Berlin is Germany’s capital and the capital of the Land of Berlin, one of the 16 federal states that make up the Federal Republic of Germany. With a population of 3.5 million (4.5 million if adjacent suburbs across the state line in Brandenburg are counted), Berlin is Germany’s largest city, but the Ruhr area arguably has a bigger metro area population. The focus on and dominance of Berlin as a capital is and has historically been far weaker than that of London, Paris or Madrid, not least because of the federal nature of Germany and the havoc partition wreaked on the city

Berlin is unusual among European capitals in many respects and the four decades of partition – 28 years of them being physically separated by a wall – have also left traces. Barely a fishing village in the 18th century, Berlin grew to be one of the most important and biggest cities in the world by the 1920s, only to lose much of its importance and historic architecture as a result of World War II and German partition. The heart of old Prussia and a focal point of the Cold War, Berlin today is coming into its own again as a cosmopolitan capital of one of Europe’s wealthiest nations. “Arm aber sexy” (poor but sexy) as a former mayor would have it, Berlin attracts young people, students and a creative bohème like few other cities in the world. With architectural heritage from Prussian monarchism, Nazism, East German communism and Potsdamer Platz, filled with 1990s and 2000s style glass palaces after having been a “blank canvas” due to the wall, Berlin’s architecture is as varied as its neighbourhoods and its people. And due to its long history as a cosmopolitan capital (first of Prussia and later of Germany) it has attracted immigrants from all over the world for more than three hundred years now. It should thus be no surprise that immigrants past and present continue to leave a distinctive mark on the city.

Berlin is a world city of culture, politics, media and science. Its economy is based on high-tech firms and the service sector, a diverse range of creative industries, research facilities, media corporations. Significant industries also include IT, biotechnology, construction and electronics. Berlin is home to world-famous universities, orchestras, museums, and entertainment venues, and is host to many sporting events. Its Zoological Garden is the most visited zoo in Europe and one of the most popular worldwide. With the world’s oldest large-scale movie studio complex in nearby Babelsberg (Potsdam), Berlin is an increasingly popular location for international film productions. The city is well known for its festivals, Haram nightlife, contemporary arts and a very high quality of living.

Berlin Districts

Berlin can be seen as a cluster of centres. Berlin has many boroughs (Bezirke), and each borough is composed of several localities (Kiez or Viertel) — each of these boroughs and localities have their unique style. Some boroughs of Berlin are more worthy of a visitor’s attention than others. Berlin used to be divided into 23 boroughs, and these boroughs are used in Wikivoyage as they remain foremost in popular conceptions of the city and are useful for visitors to know. In January 2001, the number of boroughs was reduced from 23 to 12 for administrative purposes – mostly by merging old boroughs – sometimes across what was the inner-Berlin border. The boroughs can roughly be grouped into eight districts:

Muslim Friendly Travel Guide to Berlin

Weather in Berlin

Berlin has a temperate oceanic climate, meaning warm summers and cold winters. Nighttime temperatures typically fall below freezing in the winter, and snowfall is a regular occurrence, though the snow rarely accumulates for more than a few days. Summers are typically pleasant, with daytime temperatures typically in the low 20s, and nighttime temperatures staying above 10 °C. Berlin is a rather windy city compared to much of Southern Germany, though by no means as windy as coastal cities like Hamburg or Lübeck. A wind-stopping jacket comes highly recommended, especially during the shoulder seasons.

Economy

Before the Second World War, Berlin was a centre for major German industrial companies and the administrative headquarters of many companies in all fields. However, soon after the war ended, many of these companies moved south or west, went bankrupt, or were nationalised in the GDR. Berlin consequentially has become a centre of research, rather than of production. While some company headquarters have moved to Berlin since reunification, the dominance of the capital is much less pronounced in the German economy than in that of most other European countries. Despite the economic boost resulting from the country’s capital moving back to the city, Berlin’s unemployment rate soared over 10%. Berlin is also known in Germany for being a centre of creative branches such as design and arts of all kinds — you will see a lot of people working (or not depending on your definition of the term) with Apple products in some coffee shops.

How to travel to Berlin

As the city was divided into two during the Cold War, many major parts of Berlin’s infrastructure — such as airports — were built on both sides. The challenge today is to merge these two systems into one that serves all the people in the Metropolitan Berlin area. In terms of railway stations, this process is mostly finished, but the airport and bus station situation is still far from satisfactory.

What is the best way to fly to Berlin

A new airport, Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (IATA Code: BER), was built on the extended grounds of Schönefeld, and is now operational.

Berlin-Brandenburg Airport

The opening of [Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (IATA Code: BER), which is being built on the extended grounds of Schönefeld, was scheduled for 2011 but has been postponed many times due to construction and safety issues. As of February 2022, it is now operational.

Travel by train to Berlin

The central station Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) together with Südkreuz (southern cross, formerly Papestraße) and Ostbahnhof (eastern station) — plus minor Gesundbrunnen in the north and Spandau in the west — forms the backbone of all connections. All are connected to S- or U-Bahn. All trains stop at Hauptbahnhof and a second major hub (depending on your itinerary). Regional trains stop at several stations within Berlin, almost all of them also at Hauptbahnhof and all stop at least at one major long distance hub. The Hauptbahnhof opened in 2006 and is located between the S-Bahn stations Friedrichstraße and Bellevue. It is itself an impressive feat of architecture with many shops, most of them open on Sundays. Given its size, the distances between train plaforms are surprisingly short. However, try to avoid tight connections, as the multilevel layout can be confusing at first and Berlin Hauptbahnhof is a good place to kill half an hour at any rate. The new ‘Hauptbahnhof’ may appear as ‘Lehrter Bahnhof’ on older maps.

On the U-Bahn Hauptbahnhof is served only by the short U55, but construction to link it to U5 is ongoing. Three S-Bahn lines (S3, S5, S7) serve the station as do three tram lines (M5, M8, M10). In addition to the extension of U55 towards U5 (and thus to East Berlin), the tram lines now mostly serving the East are planned to be extended westward and a new S-Bahn line, tentatively called “S21” is under construction serving as another North-South spine through Hauptbahnhof.

During partition Berlin had two main train stations: Zoologischer Garten (practically universally referred to in speech as Bahnhof Zoo or just Zoo) in the West, and Ostbahnhof in the East. The latter was named “Hauptbahnhof” from 1987 to 1998. Since the opening of the Hauptbahnhof, most ICE and international lines no longer stop at Zoologischer Garten, although regional DB services and S+U-Bahn services still stop there.

Berlin is served by all the train types Deutsche Bahn (DB) has on offer, including high speed ICE, somewhat slower IC and Eurocitys (EC) operated by DB and/or other European railroad companies. Connections to the rest of Germany are excellent and most of Europe is reachable with one or two changes. While train routes to Berlin suffered during partition, they were a high federal priority following reunification and today Berlin has fast train connections to the West and south. Trains due north and east are still a bit slower. For example, the line to Dresden is slower today than it was in the 1930s when streamlined steam trains plied the route.

Domestic trains to Berlin include ICE service from Hamburg, Munich via Leipzig/Halle, Erfurt and Nuremberg with the fastest trains arriving in Munich less than four hours after departure in Berlin.IC/EC services from Dresden and several “regional” trains among which the IRE to Hamburg (longer travel time than ICE, more intermediate stops) might be of interest due to its affordable fixed price (19.90 € one way, 29.90€ round trip). Berlin is also a stop for several “ICE Sprinter” services – ICE trains with fewer or no intermediate stops intended to lure business travelers from planes onto trains with faster travel times.

Berlin is also served by a private competitor of DB : Flixtrain, but keep in mind that Flixtrain doesn’t accept any DB tickets and vice versa. They run one train per day and direction to and from Stuttgart via Wolfsburg and other stops. Tickets are sold through Flixbus which is mostly a bus operator. Flixtrain trains have four stops in Berlin; Lichtenberg, Ostbahnhof, Hauptbahnhof and Bahnhof Zoo. Flixtrain is thus very close to the only long distance train service at the former hub of West-Berlin Bahnhof Zoo.

