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Berlin GENERAL INFORMATION

Berlin airport information, getting around Berlin, opening times, banks, communication, visas for Germany... basically we have put it upon us to provide you with some additional information that will ensure that your stay in Berlin is a relaxed one!

Tourist Information Service

Where do the German's get their reputation for efficiency and organisation. It could be from their tourist offices as they are all so amazingly well organised. There are two in Berlin and an information cafe which provides information on anything from hotels, local sights and car hire can be found in an instant. In Berlin, the tourist office can help you find anything you are looking for and is a great way to start experiencing this wonderful city.

Europa-Center:[Entrance Budapester Straße, Tel: 030 25 00 25] From November 1 to March 31 it's open from Monday - Saturday 10.00 – 19.00 and Sun 10.00 – 18.00. From April 1st to October 31st there are extended opening hours.

Brandenburger Tor:[South Wing, Pariser Platz, Mitte] From November 1st to March 31st it's open daily from 10.00 - 18.00. From April 1st to October 31 there are extended opening hours. Pariser Platz, Mitte, Berlin 10117. (Daily 10am–6pm)

Tourist Info Café:Fernsehturm in Am Alexanderplatz. From November 1st to March 31st it's open daily from 10.00 to -18.00. From April 1st to October 31st there are extended opening hours.

Opening Hours: Berlin's stores can regulate their own opening hours within these times Monday - Friday 0600 - 2000, Saturday 0600 - 1600. Smaller shops may close 1300 -1500 for lunch. All shops, except a few bakeries, are closed on Sunday.

Getting to Berlin FROM THE AIRPORT

There are currently three major airports service Berlin: The Berlin International Airport in Tegel [ TXL +49 180 5000 186], the Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Schonefeld [+49 180 5000 186] and the Berlin Tempelhof Airport [+49 180 5000 186]. At this time the former Central Airport of the GDR is being expanded to become the Berlin Brandenburg International Airport. After it opens, the downtown airports in Tegel and Tempelhof will be closed.

From Tegel: It's easy to find public transportation connections from Tegel to Berlin. You can eiter take a taxi or use one of the fast and frequent bus services. The 109 or express X9 will take you to Zoologischer Garten. From here you can connect by bus, U-Bahn [underground] or S-Bahn [train] to anywhere in the city. Tickets are valid for two hours for all public transport.

Bus service to central Berlin: 109, 128, X9, TXL.

Tourist information is available at the nearby Europa Centre and underground maps are widely displayed on ticket vending machines, in the underground and inside the trains.

From Schonefeld:Schonefeld is situated approximately 18 km southeast of the city center. The easiest way to get into town is by Airport Express which will get you to the Ku'damm in around 30 minutes. Otherwise take the 171 bus to Rudow U-Bahn station and get to the Zoologischer Garten by U7 [Underground Line 7] or to to S-Bahn where you can travel by S9 to Alexanderplatz.

By surface rail: [S-Bahn]: S 45, S 9

By Bus: 160, 163, 171, 602, 735, 736, 737, 738, N46, N60

From Tempelhof: This is Berlin's smallest airport and lies south of the city center on the U6 [Underground Line 6]. Stadtmitte, the new city center is only a few stops away by underground, which means you can reach the center in 15-20 mins.

Underground Station: U6 Platz der Luftbrucke

Bus: 119, 184, 341, 104, N4, N76

Berlin Taxis: Taxis numerous and usually available at all times. Taxi stands can be found at all main stations and airports. Taxi Fares: Start at EUR2.50 and EUR1.53 per km. Approximate taxi ride fares from the airport to central Berlin: Tegel [EUR 15 - 17]; Schonefeld [EUR 23]; Tempelhof [EUR 12].

Getting AROUND Berlin

Getting around Berlin is really easy and not too expensive. The city has a great public transport system, called the BVG. This is by far the best and cheapest way to get about anfd there are is three-zone interconnected system [ABC], which only requires one ticket. This allows you to hop from bus to underground [U-Bahn] to surface rail [S-Bahn] and tram with one ticket and all for 2 euros. The trams are also very fast and efficient.

Berlin is also a very bike friendly city and there are bike lanes all over. There are also plenty of bike rental shops around.

Money and banks in Berlin

Currency: Germany is located in the Euro-zone and the currency used is the Euro

Banks: Banks can be found all over the city and the opening-hours are very consumer-friendly with many banks open until the evening on many days days. Outside the opening-hours, many cash dispensers are ready to serve you. If you're in difficulties, it's usually possible to change cash at larger hotels [generally bad rates] or with travel agents, who may initially grumble but will eventually give a rate with the commission built in - useful for small amounts in a hurry.

ATMs and Money Machine: ATMs are found almost everywhere and almost all machines accept all major credit cards. American Express is not as widely accepted but most banks will allow you to take cash advances out. Make sure you have a personal identification number [PIN] that's designed to work overseas.

Traveller's Checks: Travellers' cheques are no longer the cheapest nor most convenient option and most people use bank cards now. However you can change up travellers checks pretty much everywhere and the usual fee for buying travellers' cheques is one or two percent.

Communications in Prague

Post Offices: Deutsche Post is the only company which deals with letter delivery and if you want to use the mail service, go to the yellow counters in the post office and not the blue [Postbank] counters. Post office counters can also be found in small stores e.g. newsagents, and will sell stamps, take registered letters and, possibly, carry out some other postal services.

The post offices in Germany are open [in general]: Mon - Fri 8:00 - 18:00 and Sat 8:00 - 13:00

Berlin post office [extended operating hours]: Bahnhof Zoo [Hardenbergplatz 10612 Charlottenburg] Times: Mon - Sat 6:00 - 0:00, Sun 8:00 - 0:00.

Telephone Services: The dialing code for Berlin is 030. Public phone booths stand on every street corner. There various types of public phone booths. with coin-operated ones that take 20 Cent as a minimum to make a call and the most popular and newer public booths that take a telephone card. Telephone cards can be bought at post-offices, press-shops as well as in the BERLIN infostores.

Internet: There are also plenty of Internet cafes in Berlin.

Berlin Emergency Numbers

Berlin is a large but generally safe city. If you are unlucky enough to be the victim of a crime, you should report the incident as soon as possible at the nearest police station. If you report a crime you will be asked to make a denuncia, an official statement, which is essential if you wish to make an insurance claim.

Emergency telephone numbers:
>> Police: 110
>> Fire Brigade and Ambulance: 112
>> German Red Cross: +49(30)85 00 55
>> Ambulance: +49(30)31 00 31

About Visas FOR Czech Republic

All visitors entering Germany must have a valid passport. Visitors of Germany from non-EU countries need a valid passport.

Citizens of the following countries don't need a visa: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea (Republic of Korea), Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela.