Berlin Essentials

Berlin Essentials

Currency Euro Flight Time UK 1H 20 minutes aprox Time Zone GMT = +1 hour Language German Voltage 220 V (European two-pin plugs) 


Berlin Tourist Attractions

Berlin has an amazing number of museums and cultural attractions, which are generally open daily from 10am - 6pm, with several staying open until 9pm on most nights. Baroque Charlottenburg Palace is a popular day out, whilst a great place for kids is the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre with themed rides, interactive displays and a 4-D cinema show. Both are open from 10am to 5pm.

Opening Hours

Shops and stores are now legally allowed to remain open 24 hours a day, from Monday to Saturday, although in practice this is only the case for a small number of major stores. The vast majority of businesses are closed on Sundays, except during busy periods, such as Easter and Christmas time. Many shopping centres and department stores stay open until 10pm. Every district in central Berlin will have pharmacies and money changing kiosks open throughout the night, and restaurants are usually open 7 days a week, until 11pm or midnight. Traditional bars and pubs in Berlin stay open nightly until midnight, with numerous late night venues across the city serving until 4am or later.

Food & Drink

Many cafes and restaurants here offer a melting pot of tastes, where literally any type of cuisine can be found - usually with a little German twist. Local dishes to be sampled include Eisbein - knuckle of pork, and Berlin meatballs feature on many traditional menus. Enjoy speciality street snacks such as Currywurst and Beef Sauerbraten, leaving ample room for a large glass or two of local Berliner Weisse beer.

Tipping & Etiquette

While more formal than most other European nationalities, the typical German is relaxed and fun-loving, and visitors should expect a friendly "Guten Tag" and "Auf Wiedersehen" when entering and leaving shops and hotels. Any attempt at speaking German will be greeted with great enthusiasm. Service charges are automatically added to final bill in restaurants and hotels, so further tipping is unnecessary. Smaller establishments may not follow this procedure, and it is normal practice to simply round up to the next Euro.

German Phrases For Tourists

Hello Hallo Do you speak English? Sprechen Sie Englisch Goodbye Auf Wiedersehen Excuse me Wie bitte Good Evening Guten Abend How much is it? Was bitte Yes Ja Where is...? Was kostet? No Nein Hotel das Hotel Please Bitte The bill please Die Rechnung, bitte Thank you very much Danke schön Beer das Bier How are you? Wie gehts? Coffee der Kaffee

Berlin Useful Numbers


• Calling the UK from Berlin – 0044 + area code minus zero + number
• Police – 110
• Ambulance – 112
• Fire – 112

Disabled Access

The city leads the way in its thoughtful planning and commitment to providing unrestricted access for disabled visitors. Train stations and buses are equipped with barrier-free access for wheelchairs, and all new public buildings comply with strict legislation, ensuring wide ramps and lifts. Many also offer guidance stripes and handrails for the visually impaired. This is also true for numerous museums, which offer easy wheelchair access, induction loops and more.

German Embassies

• GB Embassy - Wilhelmstr. 70-71 10117 Berlin Germany Telephone +49 (0)30 204570 • German Embassy - 23 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PZ Telephone 020 7824 1300


Weather

Berlin see warm sunny summers and cold winters, and although the city escapes the worst extremes of German weather, conditions can be changeable at any time of the year. Average summer temperatures hover around 25C, and can reach 30C, and the peak season can see some thunderstorms. Spring highs can be around 15C - 18C, and this can be a good time to visit, although the evenings can get cool. Winter is cold, but the city can be very atmospheric, with December to February rarely getting above freezing.