Berlin does not ease you in gently. You land at BER, walk through a terminal that still smells like fresh concrete, and then face a wall of options: trains, buses, taxis, apps, ticket machines with too many buttons.
Nobody warns you that the city covers 892 square kilometres. That is nine times the size of Paris. The distances between the places you want to visit are real, and how you handle transport on day one sets the tone for the whole trip.
This guide covers what a first-time visitor needs to know, from the moment you step off the plane to the moment you are sitting in a cafe in Kreuzberg wondering why nobody told you about this city sooner.
Landing at BER
BER has two terminals. Terminal 1 handles most airlines, including Lufthansa and easyJet. Terminal 2 is smaller and mostly serves low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Check which one your airline uses before you fly. It is printed on your boarding pass.
Both terminals are connected, so getting it wrong just means an extra 10-minute walk. But after a long flight, that walk feels longer than it is.
The airport is straightforward once you know the layout. We wrote a separate full terminal guide covering arrivals, exits and pickup points if you want floor-by-floor detail.
Getting from the airport to your hotel
This is the first real decision you make in Berlin. Here are your options.
| Option | Cost to central Berlin | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|
| Public transport (FEX train) | About €5 (ABC ticket) | Fixed ticket price |
| Taxi | €58-70 | Metered, no surge pricing |
| Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt) | Similar to taxis | Variable; surge pricing possible |
| Private transfer (BCT) | From €90 (sedan) | Fixed price, agreed in advance |
The FEX train runs from directly underneath Terminal 1 to Hauptbahnhof in 23 minutes. The S-Bahn S9 is slower but useful if your hotel is in the east. Public transport works well if you are traveling light and alone, less so with heavy luggage.
Taxis queue outside both terminals with no app needed, but traffic jams happen and the meter keeps running. Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt can have surge pricing during late-night hours or bad weather.
Private transfers give you a fixed price agreed before you arrive. A driver meets you in the arrivals hall, helps with luggage, and takes you directly to your hotel. Useful if you are arriving late, traveling with family, or simply want one less thing to think about.
We compared all these options in detail in our full airport transfer guide, and broke down what each option actually costs in 2026.
Berlin’s public transport system
BVG runs most of Berlin’s public transport: U-Bahn (underground), S-Bahn (above-ground rail), trams (mostly in the east), and buses. The S-Bahn technically belongs to Deutsche Bahn, but your BVG ticket covers it. For everyday use, the distinction does not matter.
The city is divided into three fare zones. Zone A is the inner city ring. Zone B extends to the outer suburbs.
Zone C covers the edges, including BER airport and Potsdam. Most tourists need an AB ticket for getting around and only need the C zone for the airport trip.
Here is what tickets cost in 2026:
- Single trip (AB): about €3.50
- Day ticket (AB): about €9.50
- 7-day ticket (AB): about €41
- Deutschlandticket: €49 per month
The Deutschlandticket deserves special attention. It is the successor to the famous 9-Euro ticket experiment from 2022. For €49 per month, it covers all local and regional public transport across Germany, not just Berlin.
If you are staying more than a few days and plan to explore beyond the city, it is a genuinely good deal. You can buy it digitally through the BVG app.
Speaking of which: download the BVG app before you arrive. It handles route planning, ticket purchases, and real-time departure information. The app works in English.
One thing to know about Berlin’s trains: they mostly run on the honour system. There are no turnstiles or gates. You buy a ticket, validate it, and keep it with you.
Controllers do random checks, and the fine for riding without a valid ticket is €60. They are not sympathetic to tourists who forgot to validate.
Getting around a city that is actually enormous
Berlin catches first-time visitors off guard with its size. People look at a map, see Brandenburger Tor and the East Side Gallery on the same screen, and assume they can walk between them.
That walk is about 7 kilometres. It takes over an hour on foot, through areas that are not especially scenic.
The city sprawls. Neighbourhoods that look close together on Google Maps are separated by 20-minute train rides.
You will use the U-Bahn and S-Bahn a lot. Trams are handy in the eastern districts. Buses fill in the gaps, particularly in the west.
Cycling is popular with locals, and Berlin has decent bike infrastructure. Bike rental services like Nextbike and Tier are available through apps. But Berlin drivers are not always patient with cyclists, and some intersections are genuinely dangerous if you are not used to German traffic rules.
For trips across the city late at night, or when you are dressed for dinner and do not want to stand on a platform, a taxi or private car is the practical choice. Berlin’s night bus network exists, but waiting 20 minutes at a bus stop in January is nobody’s idea of fun.
Key neighbourhoods and what to expect
Berlin does not have a single centre the way London or Paris does. Each neighbourhood has its own character, and where you stay shapes your experience of the city. Here is a quick orientation.
Mitte is where most of the big-name sights are concentrated. Museum Island, the Brandenburger Tor, Unter den Linden, the Reichstag. It is also the most tourist-heavy part of the city.
Hotels here tend to be more expensive, but you will be walking distance from a lot of history. Restaurants around Hackescher Markt are hit and miss. Some are good, many are tourist traps with laminated menus.
Kreuzberg has the best food scene in Berlin, hands down. Turkish, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, and everything in between. Oranienstrasse and the area around Kottbusser Tor are lively well past midnight.
Kreuzberg has an alternative streak that has softened somewhat but is still there. If you want to understand why people fall in love with Berlin, spend an evening here.
Prenzlauer Berg is quieter. Tree-lined streets, good cafes, families with strollers. It gentrified heavily after reunification and now feels polished in a way that the rest of Berlin does not.
