Before you Travel
Bookings needed & things you can prepare in advance to make the most of your time once in Berlin
The huge majority of travelers visit the following attractions. They need to be booked to avoid huge queues or to guarantee availability.
The first tickets you must book in advance are the ones for the Reichstag. Although the admission is free of charge, it's compulsory to register beforehand and give your personal details. After that, you'll be able to select a time slot to visit the dome.
The second tickets you have to book are the ones for the Pergamonmuseum, especially during high tourist season. The objects exhibited there attract lots of visitors each day, like the Ishtar Gate and the Processional way from Babylon. You can either choose to visit only this museum:
Or you can choose to visit this and any other museum (maybe all if you have time) of Museum Island:
PASSES TO MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR VISIT
There are different Passes you can buy to enter attractions and each has its own options, so you should check them out before choosing. If you read the descriptions and still can't decide which pass to get, send me a message and I'll help you with it!
- Berlin WelcomeCard: This card can be bought for 48-hours, 72-hours, or for 4, 5 or 6-days. With it, you'll get to ride unlimited public transport in the AB (including Tegel airport) or ABC zones (including Tegel and Schönefeld airports and Potsdam), you'll receive discounts on city tours, entrance to attractions, museums, restaurants and others, like the AquaDom & Sealife Berlin, Madame Tussauds and the TV Tower. The price goes from € 20 per person.
- Berlin Pass: this pass can be bought for 2 or 3 days. It includes entrance to over 60 attractions, such as Berliner Dom, Pergamon Museum and LEGOLAND, a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and it can include public transport if chosen. The price goes from € 99 per person.
There are different ways to get to the city center from both airports, the best are:
FROM SCHÖENFELD AIRPORT:
The cheapest way: Public Transport
Regional trains RE7 and RB14, known as Airport Express, get to Berlin Hauptbahnhof in 30 minutes. They have different stops, like Berlin Ostbhanhof, Alexanderplatz and Berlin Zoologischer Garten. Single tickets cost € 3.40. Remember to validate the ticket before getting on the train!
The comfortable and private door-to-door option: Private Transfer
With this service your driver will be waiting for you at the arrival hall and you'll avoid the long queues for a taxi. The price is approximately € 50 per car, depending on the location of the hotel and it takes approximately 45 minutes to get to destination.
FROM TEGEL AIRPORT:
The cheapest way: Public Transport
The Express Bus TXL runs every 10 minutes directed to Alexanderplatz en Mitte and gets there in 40 minutes. It has other stops, like Berlin Hauptbahnhof where you can change to S-Bahn and U-Bahn. Express Buses X9 and 109 go to Berlin Zoologisher Garten train station. Single tickets cost € 2.80 and you can buy them in machines in the terminals.
The comfortable and private door-to-door option: Private Transfer
With this service your driver will also be waiting for you at the arrival hall and you'll avoid the long queues for a taxi. The price is approximately € 30 per car, depending on the location of the hotel and it takes approx. 45 minutes to get to destination.
Once you're in the city, the best ways to move around are:
The cheapest way: Public Transport
Public Transport has buses, trams, U-Bahn (subway), S-Bahn (train) and regional trains. A single ticket valid for 2 hours costs from 2.80 € to 3.40 € depending on the zone. The zones are: AB for the city center that includes the S-Bahn ring, BC outside of the S-Bahn ring and other neighbourhoods, and ABC all of Berlin including Schöenfeld airport and Potsdam. There's also the option of a daily ticket for 7 € or 7.70 € and a weekly ticket for 30 € or 37.50 €. The most important thing about public transport: ALWAYS validate your ticket before getting on or as soon as you get on, so as not to get a fine of 60 €.
Public Transport is included in the Berlin WelcomeCard, choosing either AB or ABC zones:
You can also choose to include it in the Berlin Pass, if you prefer to get that one:
The most comfy and Panoramic way: Hop on Hop off Buses
- Best of Berlin buses: you can choose between 24, 48 and 72 hour tickets and two different lines, the yellow and purple ones, that include different attractions. The price goes from € 18 per person.
-Red Buses: you can choose between 24 and 48 hours tickets, which include stops in 18 different locations, such as Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz and Checkpoint Charlie. The price goes from € 20 per person.
Book your tours, guides & activities: the best tours sell out fast. Try to do your research and book before you go. Have a look at our Love Your Trip selection, we have the best services and experiences in town.
If you need advice to choose your activity or you’re looking for something specific, send me a message.
Have you just started to plan your trip? Too many things to decide? Too long do it all by yourself? Special needs or wishes? Then, you should plan your trip with a local to get tailored travel plans & advices.
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