The Austrian railway company ÖBB (under the name Nightjet) run sleeper trains between Berlin and Vienna (11 hours) and Berlin and Zürich (12 hours). Since 2016 Deutsche Bahn no longer run sleepers.

There are also long-haul trains from Moscow via Minsk and Brest, run by RZD at least once a week, with greatly increased departures during spring and summer season. From the other direction, this train originates in Paris a night before, making it an handy overnight connection between the two cities – and the only sleeper train between Germany and France. Apart from a summer-only service from Kaliningrad, there are as of 2022, no other overnight trains from Eastern European and Russian cities.

Travel by bus to Berlin

• Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) – Central Bus Terminal | Long distance buses generally arrive here. There are numerous buses to all directions and the U-Bahn stops (Theodor-Heuss-Platz or Kaiserdamm; both U2) or the S-Bahn stop (Messe Nord/ICC S41/42 and S46) is a 5-minute-walk away. Follow signposting. Some bus lines have other stops around Berlin, often including Südkreuz and/or one of the airports. The bus station is not really close to anything. Retail services are limited and the prices as high as one might expect at a gas station. From 2016 to 2022 the station is undergoing renovation and expansion to cope with rising and changing demand – the station will remain operational throughout the expansion but some services may become temporarily unavailable. As part of the purpose of the works is to reduce average dwell times from half an hour to 15 minutes it will also benefit those just driving through or connecting. The bus station website lists all departures and arrivals including the company running the service so it is a good place to look for up-to-date travel options.
• Flixbus – the biggest player in the market
• onebus
• Eurolines
• Polskibus mostly to/from Poland
• MS Trans from south-western Poland (Lower Silesian Voivodeship)

How to travel to Berlin by car

Berlin’s “capital beltway”, the A10 Berliner Ring, extends up to km 30 outside the city limits and actually only touches Berlin itself in the Northeast. It was built in the GDR era as the longest circular motorway in the world to direct traffic around West-Berlin but has since been surpassed in length by Beijing’s sixth ring road and also Beijing’s seventh ring road when it opens. At km 196 it is km 8 longer than M25 around London, Europe’s second longest circular motorway. These motorways (enumerated in a clockwise direction) connect with the ring:

• A11 from Stettin at Dreieck Schwanebeck
• A12 from Frankfurt (Oder)/Warsaw at Dreieck Spreeau
• A13 from Dresden/Prague at Kreuz Schönefeld
• A9 from Leipzig/Munich at Dreieck Potsdam
• A2 from Hanover/Dortmund at Dreieck Werder
• A24 from Hamburg at Dreieck Havelland.

From the ring, these are the motorways heading towards the city:

• A111 from the northwest at Kreuz Oranienburg
• A114 from the north at Dreieck Pankow
• A113 from the southeast at Schönefelder Kreuz
• A115 from the southwest at Dreieck Nuthetal.

There are also dual carriageways:

• B96 from the north and the south
• B2 from the northeast
• B5 from the east and west
• B101 from the south.

Inside Berlin there is a heavily congested inner ring motorway (A100), which encircles the north, west and south with the northeastern section missing. Berlin driving is not for the faint-hearted, but manageable as there are wide streets and reasonably good parking conditions – at least in most parts of the city.

Berlin has a low emission zone (Umweltzone), which contains all areas within the S-Bahn ring. All vehicles moving inside this zone (including foreign vehicles) are required to bear a green emissions sticker (Feinstaubplakette). There are exceptions, e.g., for historic cars, but not for foreign number plates.

Travel by ship/cruise to Berlin

Being some km 200 inland, Berlin does not have a seaport. The nearest seaport is Rostock-Warnemünde, which is between two and a half and three hours away by train, though still sold by many cruise ship operators as “Berlin“, so don’t be surprised. There are similar distances to the seaports of Hamburg and Szczecin.

Some river cruises start or end at Berlin, using Havel, Spree and some canals for cruises to Prague or the Baltic Sea. While river cruises in this area are nowhere near as popular as those along Rhine or Danube, there is some charming nature rather close to Berlin. Most cruises include a tour of Berlin as the river Spree runs close to many sights.

Travel by bicycle in Berlin

The 700km Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle Route and the 340km Berlin-Usedom Cycle Route both end in Berlin.

How to get around in Berlin

By public transport

As Berlin is a major metropolis with pretty decent public transit, you should take buses, trains and trams whenever possible as those cover most of the city and are often the quickest way to get to places. The (BVG) list all their fares on their website.

If you don’t know how to get somewhere, or how to get home at night, call ☎ +49 30 19449, BVG’s customer service number. Most U-Bahn and some S-Bahn stations have call points from which you can contact customer service directly. Some BVG buses and tram lines run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Tickets

The public transport system in Berlin (U-, S-Bahn, bus, tram, regional rail) uses a common ticket system based on zones (zone A, B and C). You are unlikely going beyond zone A and B, except on trips to Potsdam or to Schönefeld Airport (SXF). The border between zones A and B is the S-Bahn Ring (see below). Zone C includes trips to and within Potsdam.

The following tickets can be used for single journeys:

• Single Ticket. The standard single journey ticket. It is valid for any travel within two hours of validation, in a single direction, within the appropriate fare zones. There is no limit to transfers. Return journeys are not allowed. Price: Berlin AB €2.80 (reduced €2.92); Berlin ABC €3.40 (reduced €2.50).
• 4-trip ticket (4 Fahrten Karte). This gives you 4 single trip tickets at a cheaper cost. Price: Berlin AB €9.00 (reduced €5.60).
• Short trip (Kurzstrecke). For a single journey you can buy a affordable Kurzstrecke for €2.92, but this is only valid for 3 stops on the U-Bahn or S-Bahn (transfers permitted) or 6 stops on buses or trams (no transfers). The stations included in a short tip ticket are indicated on schedules posted at bus and tram stops.

Several options are available for unlimited travel:

• Day Ticket (Tageskarte). A day ticket for one person. Worth it if you are travelling more than two trips a day. Valid until 03:00 the next morning, not 24 hours! Price: Berlin AB €7 (reduced €4.70); Berlin ABC €7.70 (reduced €5.30).
• Small Group Day Ticket AB (Kleingruppen-Tageskarte). A day ticket valid for up to five people. For groups of three or more, this ticket is cheaper than individual day tickets. Price: Berlin AB €19.90, Berlin ABC €20.80.
• 7-Day-Ticket AB (7-Tagekarte). A ticket valid for seven days. Price: Berlin AB €30, Berlin ABC €37.50.
• Berlin CityTourCard. Ticket valid for all public transport services in Berlin, Potsdam and the surrounding area (depending on the covered zones) and a discount card for many tourism attractions; available in several different versions: 48 hours AB €17.40; 72 hours AB €24.50; 5 days AB €31.90. Add a few euros if you want to go to Potsdam (fare zone ABC). A folded leaflet with inner city map and an overview of the S-Bahn and U-Bahn railway networks of Berlin is included. Can be bought at ticket machines and various sales points (Berlin airports, larger train stations, hotels or online).
• Berlin WelcomeCard. Unlimited travel with all methods of public transport for the validity of the ticket; save up to 50% on more than 200 tourist and cultural highlights; handy guide in pocket book format with insider tips and tour suggestions; city plan for Berlin and Potsdam and a network plan for public transport. Can be bought at various sales points (Berlin airports, larger train stations, hotels or online).

Tickets valid for only B and C are available as well, which you might need for a single trip to Schönefeld Airport from somewhat out of the way lodgings. There is only one way to get a ticket only valid in A: Deutsche Bahn offers “City Tickets” as an add-on for their long distance train tickets and in Berlin those are only valid for a single trip inside the A zone.

Reduced fares apply for children 6 to 14. Children under 6 ride free.

Purchasing tickets

All tickets are available at vending machines at U- and S-Bahn platforms. English and other European languages are available. Payment is mostly by local bank cards, coins and banknotes. If you need assistance most larger stations have staffed ticket counters where you can ask questions and buy tickets. Buses will accept cash, and make change for tickets. Hotels may sell tickets as well.

