Berlin is a world cultural center and a major transport hub. Its rich cultural heritage is represented by many historical monuments, museums and galleries, and shopping malls offering shopping opportunities attract tourists from all over the world. Holidays in Berlin will leave an unforgettable experience for young and adult travelers, while the main thing is to organize your leisure time correctly.
General information about the city
In total, there are twelve districts in Berlin with their own head and government. Once divided between two states - the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany - Berlin is interesting in its entirety, since the majority of its modern attractions appeared after the Second World War.
The Mitte area is considered the heart of the city - it is home to the largest number of buildings of historical value. It was from here that the construction of Berlin began in the 12th century.
Today this city is a cultural center of world importance, which is also known for its rich scientific base, represented by universities, research centers, and an extensive library fund.
The temperate climate zone creates favorable conditions for exploring Berlin at any time of the year, so there is practically no concept of high season here.
Where to go
Once in the capital of Germany on a last minute ticket or on an independent trip, do not waste time in vain and be sure to:
- Visit the Berlin Wall, which divided German territory for nearly three decades
- Go to the Brandenburg Gate - the city's trademark - which laid the foundation for the classicist building style.
- Visit the Berlin TV Tower, the fifth tallest structure in Europe.
- Take a photo outside the Cathedral, which looks more like an artsy Catholic church than a Protestant church.
- Explore the Museum Island, a unique museum complex
- Look at the Reichstag - the historic building was renovated after the Second World War.
- Visit AquaDom and Tropical Island Water Park
How to book excursions in Berlin
Finding a Russian-speaking guide is one of the pressing issues faced by those who are planning tours to Berlin. You can find a suitable guide via the Internet - pay attention to the websites of tour operators that offer Russian-language excursion tours:
- https://www.companionka.com,
- http://www.galeria-reisen.de/o-nas.html,
- https://gute-reisen-online.com.
Excursions can be ordered for different durations, different modes of travel (walking, by car or bus), different number of participants (individual or group) - it all depends on the financial capabilities of the traveler.
You can arrange an excursion with a private guide on the website.
There are also city services offering sightseeing bus trips around Berlin with audio guides or a lecture from the guide. To book such a tour, visit the sites:
- https://www.berlin-city-tour.de,
- https://bex.de/sightseeing/bex-sightseeing.html,
- https://city-sightseeing.com/en/3/berlin.
Shopping tours in Berlin
When it comes to shopping, Berlin has long become an alternative to Milan and Paris. An abundance of brands that range from budget to luxury and relatively low prices attract tourists from all over the world, especially during sales periods.
Particular attention should be paid to small boutiques that sell unique handmade items.
Large shopping malls usually work from 09:00 to 20:00, and on Saturday they take a lunch break from 14:00 to 15:00. On Thursday, boutiques are open 2 hours longer than usual, and on Sunday all shops in the country are closed.
The shopping tour should be organized in the last weeks of July or January during the summer and winter sales season. Discounts start at 20% and gradually rise, due to the sale of balances, up to 75%.
It is worth going to Berlin for designer clothes of the middle price segment (GAP, Mango, Zara, H&M), Swiss watches, antiques, original accessories. The best deals can be found in the Galeria Kaufthaus shopping center (clothing), the Hackescher market (footwear) and the KaDeWe shopping center (miscellaneous).
Traveling with children
Children perceive Berlin much easier than adults, so to keep them interested, you should turn to affordable entertainment. There is a special children's route along which the following attractions can be distinguished.
City zoo
The Berlin Zoo was recognized as the best in the world in terms of the number of animal species represented and the conditions created for them. More than 18 thousand individuals live on an area of 35 hectares, and there is a park in the Tiergarten district, in the very center of the city.
There are pavilions with exotic animals and birds, open enclosures that create the impression of walking in the wild. The zoo also has an aquarium with different climatic zones and water landscapes - from riverine from the Amazon to oceanic from the Great Barrier Reef.
Here you can not only look at animals, they are allowed to be treated with special food and stroked - we are talking about contact enclosures with goats, sheep and various cubs.
The ticket price for is 15.5 euros, children from 4 to 15 years old visit the zoo at a reduced rate of 8 euros.
A visit to the aquarium will cost another 2.5 euros for children and 5 euros for adults.
