Berlin - Berliini

Berlin is German the capital and at the same time the largest city in the country: the city is home to 3.5 million people and the metropolitan area to 4.3 million. Berlin is best known for its interesting history as a walled city between East and West, but also for its vibrant nightlife with its many cafés, bars and nightclubs, as well as its numerous museums, palaces and other historically significant sites.

With its internationally renowned cultural institutions, universities and events, Berlin is one of Europe's most important scientific and cultural centers.

Come

By plane

Berlin currently has two airports in operation, Tegel (DATE: TXL, [1]) west of the city center and Schönefeld (DATE: SXF) to the southeast of the city. Legendary Tempelhof (DATE: THF) was closed at the end of 2008.

From Finland (From Helsinki) Finnair and easyJet flying directly to Berlin use Tegel Airport. From here there are good connections by public transport to the city center (bus ticket € 2.40):

• bus TXL (S U Alexanderplatz, Hauptbahnhof)
• 109 and X9 (S U Zoologischer Garten)

Schönefeld Airport can be reached by S-Bahn line number 9 (U Ostbahnhof, S U Alexanderplatz, S Hauptbahnhof, S U Zoologischer Garten).

A new Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport is currently being built near Schönefeld (DATE: BBI, [2]), which is due to open in 2013. Once opened, all air traffic in the area will be centralized at BBI and older airports will be closed.

By train

To Berlin from the main railway station (Hauptbahnhof) is a daily train service To Amsterdam, To Paris, Zurich mixed To Vienna. Eastern Europe (e.g. Warsaw, Moscow, Kaliningrad) use a train located in East Berlin Lichtenbergin train station.

Berlin can also be conveniently reached by train from the rest of Germany. In addition to the train station, trains within Germany also stop at smaller stations in Berlin.

You can find timetables and prices on the Deutsche Bahn website [3].

Veolian Interconnex operates the route Leipzig - Berlin - Rostock - Warnemünde. Prices are cheaper in Deutsche Bahn but there are only two flights a day in each direction [4]

By road

Berlin is well connected to the rest of Germany and Europe. The city is surrounded by the A10 (Berliner Ring) ring road, which provides access to all main and motorways.

Distances to other cities:

• Bonn 370 km
• Essen 330 km
• Frankfurt 355 km
• Hamburg 290 km
• Hannover 290 km
• Cologne 355 km
• Munich 580 km
• Rostock 190 km

Move

The huge size of Berlin makes it a challenging pedestrian city. It is certainly easy to walk around the area of ​​your choice, but the easiest way to get from one part of the district to another is by public transport or bicycle. The distance between points of interest may be, for example, 10 kilometers. It is also quite easy to get around with your own car, as there is little traffic. Congestion is concentrated in a few nodes. Parking spaces are also easy to find compared to other major cities.

Travel tickets

Berlin is divided into three zones. Zone A is the central part of Berlin, ie the area inside the Ring. Zone B includes the rest of Berlin. For example, Potsdam and the new airport (Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt) are located in Zone C. Correspondingly, public transport tickets are for either the AB, BC or ABC zone. Tickets are sold from vending machines at each station, in many so-called in tobacco shops (marked with the BVG symbol) and on buses and trams. The ticket selection includes e.g. one-time, daily, weekly and monthly tickets. It is worth noting that the journey of a single ticket is one-way, ie even if the ticket is valid for two hours, it is not possible to travel back and forth. In addition, groups of more than five people can buy a group ticket and children have their own, reduced rates. Berlin "tourist tickets" (Welcome card and Berlin City Tour card) also serve as travel tickets during their period of validity. Tickets from the Berlin Transport Authority entitle you to travel by tram, underground, commuter train and bus.

Trains & subways

Metro (U-Bahn) and local trains (Deutsche Bahn-operated S-Bahn and Regionalbahn) are the fastest ways to get around the city center. Their network is extensive and trains are a reliable and safe way to travel. On weekdays, many metro lines are replaced by night buses. Transport connections can be checked in the Berlin route guide [5]

Trams

On the former East Berlin side, it is easy to travel on a dense tram network that also extends to many places that cannot be reached by underground. It is also practical for trams to run in the transverse direction of metro lines. During the day the intervals are frequent, but at night the wait can be up to half an hour.

Buses

Buses provide an easy way to get around the city while exploring the city itself. Particularly popular are double-decker buses designed especially for tourists. 100 mixed 200, which pass the main attractions. Both leave in the west Zoologischer Gartenin from the station and passing east, the 100's terminus is Alexanderplatzin station, 200 in turn Prenzlauer Berg.

Bicycle

Berlin is an easy cycling city with both altitude differences and low traffic. There could be more cycle paths, but there is a safe pedal among traffic due to the lack of cars. Bicycles can be rented even at Fat Tire Biken [6] from points located on Alexanderplatz and next to Zoo Station.

Taxi

Berlin is full of taxis, which are a bit cheaper to drive than in Finland. Particularly advantageous are journeys of less than two kilometers, which can cost € 4 when you tell the driver when you take a taxi that it is: Kurzstrecke (short distance). The Kurzstrecke system is being phased out.

See

• Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), Pariser Platz. One of Berlin’s most famous attractions is the Brandenburg Gate, originally built as a sign of peace in the late 18th century. Today, many see the gate as a symbol of the unification of Berlin, and the whole of Germany. 
• Unter den Linden. The boulevard, lined with lime trees, starts at the Brandenburg Gate and passes through the historic districts of Berlin. It was built by the Duke of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm to beautify his way from his palace to hunt. 
• Siegesule. The pillar was originally erected in front of the Reichstag in 1864 to celebrate the victory of the Prussians over the Danes and was moved in 1939 to its present location. At the top of Siegesule is an observation deck, which can be reached by climbing almost 300 steps. Siegessäule is located in the middle of a busy roundabout; the passage to the base of the statue takes place along underground tunnels. 
• Tiergarten. A district dominated by a large park on the outskirts of Mitte. 
• Checkpoint Charlie. The most famous of the Berlin Wall border crossings. Currently, e.g. a monument consisting of a border guard booth where you can get your passport stamped. Next door is Haus am Checkpoint CharlieMuseum, which presents the history of the Berlin Wall and life behind the Iron Curtain in other Eastern European countries. Among other things, a collection of various instruments was used to try to get from East Berlin to the West. 
• Television tower (Fernsehturm), Panoramastrasse. The tower in central Berlin is a symbol of East Berlin. At its top there is an observation deck, a cocktail bar and a restaurant. 
• Panorama point, Potsdamer Platz 1. The observation deck is located on the 24th floor of the building. 5.5e. 
• Reichstag (German Parliament). The dome, completed in 1999 in particular, is a popular vantage point. Admission is free, but today opening hours are restricted for fear of terrorism and can only be entered by registering in advance on the Reichstag’s website. 
• Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche. Partly destroyed by the bombing of World War II, a modern newer church was completed in 1960. Inside the old church there is an exhibition on the history of the church and e.g. fine mosaics. 
• Olympic Stadium. The venue for the 1936 Summer Olympics, now home to Hertha Berlin, now playing in the 2nd Bundesliga. 
• Museum Island (Museum Museum). There are five important museums on Museum Island. 1. Pergamon Museum. The museum on the museum island displays objects from ancient times and the Middle East as well as the Islamic world. The most famous sites are the altar of Pergamon, the gate of Miletus and the gate of Ishtar. 2. Old National Gallery (Alte Nationalgallerie). Works by 19th century artists from Germany and elsewhere. 3. Bode Museum. Sculpture gallery and money collections. 4. New Museum (Neues Museum). Here are the collections of the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, founded in 1828. The most famous work is the bust of Queen Nefertiti. 5. Old Museum (Altes Museum). The art of ancient times.

You can also buy a joint entrance ticket to the museums of Museosaari, so you can get acquainted with the artefacts of several museums with the same ticket. In addition to their main exhibitions, all museums have touring exhibitions. 

• Zoo (Berlin Zoo) (U / S Zoologischer Garten). Located right in the heart of Berlin, the Berlin Zoo is Germany’s oldest zoo. There are hundreds of animals such as giraffes and elephants. 13e 
• Lichtenberg Zoo (Berlin Tierpark) (U Tierpark). Located in eastern Lichtenberg, Tierpark Berlin is the largest zoo in Europe. It is worth reserving the entire day for the 160-hectare tour, so that the rush does not come as a surprise. Animals have a lot of space, so from time to time even binoculars may be needed. 
• Friedrichstadt-Palast - Berlin's biggest show. More than 100 artists, the largest theater in the world.