In some places people will try to sell used tickets to you. Be aware that you can go only one direction with a single-journey ticket (check the validation stamp and be careful as this could also be a pickpocket trick). Don’t pay more than half the price.

Validating tickets

You need to validate your ticket using the machines on the U- and S-bahn platforms or in the bus. The machines are yellow/white in the U-Bahn and the bus, and red on S-Bahn platforms. Validation simply means the machine prints a time stamp onto the ticket. Once validated, a ticket which is still valid will not have to be re-validated before each single trip. Whilst it might be tempting to try to avoid buying a ticket, plain-clothed inspectors do patrol the trains. There is a €60 fine if you are caught with an unvalidated ticket or without a ticket. Ticket inspections are arguably more common than in other cities and the inspectors more strict than in other cities. Don’t even try to outrun one. They’ll catch you and be all the more pissed at you. In some cases fare inspectors have not shirked from using physical force to restrain would be fare-evaders. Even first time fare-dodging is a criminal offence, but it rarely goes to court unless for repeat offenders.

By train  

If you need to get around the town quickly, take the S-Bahn.

The Ringbahn that goes all around Berlin in a circle (or as local politicians would have it “a dog’s head”) lets you get to other parts of the city really fast. If you’re looking for the way, use BVG.de, that site includes Buses, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, Tram and even ferries. You can simply enter departure address and arrival address to see the optimum connection, it’s an excellent service.

The S-Bahn originates from a circular railway (“Ringbahn”) and an East-West trunk (“Stadtbahn”) built in 19th century to provide better connectivity between the terminus stations (similar to the way train stations are laid out in Paris or London today) which were later quadruple tracked with two tracks electrified for S-Bahn service (and later two tracks electrified with the mainline system) and in the 1930s a North-South Tunnel was added exclusively for the S-Bahn. The four stops where those intersect are named (x-)kreuz (x being the cardinal direction) with the exception of the Northern one which is officially Bahnhof Gesundbrunnen but sometimes referred to as “Nordkreuz”. So there is Ostkreuz, Westkreuz, Südkreuz and Gesundbrunnen. The S-Bahn was neglected in the West during most of Berlin partition (see infobox for the reasons why) and some routes that were abandoned in this era are still not rebuilt and maybe never will. The S-Bahn is being expanded, however, and the network is now seamless: the former border is hardly ever notable to the casual observer. In the centre, most S-Bahn lines , , run on an east-west route between Ostkreuz and Westkreuz via the stops Warschauer Straße, Ostbahnhof, Jannowitzbrücke, Alexanderplatz, Hackescher Markt, Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof, Bellevue, Tiergarten, Zoologischer Garten, Savignyplatz and Charlottenburg. Other lines run along a circle track around the town, most notably the and the , , , lines, and there’s also a north-south connection , , from Gesundbrunnen through Friedrichstraße and Potsdamer Platz to Südkreuz or Schöneberg.

Regional trains (RB, RE) run along the same central east-west connection, but stopping only at Lichtenberg or Karlshorst, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, Charlottenburg and Spandau or Wannsee, as well as other lines connecting north-south from Jungfernheide or Gesundbrunnen through Hauptbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz and Südkreuz to Lichterfelde-Ost. Long distance trains mostly run to Hauptbahnhof, often with one or two extra stops at other stations.

By U-Bahn 

The Berlin U-Bahn (commonly understood to be short for Untergrundbahn – “underground railway”) is a network of ten lines across the city. They are numbered from 1 to 9 with the prefix “U” (), with the additional line U55 () in operation until its route gets connected to the U5 sometime 2020. You may find the U-Bahn network slightly less logical and convenient to use than in other European capitals, as Berlin’s troubled history made its mark on it and many key locations remain unconnected, which is why using buses, trams and S-Bahn to complement the U-Bahn is probably necessary for efficient travel throughout Berlin. However as those systems are fully integrated (see above), you can do so with only one ticket or type of ticket. Generally speaking in the east trams are more widespread while the west relies more heavily on U-Bahn, but that has been slowly changing since 1990.

Despite the name “underground”, some 20% of the network is actually made up of overground stretches running over characteristic viaducts throughout the city, adding a certain flavour to Berlin’s cityscape. This arrangement is similar to many older subway systems which include elevated or even at-grade sections like the Hamburg system or the M2 / M6 lines in Paris. Unlike light rail systems or the Berlin tram however, all parts of the network have their own right of way and subways don’t have level crossings.

Detailed maps can be found in every U-Bahn station and on the trains. U-Bahn stations can be seen from far by their big, friendly blue U signs. Together with the S-Bahn (which is administered by Deutsche Bahn and mostly runs aboveground), the U-Bahn provides a transportation network throughout greater Berlin that is extremely efficient and fast. On weekends (Friday to Sunday), and during the Christmas and New Year holidays, all U-Bahn and S-Bahn lines (except line U4 and U55) run all night, so returning from late night outings is easy, especially given the average start time of most ‘parties’ in Berlin (23:00 to 01:00). During the week there is no U-Bahn or S-Bahn service from c. 01:00-04:30, but metro trams/buses and special Night Buses (parallel to the U-Bahn line) run every half an hour 12:30-04:30.

There are no turnstiles to limit access to U-Bahn stations: it is technically possible to ride without a ticket. But if caught by a ticket checker you will be fined €60 (see “Validating tickets” above) so it is not only illegal but probably not worth the risk to ride without validating your ticket. Nearly all U- and S-Bahn stations now have electronic signs that display the expected arrival of the next train (and its direction), based on sensors along the lines.

Design-wise, U-Bahn stations are about as diverse as you’d expect for a system that started operations when the Kaiser reigned and has been expanded in phases of overflowing as well as empty municipal coffers. Quite a handful of stations built before World War II were designed by the Swedish architect Alfred Grenander (died 1931) whose designs are much lauded and who included some useful features like having each station dominated by a certain color which – where it is still visible to the untrained eye – helps in quickly recognizing a station. From the mid 1960s to mid 1990s most stations built in West Berlin were designed by Rainer G. Rümmler (1929-2004) who gave each station a much more individual look compared to Grenander who preferred to vary only small details like the color of the tiles. There are of course other stations, designed by other architects and for the new U5 extension station “Museumsinsel” a rather grandiose design has been chosen that will surely impress visitors when the station opens.

By tram (streetcar)

The trams (Straßenbahn) are mostly found in East Berlin, as the West Berlin tram network was shut down in the 1960s in an effort to make the city more car friendly. If you don’t already have a ticket, you can buy one inside the tram. Since reunification there has been a gradual “reconquista” of areas once served by trams in West-Berlin and in some parts of Mitte it is hard to tell from trams alone where the wall used to be. In outlying districts of West Berlin, however, trams are still nowhere to be found – in stark contrast to the East, where they provide much needed access to planned bedroom communities from East German times. The red-red-green coalition sworn in in 2016 has stated a firm commitment towards more trams and there are plans to expand and improve the network before the end of the parliamentary term in 2021.

There are two types of tram. Metrotrams usually have a 24/7 schedule as well as higher frequencies during daytimes, although stops are more spread out. Metrotrams are marked by an “M” in front of their line number (e.g., M10). “Regular” trams stop more frequently and even incorporate picturesque single-track rides through forested areas far east of the Mitte district.

Despite being called “tram” the network has almost all characteristics of light rail and new lines are always built with their own right of way, making travel times faster than by bus. Even compared to some other trams in other German cities, the newest generation of Berlin trams have impressive acceleration, so take care when boarding and try to get a seat or hold onto something, especially if you’re not sure on your feet.

