In Berlin, where you sleep decides how much of the city you see on foot. These are the areas we recommend, and who each one suits.
€€€€€€ Price levels compare the areas within this city.
01
Mitte €€€ Higher prices
Best for: First-timers
Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island and the TV tower on foot. Central and very well connected.
02
Prenzlauer Berg €€ Mid-range prices
Best for: Couples and families
Leafy streets, cafés and Sunday markets. Calm, pretty and close to Mitte.
03
Kreuzberg € Lower prices
Best for: Nightlife and food
Multicultural, edgy and full of bars and street food. Lively until late.
Hotel shortlists
Three picks per question, chosen with our selection criteria, with price ranges and what nobody tells you.
The 3 best hotels in MitteComing soon
The 3 best luxury hotels in BerlinComing soon
The 3 best value hotels in Prenzlauer BergComing soon
Airport to city
01
FEX Airport Express ≈ 30 min
About 30 min to Hauptbahnhof
Fast regional train into the centre.
02
S-Bahn S9 or S45 ≈ 45 min
About 45 min
Cheaper and frequent; same ticket zone ABC.
03
Private transfer ≈ 40–50 min
About 40–50 min
The easy choice with luggage, kids or late flights.
Frequently asked questions
The 10 questions everyone asks before going, answered straight.
01Is Berlin safe for tourists?
Yes, Berlin is safe for a big city. Watch for pickpockets on the U-Bahn, at Alexanderplatz and Warschauer Strasse. At night, avoid Görlitzer Park and the area around Kottbusser Tor. And never walk on the bike lanes.
02When is the best time to visit Berlin?
May to September is ideal: long days, beer gardens and open-air everything. December brings the Christmas markets. Winter is cold and grey.
03What language is spoken in Berlin?
German, but Berlin is very international and English is spoken almost everywhere; in many bars and restaurants the staff speak only English.
04How many days do you need in Berlin?
Three to four days is ideal for history, museums and neighbourhoods. With more time, add Potsdam, the Sachsenhausen Memorial or Dresden.
05What are the top 10 attractions in Berlin?
Brandenburg Gate
Reichstag dome
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Museum Island
East Side Gallery
Berlin Wall Memorial (Bernauer Strasse)
Checkpoint Charlie
TV Tower
Gendarmenmarkt
Charlottenburg Palace
06Which of these attractions can you visit for free?
Much of Berlin's history is free: the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag dome (free, but you must book ahead), the Holocaust Memorial, the East Side Gallery, the Berlin Wall Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror. Tiergarten park, Gendarmenmarkt and Tempelhofer Feld, the old airport turned into a giant park, are free too. The TV Tower and the Museum Island museums are paid.
07Which museums are worth visiting in Berlin?
Museum Island is the essential stop, especially the Neues Museum with the bust of Nefertiti (the Pergamon is largely closed for renovation). Add the Jewish Museum, the DDR Museum, the Gemäldegalerie and the free Topography of Terror.
08What are the locals like in Berlin?
Berliners are direct, informal and sarcastic, with a famous dry humour, and very tolerant. Shops close on Sundays. Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash. When paying, round up 5–10% by telling the waiter the total.
09What is the typical food in Berlin?
Try currywurst, döner kebab (Berlin claims to have invented the modern version), Eisbein (pork knuckle), Königsberger Klopse (meatballs in caper sauce) and a Berliner doughnut. The international food scene is excellent. To drink, Berliner Weisse beer or Club-Mate.
10Where should you stay in Berlin?
Mitte is the centre, close to the main sights, at higher prices. Prenzlauer Berg is leafy, with cafés and families, at mid-range prices. Kreuzberg is alternative, full of nightlife and cheaper.
Staying connected
An eSIM is a digital SIM you install on your phone before you fly. No plastic card, no shop at the airport: you land, switch it on and you're online.
Low cost: plans for a few days usually cost far less than roaming
Coverage in every destination on tips2trip, and worldwide
Data from the moment you land: maps, ride apps and your bookings
Book your airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-airport transfers in advance and forget about the taxi queue, the bargaining and the 'where do we go now?'. When you walk out of arrivals, someone is already waiting with a sign with your name on it, helps you with the bags and takes you straight to the door.
Fixed price, agreed before you travel
Flight tracking: they wait if you're delayed
Child seats and vans for families or groups on request