Tea

• Sightseeing on the ring track (Ringbahn). An hour’s tour of the ring road around central Berlin is an interesting glimpse beyond the core. Large graffiti and more or less dilapidated houses line the busy track area. Although the actual sights are limited, for example, the ruins of the Gesundbrunnen anti-aircraft bunker and the dimensions of Tempelhof Airport are well visible from the train. The Schönhauser Allee stop is a good place to start if you miss out on buying snacks. 
• Day trip to Potsdam, Potsdam. Bustling with beautiful castles, the neighboring city of Potsdam is less than an hour’s train ride from Berlin’s main train stations. There is plenty to walk around, so prepare for the trip in good shoes. In the castle area, for example, there is a magnificent tea room, where the apple pie enjoyed is second to none. 
• Sauna and swim above the winter Spree, Eichenstrasse 4. In winter, Berlin is a bright spot for travelers who need a sauna. There is no need to book anything for the three-raft Badeschiff floating on the spray: the package price includes a bathrobe, a couple of towels and sandals. Swimwear, on the other hand, is not needed, as most Germans (and tourists) swim naked. The water is nicely warm and through the plastic curtains you can swim on the Spree for fresh outdoor air! Due to its heat or etiquette rules, the sauna does not correspond exactly to Finnish perceptions, as the temperature remains below 70 degrees and water must not be thrown into the stove independently. The large windows of the saunas offer a memorable view over the Spree towards the Friedrichshain district. Sometimes you can relax on the lounge chairs on the bar side. During the summer, the rooftops of the ferries are removed and there is a floating sandy beach (entrance € 3) which bulges people right from the first hours of the morning. 8-13€. 
• 4 h tour of German and Hitler history. The fee is about 10 €, for children a discount of 9 €. 

Buy

• Adidas Original Store, Münzstr. 13-15 (U Weinmeisterstrasse). The Adidas store has an astonishingly large selection of different products. Special slippers and shirts attract a lot of people interested in street fashion. 
• KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) (U Wittenbergplatz). A large department store in the city center that has been operating for a hundred years. The upstairs food department with its huge selection is worth a special mention! 
• boxoffberlin (a / k / a bob), Zimmerstrasse 11 (U Kochstr.) [7]

Eat

The price level in Berlin varies quite a bit depending on the area (roughly on the former east side is cheaper), but in general the city is able to live really cheaply by choosing the right place to eat. Affordable options for fast hunger are kebab restaurants run by Turkish migrants, many of which are open almost 24 hours a day and of which doner kebab (a dose of kebab built into the bread) comes off for 2-3 euros. Dishes suitable for vegetarians are also available from the same places, e.g. deep - fried chickpeas falafel. Other wallet-friendly options include numerous Far Eastern restaurants, where you usually get a full stomach for less than five euros. You should also try the local one Currywurstia; the portion includes sausage and french fries seasoned with curry, this local delicacy is obtained from small stalls such as metro stations.

Cheap

• Baraka, Lausitzer Platz 6 (U Görlitzer Bahnhof), ☎ 49 30 6126330. Located in western Kreuzberg, Baraka is a real gem: affordable, cozy and really delicious. Dishes of Moroccan cuisine made from fresh ingredients are both filling and delicious. No alcohol serving, so you might want to try lemon lemonade. 3-5€. 
• To Loc, Wiener Straße 61 (U Görlitzer Bahnhof). To Loc is divided into two different states. The smaller one serves sushi, the larger Vietnamese food. The quality of the sushi is slightly variable but cheap (18 maki rolls cost about 5 €). On the Vietnamese side, portion prices start at around 4.5 euros. The soups in particular are really tasty, but the wide selection makes you think of other options as well. 4-7€. 
• Spätzle Express, Wiener Strasse 14a (U Görlitzer Bahnhof). Spatzle, an egg paste from the southern German food tradition, is worth a try at Spätzle Express. All portions are large, cheesy and quite heavy. Fortunately, a slightly lightening salad is also served at the edge of the plate. If hunger really surprises you, you can switch from a small dose size to a medium or large one with a small investment. With just a few seats, be prepared to dine on the bar stool (or on the terrace in summer). 3,5-7€. 