Travel by bus to Berlin

Berlin’s buses are a very important form of public transportation, as they complement the light rail systems wherever they were removed (trams in the West) or remain incomplete. Due to the heavy loads and demands of narrow streets, Berlin is one of the few cities in Europe to use double-decker buses extensively – over 400 of the 1400 buses in operation in Berlin are double-deckers. A ride in a Berlin double-decker should be on the to-do list of every first-time visitor to Berlin. Unlike other world cities, you should not flag down buses at stops in Berlin, even if there are multiple routes serving the stop. Some drivers may consider it an insult to their professionalism. A frequent problem with buses, particularly busy lines during rush hour and especially in the West (where they have to cope with levels of patronage more common for light rail lines) is bunching. As many buses come every five minutes during busy times, the first bus will get most of the passengers, meaning the bus behind catches up, which means the second bus gets even less passengers catching up even more, until finally two or three buses come a minute apart or even at the same time and then no bus comes for 15 minutes despite a nominal 5 minute headway. BVG are rather self-deprecating about the issue but aside from building new tram lines there is very little that can be done about it. Boarding fast and getting away from the door area is the best you can do to mitigate the issue.

• Night buses operate in the night when the other means of transportation do not.
• The single-digit lines replace the metro lines in the night when the latter do not operate, stopping at the stops right atop/beside the U-Bahn stations. The numbering follows the numbering of U-Bahn lines, but uses “N” instead of “U”, so that N7 is a bus line replacing the U7 U-Bahn line.
• Other double-digit night lines (N10 through N97) cover other routes, but without straightforward reference to daytime route numbers

There is no difference in fares between different types of buses – even the MetroBuses, the 100 and 200 demand the same fares as regular buses. Therefore, riding the city buses is a very cost-effective way of exploring the city compared to the many privately-operated “hop-on/hop-off sightseeing bus tours”.

Travel by bicycle in Berlin

Berlin has no steep hills and offers many bicycle paths (Radwege) throughout the city (although not all are very smooth). These include 860 km of completely separate bike paths, 60 km of bike lanes on streets, 50 km of bike lanes on pavements or sidewalks, 100 km of mixed-use pedestrian-bike paths, and 70 km of combined bus-bike lanes on streets. Bicycles are a very popular method of transportation among Berlin residents, and there is almost always a certain level of bicycle traffic. The political debate in the 2010s has swung decisively in favour of cycling, with a city-wide plebiscite causing the reigning centre/left red-red-green coalition to sign into law an extensive programme in favour of more and better cycle infrastructure, which the initiators of the plebiscite have stated to monitor closely to ensure implementation.

Seeing Berlin by bicycle is unquestionably a great way to get acquainted with the big tourist sites, and the little sprees and side streets as well. The probably most famous bicycle path is the Mauerradweg, a bike path along the former Berlin wall. Although it’s good to carry your own map, you can also always check your location at any U-Bahn station and many bus stations.

Tours and rentals

Traditional rental places are widespread, especially in areas frequented by tourists. Have a look around or ask at your accommodation. Most places have a rental charge of between €8 and €12 per day – they are excellent value and give you the freedom to explore the big city.

If you are not familiar with searching your own way through the city or you want more explanation of the sights you visit, you can get guided bike tours (with bike included) on Baja Bikes or Berlin Bike.

Berlin also has a bike sharing programme, LIDL-BIKE (formerly Call a Bike) making bikes available all over the town to pick up and leave anywhere you like. The bikes are grey/green and can be found across the central districts of Berlin. Follow the instructions on the bike touchscreen or use the mobile app. Rentals cost, basic annual fee of €3, then €1 for each 30 minute up to a maximum of €15 a day. You may however prefer to pay the monthly fee of €9 or a yearly fee of €49 and get the first 30 minutes of each rental for free, even right after returning your previous bike.

Bicycles on public transport

You can take your bicycle on any S- and U-Bahn, trains and trams using the designated areas. Ferries usually have space for bike but can get crowded during peak times and good weather. Buses do not take bikes with the exception of night buses N1-N9 on the nights between Sunday and Monday, and Thursday and Friday (that’s when there is no night service of the U-Bahn). These buses have space for one bike. Bike space on any mode of public transport is limited and you might be refused entry. Wheelchairs and buggies have priority over bikes.

You need to purchase a ticket for your bike as well. The prices are as follows:

• Single trip. Berlin AB €1.90, Berlin ABC €2.50.
• Day ticket. Berlin AB €4.80, Berlin ABC €5.40.
• Short trip (Kurzstrecke). Price: €1.20.

Best way to travel in Berlin by a Taxi

Taxi services are easy to use and a bit less expensive than in many other big Central European cities. You can hail a cab (the yellow light on the top shows the cab is available), or find a taxi rank (Taxistand). Taxi drivers are in general able to speak English. If you ask for a short trip (Kurzstrecke), as long as it’s under 2 km and before the taxi driver starts the meter running, the trip normally is cheaper, €4. This only applies if you flag the taxi down on the street, not if you get in at a taxi rank.

By ferry

Despite not being a maritime city like Hamburg or Venice, Berlin does have usable waterways and the BVG run a couple of ferries, which can be accessed with regular BVG tickets. Most of the ferries are of local interest only, but the Ferry line F10 covers km 4.4 across the Wannsee and connects to the S-Bahn at one end. More of a tourism attraction than actual practical transportation is Ferry F24, which is the only ferry operated by a rowing boat in Berlin and the only rowing boat ferry that is part of any public transit ticketing system in Germany. In an effort to become a “greener” city some of the ferries run on electricity provided by solar panels on their roofs or land based charging stations.

In addition to those public transit ferries there are tour boats doing sight seeing trips mostly along the river Spree and mostly as circular tours. They are much more expensive than BVG tickets.

By gondola lift

In the course of the 2017 international gardening exhibition in Berlin/East, Berlin received its first gondola lift, which stayed in operation after the exhibition closed. It links to Kienberg (Gärten der Welt) U-Bahn station along at one end and has all of three stations along a line length of 1580 which is comparable to U55. It is not part of BVG ticketing and at 6.50€ per return trip, tickets are comparatively expensive.

Sightseeing in Berlin

Berlin has numerous attractions dating from its turbulent history and in part owing to the fact that it was a “double capital” for forty years. While the upkeep of some is an ongoing headache for the treasurer, they are a delight to visitors and many locals alike.

Museums

Berlin has a vast array of museums. By far most of them are covered in the Mitte district guide, which, among others, covers the Museumsinsel (an island on the Spree covered with historic museums) and the Kulturforum (a collection of contemporary cultural institutions). You will also find a good deal of museums in the West and Steglitz-Zehlendorf area of the city, but there are larger or smaller museums in almost every district. There are museums covering everything, from art through Berlin’s and Germany’s history to various branches of technology and science.

Most museums charge admission for people 18 years of age or older – usually €6 to €14. Discounts (usually 50%) are available for students and disabled people with identification. Children and young people can often come in free, but do check the age restrictions in particular museums. A nice offer for museum addicts is the three-day Museums Pass for €29 (concessions: €14,50), which grants entrance to all the regular exhibitions of the approximately 30 state-run museums and public foundations.

Most museums are closed on Mondays – notable exceptions include the Pergamon Museum, the Neues Museum and the Deutsches Historisches Museum, which are open daily. Museumsportal Berlin, a collective web initiative, offers easy access to information on all museums, memorials, castles and collections and on current and upcoming exhibitions. Some museums offer free or steeply discounted entry once a week, once a month or during certain hours of the day.

Remains of the Berlin Wall

While the Berlin Wall has long been dismantled and much of the grounds it occupied completely redeveloped, you can still find parts of the wall preserved around Berlin. This does not refer to very small pieces of the Wall sold by the East German government instantly after its dismantling, which can be found in various cafes, restaurants and hotels not only in Berlin, but to actual preserved fragments of the Wall still standing in their original locations. For large parts of the distance the wall ran in central Berlin, pavement markers show its former location.

