running every 20 minutes. You need an ABC ticket to reach central Berlin; a single costs €5. Taxis from BER to Alexanderplatz run about €49, and to Zoo Station about €52. The city's main long-distance rail station is Berlin Hauptbahnhof, a short walk or S-Bahn ride from the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.

Berlin's public transport is run by the BVG and the S-Bahn. A single ticket covers all buses, trams, U-Bahn (subway), S-Bahn (urban rail), and even the city's ferries within the zones you pay for. Most of central Berlin falls within zone AB. Buy tickets at station machines or via the BVG app; paper tickets must be validated at the yellow or red boxes on platforms or inside vehicles before you travel. Inspectors in plain clothes check tickets randomly, and the fine for riding without a valid ticket is €60. The Berlin WelcomeCard bundles unlimited travel with discounts at many attractions and is available for 48 hours, 72 hours, or 5 days.

Berlin tacks a city tax onto overnight stays. It is 7.5% of the net room rate, excluding extras such as breakfast or minibar charges. The hotel or host adds it to your bill; you do not pay it separately. Since April 2024, business travellers are no longer exempt. For currency, card payments, and tipping norms across Germany, see the Germany country guide.

Berlin is a safe city by the standards of any large European capital. Violent crime is rare in the areas a visitor is likely to walk. The most common risk is pickpocketing in crowded places: on the U-Bahn, at Alexanderplatz, and around the main tourist sites. Keep your phone and wallet out of back pockets. At night, the S-Bahn and U-Bahn continue to run, and stations remain staffed or monitored. The emergency number for police is 110 and for fire and ambulance is 112, as throughout Germany.

Berlin tap water is among the best in Germany. It is drawn from groundwater, lightly treated to remove iron and manganese, and never chlorinated. You can drink it from any tap. Pharmacies (Apotheke) are marked by a red A and are plentiful; for after-hours needs, each district has a rota of emergency pharmacies posted on the door of every branch.

Free public WiFi is widespread in Berlin. The city runs a network called 'Free WiFi Berlin' with hotspots at many public squares, stations, and tourist sites. Most cafes, bars, and restaurants also offer free WiFi; you may need to ask for the password. The BVG app works offline for timetables once you download the city data, but buying tickets on the app requires a data connection. If you need a local SIM, the major German carriers have shops at BER Airport and in central shopping districts.

Berliners are direct. This is not rudeness, it is efficiency. A brief 'Hallo' or 'Tschüss' goes a long way; long pleasantries are not expected. Stand on the right on escalators in U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations; the left side is for people walking. When entering a small shop or a doctor's waiting room, a quick 'Guten Tag' to the room is normal. On public transport, give up your seat for elderly passengers or people with disabilities. Jaywalking is common but technically illegal; the police rarely enforce it unless you are reckless. Cash is still widely used in bars and smaller restaurants, so carry some euros even if you plan to use a card.

English is widely spoken in Berlin, especially in the central districts, restaurants, and hotels. Younger Berliners invariably speak it well. That said, a handful of German words will make your trip smoother. 'Hallo' (hello), 'Tschüss' (bye), 'Bitte' (please), 'Danke' (thank you), and 'Entschuldigung' (excuse me) cover most everyday encounters. 'Sprechen Sie Englisch?' is the polite way to ask if someone speaks English. On menus, 'Stilles Wasser' gets you still water, not sparkling. Transit announcements are in German, but the BVG app, station signage, and ticket machines all work in English.

Berlin has made significant progress on accessibility, but the city is not seamless. Most U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations have lifts or ramps, though some older stations on the U1, U2, and U3 lines still lack step-free access. All buses are low-floor and wheelchair-accessible. The BVG website and app let you filter journeys by step-free routing. Many museums, including those on Museum Island, have accessible entrances, and the Berlin WelcomeCard offers a discounted companion ticket for visitors with a recognised disability.

Berlin observes all German national public holidays, on which shops close and public offices shut. The city also marks a few local observances. International Women's Day on 8 March is a public holiday only in Berlin. Museums and major attractions generally remain open on public holidays, often with Sunday-style hours. For the full list of national holidays, see the Germany country guide.

A few Berlin experiences need advance booking, sometimes weeks out. The Reichstag dome is free but requires online registration with your name and date of birth; time slots fill up. The Pergamonmuseum on Museum Island is closed for major renovation until at least June 2027, though a small exhibition wing remains open. The Neues Museum, home of the Nefertiti bust, and the Alte Nationalgalerie sell timed-entry tickets and can sell out in peak season. For the Berliner Dom, you can buy at the door, but an online ticket skips the queue. Restaurant reservations are wise for dinner at popular spots in Mitte, Kreuzberg, and Prenzlauer Berg, especially Thursday through Saturday.