Mid-priced

• Schlesisch Blau, Köpenicker Straße 1a. Tue-Fri 20-. The small Schlesisch Blau, which serves German food, is only open half a week and then serves a four-course menu for around € 15. A small but good selection of wines and a nice atmosphere make the evening easily last longer than planned. 12€. 
• Brauhaus Mitte, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 13, 10178 (S U Alexanderplatz), ☎ 49 30 878989. 11-24. The brewery restaurant next to the TV tower may look like a tourist crowd externally, but it’s not to be confused: traditional Berlin dishes are made with emotion. The views from the terrace are great: the hustle and bustle of Alexanderplatz is easily immersed to watch, even for longer periods. The evening is spent comfortably with eisbein and the restaurant's own brewery beer! 

Expensive

• Altes Zollhaus, Carl-Herz-Ufer 30 (U Prinzenstraße), ☎ 49 30 6923300, e-mail: info @ Altes-Zollhaus-com. Tue-Sat 18-. Altes Zollhaus is nice, not too stiff but still quite a fine restaurant on the canal in Kreuzberg. A great place for a more festive evening. In summer, there are also tables in the cozy garden. Main courses 22-30 €. 

Juo

Germany is traditionally a beer lover's country, and so beer can be found in everywhere in Berlin. Many kiosk-style shops (Getränkemarkt) are open overnight and their beer selection covers many Finnish convenience stores; cheaper drinks can be bought at Lidl-type grocery stores. The price level of the bars is cheaper than in Finland for beers, the prices of drinks vary depending on the place. As the ingredients of the drinks are not dispensed in centilitres in many places, Caipirinho and Mojitos easily have twice the amount of alcohol compared to Finland.

Cafes

• The Rebellion des Zimtsterns, Schlesische Strasse 38. Mon-Fri 10-18, Sun 12-18. It is nice to spend a lazy morning in the comfortably furnished, fun-lined café. All cakes and breads are made in the back room kitchen, and the coffee tastes fresh. 
• St. Oberholz, Rosenthaler Straße 72. Mon-Fri 8-24, Sat-Sun 9-24. Quality coffees, cakes and wireless internet - apparently here you will find everything a laptop traveler or freelancer needs. 

Bars & pubs

• Luzia, Oranienstrasse 34 (U Kottbusser Tor). Luzia’s shabby but beautiful decor, good service and interesting music offerings (from Indian to minimal techno) gather people full of people from night to night. In the early evening, the atmosphere is calm and people tap their laptops, but towards the evening we move towards a decent party - at least on the weekends. 
• Mysliwska, Schlesische Strasse 35 (U Schlesisches Strasse). Mysliwska is a small and smoky bar populated by a dense gang. However, it fits comfortably, and on weekends the DJs crave good rock-focused music. In addition to the Polish name, the bar serves Polish Tyskie beer and vodka. 
• San Remo, Falckensteinstrasse 46 (U Schlesisches Strasse). San Remo attracts students and those who like relatively cheap beer every day of the week. The brick walls and miscellaneous interiors create an uncomplicated atmosphere. Snacks are also available when hunger strikes. 

Nightclubs

Berlin’s club offerings are one of the most diverse and advanced in Europe, and because the opening hours of nightclubs are not regulated, many of them are open until the morning - or even longer. Ordinary nightclubs usually start to fill up at midnight and the festivities are at their best between two and three in the morning, with electronic music clubs usually a few hours later. Especially on weekends, there are also several so-called Afterhours clubs that open later than regular nightclubs and where the festivities can continue even through Sunday, until Monday morning.

Entrance fees are at the Finnish price level, usually 5-10 euros. Many clubs are reluctant to accept large crowds of tourists, especially if there are only men in the party. If you want to secure your admission to a particular club, you should either come in time or in smaller groups that also include women.

