Plus Berlin City Guide for Your Pocket
Welcome to the latest funky info packed city guide for your pocket. Just print it off for when you are cruising past the sights of Berlin. afterwards you can pass it on to someone else, make an origami shape, keep it as a souvenir or recycle it in some other tree huggin' hippy way.
LANGUAGE - GERMAN
English is becoming more commonly spoken in the younger generations and touristy areas. It is useful to know some numbers and a few short phrases to get you around. See our printable phrase guide to get you started.
CURRENCY - EURO €1EU =$1.48USD = £0.71GBP (11/07)
Cash machines or ATMs (geldautomaten) are widely available and accept all major credit cards and those displaying the PLUS, MAESTRO or CIRRUS logos.
TIME - CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME (GMT+1HR)
Clocks forward(+1) last Sunday in March, back last Sunday in October, (-1)
PHONE - COUNTRY CODE 0049
To use local payphones you need a telefonkarte , available from post offices, kiosks, some Deutsche Bahn tellers and Tabacconists. Sold in various units.
| AMBULANCE | 112 |
| FIRE | 112 |
| POLICE | 110 |
| TOURIST OFFICE | EURAIDE www.euraide.com Zoo Bhf |
| EMERGENCY DOCTOR | 31 00 31 |
| INSIDER TOUR | 692 31 49 |
| USA | 830 50 | Neustadtische Kirchstrasse 4-5 |
| UK | 20 18 40 | Unter den Linden 32/34 |
| CANADA | 20 31 20 | Friedrichstrasse 95 |
| AUSTRALIA | 88 00 88 0 | Friedrichstrasse 200 |
| NZ | 20 62 10 | Friedrichstrasse 60 |
| S. AFRICA | 22 07 3 -0 | Friedrichstrasse 60 |
| IRELAND | 22 07 20 | Friedrichstrasse 200 |
| SPAIN | 25 40 07 0 | Lichtensteinallee 1 |
| ITALY | 25 44 00 | Hiroshimastrasse 1 |
| FRANCE | 20 63 90 00 | Kochstrasse 6/7 |
| S. KOREA | 26 06 50/ 25 70 08 | Schoneberger Ufer 89 |
Getting to and around Berlin.
BERLIN AIRPORT (SCHONEFELD FLUGHAFEN)
The main international and domestic airport. Most of the major carriers fly into here including Ryanair. The airport is 18km southeast and connection to the city centre is by Airport Express Schönefeld train. It departs every 30mins Mon-Sun until 01.40am, journey time 30mins, cost €2.10 single. S-bahn trains 9 and 45 also run to the city, and bus #171 to Rudow connects to the U7 U-bahn.
BERLIN TEGEL AIRPORT (TEGEL FLUGHAFEN)
This airport has flights mainly for western Europe. The main carriers such as Lufthansa, BA, Air France and Alitalia land here. Situated 8km northwest of the city centre connection is by JetExpressBus TXL, every 15mins until 11.10pm, to Potsdamer Platz, Friedrichstrasse and Unter den Linden, journey time 20mins, cost €2.10. Buses include #128 to Kurt-Schmacher-Platz (U6), #109 and X9 go to Jakob-Kaiser-Platz (U7) and Bahnhof Zoo every 5-10mins, journey time 30mins.
BERLIN TEMPELHOF (FLUGHAFEN BERLIN TEMPELHOF)
Located 3km south of Potsdamer Platz. Direct connections to the city centre with the U-Bahn trains on the U6 line, journey time is 10-20mins. Bus #119 stops in the Ku'Damm area. Single ticket is €2.10.
DB or Deutsche Bahn operate clean, efficient and well networked train services throughout the country and internationally. All timetables and tickets available online www.db.de . The main stations are Ostbahnhof , Bahnhof Zoo , and Bahnhof Lichtenberg .
Combining 2 cities worth of public transport has left Berlin very well covered. The U-Bahn is the underground, while the S-Bahn is the over ground. Buses and trams are also available mainly in the east. Tickets are available from THE WALL machines, service desks with options of DAY, €6.10, WEEK, €22 or a 72hrWELCOMECARD, €19, and work over all transport types.
