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Berlin

TRAVEL GUIDE

Berlin

TRAVEL GUIDE

The Fodor's Five

The five things you need to know before traveling to Berlin

# 1

Get around Berlin by bike or public transport.

Berlin is a large city (the highest population of cities in the European Union). You can cover a lot by walking, but using the public transport system is easy. With a day ticket ($11, try the BVG app) you can use trains, underground, trams, buses, and also take two ferries to see the city from the water. Germany’s capital is flat and has a network of good cycle paths. You can rent a bike or go on a guided bike tour, for example on the Mauerweg (Berlin Wall cycling path).

# 2

Berlin has 12 districts. Plan your itinerary carefully to avoid zigzagging.

While you will most likely visit Mitte where many of the famous sights are located, make sure to do the research on the remaining neighborhoods called Kieze to avoid traveling back and forth. Google Maps is great as a planning tool, but many Germans speak English well so don’t be afraid to ask for advice and help. Berlin has many parks; include a green stop between the sightseeing to exhale.

# 3

Berlin is at the forefront of new culinary trends! Going vegan and sustainable is taking off.

We’re not saying you can’t follow your normal diet but be open-minded to alternative eating trends. Whether you want to eat burgers, steaks, sausages or desserts – you can find everything vegan and vegetarian here. Most of the restaurants are sustainable and use local products, and some grow their own vegetables and herbs. If you’re looking for unusual places to eat, try Germany’s first Michelin-starred dessert fine dining restaurant Coda. To mingle with the locals, head to a brewery in winter or a beer garden in summer.

# 4

There are more museums than rainy days in Berlin.

It’s impossible to visit Berlin and not drop into at least one museum (hello there, Nefertiti). You can find history and art, world heritage and historical museums, but also entertaining places like illusion, computer games, sugar, lipstick, or even a museum dedicated to a much-loved German snack, the Currywurst. With the MuseumPass (day pass $26) you can exhaust yourself at all the major museums, and entry is free on the first Sunday of every month.

# 5

Berlin is notoriously more inexpensive than other German cities. Make the most of it.

Fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, and delicacies from all over the world, plus a little chat: Berlin's weekly markets are not just for shopping but also a popular meeting place. The large market halls with their sumptuous offerings are particularly popular. Alternatively, you can, of course, go to the biggest and most famous department store KaDeWe or shop till you drop in local designer and vintage shops or at a flea market like a true Berliner. And during advent, you should definitely visit one of the many Christmas markets.

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Neighborhoods

An important part of former West Berlin but now a western district of the united city, Charlottenburg has retained its old-world charm. Elegance is the
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Just south of Charlottenburg, Friedenau is a residential neighborhood, with quiet tree-lined streets and a handful of cafés
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The cobblestone streets of Friedrichshain, bustling with bars, cafés, and shops, give it a Greenwich Village feel. There's plenty to see here, including Karl-Marx-Allee, a
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The lush Grunewald forest, where tony villas peep out between the trees, is in southwest Berlin. Nearby, you can swim in bucolic Schlachtensee Lake
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Hip Kreuzberg, stretching from the West Berlin side of the border crossing at Checkpoint Charlie all the way to the banks of the Spree next
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Hotels

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Language

German

Nearby Airports

TXL, THF, SXF, BER

Electrical Outlets

220–240v/50 cycles; plugs have two round prongs

Currency

Euro

Local Weather

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Historic Weather: Powered by Dark Sky
Weather info provided is using averaged daily data within the given month of the previous year.

Language

German

Electrical Outlets

220–240v/50 cycles; plugs have two round prongs

Currency

Euro

Nearby Airports

TXL, THF, SXF, BER

Local Weather

{{monthAverage.f_high}}° {{monthAverage.c_high}}° {{monthAverage.f_low}}° {{monthAverage.c_low}}°
{{monthAverage.month}}
Historic Weather: Powered by Dark Sky
Weather info provided is using averaged daily data within the given month of the previous year.

Discover the best neighborhoods in Berlin with curated recommendations from our editors.

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Local Weather

{{monthAverage.f_high}}° {{monthAverage.c_high}}° {{monthAverage.f_low}}° {{monthAverage.c_low}}°
{{monthAverage.month}}
Historic Weather: Powered by Dark Sky
Weather info provided is using averaged daily data within the given month of the previous year.

Discover the best neighborhoods in Berlin with curated recommendations from our editors.

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Local Weather

{{monthAverage.f_high}}° {{monthAverage.c_high}}° {{monthAverage.f_low}}° {{monthAverage.c_low}}°
{{monthAverage.month}}
Historic Weather: Powered by Dark Sky
Weather info provided is using averaged daily data within the given month of the previous year.

Discover the best neighborhoods in Berlin with curated recommendations from our editors.

Explore All

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