• Levee, Neue Promenade 10 (S Hackescher Markt). The indie audience heading to Levee Club (formerly Bang Bang) is quite young and all the more energetic. Check the calendar to see if it’s Karrera or Death By Pop Club night and throw yourself in. Also live bands. 
• Berghain / Panorama Bar (S Ostbahnhof). The techno club Berghain, located in the old power plant, is no longer as underground as it was a few years ago, but thanks to its strict door policy, it has been able to keep its atmosphere quite unpolished and original. Not for tight hats; if shirtless muscle bouquets dressed in microshorts, dark corners, or two-meter transvestites leaning against the counter on the upstairs Panorama Bar don’t sound like your thing, you might want to look elsewhere. Others are sure to enjoy Berghain’s tough techno and the Panorama Bar’s best-ever party on Monday morning, which crowns the blinds on the windows: every now and then, when opened, they let the morning sun flow in and wild the blinded audience. Berghain also has one of the best club voices in Berlin, produced by the renowned Funktion-One. 
• Mädcheninternat, Prenzlauer Allee 246. 22-. From a girls ’boarding school, the club, which grabs most of the staff’s school uniforms, is an entertaining, small club where minimalist techno often roars. In summer, it is nice to spend the evening in the yard of the old brewery, and sometimes the club is open on weekends, also during the day for barbecues. 
• Tresor, Köpenickerstrasse 70 (U Heinrich-Heine Strasse). 00-. The second incarnation of Tresor is located in connection with the Vattenfall thermal power plant. The first was located on Potsdamer Platz and was demolished in 2005. The current club dances on two dance floors. Downstairs Tresor is a dark, labyrinthine basement where stroboscopes flicker and DJs play junior, aggressive techno. Larger, almost domineering Batterieraum often serves a slightly flatter house or techno. The importance of Tresor in techno-culture is most evident on weekends when the club is filled with tourists who want to spend the evening at Berlin’s most legendary club that is still open. 5-15€. 
• Watergate, Falckensteinstr. 49. The two-storey Watergate offers great panoramic views of the River Spree, along which it is located. The floating terrace on the river is a great (and full) place to cool off and enjoy a drink from the bar in summer. The music varies from evening to techno to drum'n'bass. Strict door policy, especially for tourists. 
• Week-End, Am Alexanderplatz 5 (building with Sharp's neon sign on top) (S U Alexanderplatz). The electronic music club Week-End, popular with young audiences, is located on the edge of Alexanderplatz on the 12th floor of the office building and offers great views over the city, especially at dawn. Located a few floors above 15th Floor An afterhours club where the party can go well into the next day. In summer, the weekend roof terrace, Roof is open from early evening. There is currently no music on the roof due to complaints from neighboring neighbors, but the situation may change. The music of both clubs moves around the electron, House and techno. 

Sleep

Berlin is a nightlife paradise, with a hostel of hostels and all-inclusive hotels. In addition, the average price level is quite affordable compared to many other European metropolises. Out of season, space is easy to find, but during the busiest times (holidays, holiday seasons) fast naturally takes up the best beds. For budget travelers, Berlin is a good destination. In addition to traditional hostels, there are cheap hotel chains in Berlin with basic double room rates that are not very high.

