DE
Berlin
Germany’s sprawling, creative capital, where Cold War history, world-class museums and nightlife meet
Germany’s sprawling, creative capital, where Cold War history, world-class museums and nightlife meet
The 18th-century neoclassical gate, once stranded in the no-man’s-land of the Wall, is now a symbol of reunification, facing Pariser Platz.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
The glass dome on top of the parliament building, designed by Norman Foster, has a spiral ramp with views over the city. Entry is free but requires advance online registration.
Register online several days ahead, and bring your passport.
Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY 4.0
The longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, about 1.3km along the Spree, covered with murals painted in 1990. For the Wall’s history, visit the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße.
Photo: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try currywurst, döner kebab (popularised in Berlin), pretzels and the city’s huge range of international food.
Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg and the street food of Neukölln and Prenzlauer Berg are good places to start.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is linked to the centre by the FEX airport express and regional trains in about 30 minutes. The U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses cover the city on one ticket system.
Germany is in the EU and the Schengen area and uses the euro. EU citizens need only an ID card; citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with biometric registration under the EU Entry/Exit System. An ETIAS travel authorisation is also due to be introduced. Check current rules before you travel.
Berlin is cheaper than most Western European capitals.
History, museums and neighbourhoods.
See the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial and the Reichstag dome, then walk Unter den Linden to Museum Island, a UNESCO site.
Visit the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße, Checkpoint Charlie and the East Side Gallery.
Explore Kreuzberg, Neukölln or Prenzlauer Berg, and relax in Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport turned park.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Germany is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
The Deutschlandticket (€63 a month in 2026) covers local and regional public transport across Germany, but not long-distance ICE or IC trains.
Cards are now widely accepted, but some small bars, bakeries and market stalls still prefer cash.
Most shops close on Sundays; plan groceries ahead.
Validate paper tickets before boarding; inspectors fine passengers without a valid ticket.
Quick answers for planning time in Berlin.
Citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in 180, with registration under the EU Entry/Exit System.
Yes, but you must register online in advance.
By the FEX airport express or regional trains, in about 30 minutes.
At the East Side Gallery and the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße.
Three to four days covers the main sights and a few neighbourhoods.
Google Maps works well; the DB Navigator app covers trains and most local transport.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Germany travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.