Cash, ATMs, credit/debit cards...
by matcrazy1
€ and old DM
Germany - like other 12 other European countries (all "old" EU members except Danmark, Sweden and UK) - got Euro (€) as its currency (Germany since 1st Jan 2002). Hmm... whenever you find any travel books on Berlin with prices given in old DM (Deutch Mark) be sure they were quite old and maybe not accurate.
Just in case you have old DM you can still exchange unlimited amounts of them (both banknotes and coins) for euros on fixed course: 1 € = 1.95583 DM and free of charge (!) but exclusively in offices of the central bank of the Federal Republic of Germany (Deutsche Bundesbank). Till then? By an indefinite period of time :-) Go to Steinplatz 2 in Charlottenburg district (north of Ku-Damm, U-bahn Uhlandstraße, U15) unless you are money collector (quite popular hobby nowadays esp. of larger amounts :-).
Credit/debit cards, ATMs
Almost all stores, restaurants, cafes, museums etc. and all petrol/gas stations I visited in Berlin accepted cards at least of Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard and Maestro system. The same cards where acccepted in numerous ATMs in Berlin downtowns/centers. And surely one could always choose either German on English menu in all ATMs.
Warning: American Express cards were NOT always accepted, Discovery cards were NEVER accepted.
Foreign exchange
Personally I bought some amount of € in Poland before crossing German border. And I used my credit card and ATM to get € in Berlin (dispite they surcharged me for US$1 per transaction I saved over 5% using my credit card and ATM).
I saw small exchange offices located along streets in downtown with limited variety of currencies to exchange. All well-known European and many world currencies were accepted in Berlin banks. Which ones? Check here, please.
Not what you expect
by Nemorino
I took this picture in Frankfurt am Main, but I am posting it here on my Berlin page to show how the Jewish Museum Berlin is being advertised all over Germany.
This poster is part of a series entitled "Nicht das, was Sie erwarten" -- meaning "Not what you expect."
In this one you cut open a coconut and find it is a grapefruit inside.
My interpretation of this is that even very well-meaning people in Germany, who fully understand how dreadful the Holocaust was, have gotten somewhat ODed on somber Holocaust exhibits.
These posters are meant to convey the message that the Jewish Museum Berlin is not only a Holocaust museum, but shows a lot more as well -- all the ups and downs of two thousand years of Jewish life in Germany.
Second photo: Another example. In this one you open an oyster and find there is a fried egg inside, sunny side up.
Zehlendorf
by grishaV1
As most people know much of Berlin was destroyed or damaged in WWII, then later it was broken up and divided during the Cold War times. Some areas you can go to and have a sense of what Berlin was like before all of that. Steglitz-Zehlendorf is such an area, its in the southwest. A lot calmer than many places of Berlin, more natural. More to come...The pic is of the Bali Kino at Teltower Damm 33 14169 Berlin-Zehlendorf +49 (30) 811 46 78
This the area also featuring the beauty Grosser Wannsee, its a lovely area of lake with sports activity, nice parks, sailing, and resort area. The link is great to see fotos there and events which happen.
Unter den Linden
by nigelw6443 about The Berlin Story
Sells souvenirs relating to Berlin. Has very good book selection and also some specialities from the former GDR. Has great selection of books on Berlin, post cards, posters, T-shirts and other souvenirs such as cuddly toys, fridge magnets glass wear and beer steins. However much you like
U-Bahn, S-Bahn, Tramway and Buses
by Kakapo2
Clearly the fastest way to get around is by U-Bahn (subway) and S-Bahn. Sometimes you have to circle around a little, and first make your way up north to get down somewhere in the south, but in general those trains are fast and efficient. (If not on strike… BTW As S-Bahns belong to Deutsche Bahn those are affected by occasional strikes whereas the U-Bahn keeps on operating, as do the public buses.)
Apart from that you also see a lot of the city by using the trains as the S-Bahn drives above ground.
The most important thing to know about the S-Bahn is that they have a circle line. So once on a train of this line you will eventually connect to all other lines. It takes one hour to make the whole circle.
They also have an extraordinarily beautiful and serviced Panorama S-Bahn but I do not see the point why you should pay 16 Euro for the trip. Tours on the city circle or through the city centre are only on Saturdays and Sundays.
Oh, nearly forgot the tramways… They still exist and complete the great possibilities of public transportation.
The fabulous thing is that the U-Bahn operates 24/7 on weekends (Friday and Saturday nights), and if the U-Bahn service stops night shuttle buses fill the gaps. S-Bahn trains usually operate until 1am. Taxis are not cheap in Germany, so if you stay at a remote accommodation, try to get as far as you can by public transport before calling a taxi.
More info:
www.BVG.de
info@bvg.de
www.s-bahn-berlin.de
kundenbetreuung@s-bahn-berlin.de
Sign in with Facebook
checkpoint Charlie
Knut
Jewish Museum Berlin: "Garden of Exiles"
The famous sign at Checkpoint Charlie