Cheap

• Pegasus Hostel Berlin, Str. Der Pariser Kommune 35, ☎ 49 30 297 73 60, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: at 16:00, check-out: at 11:00. Pegasus Hostel is centrally located for the next train station and the underground (Ostbahnhof) is only 5 minutes away. A 10-minute walk away are the remains of the Berlin Wall. As a monument to the East Side Gallery. 
• EasyHotel, Rosenthaler Strasse 69, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: at 15:00, check-out: at 10:00. The room has a bed, a small toilet and a shower cubicle in a compact size. The overall look is neat. TV and wireless internet are available at an additional cost. Double room: 27e / room / night. 
• Die Fabrik, Schlesische Strasse 18 (U Schleisches Tor), ☎ 49 30 6117116, e-mail: [email protected]. Die Fabrik is a cozy and clean hostel in Kreuzberg, a few hundred meters from Schlesisches Tor Underground Station. The surrounding neighborhoods are currently Berlin’s busiest bar and restaurant district. The double room has a washbasin but no private toilet. No credit cards. 18-. 
• City Guesthouse Pension Berlin, 10437 Berlin, Gleimstrasse 24 (U Schönhauser Allee), ☎ 49 30 4480792, e-mail: [email protected]. These 3-star self-catering apartments feature modern furniture, a well-equipped kitchen and free Wi-Fi. They are located in the popular Schönhauser district of Berlin. 18-. 
• Motel One. The cheap hotel chain Motel One has three well-located outlets in the center of Berlin: Alexanderplatz, Mitte and Ku'Damm (next to the Zoologischer Garten). The rooms are very modern and the lobby areas downstairs are almost futuristic. 49-74€. 
• Wombats Berlin (U Rosa Luxemburg Platz), Alte Schönhauserstrasse 2, ☎ 49 30 84710820, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened in early 2008, this new hostel is located in Mitte, about 1 km from Alexanderplatz. At least some of the sixth-floor double rooms have great balcony views of the TV tower. There is a lively bar on the seventh floor that is full of young backpackers. 
• Hostel Xberger (U Schlesisches Tor), Schlesische Strasse 22, ☎ 49 30 6953186, e-mail: [email protected]. Located on a busy street, Xberger is one of the cheaper and more comfortable hostels in Kreuzberg. All amenities are close by, the metro is a short walk away and the streets take place all the time, regardless of the season. As elsewhere in Kreuzberg, there are plenty of cheap places on the corners of Xberger to quench hunger and thirst. 11-. 
• U inn Berlin Hostel, 10247 Berlin, Finow Strasse 26 (U Samaritastrasse), ☎ 49 30 33024410, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. -13€. 
• 2A Hostel, Saalestr. 76, 12055 Berlin (S U Neukölln), ☎ 4930-63 22 633 0, e-mail: [email protected]. 13€ . 
• Smarthostel & Hotel Berlin, Genter Str. 53 a / b, 13353 Berlin (Wedding), ☎ 49 (0) 30 454 86 454, e-mail: [email protected]. 
• Bed and Breakfast Ring (bed and breakfast, Homestay accommodation, small hotels), ☎ 49-30-48496468, e-mail: [email protected]. The staff speaks German, English, Spanish Prices range from € 22-80 per night. 
• Three Little Pigs Hostel (Berlin hostel in Kreuzberg), Stresemannstr 66, 10963 Berlin (S U Anhalter Bahnhof), ☎ 49 (0)30-26 39 588 0, e-mail: [email protected]. 9€ . 

Mid-priced

• Holiday Inn Express City Center West, Kurfürstenstraße 78, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened in spring 2008, this very clean, basic hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of the zoo and Zoologischer Garten station. 
• 4 Star Hotel Holiday Inn Alexanderplatz, Theanolte-Bähnisch-Str. 2, ☎ 49 (0)30 740 747 – 0, e-mail: [email protected]. 108€ . 
• 4 Star Hotel Indigo Alexanderplatz, Bernhard-Weiss-Strasse 5, ☎ 49 (0)30 50 50 86 – 0, e-mail: [email protected]. 113€ . 
• 4 Star Hotel Indigo Kurfürstendamm, Hardenbergstrasse 15, ☎ 49 30 860 909 – 0, e-mail: [email protected]. 99€ . 

Price methods

• Intercontinental Berlin, Budapester Strasse 2, ☎ 49 30 26020. Luxury hotel in the center. 
• Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin, Unter den Linden 77 (Potsdamer Platz). Five star hotel. 

Stay safe

Stay healthy

The European Health Insurance Card is an easy and good way to take care of medical visits during a trip, although its eligibility may need some discussion. In principle, all (at least younger) doctors also speak English, but in practice transactions may be handled in German. There are small private doctor's offices all over the city. Larger health centers or hospitals can also be used if required.

Take contact

There are a lot of Internet cafes and telephone shops in the city, especially popular with immigrants, where you can visit, for example, read e-mails for a few euros. In addition, many restaurants, cafes and hotels offer their customers free wireless internet access (WLAN), which can be used by those traveling with a laptop or smartphone.

Continue your journey

• Hamburg - Germany's second largest city two hours by train or car.
• Dresden - A city restored to its former glory, three hours away by train or car.

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