Berlin Travel Kit

• Berlin’s climate is maritime temperate, with average temperatures ranging from 0ºC in winter to 20ºC in summer.
• Most rainfall occurs from November to January
• The sunniest time of the year is from June to October. 
• Snowfall can happen between December and March.
• Summer, from June to August, is peak tourist season, with hotel and flight prices rising accordingly.
• May, June and September are great times to visit, as the temperatures range around 17ºC and precipitations are scarce.

• Languages: Primary: German,  secondary: English
• Plug types: C and F
• Electricity: 220-240 V
• Currency: Euro (€)
• International dialling code: +49 30
• Emergency telephone number: 112

Berlin Tegel Airport

Berlin Tegel Airport sits 9 km northwest of the city centre. It hosts 5 terminals and is the primary international airport in Berlin. There are several transfer options to reach central Berlin:

• A taxi to the city centre takes around 30 minutes and costs roughly €30. Taxi ranks can be found in the inner ring of Terminal A, at Gates 6–9, and outside Terminals C and E. 
• The TXL bus takes 40 minutes to reach the city centre and costs €4. Bus stops are right outside Terminals A and B. 
• The X9 and 109 buses take 20-30 minutes to reach Zoo Station (railway station) from where you can get to any part of the city. Tickets cost €4. Bus stops are right outside Terminals A and B. 
• Rental cars can be found inside the car rental centre at parking area P2. 

Berlin Schönefeld Airport

Located in the southeast of Berlin, 18 km of the city centre, Berlin Schönefeld is the former primary civil airport of East Germany. It has a strong Soviet-era feel in its architecture and facilities. Chances are you’ll land here if you come to Berlin on a charter flight or on a low-budget carrier. There are several transfer options to reach central Berlin: 

• A taxi to the city centre takes around 40 minutes and costs roughly €50. The taxi rank is right outside Terminal A.
• The city train S-Bahn takes 55 minutes and costs around €4. You can get to the train station on the shuttle bus departing near the exit of Terminal A. Note that you may have to wait up to 1 hour for a train.
• The Airport Express train takes 35 minutes and costs around €4. The station sits 400 metres from the Terminal A. Note that you may have to wait up to 1 hour between trains.
• The buses X7/163/171 take around 30 minutes and cost from €4. 2 night buses, N60 and N7 are also at hand at the same price.
• Rental cars can be found on the ground level of Terminal A.

Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Berlin Central Station)

Berlin Central Station is the main railway station. Opened in 2006, it sits just west of the city centre. It’s connected to major European cities including Paris, Prague and Amsterdam. From here, you can easily get anywhere in Berlin by bus, subway or taxi.

All public transport in Berlin is run by the BVG (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe – Berlin Transport Company). The company manages U-Bahn (subway), S-Bahn (urban rail transit), tramway, bus and ferry networks. Berlin is divided into 3 zones: 

• A – city centre 
• B – city boundaries 
• C – Greater Berlin 
• Most of Berlin’s attractions can be found in A and B zones. 
• Tickets can be purchased at ticket machines on the platforms of U- and S-Bahn stations, and directly on buses and trams. BVG hosts ticket counters in the largest S-Bahn stations. You can also purchase tickets and cards on their website. 
• A Single ticket costs around €3 and is valid for 2 hours. 
• A Day ticket costs around €7. 
• A 2- up to 5-day CityTourCard (CTC) includes the use of all public transports plus 30% discounted entrance fee to 10 of the most popular attractions in Berlin. A single card is valid for 1 adult and up to 3 children (6-14 years old). A 2-day CTC costs around €17. 
• A 2- up to 5-day Berlin WelcomeCard includes the use of all public transports plus 50% discounted entrance fee to approximately 200 major sites in Berlin. A single card is valid for 1 adult and up to 3 children (6-14 years old). A 2-day WelcomeCard costs around €20. 

• U-Bahn features 10 lines and 173 stations. 
• U-Bahn lines run from 4am to 1am on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends. 
• Intervals range between 5 and 30 minutes depending on the time of the day. 

• S-Bahn features 15 lines and 166 stations. 
• S-Bahn lines run from 4.30am to 1.30am on week days and 24 hours on weekends. 
• Intervals range between 5 and 30 minutes depending on the time of the day.

• The 300 bus lines available cover the entire city.
• The most popular bus line is the 100. It starts in Alexanderplatz to end at the Berlin Zoo, passing many notable attractions in Berlin. It features double-decker buses offering great views along the way. 
• Don't forget to stamp your ticket when getting on the bus.

• The Berlin Tramway opened in 1865. It’s one of the oldest tram networks in the world. 
• It features 22 lines, most of them on the east side of the city. 
• Tram line 68 is particularly picturesque.

• Taxis have an excellent reputation in Berlin.
• You can hail a taxi on the street or go to one of the many taxicab stands at hand all around Berlin. 
• There’s a base fare of around €4, then €2 for each of the first 7 kilometres and €1.50 for each subsequent kilometre. 
• Most cabs accept the payment by credit card.