Help! I'm going to Berlin at the end of August (28th) for 4 days. I will be arriving at night and so will be staying at the A&O Zoo Hostel.

In the morning I would like to do some tour to get my bearings but there seem to be soooo many choices - New Berlin Tours, Brewers Tours, Original Berlin Walks etc

Has anyone been on any of these tours and would they recommend them? Also if I decide to do the Brewer's Best of Berlin tour which starts at 10.30 (which is 8 hours) opposite Friedrichstrasse station how easy will it be for me to get from Zoo Station to there and how long would it take? I speak absolutely no German and didn't learn any Germany history when at school so although I'm interested in learning about it I don't want the tour guides to assume I will have prior knowledge of the subject.

Also is the underground easy to get around for a non German speaker?

Sorry for the mad ramblings.

Jo

Getting from zoo station to friedrichstrasse is really easy. you can take s3, s5 or s7 over to there and they run very frequently. Make sure you go in the right direction though!!!

The Berlin s-bahn and u-bahn are fairly easy to navigate, although i'd make sure you have a map with you at all times to check you are going in the right direction.

When in Berlin we took a tour with one of the companies (think it was new berlin tours) they all offer similar tours, although i have heard good things about the Brewers tour. They are a good way to get to know the city, and don't be afraid to ask questions of the guides they are willing to answer even the most basic of questions and will give you a very comprehensive overview of the city.

My friend and I wanted to practice our German while in Berlin but everytime we spoke it, the replies were in English. You'll have no problem with English.

Here's my trip report: http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...n_name=schuler

Brewer's Berlin tours are excellent - the best walking tour experience ever, at least with Terry Brewer leading it.

Here's the Berlin transit planner:
http://www.fahrinfo-berlin.de/Fahrinfo/bin/query.bin/en

In short, getting from Zoo to Friedrichstrasse is easy.

Many thanks for all your very quick responses and informative links.

I'm really looking forward to my trip now.

We jsut got back from Berlin. We did the Fat Tire Bike Tour of Berlin right after we arrived. It was about 4 hours long and very informative. It was a great way to start getting a feel of the city. I definitely would recommend doing a tour, which ever you chose, when you arrive. That way you will know what you want to see again! The subway system was not difficult to navigate. Just remember which direction you are going, find the end stop(for that line) and make sure you go in the right direction. We had no problems using it at all (one adult, three teenagers).

Thanks! The Fat Tire Tour Bike Company is on my list of things to do actually. Glad you enjoyed it.

Here's a link to my trip report too, in case it's helpful - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34614269

We actually liked it so much we went back earlier this year, although I haven't updated my report yet. We'd ideally like to return every year.

The trains are very easy to use and the self service ticket machines have an English option.

Many thanks Caroline - that's really helpful.

A quick ? - I normally take travellers checks with me yet read in the lonely planet guide they are very rarely accepted. Surely this isn't the case?

Also if I used my debit card would you get charged loads of commission to withdraw cash (have never done this before and would prefer to stick with travellers checks).

thanks

You're welcome !

Hardly anyone in Europe uses travellers' cheques any more. You'd probably have to go to a bank to change them.

Honestly, it is much easier to withdraw cash from an ATM as you need it and use a debit or credit card for automated ticket machine purchases and any larger purchases such restaurants, shopping, hotel bill etc.

How much you get charged will depend on your bank, and possibly type of account etc; so nobody here can give you an exact answer. As an example, on holiday I use a combined debit/ATM card for everything (exactly as I do at home.) My bank charges me a) a set amount per ATM withdrawal (last month it was £1.75 for withdrawals below €200 and something like €2.20 for more); plus, for both debit card transactions and ATM withdrawals, I am of course subsject to whatever exchange rate they choose to use, which is always less good than the 'official' interbank rate (this goes for the rate which any bank will use for customers) but better than the rate you'll get by using a commercial bureau de change etc.

You'll need to find out exactly how your bank would charge you, then work out the variables, like - is it cheaper to use a debit card where possible rather than withdraw cash (to minimise ATM fees, if applicable), is it cheaper to withdraw more cash at a time (fewer fees) - balanced against the risk of carrying a lot of cash around.

If it seems your bank can't offer suitable facilities, have a search on this board for ATM, debit card, etc - there are loads of posts where Americans (I'm assuming you're American since most posters are ?) recommend specific banks/credit unions/cards etc.

Thanks. I assume there will be an ATM at Zoo station near where I am staying? Also, and this probably seems a silly question, but will it be easy to recognise and when I put my card in will there be an option to read the language in English as I know no German at all.

Jo

Yes ATMs all over and yes hit the English sign that displays when you put your card in.

and often it asks 'from checking' - yes for ATM withdrawals from checking accounts.

I expect there will be an ATM at Zoo station - if not, it doesn't generally take long to find one attached to a bank. And there is certainly at least one at the airport.

Banks look like banks anywhere. And they are also called 'Bank' in German - Deutsche Bank, etc.

With banks, the ATM(s) may be on the outside wall or in a lobby which you may have to swipe your card to access (just to check you're not a rough sleeper looking for shelter !). You can't miss them.

Oh, one more word of warning. I haven't come across it in Berlin; but if an ATM offers you the choice of being billed in euros or your home currency, go for euros. That means you will be debited at your bank's exchange rate & not theirs. It shouldn't make much difference if you're using an ATM at a 'proper' bank; but sometimes it may be a privately-owned ATM (e.g. owned by a bureau de change - not always obvious) - and they will give you a worse exchange rate.

ATMs recognise foreign cards & give you a choice of languages.

Don't worry, you'll be fine. I don't know any German at all (although DH does), but I had no trouble using ATMs & U-bahn ticket machines. Berlin is probably the best place in Germany for a non-German speaker. All younger Germans speak English. It's a brilliant place !

Many thanks - sorry for obviously panicking but once there I'm sure like you say it'll be fine to get money.

I never did the 8 hour tour of Berlin chiefly run for youth hostelers, but I have heard wonderful things about it. I did the Jewish walking tour and the one about the Nazi sites. They were from Original Berlin Walks and were both great!

If you have time, go to Sans Souci in Potsdam.

Berlin is a fabulous city and almost all young people speak good English.

Enjoy Berlin!

You're welcome, Joannax. Just check with your bank before you go that your card will work in Europe.