Berlin Travel Guide
First Time in Berlin
The practical primer for a first visit — getting in from BER airport, the AB and ABC fare zones, timed tickets and Monday closures, the 7.5% City Tax, Sunday shopping, cash and cards, and the changes worth knowing this year.
Berlin is one of the easiest big cities in Europe to visit: safe, relaxed, well connected, and used to visitors from everywhere. English is widely spoken, the public transport is excellent, and prices are lower than in London or Paris. But it is also big, decentralised and full of its own habits, and a few rules and recent changes are worth knowing before you go.
Getting in from the airport. Berlin Brandenburg Airport, BER, lies south-east of the city, just outside the city limits, which matters for tickets: you need an ABC fare-zone ticket to travel from the airport, not the cheaper AB ticket. The airport express trains and regional trains run from the station under the terminal to the main station and other central stations in around half an hour, while the S-Bahn takes longer but stops at more places. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are available but expensive compared with the train. Buy tickets from the machines or the official transport app before boarding, and remember that single tickets must be validated if they are not already time-stamped.
Getting around. The S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses of the BVG and S-Bahn Berlin form one integrated system. Zones A and B cover the whole city, and zone C adds Potsdam and the airport. For most visitors, a 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour ticket, or a seven-day ticket for longer stays, is the simplest choice, and the Berlin WelcomeCard combines transport with discounts on attractions. There are no barriers, but inspectors check tickets regularly and fines are steep. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn run all night at weekends on many lines, and night buses and trams cover the rest of the week. Berlin is also a great city for cycling, with flat streets and many bike lanes, and rental bikes are everywhere.
Timed tickets and closing days. The big sights use timed entry: the Reichstag dome requires free advance registration with names, dates of birth and photo ID; the Neues Museum and the TV Tower sell timed slots that can sell out; Sanssouci limits daily tickets. Learn the closing days: most museums on Museum Island and the Charlottenburg and Potsdam palaces close on Mondays, while the Humboldt Forum closes on Tuesdays. The free first Sunday at museums ended in December 2024. Under-18s are free at the State Museums, and under-19s at the Humboldt Forum.
What is closed in 2026. The Pergamonmuseum has been closed since October 2023 for a long refurbishment, and its north wing and central building, with the Pergamon Altar, reopen on 4 June 2027; the Ishtar Gate wing will stay closed for years longer. The Pergamon Panorama next door is open. The TV Tower is closed to visitors on 23 November 2026, and the Reichstag dome closes for cleaning on several fixed weeks, including a long period from 23 August to 19 November 2027. Always check official websites for last-minute changes.
The City Tax. Berlin charges a City Tax on overnight stays of 7.5% of the net room price, excluding breakfast and other services, a rate that has applied since 1 January 2025. Since 2024 it applies to business trips too, so almost every guest pays it. Some hotels include it in the quoted price, others add it at checkout, so read the booking terms carefully.
Sundays, shops and opening hours. Most shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays, apart from those in major stations and a few late-night shops known as Spaetis, which sell drinks and snacks at all hours and are a Berlin institution. Plan grocery shopping for Saturday. Museums, attractions and restaurants are open on Sundays, and Sunday is the day for flea markets, such as the Mauerpark, and for long brunches.
Cash, cards and tipping. Card payment has spread widely, but Berlin is still more cash-friendly than many cities, and some small cafes, bars, snack stands and market stalls take cash only, so carry some euros. In restaurants, tipping is customary at around 5 to 10 per cent, rounded up and told to the server when you pay rather than left on the table. Tap water is safe to drink.
Etiquette and safety. Berlin is relaxed, but some rules matter: do not walk in the bike lanes, wait for the green pedestrian light even when the street is empty, and keep quiet at the memorials. Pickpockets operate in crowded areas such as Alexanderplatz, the main tourist stations and the Christmas markets, so keep valuables close. Clubs have famously strict door policies and many ban photography inside; dress down rather than up, and be patient.
When to go. Late spring and early autumn have the best weather for walking and the beer gardens; summer is lively, with long days, open-air cinemas and lake swimming; winter is cold and grey, but the Christmas markets, which open from mid to late November, bring the city to life, and museums and concerts are at their best. New Year's Eve is huge and loud, with fireworks across the city.