The iconic Brandenburg Gate is right at the main street, Unter den Linden. One of the most often visited is the Checkpoint Charlie at the southern border of Mitte and Kreuzberg, which is a recreated legendary border crossing within the Friedrichstraße. You cannot see the actual wall there, but this iconic (and extremely touristy) point is on almost every visitor’s list. West from there, you can find a piece of the wall lining up the Niederkirchnerstraße next to the Topography of Terror museum in Kreuzberg. Another popular site is the East Side Gallery along the Spree in Friedrichshain, a very long stretch of preserved Wall with colorful graffiti. All of the aforementioned fragments were altered and are now tourism attractions rather than actual historic monuments – if you want a truly preserved section of the Wall, head over to the northern border of Mitte and Gesundbrunnen in the street Bernauer Straße and visit the Berlin Wall Memorial, with a complete section of the wall in all its gloom. A smaller section of the original wall can be seen from the S-Bahn when travelling between Nordbahnhof and Humbolthain stations.

A km 160 biking and walking trail along the former Berlin Wall, the Berliner Mauerweg (Berlin Wall Trail), is well sign-posted and provides alternating sections of historic importance and natural beauty.

Private art galleries

As Berlin is a city of art, it is quite easy to find an art gallery on your way. They provide a nice opportunity to have a look at modern artists’ work in a not-so-crowded environment for free. Some gallery streets with more than about a dozen galleries are Auguststraße, Linienstraße, Torstraße, Brunnenstraße (all Mitte, north of S-Bahn station Oranienburger Straße), Zimmerstraße (Kreuzberg, U-Bahn station Kochstraße) and Fasanenstraße (Charlottenburg). You can find a list of all the exhibitions and gallery openings as well as a map on Berlin Art Grid.

Tall buildings with observation decks

Berlin has its fair share of tall buildings and, as the city is quite expansive and does not have one single centre where all tall buildings are located, you can enjoy a nice view from most of them, even ones that are not tall by global standards.

Most of the viewing points are spread out within the Berlin/Mitte district. Germany’s tallest construction, the Fernsehturm (TV Tower), located on Alexanderplatz, is 368 m tall and the observation deck with restaurant is at around 205 m. Nearby, you can find the Park Inn Hotel with a small terrace on the 40th floor. From there you have great views of the Fernsehturm. Another viewing point in a modern building at 101 m is the Kollhoff Tower at Potsdamer Platz, which also features the fastest elevator in Europe.

One of the three most important historic buildings with viewing points is the Reichstagsgebäude, the building that is home to the German Parliament in Spreebogen / Regierungsviertel), with a stunning glass dome, that offers a great view of Berlin. The entry to the dome is free, but you need to book your ticket in advance. The famous 67 m tall monument Siegessäule (Victory Column), once directly in front of the Reichstagsgebäude, but now located in the middle of the Straße des 17. Juni in Tiergarten, has a viewing platform. You can also climb on top of the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) in Berlin/Mitte on the Museumsinsel for a view of the city.

The viewing point that is located in a different district is the Funkturm (Radio Tower) in Westend. It is a 150 m tall lattice tower with open-air observation deck 124 m above ground.

The only free viewing point is the one on the Reichstagsgebäude, the others range between €3-13.

Zoo

Berlin has two zoos and an aquarium. The Berlin Zoo in the west (Berlin/Mitte) is the historic zoo. It’s an oasis in the city and very popular with families and schools. It has the largest range of species in the world and is well known for its pandas. The Aquarium Berlin is the largest aquarium in Germany and part of the Berlin Zoo (can be visited separately). It is located near the Elephant Gate (Budapester Straße), one of the entrances to the zoo, and a traditional photo stop for most visitors because of the architecture. The Tierpark Berlin in Friedrichsfelde (Berlin/East) is more spacious than the historic Berlin Zoo and has been open for some 50 years, dating to the era of partition when authorities in the East wanted to offer their people their own zoo. The compound also includes a small château with its adjacent park.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Berlin

Pick up a copy of Exberliner, the monthly English-language paper for Berlin to find out what’s on, when and where. It provides high quality journalism and up-to-date listings. If you understand German, the activity planners for the city, zitty and tip, are available at every kiosk. Be prepared to choose among a huge number of options.

Explore

Go on a tour of Berlin. The Mitte and surrounding districts are sufficiently compact to allow a number of excellent walking tours through its history-filled streets. You’ll see amazing things you would otherwise miss. Details are usually available from the reception desks of hostels and hotels.

• Berlin Tour by public bus line 100 and 200 – The 100 and 200 bus lines are just ordinary bus lines, but they pass by many of Berlin’s famous landmarks. Both run every 5–10 minutes between S+U-station Zoologischer Garten and S+U-station Alexanderplatz. All BVG tickets are accepted.

• Ticket B – Showing the city of Berlin on hand-picked architectural routes. Led by architects in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish. Tours from the water, on land or in a helicopter are offered. They arrange your special tour on contemporary architecture in Berlin with many exclusive visits to the interiors of buildings.

• Stern und Kreisschiffahrt | By far the biggest boat company in Berlin. They offer tours on most lakes.

• Yachtcharter Werder Offers the possibility of a long term stay on the waterways of Berlin and the surrounding federal state Brandenburg.

Outdoor recreation

Berlin has many great parks which are very popular in the summer. Green Berlin operates some of them.

Berlin’s largest park is Großer Tiergarten (in Berlin/Mitte). In the summer and on weekends you will see loads of families with their barbecues.

There are a few notable parks in Berlin/East Central. Superb panoramic views across south Berlin can be had in Viktoriapark in Kreuzberg. You’ll also find a National monument by Schinkel on top of it. Mauerpark is well known the Bearpit Karaoke taking place every second Sunday in summer, and for the large flea market. It’s also a popular barbecuing spot. Görlitzer Park has barbecue area, a football ground and a minigolf company.

Adjacent to Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin/City West is Schlossgarten Charlottenburg. The green areas of the park are free, so you can go there to have a walk even if you are not interested in the palace.

A bit further afield with subway access in Berlin/East are the Gärten der Welt (World’s Garden). Inside you can find a large, well-established Chinese garden, a Korean garden, a small Bali’s Garden/Glasshouse, an Oriental Garden with nice fountains and a cloister and a Japanese garden which is a project by the city partnership of Berlin and Tokyo. Best time for a visit is in spring or summer. A bit further afield in the opposite direction, in Berlin/Steglitz-Zehlendorf, is the Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem (Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem).

The large Treptower Park in Berlin/Treptow-Köpenick next to the Spree is nice and clean. It’s famous for the Insel der Jugend (Isle of Youth) and its numerous boat rentals and boat trips.

Berlin also has quite a few lakes and beaches suitable for swimming. They quite often have one paid area with facilities, and frequent unmanaged places with free access. Some have designated areas for nude bathing (FKK). Wannsee in Berlin/Steglitz-Zehlendorf is called Berlin’s “bath tub”. The Strandbad Wannsee is the most famous bathing area for locals. Take the S-Bahn lines S1 or S7 to the station Nikolassee and follow the crowd! In the southeast of Berlin in Berlin/Treptow-Köpenick, you’ll find the Müggelsee which is a popular swimming spot.

Festivals and annual events

• Ultraschall Berlin – Festival für neue Musik An annual festival dedicated to new music featuring both world premieres and music by recent composers. Concerts take place in different venues across the city and are performed by small ensembles up to big orchestras. In 2018 the 5-day event takes place for the 20th time.

• Berlinale – The city’s largest cultural event and an important fixture in the global film industry’s calendar (up there with Cannes). 250,000 tickets sold, 400 different films screened and a host of associated parties and events every year. In contrast to Cannes, all screenings at the Berlinale are open to the public. Tickets are inexpensive and relatively easy to get for the “International Forum of Young Film” screenings and the “Berlinale Panorama” (movies which are not in the competition).

• MaerzMusik A festival with contemporary music and performances on issues of our time, organised by Berliner Festspiele.

• Open Air Gallery Oberbaumbrücke Artists are selling their works, amateur tango dancers are giving public performances and you can contribute to a collaborative painting on a very long canvas spread on the street along the festival.

• Fête de la Musique – Worldwide Music Day | All kinds of music around the town on this day coordinating with a similar day in most French cities.

