Guide to Berlin, Germany - Europe expedition

Berlin — the slightly chaotic, very charming guide

(witty-but-helpful edition — take it with a currywurst and a sense of curiosity)

Welcome! Berlin is a huge, layered city: history, art, techno, currywurst stands, bike lanes, and enough museums to make a sleep-deprived curator weep. This guide gives practical arrival tips (plane & train), how to get around, major sights and how to buy tickets, eating & pub pointers, etiquette to fake-local like a pro, SIM card advice, and a tight Perfect 3-Day itinerary. I’ll be direct; I’ll be cheeky; I’ll save you time squinting at maps.

Getting to Berlin

By plane — the airports (and what actually matters)

Berlin’s air hub today is Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER — Willy Brandt). It replaced the old patchwork of airports and now handles almost all scheduled flights. Tegel and Tempelhof are closed to regular commercial flights (Tempelhof closed in 2008; Tegel closed when BER opened). If you’re booking flights now, plan on BER. Berlin airport connections

Arrival practicalities at BER:

Trains run from BER’s own station straight to the city (easy, cheap), taxis and ride-shares also available. See the BER site for current route lists. Berlin airport

By train — stations you’ll use

Berlin is a railway hub. Major stations you might arrive at:

Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) — the central station; many long-distance ICE/IC/IC/RE trains stop here. Huge and well-signposted. Wikipedia
Other big stations: Ostbahnhof, Südkreuz, Gesundbrunnen — each useful depending on where in the city you’re staying. Wikipedia

Budget airlines & which airport they use

Budget carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Eurowings and others operate routes to Berlin — nearly all land at BER these days. (If you find a “Tegel” flight on a booking site, double-check — Tegel’s not in service.) For specific routes and seasonal changes check BER’s airlines/destinations page. Berlin airport

Getting around Berlin — quick practical guide

Tickets & zones (the boring but crucial bit)

Berlin uses zones A, B, C (A = central islands, B = surrounding suburbs, C = outer ring including BER and Potsdam). Buy AB if you stick to central Berlin; ABC if you’re coming from or going to BER or Potsdam. Single tickets, day tickets, and multi-day options exist — single standard fares start around €3.80 (short-trip and cheaper options available). The Berlin WelcomeCard (48h–6 days) bundles unlimited public transport + discounts on attractions if you want sightseeing efficiency. Buy at stations, BVG machines, or online. Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe

U-Bahn vs S-Bahn vs buses & trams — how to use them

U-Bahn = underground subway for short inner-city hops. Follow the letter+number (e.g., U2).
S-Bahn = suburban/overground trains connecting longer distances and central east-west routes (S+number).
Buses & trams fill in gaps — trams are indispensable in the east.
How to ride: buy a ticket before boarding at machines (or use BVG app), validate if required, keep it until inspectors ask. Tickets are time-valid (e.g., single ticket = 2 hours). Night buses run while the U-Bahn closes on some lines — check schedules. Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe

Major sights & smart ticketing

The essentials (and ticket tips)

Brandenburg Gate & Reichstag — free to view; for the dome at the Reichstag you must register in advance online for a time slot (security checks).
Checkpoint Charlie — photo-op and nearby museum (paid).
East Side Gallery — free, open-air art on the longest surviving stretch of the Wall.
Museum Island (Museumsinsel) — home to the Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum (Nefertiti), Altes Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie and Bode Museum. There’s a special Museumsinsel-Ticket allowing access to all island museums in one day — excellent if you’re museum-hopping. Book major museum tickets (Pergamon especially) online in advance to avoid long queues. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

More museum links: the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin site has ticket pages and the Museumsinsel pass is inexpensive relative to the riches inside. For special exhibitions (Pergamon/Neues) book ahead and check opening times. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

How to buy tickets to sights

Book popular museums and Reichstag online well before your trip.
For theatre, Philharmonie, or club events, official websites are best; resale/secondary sites are risky.
Consider the Berlin WelcomeCard (transport + discounts) if you plan two-three paid sights per day. Berlin WelcomeCard

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Etiquette: how to behave like a local (or at least stop annoying them)

Be punctual. Germans, and Berliners for the most part, appreciate it.
Mind bike lanes. Look, they’re not decorative. Walk in them at your peril.
Keep voices moderate on public transport. Loud phone calls = frowned upon.
Cash is handy. Many cafés and small restaurants prefer cardless payments — but have some euros for small stalls.
Queue sensibly. Berliners don’t shout; they form orderly lines.
Recycling is normal. Put trash in the right bin.
When in doubt, be direct — people will appreciate clarity more than forced small talk.

