Travel guide
Weather & Climate
Temperatures: Berlin awakes from the winter at the start of spring, with cool and crisp days providing the perfect conditions for people-watching in the cafes. Take a sweater for the more overcast days, or come in the summer when temperatures climb to up to 25 (°C). Temperatures start to drop in autumn, but it is the best time to experience some of city’s most vibrant events and cultural festivals. Or book your holiday during the winter to enjoy Berlin’s famous Christmas markets.
Berlin IS BEST FOR…
Couples: Take an evening dinner boat cruise on the River Spree.
History buffs: Experience daily life under communist rule in East Germany at the DDR Museum.
Festive shoppers: EExplore Berlin’s winter wonderland at the Christmas markets starting in November.
Fast facts:
Language: The language spoken in Berlin is German.
Currency: The currency used in Berlin is the Euro (€).
Local time: Berlin is one hour ahead of GMT/UK time.
Fly to: Tegel International Airport (TXL), 8 km northwest of the city centre. Schönefeld (SXF) is situated 20 km southeast of Berlin. The new Berlin Brandenburg Airport is scheduled to open in 2016.
Flight time from UK:Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.
Tourist Information: Further Berlin tourist information can be found at http://www.visitberlin.de/en.
Visa / Health:
Before your holiday to Berlin, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/germany for recommendations and advice on visas and health.
Getting around
By public transport: Berlin has an extensive network of underground metro, rail, buses and trams that is very affordable.
By bus: For places that the metro doesn’t quite reach, Madrid’s buses do a great job. At your service almost around the clock, during peak hours they run every 4-15 minutes.
By bicycle: The city is flat and has many bicycle paths, making cycling a popular option.
By taxi: Taxis are cheap and easy to find. Rounding up to the nearest Euro is customary.
Events
Cinema specteculer: The film industry’s elite gather every February for the Berlinale International Film Festival, the world’s largest, which shows more than 400 films and sells 300,000 tickets.
World class music: For three weeks in September, Musikfest Berlin and the capital’s famous philharmonic host the international music scene, with performances by the world’s best orchestras, soloists and instrumental and vocal ensembles.
Christmas Markets: There are over 60 Christmas markets across Berlin, offering everything from local crafts to international food. Several markets entertain with light installations, live music, an ice rink and even a mobile toboggan run.