• Young Euro Classic A music festival established in 2000 that features youth orchestras from around the world. The concerts take place in the Konzerthaus Berlin on Gendarmenmarkt. The festival usually runs for around 2 weeks. Concerts often feature world premieres.

• Lange Nacht der Museen – Long Night of Museums | A large cultural event with many museums (around 80) open until 02:00 and extra events around the town.

• Doors Open Day of the Federal Government – Tag der offenen Tür der Bundesregierung | For one weekend, the federal government organises doors open days where most of the Federal Ministries and other governmental institutions can be accessed. Parts of the German Chancellery are also accessible, where the current chancellor will usually show up. Free transport between the locations is provided. There are security checks and they advise to avoid bringing larger objects (such as suitcases). Bring an official ID with you.

• Musikfest Berlin A large classical music festival marking the beginning of the season. For about 2 weeks there are concerts in many of Berlin’s music venues. Renowned international and German orchestras perform. Organised by Berliner Festspiele.

• Festival of Lights A 10-day long festival, where famous buildings in Berlin are illuminated in a special way.

Cultural venues

Berlin is arguably the live cultural centre of Germany. A comprehensive platform that lists cultural events is offered by Berlin Bühnen on behalf of about 80 venues.

Theatre

• Deutsches Theater – German Theatre | Classical theatre with an impressive line up of actors and directors.

• Berliner Ensemble – Theater am Schiffbauer Damm | Contemporary theatre.

• Maxim Gorki Theater

• Volksbühne am Rosa Luxemburg Platz – People’s Theatre in Berlin/Mitte

• Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz – Modern theatre.

• Theater am Kurfürstendamm in Berlin/City West.
• English Theatre Berlin Theatre that features all plays/music theatre in English.

Cinema

There are about a hundred cinemas in Berlin, although most of them only show movies dubbed in German, without subtitles. Listed below are some of the more important cinemas also showing movies in the original language (look for the OmU – “original with subtitles” – notation). Most movies which are dubbed into German are released a bit later in Germany. Tickets are normally €5-7. Monday to Wednesday are special cinema days with reduced admission.

There are three notable cinemas in Kreuzberg in Berlin/East Central within close proximity. Babylon Kreuzberg, a small cinema built in the 1950s, which shows non-mainstream movies. Kino Moviemento which is the oldest cinema in Germany (1907). And Eiszeit.In Berlin/Mitte near Hackesche Höfe there is Kino Central, a repertory cinema located in an ex-squat, and Filmtheater Hackesche Höfe showing a very broad range of movies. Kant Kino in Berlin/City West is one of the few old cinemas (founded 1912) left in Berlin’s western city. It shows mostly non-mainstream European movies.

The mainstream cinema, CineStar Original, shows only movies in original version (e.g. in English, without subtitles); and CineStar IMAX is a 3D cinema with special laser and sound technology. IMAX films are usually available in English. Both cinemas are located in the Sony Center at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin/Mitte.

Sport

In Berlin, nearly all sports are on offer; some speculate that the lukewarm support Hertha enjoys even in times of success is due to the huge offer of other sports (similar to how Los Angeles failed to maintain an NFL team due to the diverse cultural offerings):

• The most popular sport is association football (soccer), which is played all over the city.
• Not to be missed is the Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 2006 world cup final and the infamous 1936 Olympics. Hertha BSC Berlin, Berlin’s highest professional soccer team, plays there during the Bundesliga season in spring, fall and winter.
• Berlin Handball has had a hard time competing with the north German powerhouses but these days then Füchse Berlin from Reinickendorf who play their home games in Max Schmeling Halle are a force to be reckoned with.

• Basketball Alba Berlin, known as The Albatross are consistently the best basketball team in Germany, and one of the best in Europe. With fans crazier than most in the NBA, Albatross games at the o2 World arena are an exciting way to take in one of the world’s greatest sports.

• Public swimming pools Can be found around the town. Check out BBB for pool listings and opening times.
• Sailing, on one of the many lakes is also popular. You can find sailing clubs and most universities have ships as well.
• Golf. You can find golf clubs all around Berlin, although for non-members Motzen has one of the best.

• Ice hockey The Berlin Eisbären (Polar Bears) play this fast, exciting and very physical sport during the winter. The excitement is heightened by the singing and chanting of the crowds, who are fueled by the copious quantities of wurst and beer available.

Study as a Muslim in Berlin

How to work legally in Berlin

The current economic climate is stable but to find work in Berlin is not easy. A sound level of German improves your chance as only few multinational companies are present in Berlin. Any kind of skills (especially language) that separates you from the masses will definitely improve your chances for a job. Berlin has a lower GDP per capita than the German average, but slowly but surely new startups founded in Berlin are becoming bigger and bigger players and some companies have decided to open representative headquarters in Berlin following reunification – most notably Siemens, a company founded and intimately linked with Berlin that had most of its production and even de facto headquarters in Erlangen and Munich during partition but is to reoccupy “Siemensstadt” (a part of Berlin/Spandau) with a railway line built in the 1920s to serve Siemens to be reactivated.

If you have an academic background then teaching English (Spanish, French & Latin are good, too) or private tutoring (e.g. math) for pupils is always a possibility as Berlin is a young city and education is in strong demand. Otherwise working in a bar might be an option but it’ll be tough, because wages are low and big tips are uncommon. Chances are much better when big trade fairs (e.g. “Grüne Woche”, bread & butter or ITB) or conventions take place so apply at temp & trade fair agencies. The hospitality industry and call centres are constantly hiring but wages are very low unless you can offer special skills (such as exotic languages) or background.

Berlin has a growing media, modelling and TV/movie industry. For daily soaps, telenovelas and movies most companies look for people with something specific. Apply at the bigger casting and acting agencies.

For English-language jobs, if might be worth checking out the classified ads of this monthly magazine for English-speakers, Exberliner.

Shopping in Berlin

Orientation

The main shopping areas are:

• Ku’Damm and its extension Tauentzienstraße in Berlin/City West remain the main shopping streets even now that the Wall has come down. KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) at Wittenbergplatz is a must visit just for the vast food department on the 6th floor. It’s reputedly the biggest department store in Continental Europe and still has an old world charm, with very helpful and friendly staff.

Schloßstraße in Steglitz (Berlin/Steglitz-Zehlendorf) with the shopping centre Schloss-Straßen-Center, Forum Steglitz, Karstadt, Boulevard Berlin, Naturkaufhaus and Das Schloss, between the subway stations U9 Walther-Schreiber-Platz and U9+S1 Rathaus Steglitz.

• Friedrichstraße in Berlin/Mitte is the upmarket shopping street in former East Berlin with Galeries Lafayette and the other Quartiers (204 to 207) as main areas to be impressed with wealthy shoppers.
• Alexanderplatz in Berlin/Mitte. The renovated Galeria Kaufhof department store is worth a visit. For alternative souvenirs go to ausberlin.

The main shopping area for the alternative, but still wealthy crowd is north of Hackescher Markt in Berlin/Mitte, especially around the Hackesche Höfe.

For some more affordable but still very fashionable shopping there is Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain in Berlin/East Central with a lot of young designers opening shops, but also lots of record stores and design shops. Constant change makes it hard to recommend a place, but the area around station Eberswalder Straße in Prenzlauer Berg, around Bergmannstraße and Oranienstraße in Kreuzberg and around Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain are always great when it comes to shopping.

For souvenirs, have a look just in front of the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche (Berlin/City West); these shops sell almost the same items as others, but are cheaper. However, not all members of staff speak English. You can also get affordable postcards there (from €0.30 while the average price for normal postcard is €0.50-0.80).

Markets

There are four market halls selling fresh produce and ready-to-eat food. Marheinecke Markthalle and Markthalle Neun are both in Kreuzberg (Berlin/East Central), Arminiusmarkthalle is in Moabit (Berlin/City West), and Markthalle Tegel is in Tegel (Berlin/Reinickendorf and Spandau).