What to see in Berlin
The locals nickname this church the 'broken tooth' with is steeple raggedly snapped off halfway up by an allied WWII flying bomb during the bombing of Berlin. The front door is a popular hangout for street performers , hawkers, the young and tourists. Church open every day 9am-7pm. Exhibit open Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm.
The station that inspired U2's Zoo TV tour is a heady mix of the seedy, the touristy and capitalism at its ugliest. Just up the road from the fancy and expensive Ku'Damm shopping precinct is the Zoo gardens where the furs are still on the animals. The enclosures are fenceless with waterfilled moats between you and the inhabitant and some, like the flamingos , have no enclosure at all. The attached Aquarium has an interesting collection of psychedelic jelly fish tanks as well as the usual assortment of teeth and fins. Zoo open daily 9am-6.30pm (May-Sept), 9am-5pm Oct-Feb, 9am-5.30pm Mar-Apr, admission €9, students €7, combo zoo-aqu €14 and €11.
Between the Zoo and Tiergarten stands the 70m high golden Siegessaule column, film buffs will recognise the statue as that featured in Wim Wenders film 'Wings of Desire' - the Goddess of Victory. The statute commemorates the Prussian victory over the French in 1870, and is made - you guessed it, from melted down French cannons. Open Mon 1pm-6pm, Tue-Sat 9am-6pm, admission €1.20, students €0.60. You may not have noticed it from your vantage point at the top of the column but there is a nudey sunbathing spot inside the Tiergarten, for followers of the Frei-korpo-kultur , or free body culture, and anyone wanting to lose the office glow on their lunch break.
Brit architect stormin' Norman Foster was called into design the dome of the restored German government building after reunification, hence the transparent glass dome rising above the debating chamber. The public can walk up and down the interior of the dome while listening to the proceedings. The building has seen its share of action , particularly the fire that Hitler had started in 1933 to declare a state of emergency and take over. Free entry, open daily 8am-midnight.
Once upon a time this was the staging post for troops. Today the architects have gone wild creating the largest building site in Berlin, which technically is the largest building site in central Europe. No skyline shot is complete without a stretch of cranes dominating it. There are malls and shops for browsing, or the Sony Centre, to just drool over the latest techno-gadget.
Between the Potsdam and the Brandenberg Gate lies the new Holocaust Memorial site, dedicated to the 6 million Jews murdered during WWII. The controversial site was conceived by US architect Peter Eisenman, using 2,711 granite blocks covering a 19,000 sqm space. The blocks form an undulating surface across the area with narrow walkways between. There is a visitor centre beneath the memorial that displays the names of victims with readings in both English and German. Centre open Tue-Sun 10am-10pm, closed Mon, NYE, NYD, CE, CD, BD.
The symbol of Berlin, abandoned in no-mans between the walls during the Cold War and reopened in 1989. It was built between 1788-91 as a triumphal gate, one of several entry points to the city. The Quadriga , with the Goddess Victory, on top was a classic design based on the original one from Constantinople, which tickled Napoleon's fancy. He had them installed in Paris briefly before being made to hand them back in 1814 . A few important speeches have been made here over the years, including President Kennedy's 'Ich bin Ein Jelly Doughnut', President Reagan's 'Tear this wall down' and President Clinton's 'Berlin is Free'. It also marks the beginning of the eastern half of Berlin. Pariser Platz is home now to luxury Hotels and cafes.
This square is dominated by the TV tower or Fernsehturm , built by the communist East and for a long time the only visible landmark from the West. The architecture is communist 60's at its best but is now populated by western style department stores, sculptures and the World Clock.
A lone hut remains on the spot where for 27 years only those who were authorised could make the journey from East to West. The Haus am Checkpoint Charlie documents the history and stories of those who tried successfully and unsuccessfully to cross the wall during those years. A section of wall still remains along a stretch around the corner. Open daily 9am-10pm, admission €9.50, students €5.50.
