Berlin Travel Guide

East and West Berlin were historically united after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Since then, Germany has experienced a vast economic and cultural revitalization that has launched it into one of the most powerful countries in Europe and the world.

Although Germany's official language is German, you'll find that some Berliners are proficient in English, too. Still, you can't go wrong learning a few German words: Guten tag or hallo for "hello", bitte for "please" and danke for "thank you."

Punctuality and order are two characteristics highly prized by German culture, so be on time to any business meeting or formal engagement. When in a restaurant, do not leave your money on the table after receiving the check. Hand the money to the waiter and ask for your change. Tips are already included in your bill, but if the service was exceptional, it's customary to tip an extra 10 to 15 percent.

Berlin's official currency is the euro (EUR). Since the euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate fluctuates often, check what the current exchange rate is before you go. Major credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and shops.

Berlin's food options are wide-ranging, with an abundance of traditional German cuisine as well as a thriving ethnic food scene and even healthier, vegetarian-friendly options. Still, when in Berlin you can't miss the opportunity to nosh on authentic dishes the country is known for. 

A variety of sausages – everything from bratwurst to bockwurst (pork and veal) to the unique currywurst (sausage covered with ketchup and curry powder) – are ever-popular, as well as staples like Wiener schnitzel (flattened breaded and then fried veal). German cuisine relies heavily on pork, so much so that you'll find eisbein (pork knuckle) served with potatoes and sauerkraut. Pop over to Zur letzten Instanz, the oldest restaurant in Berlin, one block off the Klosterstraße U-Bahn station for some traditional eats. 

Berlin also has a large Turkish influence (more than 200,000 Turks call the city home) and that's spilled over into the gastronomy. For a look at a variety of delicacies, check out Turkish Market that's along the banks of the Landwehr Canal in the Neukölln neighborhood (hop off the U-Bahn at U Kottbusser Tor or Schönleinstraße). Additionally, no trip to Berlin is complete with eating a döner kebab sandwich, which was first introduced by Turkish immigrants (urban legend says it was invented in Berlin) that includes a special bread filled with thin slices of beef (or chicken or lamb... take your pick) and topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and yogurt-based sauce. You'll likely find them at numerous street vendors all over the city. 

And no trip to Berlin is complete without some (or lots) of bier (beer). Beer is a big part of the culture; the legal drinking age for fermented beverages is 16 (for distilled alcohol it's 18). Germany also takes the quality of their suds seriously. There are a number of regulations, known as Reinheitsgebot (literally translated to "purity order"), that limit the number of ingredients used in the brewing process to only malt, hops, yeast and water. There are biergartens all over the city, but one of the most beautiful, Cafè am Neuen See, is found in Tiergarten. Don't forget to say prost or zum wohl! (cheers and bottoms up, respectively).