You can find dozens of flea markets with different themes in Berlin (mostly on weekends), but worth checking out is the big one at Straße des 17. Juni (between Ernst-Reuter-Haus and S-Bahn: Tiergarten). Two other flea markets are at Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg (Berlin/East Central) and at Arkonaplatz (Berlin/Mitte), which is close to Mauerpark. Both are on Sundays, so you can combine visiting them.

Opening hours

Shopping hours are theoretically unlimited on weekdays. Nevertheless, many of the smaller shops still close at 20:00. Most of the bigger stores and nearly all of the malls are open until 21:00 or 22:00 from Thursday to Saturday.

Sunday opening is still limited to about a dozen weekends per year, although some supermarkets in train stations (Hauptbahnhof, Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten (under the S-Bahn bridge), Friedrichstraße, Innsbrucker Platz (U4 in the underground) and Ostbahnhof) are open on Sundays.

Many bakeries and small food stores (called Spätkauf or colloquially “Späti”) are open late at night and on Sundays in more gentrified neighbourhoods (especially Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain). Stores inside the Hauptbahnhof (central station) have long working hours (usually until about 22:00-23:00), also on Sundays.

Credit cards

Credit cards are becoming more common, but Germans still largely prefer cash, as well EC/Maestro cards. Most places in tourist zones will accept credit cards, but it is still a good idea to ask in advance if you intend to pay with one. Many restaurants require a minimum check amount, sometimes in excess of €30.

For Americans, Germany uses the chip-and-pin system so you may have trouble at places like unattended gas stations and automated ticket machines. Often, a cashier will be able to swipe the magnetic strip, but don’t be surprised if someone refuses your credit card because it doesn’t have a chip.

Halal Restaurants & Food in Berlin

Lovers of street food rejoice! Berlin has an incredibly wide variety of different styles and tastes at very affordable prices (for European wallets, that is). You can find superb food in small stalls tucked away under the tracks of elevated U-Bahn stretches for well under five euros.

A staple in Berlin is currywurst. It’s a bratwurst covered in ketchup and curry powder. You can find them all over Berlin by Muslim street vendors. It’s a must try when in Berlin.

Another famous thing to eat in Berlin is Halal döner, a flat bread filled with lamb or chicken meat and vegetables, available at many Turkish stands.

Berlin may seem like carnivore heaven, but vegetarians and vegans can eat quite well. Berliners are generally environmentally conscious, and that extends to their food; most of the inner neighbourhoods have a handful of good healthy vegetarian or vegan restaurants using local ingredients, though they tend to be more expensive than the ubiquitous Halal kebab shops. If you’re a vegetarian on a limited budget, many Halal kebab restaurants have a good selection of roasted vegetables and salads, and you can usually get falafels (fried chickpea balls, suitable for vegans) and halloumi (a type of dense cheese) in place of meat.

Orientation

For affordable and good food (especially from Turkey and the Middle East) you should try Kreuzberg and Neukölln with their abundance of Indian, pizza and Halal döner Kebap restaurants. Prices start from €2 for a Halal kebab or Turkish pizza (different from the original Italian recipe and ingredients). If you are looking for a quick meal you could try getting off at Görlitzer Bahnhof or Schlesisches Tor on the U1 line – the area is filled with inexpensive, quality restaurants.

All restaurant information is in the corresponding borough articles of

• Kreuzberg & Friedrichshain – Young and independent student area with a big Turkish community in Kreuzberg, slowly but surely gentrifying.
• City West – Heart of West Berlin with good quality restaurants.
• Mitte – Political and new centre of East Berlin with upmarket restaurants.
• Schöneberg – City slickers and street cafe atmosphere.
• Prenzlauer Berg – Buzzing Prenzlberg and its lively student scene.

Top 3 Winner Hotels of Muslim Friendly Hotels in Berlin

Halal food available by booking at least 2 weeks in advance

• Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin 9.3 out of 10 – Located in Mitte, Hotel Adlon Kempinski is a perfect starting point from which to explore Berlin. Offering a variety of facilities and services, the hotel provides all you need for a good night’s sleep. Service-minded staff will welcome and guide you at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski. Comfortable guestrooms ensure a good night’s sleep with some rooms featuring facilities such as television LCD/plasma screen, separate living room, internet access – wireless, non smoking rooms, air conditioning. Take a break from a long day and make use of hot tub, fitness center, sauna, indoor pool, spa. A welcoming atmosphere and excellent service are what you can expect during your stay at Hotel Adlon Kempinski.

• Regent – Berlin, an IHG Hotel 9.3 out of 10 – Set in a prime location of Berlin, Regent Berlin puts everything the city has to offer just outside your doorstep. Both business travelers and tourists can enjoy the hotel’s facilities and services. Service-minded staff will welcome and guide you at the Regent Berlin. Some of the well-appointed guestrooms feature television LCD/plasma screen, carpeting, internet access – wireless, internet access – wireless (complimentary), non smoking rooms. Recuperate from a full day of sightseeing in the comfort of your room or take advantage of the hotel’s recreational facilities, including fitness center, sauna, spa, private massage. A welcoming atmosphere and excellent service are what you can expect during your stay at Regent Berlin.

• Hotel am Steinplatz, Autograph Collection 9.3 out of 10 – Hotel am Steinplatz Autograph Collection is conveniently located in the popular Charlottenburg area. The hotel offers a wide range of amenities and perks to ensure you have a great time. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour front desk, facilities for disabled guests, luggage storage, Wi-Fi in public areas are on the list of things guests can enjoy. Television LCD/plasma screen, internet access – wireless (complimentary), air conditioning, heating, wake-up service can be found in selected guestrooms. The hotel’s peaceful atmosphere extends to its recreational facilities which include fitness center, sauna, spa, massage. A welcoming atmosphere and excellent service are what you can expect during your stay at Hotel am Steinplatz Autograph Collection.

Stay safe in Berlin

Berlin is a safe place but it has some not-so-well maintained areas, too. No specific rules apply with the exception of public transportation and tourist areas where pickpockets are a problem. Watch your bags during rush hours and at larger train stations.

The police in Berlin are competent, and they are generally helpful to Muslim tourists. Most of the officers are able to speak English, so don’t hesitate to approach them if you are frightened or lost. Police are generally more relaxed than in more conservative places like Munich. In general police will focus on crime and traffic safety rather than petty misdemeanors or drunken tourists unless things get out of hand.

The nationwide emergency numbers are

• Medical emergencies and Fires 112
• Police emergency number 110

Since the 1980s, there have been localised riots on Labour Day (May 1). In general they take place in Kreuzberg around Oranienstraße/Mariannenplatz. Nowadays they usually start the night before May 1, especially in the Mauerpark (Prenzlauer Berg), at Boxhagener Platz and in Rigaer Str. (Friedrichshain) and start again in the evening of May 1 in Kreuzberg and in the mentioned areas.

Racially-motivated violence is rare but the risk is higher on the outskirts of East Berlin. It is recommended for Muslim visitors to be attentive in areas such as Lichtenberg, Hellersdorf, Marzahn, Treptow and Köpenick in the evening/night especially if alone.

In the bordering neighbourhood of the districts Neukölln and Kreuzberg (between Hermannplatz, Schönleinstraße to Kottbusser Tor) and Wedding (Moabit and Gesundbrunnen) the risk of falling victim to robberies and assaults is slightly higher. Tourists should visit these areas with some caution during the night as a mixture of drunken party people and poor neighbourhoods might lead to trouble.

National media and conservative politicians like to make a huge story out of certain well known drug dealing hot spots. Areas such as Görlitzer Park are well known for all sorts of illicit substances being on offer, but if you don’t sell or buy this shouldn’t preoccupy you. Despite media portrayals to the contrary, police do frequently raid those places and try to catch drug dealers, but only a small handful are usually caught as they have developed certain measures to evade capture. Organized criminality does exist, but in general they try to focus on less violent activity in Germany and hardly ever target outsiders.

