Before you leave
1. Choose the right area to stay
Berlin has no single centre: Mitte, Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain and Charlottenburg each have their own atmosphere. Mitte is the most convenient for the major sights, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain for evenings out, Prenzlauer Berg for quiet. Our guide to where to stay in Berlin compares the districts.
2. Plan three days if you can
One day is enough for the classics (see Berlin in one day), but the city rewards a longer stay. With three days, you add museums, an alternative district and an evening out.
3. Pick the season to suit you
Summer is long and lively, winter dark but rich in Christmas markets and museums. Our guide to the best time to visit Berlin covers the seasons.
4. Arrive at BER airport without stress
The airport is linked to the centre by regional train and S-Bahn: you need a zone ABC ticket. Everything is explained in the guide to BER airport.
5. Book ahead for the few visits that require it
The dome of the Reichstag is free but requires prior registration. Tickets for the Neues Museum and the TV Tower are bought online to avoid queues. Tours of the Berliner Unterwelten underground are booked online.
On the ground: transport and opening days
6. Validate your ticket and keep it
There are no turnstiles on the metro: inspectors, often in plain clothes, check tickets, and the fine for travelling without a valid ticket is €60. The guide to transport in Berlin explains zones AB and ABC, the 24-hour ticket and the Deutschlandticket.
7. Walk part of the way or take bus 100
Berlin is big: do not string together three districts on foot. Bus 100 passes several major sights on a simple ticket.
8. Check the museums' closing day
Most public museums close on Mondays, the Humboldt Forum on Tuesdays. The DDR Museum and the cathedral are open every day. For a rainy day, see what to do in Berlin when it rains.
9. Respect the cycle paths
Cycle paths, often red, run along the pavements: do not walk on them, and look before you cross.
10. Group your visits by district
The Museum Island, the cathedral, the Humboldt Forum and the DDR Museum are a few minutes' walk from each other. The Mitte district holds most of the essentials.
Money, shopping and daily life
11. Always keep a little cash
Cards are accepted in most museums, restaurants and shops, but not everywhere: some bars, Spätis and stalls take cash only. Keep €30 to €50 in small notes. See paying in Berlin.
12. Tip 5 to 10%
Tipping is not compulsory, but it is customary to leave about 5 to 10% in a restaurant. Say the total amount you want to pay when settling the bill, or "Stimmt so" to keep the change.
13. Don't count on shops on Sundays
Shops and department stores close on Sundays and public holidays. Flea markets, restaurants, museums and a few station supermarkets stay open. For shopping ideas, see shopping in Berlin.
14. Return deposit bottles
Plastic and glass bottles carry a deposit (Pfand), from 8 to 25 cents depending on the type. Take them back to the supermarket machines to get the voucher. Don't throw your bottles away: some Berliners collect them next to the bins.
15. Drink the tap water
Tap water is safe and of good quality in Berlin: you can refill a bottle anywhere, which cuts costs (see the cost of a trip to Berlin).
16. Bring an adapter only if you need one
German sockets are type C and F, at 230 V: continental European devices plug straight in; British, American and other travellers need an adapter.
Safety, remembrance and etiquette
17. Watch your pockets in crowds
Pickpockets work mostly at Alexanderplatz, on the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, and around the major sights. The most common scams are described in our guide to scams to avoid in Berlin. The European emergency number is 112; the police can be reached on 110.
18. Respect memorial sites
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Berlin Wall memorials and the Topography of Terror are places of remembrance: do not climb on the steles, and avoid noisy selfies. The Nazi salute and symbols of the regime are banned by German law.
19. See the Wall beyond the postcards
Beyond the East Side Gallery, follow the line of the Wall on foot: see in the footsteps of the Berlin Wall.
20. Plan for the night and its rules
Clubs choose their crowd at the door and do not explain refusals; arrive without excess and without too noisy a group. For concerts, bars and parties, see Berlin at night. Cannabis has been legal within a precise framework since 2024: see the rules in the guide to scams and safety.
Going further
To plan your stay, start with Berlin in one day or a weekend in Berlin; for the Brandenburg Gate, see the page on the Brandenburg Gate.