There is an opportunity to buy a family ticket to the zoo for two - 21 euros.
Aquapark
If you come to the city for at least 3 days, then one of them should be allocated for a trip to the Tropical Island water park - your children will be delighted.
It is located just an hour's drive from the center of the capital, it works all year round and around the clock. The air temperature here is maintained at +25, and the water temperature is +28 degrees.
The territory of the amusement park is divided into thematic zones:
- floral;
- tropical;
- lagoon;
- marine.
Tropical is dedicated to such corners of the planet as Bali, Thailand, Congo, Amazonia, Malaysia. Here you can get acquainted with the customs, life and cuisine of the peoples who live in these territories.
Floral represents thickets of mangroves, orchids, palms, among which you can walk and take pictures.
Active rest awaits you in the sea and lagoon zone - here you can play volleyball on a warm sandy beach, swim in a waterfall, ride water attractions.
Children's museums
The Labyrinth Museum is an interactive playground where children can imagine themselves as adults - for example, building a house.
The MACHmit Museum is based on the same principle! (translated means “Do with us”), which is located in the building of an ancient cathedral. There is a wooden labyrinth from the first floor of the building to its very roof, a soap factory, a printing house, a musical organ, a collection of toys from the 19th and 20th centuries, all of which can be touched, studied, and used.
Curious kids will definitely like a trip to the Zeiss Grossplanetarium, where they hold shows about space, show old astronomical devices, allow them to play with them, watch their devices and teach them how to use them.
Another technical center - Deutsches Technikmuseum - is located in the premises of the old railway station. Here you can get acquainted with the structure of locomotives and trains that stand right in the open.
The optical exposition demonstrates the technique used by spies and special agents, the aviation one offers models of military and civil aircraft, and the water one - a collection of various ships.
The interactive science center Spectrum deserves special attention: here the laws of nature are explained to children in an accessible and fun way.
Many installations are aimed at learning in a playful way - children can generate and touch fog; pass a charge through yourself to light a light bulb; cause an earthquake.
You will find more attractions if you check out the special city map of children's activities in Berlin.
Festivals and other events
Search engines give out an incredible amount of information about events in Berlin every day. Among them, we single out the most significant and interesting.
Berlinale
The Berlin Film Festival has been held annually since the 1950s. The main prize "Golden Bear" - the European analogue of the "Oscar" - is awarded in the nomination "Best Film".
The festival premieres are held at the Theater on Potsdamer Platz. During the period of the festival, which is attended by hundreds of thousands of people, more than 300 films are shown.
The Berlinale is the only prestigious film festival that takes on screenings not only directors and actors, but also ordinary viewers. In 2021, it is planned to be held on February 7-17.
You can familiarize yourself with the competition program and buy tickets on the official website of the festival.
All anticipated films sell out almost instantly, so keep an eye out for sales.
The average cost of one ticket is 10 euros, and to get to the competitive screening in the festival palace, you will have to pay 13 euros.
Festival of light
Since 2005, the Festival of Light has been held for two weeks in November and attracts millions of travelers from all over the world. This is a grand celebration, in which up to hundreds of architectural monuments and sights of Berlin participate.
During the festival, professional light performances are held, complex fireworks are launched, the streets become as light as day from a multitude of additional spotlights and lanterns - the city seems to be preparing for the New Year.
The festival starts at sunset and lasts almost all night. At this time, ordinary townspeople decorate their homes with illumination and photograph installations for memory.
City marathon
Locals know it under the name BMW Berlin-Marathon. This is one of the most prestigious 42 km 195 m races in the world, which takes place at the end of September.
As one of the most massive marathons in the world, the Berlin Race annually registers 40-45 thousand participants, among which there are Guinness book holders. That is why this sporting action is worth seeing with your own eyes.
You can apply for a marathon on the website.
Where to stay in Berlin
To make your trip interesting and eventful, the choice of accommodation must be guided not only by its cost, but also by the purpose for which you are traveling to Berlin.
Sightseeing travelers are advised to choose a hotel in a central location (such as the Spandauer Jewish Quarter) so as not to travel from the outskirts by train. Party tourists should take a closer look at the Friedrichshain area.