Although harmless, panhandlers have started to beg at local tourist spots such as Pariser Platz next to the Brandenburg Gate, Alexanderplatz and the Museuminsel. They are usually women accompanied by their daughters who ask if you speak English and say that they are from the new EU countries and trying to raise money to fly home. The story is false, so don’t give them money, which would encourage further exploitation of the women and their kids. They also have a new tactic where they hand you a card telling their “story” and asking for money; beware that the children that they carry in their arms will search through your bags while you are reading the card. The best way to avoid this is simply to ignore them and not to respond when they ask you “Speak English?” If you feel scared, don’t hesitate to contact the police, as they will help.

Cope in Berlin

Embassies & Consulates in Berlin

 Afghanistan | Taunusstr. 3 – Phone +49 30 206 7350

 Albania | Friedrichstr. 231 – Phone +49 30 259 30 40 +49 30 259 31 890

 Algeria |Görschstr. 45-46 – Phone +49 30 437 370 Opening 09:00-13:00

 Angola | Wallstraße 58 – Phone +49 30 240 8970

 Argentina (Argentinien) | Kleiststraße 23-26 – Phone +49 30 226 6890 +49 30 22 91 400

 Armenia | Nußbaumallee 4 – Phone +49 30 405 0910 +49 30 405 091 25

 Azerbaijan | Hubertusallee 43 – Phone +49 30 219 1613 +49 30 219 161 52

 Bahrain | Klingelhöferstraße 7 – Phone +49 30 8687 7777

 Bangladesh | Dovestr. 1 – Phone +49 30 398 9750

 Belarus |Am Treptower Park 32 – Phone +49 30 536 35 932 +49 30 536 359 23

 Benin | Englerallee 23 – Phone +49 30 23 631 4710 +49 30 2 36 31 47 40

 Bolivia | Wichmannstraße 6 – Phone +49 30 263 9150 +49 30 263 915 15

 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Ibsenstraße 14 – Phone +49 30 8147 1210 +49 30 814 712 11

 Brazil (Brasilien) | Wallstraße 57 – Phone +49 30 726 280 +49 30 726 283 20

 Brunei | Kronenstraße 55-58 – Phone +49 30 206 076 00 +49 30 206 076 66

 Burkina Faso | Karolingerplatz 10-11 – Phone +49 30 301 059 90 +49 30 301 059 920

 Burundi | Berliner Straße 36 (Wilmersdorf) – Phone +49 30 234 56 70 +49 30 234 567 20

 Cambodia | Benjamin-Vogelsdorff-Straße 2 – Phone +49 30 4863 7901 +49 30 48 63 79 73

 Cameroon | Ulmenallee 32 – Phone +49 30 8906 8090 +49 30 8 90 68 09 29

 China | Märkisches Ufer 54 – Phone +49 30 275 880 +49 30 27588221

 Cuba (Kuba) Stavangerstrasse. 20 – Phone +49 30 4471 4992 +49 30 9164 553

 Dominican Republic | Dessauer Straße 28/29 – Phone +49 30 257 57 76 +49 30 257 57 761

 Egypt | Stauffenbergstraße 6-7 – Phone +49 30 4775 470 +49 30 4771 049

 Equatorial Guinea | Rohlfsstraße 17-19 – Phone +49 30 88 66 38 77 +49 30 88 66 38 79

 Ethiopia | Boothstraße 20 a – Phone +49 30 77 20 60 +49 30 77 20 624

 India | Tiergartenstr. 17 – Phone +49 30 2579 5101 Opening 09:30-12:30

 Indonesia | Lehrter Str. 16-17 – Phone +49 30 478 070

 Iran | Podbielskiallee 67 – Phone +49 30 8435 3399 Opening 08:15-16:15

 Jordan Heerstraße 201 – Phone +49 30 36-99-600

 Lebanon (Libanon) Berlinerstraße 127 – Phone +49 30 47 49 86 0 +49 30 47 48 78 58

 Mexico (Mexiko) Klingelhöferstraße 3, – Phone +49 30 26 93 23 – 0

 Mongolia (Mongolei) | Dietzgenstraße 31 – Phone +49 30 474 8060 Opening Hours: M-Tu Thursday 08:30-12:00, W

 Pakistan | Schaperstr. 29 – U-Bhf Spichernstraße Phone +49 30 2124 4299

 Philippines (Philippinen) | Phone +49 30 864 95 023 +49 (30) 873 25 5

 Russia (Russland) | Unter den Linden 63-65 – Phone +49 30 229 1110

 Serbia | Wilhelmstraße 70 – Phone +49 30 204 570 +49 30 825 2206

 South Africa (Südafrika) | Tiergartenstr. 18 – Phone +49 30 22073 0 +49 30 22073 190

 Switzerland (Schweiz) Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee 4A – Phone +49 30 390 40 00 +49 30 391 10 30

 Syria Rauchstraße 25 – Phone +49 30 501770

 Turkey (Türkei) | Runge Straße 9 – Phone +49 30 275 85 0 +49 30 275 90 915

 Tunisia Lindenallee 16 – Phone +49 30 364 10 70 +49 30 308 206 83

 Vietnam | Elsenstraße 3 – Phone +49 30 5363 0108

 Yemen Budapester Straße 37 – Phone +49 30 897 3050

 Zambia | Axel Springer-Str. 54a – Phone +49 30 206 2940

 Zimbabwe | Axel-Springer-Straße 54a/Kommundantenstr. 80 – Phone +49 30 206 2263

Explore more Halal Friendly Destinations from Berlin

Some people from Berlin would ask you why you would ever want to leave, but there are a couple of nice places in close proximity – some even within reach of the Berlin S-Bahn. Brandenburg is mostly rural so a short trip will get you “away from it all” and right into picturesque nature.

The motorway Raststätte Grunewald at the S-Bahn station Nikolassee is a good spot for hitching if you’re heading south or west.

• Potsdam — the capital of the surrounding federal state of Brandenburg, not far southwest of Berlin, and makes a perfect day trip. Especially the park of Sanssouci, a world heritage site with its great famous palaces, is worth a visit. You can get there with the S-Bahn S7 or Regional-Express RE1 to the station Potsdam Hauptbahnhof or Park Sanssouci (fare zone C). It takes about half an hour from Berlin Hauptbahnhof or Friedrichstraße.
• Oranienburg — a quiet suburb housing the remains of one of the few preserved Nazi concentration camps, KZ Sachsenhausen, on German soil. There’s also a small palace in the centre of Oranienburg.
• Müritz Lake Region (Mecklenburgische Seenplatte) — a national park to the north with a few hundred lakes.
• Dresden — two hours away to the south. Intense competition on the Dresden-Berlin route means a bus ticket (2.5 to 3 hours) can be had for as little as five Euros.
• Leipzig — one and a quarter hours away by train to the south.
• The beautiful Baltic seashore (e.g. Usedom, Stralsund and Rügen) is close enough for a day trip by train.
• Spreewald — a protected UNESCO biosphere reserve. It includes low-lying areas in which the river Spree meanders in thousands of small waterways through meadows and forests. It is a beautiful, unique landscape about one hour south of Berlin and well worth a day trip or a weekend trip to relax from the buzzing city life.
• Frankfurt an der Oder — on the Polish border is within easy reach.
• Lutherstadt Wittenberg — about 40 minutes southeast of Berlin by ICE. Schlosskirche was the church where Martin Luther nailed his theses to the church door. Across the street from there is a visitor’s centre with great information. Great city to tour and one can easily explore on foot.
• Hamburg — the second-largest city in Germany, is less than 2 hours away by ICE; the IRE takes a bit longer (3h) but the special offer of 19.90€ one way (available at all times) is hard to beat and it’s still faster than the bus.
• Munich is only four to four and a half hours away by train and in many ways the polar opposite of Berlin – where Berlin is alternative, poor and at times charmingly chaotic, Munich is conservative orderly and blessed with the Beef barrel spending of the Bavarian government

The Polish border is just some 90 km to the east of Berlin, therefore it might be interesting to do a trip:

• Szczecin (Stettin) — about two and a half hours by train.
• Poznań (Posen) — three hours by train.
• Wroclaw (Breslau) — only 3-4 hours by car.