Flight to Berlin (BER)

Flying to Berlin: tips and information for your trip

Berlin is a modern, cosmopolitan city that is buzzing with energy, packed with culture and steeped in history. As Germany’s largest and capital city, Berlin is a perfect city break destination with a vibrant bar and club scene, dozens of museums and art galleries, excellent cuisine and historical sites ranging from the iconic 18th-century Brandenburg Gate and the striking neo-Baroque cathedral.

For most of the second half of the 20th century, Berlin was a city of two halves, and visitors will find a marked difference in the architecture and vibe of East Berlin. For contemporary history enthusiasts, there are several WW2-related museums and monuments to explore, such as the Berlin wall, Checkpoint Charlie and the Holocaust Memorial.

Berlin has something for everyone, so why not book your flights today with Brussels Airlines?

What to do in Berlin?

1. East Berlin walking tour. Take in the Berlin Wall Memorial, explore the East Side Gallery, a remaining section of the wall, now covered in artwork from over 100 artists, or take a Cold War tour to learn more about the period of Soviet occupation.
   
   
2. Jewish history: There are three main sites dedicated to Jewish history and to all those who lost their lives during the Holocaust; visit the Topography of Terror, the Jewish Museum and the Holocaust Memorial to learn more.
   
   
3. Berlin Cathedral: The dome of the neo-Baroque cathedral dominates the city’s skyline. The current building was completed in 1905 and designed as Berlin’s answer to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome – the interior is especially impressive.
   
   
4. Water Park: Just outside Berlin is Europe’s largest indoor water park, Tropical Islands. As well as boasting 4 slides, numerous pools and a man-made sandy beach, it also contains the largest indoor forest in the world.
5. Museum Island: Located on Berlin’s River Spree, Museum Island has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to 5 of Berlin’s most important museums, including the Alte National Gallery and the Neues Museum.
   
   
6. Christmas markets: From the end of November, numerous Christmas markets pop up, turning Berlin into a twinkling winter wonderland. Check out the Berliner Weinachtszeit behind Alexanderplatz, which has rides, food stalls, toys and traditional gifts.
   
   
7. City centre highlights: Go sightseeing to visit the Reichstag, Germany’s glass-domed parliament building, head over to Pariser Platz to walk under the triumphant Brandenburg Gate, then explore the shopping and nightlife around Potzdamer Platz. Or perhaps spend the afternoon strolling through the Tiergarten park and visit the Berlin Zoo.
   
   
8. TV Tower: Built in the 1960s, Berlin’s tallest building, the TV tower offers visitors 360° panoramic views over the entire city.

Practical information for your trip

• Brussels Airlines flights fly into Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER). The Airport Express and other regional trains offer a quick connection to the city.
• Currency: Euro. Cash and credit cards are the most common form of payment.
• Country dialling code and Wi-Fi access: The country code for Germany is +49. Wi-Fi can easily be found for free at bars, cafes and restaurants.
• Electric sockets: Plug type C and type F (2 round pins). The electrical system runs on a 230 V and 50 Hz power supply.
• Travel Information: As part of the Schengen zone, most EU/EEA citizens don’t need a passport to visit Berlin. However, citizens from other countries will need a valid passport and may need to apply for a Schengen visa prior to travel.

Dos and Don’ts in Berlin

• Get a Berlin Welcome Card: a travel card which gives you unlimited public transport: and 1-day access to the hop-on hop-off bus – a great way to see the top tourist attractions when you first arrive. It also includes free or reduced entrance to numerous sites, including Berlin Zoo and comes with a city map and guide.
  
  
• Visit a biergarten (beer garden) and sample the great variety of local beers.
  
  
• Pay the deposit on the ceramic Glühwein mug you are offered if visiting Berlin during Christmas market season – it makes a great souvenir to take back home.
  
  
• Be polite. Saying Bitte (please) is appreciated. When visiting a WW2 memorial or museum, it’s a good idea not to speak too loudly and act appropriately.
  
  
• Tipping is not expected in restaurants and cafés, but most people will leave a few euros to round up the bill.

Local phrases & essential vocabulary

Many people in Berlin speak English, but the locals will appreciate it if you make an effort to initiate conversation in German. Top expressions you should know to get by include:

• Hello: Guten Tag (morning, day) Guten Abend (evening)
• Goodbye: Auf Wiedersehen (formal) or Tschüss (informal)
• Yes/No: Ja/Nein
• Please: Bitte
• Thank you: Danke
• Do you speak English?: Sprechen Sie Englisch?
• Where are the toilets?: Wo sind die Toiletten?
• To order a beer: Ich hätte gern ein Bier, bitte
• Excuse me: Entschuldigung

Cultural events

• Berlin Marathon: Held annually, in the last week of September, it’s a 42-km race that winds through the city.
• Berlin Film Festival: another annual highlight on the city’s calendar, the film festival takes place in February, attracting visitors from all over the world – with over 500,000 admissions each year.
• Museumsinsel festival: This summer-long festival held on Museum Island includes concerts and performances, cultural events and exhibitions.
• Tanz im August: Berlin’s international dance festival, held in the second half of August - a real treat for dance lovers.
• International Beer Festival: Berlin also hosts an Oktoberfest, but the Beer Festival, held in August, is a chance to sample over 2,000 local and international brews from over 60 countries, all while soaking up the sunny, festival-style atmosphere.

When to go to Berlin?

Berlin has a relatively mild climate from May to October, whilst summer temperatures in July and August average around 20 ºC and Berliners and tourists take advantage of the warm weather to visit parks and walk along the river. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing with plenty of rain and snow in December and January, but that doesn’t stop people exploring Berlin’s famous Christmas markets.

What to eat?

• Eisbein: Braised pork knuckle with delicious crackling, served with sauerkraut.
• Currywurst: Sausages in all forms are traditional fare in Germany, but this is a street food favourite: a sausage, first boiled, then fried, and served with a curried ketchup-style sauce.
• Berliner: Made famous by JFK’s speech, the Berliner is a jam-filled doughnut dusted with icing sugar. In Berlin, it’s actually called a Pfannkuchen.
• Döner kebab: although now famous in many cities throughout Europe, particularly as a late night, post club snack, the kebab as we know it, was made popular in Berlin in the 1970s and has been adopted as an unofficial local dish.
• Berliner Weissbier: Napoleon called this local brew the “Champagne of the north”, and it’s a firm favourite in beer gardens in summer. Because of its naturally tart flavour, it is often served with a shot of raspberry of Waldmeister syrup, making it into a smooth, summertime sipper.