Eating & drinking — cheap, posh, and pub etiquette

Cheap & iconic

Currywurst & Döner — Berlin staples; try a currywurst stand or a local döner joint (many claim to be “the best” — they’re often good).
Street food markets (Markthalle Neun, etc.) are great for affordable, interesting bites. TripAdvisor/Kreuzberg lists are handy for current favorites. Tripadvisor

Mid to high end

Prenzlauer Berg, Mitte, Kreuzberg and Charlottenburg host a range of trendy bistros and Michelin spots. Book ahead for dinner in fancier places.

Pubs & how to order

Pubs and beer gardens: ask for “ein Bier” (if you want any local pint — but say the size if you know: “ein kleines/ein großes”), or specify a brand (Berliner Kindl, Berliner Weisse for a sour option—ask for “mit Schuss” if you want fruit syrup). Tipping: rounding up or 5–10% is normal; hand money to the server rather than leave it on the table. Many bars now accept cards, but small pubs sometimes prefer cash.

SIM cards & mobile internet

You can buy prepaid SIMs from major providers (Telekom, Vodafone, O2) and low-cost providers (Aldi Talk, Lebara). There are kiosks and stores in the city and limited options at BER — some currency/Travelex counters sell tourist SIMs, but for better choice go to city shops or supermarkets (Aldi, Lidl sell prepaid SIM starter packs). Activate with ID if required, and top up online or in stores.

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Museums: choose wisely

Berlin has hundreds; focus by interest:

Antiquities & archaeology — Pergamon, Neues Museum. Book Pergamon tickets early. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Classical art — Alte Nationalgalerie.
20th-century & contemporary — Jewish Museum, Hamburger Bahnhof.
DDR history — Stasi Museum, DDR Museum.
Tip: many museums offer evening hours one night a week — cheaper crowds and different atmosphere. Check official museum sites for up-to-date opening times and ticket booking. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Reminder: Berlin is big

Do not try to see everything in one day. Distances plus delightful distractions (a café, a gallery, a street performer) mean travel times add up. Plan realistically: 2–3 major museums or 3–4 big sights per day at most if you like breathing between stops.

Perfect 3-Day Itinerary (efficient + tasty)

Day 1 — Classic Berlin (Mitte & Tiergarten)

Morning: Brandenburg Gate – Reichstag (prebook dome visit) → walk Unter den Linden.
Lunch: currywurst or a cozy café in Mitte.
Afternoon: Museumsinsel (use Museumsinsel-Ticket; pick 1–2 museums — Pergamon & Neues if Egyptian/antiquities interest you; book Pergamon). Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Evening: Dinner in Hackescher Markt; find a bar for a relaxed drink.

Day 2 — East Side & alternative Berlin (Friedrichshain/Kreuzberg)

Morning: East Side Gallery (walk the Wall art).
Late morning: Museum of Contemporary Art or nearby galleries.
Lunch: Turkish Market (Maybachufer if it’s market day) or kebab in Kreuzberg.
Afternoon: Checkpoint Charlie / Topography of Terror or the Jewish Museum.
Evening: Kreuzberg nightlife — small bars, live music, or techno (if you’re brave).

Day 3 — Potsdam or local neighbourhoods

Option A: Day trip to Potsdam (Sanssouci Palace) — short S-bahn ride (requires AB/BC depending).
Option B: Explore Prenzlauer Berg (cafés, boutique shops), then Charlottenburg Palace and Kurfürstendamm shopping.
Finish: Sunset from the Reichstag area or a beer garden near Tiergarten.

Final practical tips & resources

If you want exact train times or current flight routes, check Deutsche Bahn and BER websites for live schedules. Wikipedia

Book high-demand museum tickets and the Reichstag dome in advance. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Buy BVG tickets before boarding and consider the WelcomeCard if you’ll use transport heavily + want discounts. Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe

Bring a jacket — Berlin weather loves sudden mood changes.