The Sunday flea market at Mauerpark is worth a visit. Get there before noon if you want to actually browse without shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
Charlottenburg is the old West Berlin centre. The shopping along Kurfurstendamm is still upscale. KaDeWe, the big department store, is nearby.
Schloss Charlottenburg is a palace with gardens that are free to walk through. The neighbourhood feels calmer and more established than the eastern districts.
Friedrichshain skews young. The East Side Gallery is here, which is the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall, now covered in murals. The clubs along the Spree river are part of Berlin’s reputation.
RAW Gelande is a former train repair yard turned into bars, street food, and creative spaces. It is rougher around the edges than Prenzlauer Berg, and that is the point.
We go deeper into each of these areas in our Berlin neighbourhood guide.
Money and paying for things
Germany uses the Euro. If you are coming from outside the Eurozone, exchange money before you arrive or withdraw from ATMs in Berlin (look for the ones operated by actual banks, not the independent ATMs in tourist areas that charge high fees).
Cards are accepted more widely than they used to be, but Germany’s relationship with cash is more persistent than in most Western European countries. Larger restaurants and shops take Visa and Mastercard without issue.
Smaller restaurants, market stalls, corner bakeries, and some bars still operate cash-only. A sign saying “Nur Bargeld” means cash only.
Keep €50-100 in cash on you. You will need it at some point, whether it is for a doner kebab at 2am or a vintage find at a flea market.
Language
Berlin is easy for English speakers. Most people under 50 speak English well, and in tourist areas, restaurant menus, museum signage, and transport apps are all available in English. You will rarely be stuck.
That said, a few German words go a long way. “Danke” (thank you) and “Entschuldigung” (excuse me) are the two you will use most. People notice when you make the effort, even if they immediately switch to English anyway.
Tipping
Tipping in Germany is simpler than in the US but slightly more expected than in some Asian or South American countries.
At restaurants, 5-10% is normal. You tell the server the total you want to pay when they bring the bill. So if your meal is €37, you say “Vierzig” (forty) or just hand them €40 and say “stimmt so” (keep the change).
At coffee shops, rounding up to the next Euro is enough. For taxis, round up by a Euro or two.
Nobody will chase you down if you do not tip. It is expected but not enforced. We covered this in more detail in our Berlin tipping guide.
Staying safe
Berlin is one of the safer capital cities in Europe. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The usual urban precautions apply: watch your bag on public transport, be aware of your surroundings at major tourist spots, and do not leave your phone on a cafe table unattended.
Pickpocketing happens at busy stations like Alexanderplatz and around Museum Island. Keep valuables in a front pocket or a bag that zips closed.
Late at night, most areas are fine to walk through. Some parts of the city feel emptier after midnight, but genuinely dangerous situations are uncommon if you are paying attention. Our Berlin safety guide has more specific advice by area.
SIM cards and WiFi
Most European SIM cards work in Germany without extra charges (thanks to EU roaming rules). If you are coming from outside the EU, pick up a prepaid SIM at the airport.
BER has shops for Telekom, Vodafone, and O2 in the arrivals area of Terminal 1. A basic data plan starts at around €10-15 for a few gigabytes.
Free WiFi is available in most hotels, many cafes, and on some BVG buses and trains. The WiFi on public transport is spotty, so do not rely on it for navigation. Download offline maps before you leave your hotel.
Frequently asked questions
Is Berlin expensive?
Compared to London or Paris, no. Compared to Prague or Warsaw, yes. A meal at a mid-range restaurant costs €12-20 per person. Public transport is affordable. Hotels range from €60 for a budget room to €200+ for something upscale. Berlin is not the bargain it was ten years ago, but it is still reasonable by Western European standards.
Do I need a visa?
EU citizens do not need a visa. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. Check the German embassy website for your specific nationality.
What is the best time to visit?
May through September gives you the warmest weather and the longest days. Berlin in summer stays light until 10pm, and the parks and outdoor bars come alive. Winter is cold (often below zero) and dark, but quieter, cheaper, and with excellent Christmas markets from late November through December.
Is Berlin walkable?
Parts of it are. Mitte is walkable. A loop around Kreuzberg on foot is pleasant. But walking between neighbourhoods adds up fast because of the city’s size. You will want public transport or a bike for anything beyond a single neighbourhood.
Can I drink the tap water?
Yes. Berlin’s tap water is safe and tastes fine. You can ask for “Leitungswasser” at restaurants, though some waiters will look mildly disappointed and try to sell you bottled water.
How do I get from Berlin to Potsdam?
The S-Bahn S7 goes directly from central Berlin to Potsdam in about 40 minutes. You need an ABC ticket. Potsdam has Sanssouci Palace and some lovely gardens. It makes a good day trip.
Getting from BER to your hotel
If you would rather skip the ticket machines and train connections on your first day, Berlin City Transfer runs fixed-price airport transfers from BER to anywhere in Berlin. A driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign, helps with your luggage, and drives you directly to your hotel.
| Vehicle | Capacity | Price from BER |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Sedan (VW, Ford or similar) | Up to 3 passengers | €90 |
| Business Sedan (Mercedes E-Class) | Up to 3 passengers | €110 |
| Business Van (Mercedes V-Class) | 4-7 passengers | €120 |
| Business Vito (MB Vito) | 4-8 passengers | €130 |
| First Class Sedan (Mercedes S-Class) | Up to 3 passengers | €170 |
All prices are fixed. No meters, no surge pricing, no extra charges for luggage or flight delays.
Book your transfer here | Message us on WhatsApp | Email: offer@berlincitytransfer.de