Berlin: Travel Information
Few cities have seen as many changes over recent years as Berlin. The two separate entities that existed before the Wall came down have become one again.
There’s hardly a trace left of the former east-west division. The new architecture on Potsdamer Platz and in the government quarter forms a fascinating contrast to the late 19th century buildings of Charlottenburg. One minute you’re on an elegant boulevard, the next you’re in one of the city’s more alternative neighbourhoods. But the city is not only renowned for its architectural monuments; it also has museums, green oases and night life galore.
How To Get To Berlin By Train
Berlin Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) which is the largest and most modern crossing station in Europe, effectively combines striking architecture with the mobility requirements of the 21st century. Every day, some 110 0 long-distance, regional and rapid transit trains call at the 14 platforms on two different levels. The central station also offers Berlin a shopping centre which provides for all interests with its wide range of products and services, from pharmacies to hairdressers. The shops here are open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
How To Get To Hilton Hotel from the Central Station
Berlin Central Station is situated approximately 2 km from Hilton Hotel Berlin. You can reach the Hilton Hotel from the airport conveniently within 5 minutes by cab.
Apart from taking a cab, you can also use public transportation to reach your hotel. Simply take any suburban train (S-Bahn) travelling from platform 15. You need to get off at the next station which is Friedrichstraße. From Friedrichstraße, you need to take the underground, (Line U6, Direction Alt-Mariendorf) and get off at Stadtmitte. Your hotel is only 450m away from this underground station. The whole journey from the central station to your hotel should take you about 10-15 minutes.
The ticket costs € 2.30 (fair zone AB), and it can be bought from the machines in the central station. It is valid for 120 minutes for use in busses, underground (U-Bahn) and suburban trains (S-Bahn).
How To Get To Berlin By Air
Flying to Berlin is often not only the fastest, but also the cheapest way of travelling. You can also enjoy the exceptional view across the city from the sky. One of the first things you are likely to spot is the TV tower welcoming the air passengers from far away. Both Tegel and Schönefeld Airport can be easily and quickly reached from the city’s centre, and are optimally integrated into the airlines’ national and international route network.
Berlin Tegel Airport (also called Otto Lilienthal Airport; IATA Code: TXL) is the fourth busiest airport in Germany and the main international airport in Berlin (until the new international airport Berlin-Brandenburg International is going to be opened in late 2011). The airport is known for its unique hexagonal shape and serves as the primary hub for the majority of international dominant flight operators. Tegel is situated in the northwest of Berlin, approximately 8 km from the city-centre.
Schönefeld Airport (IATA Code: SXF) is situated in the southeast of Berlin, approximately 18 km from the city centre. This international airport was the major civil airport of Former East Germany, and is notably smaller than Tegel Airport.
How to Get to Hilton Hotel from Tegel Airport
Berlin Tegel Airport is situated approximately 13 km from Hilton Hotel Berlin. You can reach the Hilton Hotel from the airport conveniently within 15 minutes by cab (ca. € 20).
Apart from taking a cab, you can also use public transportation to reach your hotel. Note that busses are the only option for public transportation to get off the Tegel Airport. The express bus X9 leaves every ten minutes from Tegel Airport to Zoologischer Garten. From Zoologischer Garten, you need to take the underground, (Line U2, Direction Pankow) and get off at Stadtmitte. You hotel is only 450m away from this underground station. The whole journey from the airport to your hotel should take you about an hour.
The bus ticket costs € 2.30 (fair zone AB), or € 3 for trips to the surroundings (fair zone ABC). You need a fair zone AB ticket to reach Hilton Hotel from Tegel Airport. The ticket can be bought either from the bus driver or from machines, and is valid for 120 minutes for use in busses, underground (U-Bahn) and suburban trains (S-Bahn).
How to Get to Hilton Hotel from Schönefeld Airport
Berlin Schönefeld Airport is situated approximately 17 km from Hilton Hotel Berlin. You can reach the Hilton Hotel from the airport conveniently within 20-30 minutes by cab (ca € 30).
Apart from taking a cab, you can also use public transportation to reach your hotel. The Schönefeld Airport is connected to the city centre by suburban trains (S-Bahn), express trains and regional trains. The suburban train line is currently under construction and therefore not recommended. The best way is to either take the AirportExpress or the regional express trains (RE7 direction Dessau or RB14 direction Nauen) that run to Alexanderplatz every half an hour. All trains stop at the station “Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld” which is 10 minute walk from the airport exit. Tickets for these trains cost € 3. The trains take 20 min to Alexanderplatz. From Alexanderplatz, you need to take the underground, (Line U2, Direction Ruhleben) and get off at Stadtmitte. You hotel is only 450m away from this underground station. The whole journey from the airport to your hotel should take you about an hour.
How To Get Around By Public Transportation
The public transportation system in Berlin is a fast, efficient and affordable way to move around in Berlin. The city has a vast metropolitan network, one of the most comprehensive in Europe, and covers almost all the points in the capital and many of the neighbouring cities.
Download the public transportation map (.pdf)
Berlin City Tour Card and Berlin Welcome Card
There are two types of tickets that offer full use of Berlin’s public transport system and discounts for a number of tourist attractions: Berlin City Tour Card (.pdf) and Berlin Welcome Card. They can be used on all public transport in the specified tariff zone as many times as necessary within the valid dates. For Berlin City Tour Card, there are three types of passes valid for 48 hours, 72 hours or 5 days. The prices are:
Berlin City Tour Card | 48h | 72h | 5 days |
Tariffzone AB | 15.90 | 21.90 | 28.90 |
Tariffzone ABC* | 17.90 | 23.90 | 33.90 |
(*) which covers Tariff zone C (includes e.g. Schönefeld Airport and Potsdam) in addition to Tariff zone AB.
If you do not wish to purchase the City Tour Card, you can also purchase the Berlin Welcome Card, which is a bit more expensive, but offers a broader range of discount opportunities for tourist attractions. For Berlin Welcome Card, there are three types of passes valid for 48 hours, 72 hours, or 5 days. The prices are:
Berlin Welcome Card | 48h | 72h | 5 days |
Tariffzone AB | 16.90 | 22.90 | 29.90 |
Tariffzone ABC* | 18.90 | 24.90 | 34.90 |
(*) which covers Tariff Zone C (includes e.g. Schönefeld Airport and Potsdam) in addition to Tariff Zone AB.
In Berlin, you can buy your City Tour Card or Berlin Welcome Card almost anywhere there are tickets on sale, e.g. round the clock, at the more than 1,000 ticket vending machines. You can buy one of the cards at all selling points, traveller’s shops and all ticket vending machines, or you can easily buy your card as soon as you arrive in Berlin. They are available at Berlin Central Station (Hauptbahnhof), Schönefeld Airport, Zoologischer Garten, Alexanderplatz, and Friendrichstraße, as well as over the Internet.
Alternatively, you can also buy a dayticket (Tageskarte) that costs € 6.30 (Tariffzone AB) or € 6,80 (Tariffzone ABC) and is valid from the day of purchase until 3 a.m. on the next day.
Sources:
www.visitberlin.de
www.citytourcard.com
www.berlin-hauptbahnhof.de