Travel tips · Berlin · Germany
Berlin travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: File:Museumsinsel Berlin Juli 2021 1 (cropped).jpg : Kasa Fue derivative work: Georgfotoar, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Berlin is famously relaxed, tolerant and creative, shaped by division, reunification and waves of artists and immigrants. Berliners are direct to the point of bluntness — the 'Berliner Schnauze' — but rarely unfriendly. The city confronts its history openly through memorials and museums, and personal freedom, from dress to nightlife, is highly valued.
Key facts
- Language
- German
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and public fountains operate in summer.
- Emergency
- 112 (fire and ambulance), 110 (police)
Things to know
- Do not cross on a red pedestrian light, especially in front of children; locals will tell you so.
- Keep out of cycle lanes, which are often on the pavement and marked in red.
- Most shops do not open on Sundays, which are treated as quiet days in residential buildings.
- Behave respectfully at memorials: no sitting, climbing or posing for playful photos at the Holocaust Memorial.
- Clubs often ban photography inside, and door staff can refuse entry without explanation.
- Recycle bottles for the deposit, or leave them beside public bins for collectors.
- Book Reichstag and its glass dome ahead: Entry is free but requires advance online registration with the names of all visitors; slots fill days ahead.
- Book Neues Museum ahead: Timed tickets are recommended, especially at weekends.
- Book TV Tower (Fernsehturm) ahead: Timed tickets sell out at weekends and around sunset; book ahead.
- The Reichstag dome, Holocaust Memorial, Berlin Wall Memorial, East Side Gallery and Topography of Terror are all free.
Tipping
Round up or add about 5–10% in restaurants and cafés, telling the server the total when you pay rather than leaving money on the table. Round up taxi fares.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hallo / Guten Tag | Hello / Good day |
| Danke | Thank you |
| Bitte | Please / you're welcome |
| Die Rechnung, bitte | The bill, please |
| Zusammen oder getrennt? | Together or separate? (asked when paying) |
| Entschuldigung | Excuse me / sorry |
What to wear
Dress is casual and practical; black clothing is the unofficial uniform for clubs. Bring waterproof layers and warm clothing from October to April.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and public fountains operate in summer.
- Emergency number
- 112 (fire and ambulance), 110 (police)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is available in many cafés and some public places; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and eSIMs are easy for other visitors.
- Time zone
- Europe/Berlin
Berlin is generally safe, but pickpockets work at Alexanderplatz, Warschauer Strasse, Kottbusser Tor and on crowded trains. Drug dealing is visible around Görlitzer Park and some stations. Watch out for shell-game scams near tourist sites and for cyclists in bike lanes.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Germany's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Berlin?
Round up or add about 5–10% in restaurants and cafés, telling the server the total when you pay rather than leaving money on the table. Round up taxi fares.
+Can you drink the tap water in Berlin?
Tap water is safe to drink, and public fountains operate in summer.
+What plugs are used in Berlin?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Berlin?
German.