From getting there to public transport and the best time to visit, plus booking tricks and family notes: the key insights for your Berlin stay.
From half the continent Berlin sits just 2-3 flight hours away, served by BER airport. The Airport Express (FEX, RE7/RB14) reaches Hauptbahnhof in 30 minutes and comes cheaper and quicker than a taxi. By ICE the ride to Berlin Hbf runs 4 hours from Munich, 4 hours from Cologne and 90 minutes from Hamburg.
Few European cities run a transit web as tight as Berlin's: U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, bus and ferries all share a single fare. The day ticket (AB zone) sits around €10 and covers 24 hours. The BVG app lists every connection in real time. Our tip: the Berlin WelcomeCard pairs transit with discounts on many sights.
The cheapest rates usually show up 6-8 weeks ahead of arrival, and for trade fairs (ITB, Berlinale, IFA) and concerts (Mercedes-Benz Arena) you should lock them in even earlier. From Sunday to Tuesday you generally pay 30-40 % less in Berlin than from Thursday to Saturday. Booking breakfast separately often pays off, since Berlin cafés beat the hotel buffets on both taste and price.
High season runs from May to September, packing in the most open-air events. July and August turn hot fast, and with many Berliners away the city feels more laid-back. October tempts with warm light, well-filled cafés and fair prices. From November to February things stay cheap but cold, ideal for museums, theatre and hotel spas.
Berlin treats children very kindly: plenty of hotels offer family rooms, Tiergarten and Tierpark rank among the world's finest zoos, and every neighbourhood has playgrounds. Entry to most attractions is free up to age 6. If you stay longer, an apartment hotel with a kitchen trims your restaurant bill, and you'll find more in our apartment hotel category.
Messe Berlin (ExpoCenter City) lies in Charlottenburg, where hotels are geared to conference guests but often double in price during ITB, IFA or Fruit Logistica. Our tip: book in Spandau, Tempelhof or Mitte with a U-Bahn link to the fair, and you'll pay up to 60 % less.
Hardly a food city in Europe is as exciting as Berlin: currywurst, döner and schnitzel meet more than 20 Michelin stars here. Kreuzberg and Neukölln stand for street food and bars, Mitte for star kitchens, Prenzlauer Berg for cosy restaurants. For tipping, 5-10 % is customary, rounded up to the next Euro.
Berlin is world-famous for its nightlife: Berghain, Sisyphos, KitKat and RSO. Most clubs only open after 11pm and keep going into Sunday midday. The door staff make the call, so dress the part, stay calm and don't turn up in large groups. For something more refined, head to rooftop bars like Klunkerkranich (Neukölln), the Monkey Bar (City West) or Buck and Breck.