Berlin, Germany

The capital city of Berlin is Germany's largest populated city and is located in north eastern Germany.

How to get to Berlin

The closest airport is Berlin Brandenburg Airport which is situated 11 miles (18km) southeast of the city centre receiving international flights from all over the world.

The city centre of Berlin can be reached by public transport and there are trains and buses leaving from terminals 1 & 2.  The airport express train (FEX) and regional trains run from Flughaten BER - Terminal 1 & 2 station to Berlin Hauptbahnhof which is the Central Station.  

The FEX and regional trains run multiple times each hour and takes approximately 30 to 35 minutes.  The routes for these trains are FEX, RE8, RB22, RB23, RB24 and RB32.

The S-Bahn runs approximately every 20 minutes and takes around 50 to 60 minutes.  The routes for the S-Bahn are S9 and S45.

Express buses run from Terminals 1, 2 and 5 on lines X7, X71 and BER2. 

There are also regional Berlin buses, although some of these just run from and to Terminal 5, which will mean you will need to transfer on the S-Bahn or the express bus to terminals 1 & 2.   The routes are 163, 164, 171, 263, 743 and 744.  Just check which terminals they run from/to.

Getting around Berlin

Berlin has an extensive public transport network which includes underground and light rail trains, trams and buses.  This makes it simple to travel to the centre or the outskirts of Berlin to explore.  

Fare Zones - There are three different fare zones in Berlin which are:

• Zone AB includes the urban centre of Berlin and the area up to the city limits.
• Zone BC includes the area outside of the urban centre and approximately 15km out to the surrounding area of the city of Berlin which includes the airport.
• Zone ABC includes all areas from the city centre to the surrounding area 15km outside the city limits.

There are various options for tickets which includes single tickets, short trip tickets (3 stops on the S-Bahn or subway, or six stops on buses or trams), children's fare, and disability fare.

There are also specific tickets for tourists which includes:

• 24 hour ticket and 24 hour group ticket.
• Berlin Welcome Card for 48 hours, 72 hours, 4 days, 5 days and 6 days and a Welcome Card Museum Island that lasts for 72 hours.
• City Tour Card 48 hours, 72 hours, 4 days, 5 days and 6 days.

24 hour single and group ticket can be bought to cover the different zone options.

The Berlin Welcome Card can be purchased for zones AB or ABC to cover the airport.  There are unlimited trips and provides  discounts at participating vendors in Berlin or Postdam of up to 50%.  A guide map is also included.

The Welcome Card Museum Island card allows unlimited trips for 72 hours.  The card can be purchased for zones AB or ABC and is valid for 1 adult and up to 3 children between the ages of 6 and 14.  This card also allows discounts up to 50% at participating vendors and free admission once a day to the Old National Galleries, the Old Museum, the Bode Museum, the New Museum and the Pergamon Museum.

The City Tour Card can be purchased for zones AB or ABC and allows up to a 35% saving on admission fees with participating vendors in Berlin and Brandenburg.   It also includes a map and allows discounts at BVG and S-Bahn sales outlets and at Berlin information offices when presenting a valid ticket. 

*Children under 6 are allowed to travel for free on Berlin's public transport.

• Hop on hop off bus - this a great option for travelling around the city and seeing the sites at the same time.  There are a number of hop-on-hop off bus companies in Berlin which pass and stop at the top tourist sites in Berlin.   Tickets available include a 24 hour ticket, 48 hour ticket & night tour or a 48 hour ticket and walking tour.

Tourist Area

The main tourist area in Berlin is the Mitte district which is the heart and historic centre of the city.  The main tourist sites in Mitte include Alexanderplatz, Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Museum Island, Reichstag, the TV Tower, and Unter den Linden.

Where to stay

There are numerous apartments, hotels and hostels in the Mitte district of Berlin which allows easy access to the tourist attractions.  

There is the option of staying in the surrounding districts such as Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf or Pankow and using the public transport to reach the Mitte.