What to nosh in in Berlin.
German food is generally very hearty, lots of meat and potatoes. A common snack is the bratwurst sausage, in a bun smothered in mustard and sauerkraut. The currywurst is spicier and usually comes with fries. Yummo.
Berlin has a very diverse range of food cultures including Indian, Turkish, Italian, Russian, East Asian and Spanish so don't feel obliged to stick just to the local menu.
Where would the afternoon be without coffee and cake? A Berlin tradition is a coffee accompanied by a slice of something naughty or a tasty pastry.
German beer is more maltier than usual, resulting in a 'I'm full to the brim' sensation and full understanding of the Berliner nickname 'liquid bread'. Give Weiss, Pils and Pilsner a go.
Payment is usually done at the table with the waiter.
Tipping is not obligatory but in Berlin a small tip of between 5 and 10% for waiter service is customary.
If you still have the energy after walking around town all day, or perhaps you are staying a few days, then you can't miss the opportunity to check out the local night scene. Bars and clubs stay open all night, some even 'til dawn, with plenty of styles to choose from. Orainenburgstrasse in Mitte has bars, cafes and clubs attracting locals and tourists alike. One of the most famous of these is Tacheles , once a department store it is now an art forum, café, club and bar. Other dance venues include Sage-Club and Knaack Club . Techno heads can rave to their hearts content at Casino and Matrix . Alexanderplatz has a range of bars, restaurants and traditional beer houses. Ku'damm in the west is home to touristy discos but 90 Grad has hipper tunes. For a taste of old style cabaret there is the musical on at Bar Jeder Vernunft , Schaperstrasse 24 until May 2006.
More stuff to do in Berlin.
Five museums on one island, where the Spree diverges around it at the eastern end of Unter Den Linden. The Pergamon Museum houses the immense Pergamon Altar, and other vast relief sculptures from Babylon and antiquity. Open Tue-Sun 10am-6pm and Thu until 10pm. Admission €6, €10 3-day pass.
The Alte Museum was completed in 1830 and holds a collection of ancient sculpture and art. Open Tue-Sun, 10am-6pm an Thu until 10pm. Admission €6, €10 3day pass, free 1st Sunday.
The Neue Museum was finished in 1859 to take on the excess art works from the Alte. It is currently under restoration after being completely destroyed in WWII with reopening set for 2008.
The Alte Nationalgalerie was originally home to contemporary German artists. The collection now display pieces by 19thC artists that include Adolph Von Menzel, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne and Rodin. Open Tue-Sun 10am-6pm and Thu until 10pm. Admission €6, €10 3day pass incl. Pergamon.
The Bodemuseum looks impressive with its neo-baroque design, and unfortunately is under restoration as well until October 2006.
This square in front of the Humboldt university is very famous. It dates back to 1740 but was named after the SPD party founder August Bebel in 1947. In the centre of the square is a monument to the night of May 10, 1933, when the Nazis burnt books written by Heinrich and Thomas Mann, Heine, Kastner, Zweig, Karl Marx and many others. On a bronze plaque is written a prophetic quote by writer Heinrich Heine from 1820 that reads 'where books are burned, in the end people will burn'.
Originally this monument was built to commemorate those that died in the Napoleonic wars. Damaged in WWII the restoration project led to some controversy over its significance. After 1990 the building was rededicated as the Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Victims of War and Tyranny. The sculpture 'Mother with dead son' inside by artiste Kathe Kollwitz has also drawn criticism.
Internet cafes are becoming more and more common. You can expect to pay €1-5 euros per 30mins. High speed connection is more common in the bigger internet cafes. Here are some website you may find useful during your stay:
The most famous parade in Berlin is the Love Parade , 3 days of dance, excess and total hedonism . It has been a huge success for many years but lack of funding and interest has seen it cancelled for the past 3 years. This year it is back, set for 15th July 2006 after a late sponsor deal saved the raver's favourite 3 days fun in the sun.
These won't make you into an SAS commander but they may help avoid some difficulties as you travel around.