Berlin

Berlin – October 2017

Having gone almost a year without a trip anywhere, and lacking funds and time to do anything big, I settled on a short city trip to Germany’s capitol: Berlin. For Western tourists visiting Germany for the first time, Berlin is a good place to start if for no other reason than the culture shock is minimal, and the combination of beautiful and historic sites is extensive.

Berlin is board flat, which is great if you are like me and enjoy walking. However, if your time is limited, and you have a long list of to do’s, it’s important to take advantage of every convenience to get the most out of your trip. In this respect, Berlin public transit is a godsend. It’s relatively easy to use, clean, safe and on time.

The next seven days were busy, although not as fruitful as I would’ve liked. For one thing, late October is not absolutely the best time to go to Berlin. I encountered all four seasons in one week. To a Canadian this is no big deal, but you have to plan pretty much day-to-day. On the upside, the wild fall weather created some spectacular lighting conditions, which more than made up for some of the cold and rain. Additionally, I managed to hurt my back, which seriously slowed me down for about half the trip. However, I stuck it out, and was glad I did.

Favourite moments

Having a beer on a Spree River boat tour.
Doing a selfie at the Brandenburg gate
Walking the tarmac of Templehof Airport
Touring the Sansoucci summer palace in Potsdam
Pondering the awesome Gate of Miletus in the Pergamon Museum
Taking in the panorama of Berlin from the TV Tower
Eating filet mignon at the Blockhouse

Travel Notes

Getting to Berlin: Surprisingly, Germany’s capitol does not currently have an international airport. This was due to change after 2020 when Berlin’s new international airport is to open, but until then flying to Berlin involves a connecting flight to via Frankfurt or Munich or other European cities. Here you enter the European Union and pick up a connecting flight to a regional airport in Berlin – either Tegel or Shoenfeld. Berlin. Tegel Airport is a small older airport that is nonetheless easy enough to navigate, and has the usual basic travel services for starting your trip. In 2017, I opted to use the TXL express bus that runs between the airport and Hauptbanhoff, Berlin’s central train station. From there it was short subway ride to the Friedrichstraße station, followed by a 15 minute walk to the hotel. I chose this particular location because it was close to two subway stops.

Update: As many of you may know, since the time this post was originally created, Tegel Airport closed in 2020. Berlin is now served by Berlin Brandenburg Airport Located 30 kilometers south of the city centre, and is now served by multiple train options including the new FEX rapid transit system for tourists, as well as regional trains, and the Subway service via S Bahn and U Bahn.

The first thing I did after picking up my bags was to purchase a Berlin Welcome Card. Similar to City Pass or other discount cards, the Berlin Welcome Card offers discounted or free admission to many of Berlin`s most popular sites, but most importantly offers up to 6 days of access on Berlin`s transit system. Berlin is served by two separate train systems, U Bahn, which is mostly underground, and the S Bahn, which is typically above ground sometimes on elevated tracks. This short video covers the basics of navigating the system.

Overview of transit options from Brandenburg Airport to central Berlin