Practical Information
 

German Currency:

Applying for a German Visa:

Who needs a Visa?

Citizens from the following countries do not require a Visa and may enter Germany with a valid passport: citizens form the EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Canada, Korea, Israel, New Zealand and the USA.

Foreigners from other countries require a visa to enter Germany.

In order to apply for the Visa, please get in touch with the respective German Foreign Representative (embassy or consulship) in your native country before entering Germany.

Climate

Berlin has a continental climate, with cold winters and frequently quite hot summers. The coldest months are December, January and February. That means that the average temperature in the winter is −0.4 to 1.2°C (31.3 to 34.2°F) and freezing temperatures can continue for many weeks. Generally in March, the average low temperature is 0ºC (32ºF) and the high temperature is 8ºC (46ºF).
 

Public Transportation

The bus, tram, U-Bahn, S-Bahn and ferry services work on an integrated three-zone system. There are three Zones: Zone A covers central Berlin, zone B extends out to the edge of the suburbs and zone C stretches into Brandenburg. The basic single ticket is the €2.10 Normaltarif (zones A and B).

Apart from the Zeitkarten, tickets for Berlin's public transport system can be bought from the yellow or orange machines at U- or S-Bahn stations and also by some bus stops. Once you've obtained your ticket, validate it in the small red or yellow box next to the machine, which stamps it with the time and date. (Please notice that tickets purchased on trams or buses are usually already validated.)

There are no ticket turnstiles at the stations but if an inspector catches you without a valid ticket, you will be fined with €40. Ticket inspections are recurrent and are performed while vehicles are moving by pairs of plain-clothes personnel.

Single tickets cost €2.10 (€1.40 for children between the ages of six and 14) for travel within zones A and B, €2.30 (€1.60) for zones B and C, and €2.80 (€2) for all three zones. A ticket allows use of the BVG network for two hours, with as many changes between bus, tram, U-Bahn and S-Bahn as necessary travelling in one direction.

The Kurzstreckentarif (ask for a Kurzstrecke) costs €1.30 (€1 concessions) and is valid for three U- or S-Bahn stops or six stops on the tram or bus. Please be aware that no transfers are allowed.

A Tageskarte for zones A and B costs €6.10 (€4.40 reductions) or €6.50 (€4.80) for all three zones. A day ticket lasts until 3am after validating.

If you are in Berlin for a week, it is better to buy a Sieben-Tage-Karte ('seven-day ticket') at €26.20 for zones A and B or €32.30 for all three zones (no concessions).
A stay of a month or more makes it worth buying a Monatskarte ('month ticket'), which costs €72 for zones A and B, or €88.50 for all three zones.
Berlin has a comprehensive Nachtliniennetz ('night-line network') that covers all parts of town via 59 bus and tram routes running every 30 minutes between 12.30am and 4.30am. Before and after these times the regular timetable for bus and tram routes applies.

Berlin taxis are pricey, efficient and numerous. The starting fee is €3 and after that the fare is €1.50 per kilometre (about €3 per mile) for the first seven kilometres and €1 per kilometre after the first seven kilometres. The rate remains the same at night. For short journeys ask for a Kurzstrecke – up to two kilometres for €3.50 (this option is only available when you've hailed a cab and not from taxi ranks). Cabs accept all credit cards except Diners Club and the payment with credit cards is subject to a €0.50 extra charge).
 

Parking

Parking is free in Berlin side streets, but spaces are hard to find. On busier streets you may have to buy a ticket (€1 per hour) from a nearby machine. Without a ticket, or if you park illegally, you risk getting your car clamped or towed.

Electricity and Power

Electricity in Germany runs on 220v. To use British appliances (240v), change the plug or use an adaptor (available at most UK electric shops and probably at the airport). US appliances (110v) require a converter.

For more details check here.

Emergency Contacts

Police: 110

Ambulance/Fire Brigade: 112

ATM

ATMs are found throughout the centre of Berlin and are the most convenient way of obtaining cash. Most major credit cards are accepted, as well as debit cards that are part of the Cirrus, Plus, Star or Maestro systems. Please be aware that usually you will be charged a fee for withdrawing cash.

Safety & security

Although crime is increasing, Berlin remains a safe city by Western standards. Even for a woman, it's pretty safe to walk around alone at night in most central areas of the city. However, avoid the Eastern working-class suburbs if you look gay or non-German. Pickpockets are not unknown around tourist areas. Use some common sense and you are unlikely to get into trouble.
 

Smoking

Many Berliners smoke, however the habit is in decline. Smoking is banned on public transport, in theatres and many public institutions. Many bars and restaurants have closed-off smoking rooms. Smaller, one-room establishments (under 75 square metres) may allow smoking if they want to, but must post a sign outside denoting a 'Raucher-Kneipe' (smoker pub). There's no problem with smoking at outside tables - which means that even in winter there are now lots of places with outside tables.

Tipping

A 10 per cent service charge will already be part of your restaurant bill, but it's common to leave a small tip too. In a taxi round up the bill to the nearest euro.
 

Tourist information

Berlin Tourismus Marketing (BTM)
Europa-Center, Budapester Strasse, Charlottenburg (250 025/www.btm.de). U2, U9, S5, S7, S9, S75, Zoologischer Garten. Open 10am-7pm Mon-Fri; 10am-6pm Sat, Sun.
Berlin's official (if private) tourist organisation. The Brandenburg Gate branch is open 10am-6pm daily.

EurAide
DB Reisezentrum, Hauptbahnhof, Tiergarten (www.euraide.de). S5, S7, S9, S75 Hauptbahnhof. Open May-Aug 10am-7pm daily. Sept-Dec 23, Feb 15-Apr 11am-6pm Mon-Fri.
Staff advise on sights, hostels, tours and transport, and sell rail tickets.

Berlin WelcomeCard

The WelcomeCard starts as low as 16.90 Euros in the four info stores of Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH (Hauptbahnhof main railway station-North Entrance, Neues Kranzler Eck- Kurfürstendamm Passage, Brandenburg Gate-South Wing, Alexa Shopping Center-Alexanderplatz).

Who buy a WelcomeCard will receive a discount of at least 25% off of cultural events, tourist activities and restaurants. In addition to classics like the Television Tower at the Alexanderplatz, the Friedrichstadtpalast  or the Zoological Garden, there are new highlights this year: discounts to the newly opened “Picasso Story” exhibition, the Schönhausen Palace (now converted into a museum), and the Staatsballett Berlin.

This card also comes with a convenient pocket-sized city guide. This guide in both German and English introduces new highlights in the city, now with an even clearer, more user-friendly layout. As an added feature, it contains a calendar with the year’s most important events.
 

Places of Interest quite close to hotel Ramada Alexanderplatz

Nikolaiviertel