Good budget accommodation is offered by City Hotel Berlin East, aletto Hotel Kudamm, Hotel Helle Mitte - the cost of living here ranges from 15 to 40 euros per room per day.
Hostels a & o Berlin Kolumbus, 2A Hostel, Check In Hostel Berlin are respected by students and traveling youth - they do not charge more than 12 euros per night.
For those looking for a mid-range accommodation, we recommend paying attention to the Berlin Ku'damm hotel with Russian-speaking staff - located near the center, offers rooms at a price of 60 euros per day.
Those on a budget will love the Ellington Hotel Berlin, Vienna House Andel's Berlin with their deluxe service.
Where to eat
The Germans are famous for their simple, meat-rich cuisine. The capital of Germany offers many places to eat tasty, satisfying and at a reasonable price.
- The dining room at Rathaus Schöneberg offers a new menu every day, with vegan and vegetarian options (average cost € 10).
- The dining room on the 10th floor of the Rathaus Kreuzberg is open from 7 am for breakfast, and from 11 pm it serves lunches (average cost - 12 euros).
- Visit the cafe at the Universal Music headquarters. It is open to all visitors from 08:00 to 20:00 in the summer and until 18:00 in the winter (average cost is € 12).
- The cafeteria at the Ernst-Reuter-Haus near the Berlin Zoo offers national lunches at prices ranging from 2 to 5 euros.
- Unusual cafe Cantina is located on Storkower Straße, 134. Many chefs are trained here, so there are many experimental dishes on the menu, there is bread from our own bakery, salads, soups. On average, the cost is 3-5 euros.
How to save money on vacation
Holidays in Berlin cannot be called economical or affordable, but there are ways that can significantly reduce the budget of the planned trip, even with air travel.
- If you plan to travel a lot by public transport, buy a daily pass. It costs only 7 euros, while for one trip you will have to pay from 1.5 to 3.5 euros. At night, use buses marked with the letter N - they cost much less than taxis. On weekends, even the U-Bahn and S-Bahn underground lines operate at night.
- Buy tickets for Flixbus buses in advance - and for 20-25 euros you will see not only Berlin, but also its environs (for example, Bavarian castles).
- If you are a student, before going on a trip, apply for an international ISIC card - it entitles you to significant (up to 70%) discounts on attractions.
- To save on accommodation, refer to https://www.wg-gesucht.de and https://www.studenten-wg.de. Here you can rent a student room or apartment during your holidays in Germany.
- You can buy a ticket for a movie screening or a concert at a discounted price on the website. People who, for some reason, cannot attend the event, open the sale of a free ticket shortly before the appointed date.
- In the Mall of Berlin and Alexa, food courts are always open, where you can have a cheap snack (the cost is up to 4 euros for lunch).
- Buy fruits in Turkish markets - prices are always lower than citywide.
- Visit supermarket chains (Lidl, Aldi, Netto) to buy expiring products - there are discounts from 50 to 70%.
What you need to know about a trip to Berlin
For those who are in Berlin for the first time, it will be useful to learn practical tips for a pleasant stay:
- Before heading to Berlin, order your Berlin Tourist Card online. It gives the right, for example, to free travel on public transport, significant discounts in restaurants, sightseeing tours. Choose a card for the entire duration of your stay in the city.
- On Tuesday and Wednesday galleries, museums and other attractions are open until late, and on Monday they are all closed.
- If you want to address a local resident, but do not know his occupation, say “Herr Doctor” - here the address “doctor” has a rather loose meaning and can be applied to people of various professions.
- When entering a small restaurant or cafe, it is customary to say the phrase “Mahlzeit”, which is a wish of bon appetit.
- Always have your passport or a copy of it with you, as well as, if possible, a card of the hostel or hotel where you are staying. This will help you avoid problems when meeting with the police patrol.
- Free internet access can be found in any bar or cafe. In order not to seem ill-mannered, order something cheap (for example, a cup of tea or coffee) and only then ask for a password from Wi-Fi.
- To withdraw money, use an ATM of the Geldautomat network - here is the minimum transaction fee. You can find such ATMs in any large shopping center.
Finally
When planning a trip to Berlin, try to think through everything to the smallest detail. Book a place to stay, draw up an approximate route around the city and take care of round-trip tickets.
