Berlin is a world city of culture, politics, media and science. Its economy is based on high-tech firms and the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, research facilities, media corporations and convention venues. Berlin serves as a continental hub for air and rail traffic and has a highly complex public transportation network.
About Berlin
Berlin, capital and chief urban centre of Germany with a steadily growing population of approximately 3.7 million. Around one-third of the city’s area is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers, canals and lakes.
Berlin is home to world-renowned universities, orchestras, museums, and entertainment venues, and is hosting many sporting events. Its Zoological Garden is the most visited zoo in Europe and one of the most popular worldwide. With the world’s oldest large-scale movie studio complex, Berlin is an increasingly popular location for international film productions. The city is well known for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts and a very high quality of living.
Where to go in Berlin
More than 170 museums, including those on the famous museum island, put the treasures of the world on public display. Culturally minded visitors from all corners of the globe come to Berlin to see performances by leading orchestras – such as the internationally celebrated Berlin Philharmonic – and to attend ballets and operas at the three major opera houses. A multitude of theatres specialising in plays, variety, revue and cabaret offer stage entertainment in all its forms.
The Fernsehturm (TV tower) at Alexanderplatz in Mitte is among the tallest structures in the European Union at 368 m (1,207 ft). Built in 1969, it is visible throughout most of the central districts of Berlin. The city can be viewed from its 204 m (669 ft) high observation floor.
The Brandenburg Gate is an iconic landmark of Berlin and Germany; it stands as a symbol of eventful European history and of unity and peace.
Berlin’s Botanischer Garten includes the Botanic Museum Berlin. With an area of 43 hectares (110 acres) and around 22,000 different plant species, it is one of the largest and most diverse collections of botanical life in the world.
The area around HackescherMarkt is home to fashionable culture, with countless clothing outlets, clubs, bars, and galleries. This includes the HackescheHöfe, a conglomeration of buildings around several courtyards, reconstructed around 1996.
What to do in Berlin
Twenty one restaurants in Berlin have been included in the Michelin Guide of 2018, which ranks the city at the top for the number of restaurants having this distinction in Germany.
Berlin’s nightlife has been celebrated as one of the most diverse and vibrant of its kind.Clubs are not required to close at a fixed time during the weekends, and many parties last well into the morning, or even all weekend. The Berghain features the well-known Panorama Bar, a bar that opens its shades at daybreak, allowing party-goers a panorama view of Berlin after dancing through the night. The Weekend Club near Alexanderplatz features a roof terrace that allows partying at night. Several venues have become a popular stage for the Neo-Burlesque scene.
Enjoy Berlin with your family
Combine work and pleasure by inviting your family to join you in Berlin. While you focus on your career, they’ll be entertained by the city’s museums, attractions and shopping. After work is done, add a few extra days to your trip to enjoy the best of Berlin with your family! Thanks to one of Europe’s finest public transport systems, many wonderful adventures are easily accessible from Messe Berlin. Plus, overground train and bus journeys are a great way to get an impression of the city’s diverse neighbourhoods and architecture.
Get off to a flying start
Discover Berlin through its sites and attractions, which are related to flying or seeing the world from above!
Welt-Balloon
Float 150 metres above ground for some of the best views of Berlin and its best-known sites – the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Potsdamer Platz skyline, and church towers. The experience lasts just 15 minutes, but provides a brilliant overview of the city and the adventures that await during your stay.
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 35 minutes.
https://air-service-berlin.de/en/welt-balloon/
Tempelhofer Park
Tempelhof Airport was built in the 1920s. Its former runways are now a city park surrounding the iconic building. It’s a popular spot for picnics, urban gardening, outdoor sports and dog walking. Should it still be chilly outside, join guided tours of the airport building, which spans over 300 000 square metres!
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 30 minutes.
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/tempelhofer-feld-tempelhof-field
Learn and grow together
Return from your Berlin trip with fantastic new memories and knowledge! Games and experiments are a fun way to learn about the city and our wider world.
Computerspielemuseum (Computer Game Museum)
Say hi to Pacman and friends! Explore six decades of gaming history through 300 exhibits. Kids will be amazed to see how different games used to be before the rise of the smartphone and tablet. You can also try some of the latest virtual reality games! New discoveries for all generations.
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 45 minutes.
https://www.computerspielemuseum.de/1210_Home.htm
Deutsches Technikmuseum (German Museum of Technology)
At one of the world’s largest museums of its kind, kids can not only look at the vast collection of planes, trains, boats and more, but also clamber into the vehicles, try their hand at experiments at the Science Centre and complete the free-of-charge activity sheets.
Highlights include the Tante Ju (Aunt Ju) model propeller aircraft built between 1932 and 1952.
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 35 minutes.
https://sdtb.de/museum-of-technology/623/
Museum für Naturkunde (Natural History Museum)
Visit Tristan, the 12-metre-long Tyrannosaurus Rex! The museum has a wide collection of fossils, prehistoric birds and animals. It’s a wonderful spot to teach children about the importance and fragility of our environment.
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 30 minutes.
https://www.museumfuernaturkunde.berlin/en
Labyrinth Kindermuseum (Labyrinth Children’s Museum)
Play, experiment and let the children loose in this vast, former factory space in the neighbourhood of Wedding. The museum’s slogan is “learning by making and doing” and the kids will be able to do just that in the play and experiment areas. It’s a safe space for nurturing a healthy interest in our world and its processes.
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 40 minutes.
https://www.labyrinth-kindermuseum.de/en
Secret City Trails
Explore the city through an interactive quiz! Download the game to your smartphone and allow it to guide you through the heart of Berlin, explaining interesting and fun facts along the way. You’ll have a blast cracking the puzzles and getting the answers right. Clues will help you from getting stuck midway. Start right next to the Reichstag.
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 35 minutes.
https://www.secretcitytrails.com/product-category/discover-berlin/
Berlin Zoo
You can’t miss one of Berlin’s world-renowned attractions! More than 20 000 animals reside here in well-maintained conditions. Have you ever seen live king penguins? The daily commented feeding sessions are a highlight. Penguin World is one of the recommended areas. See also the hippos in their modern and comfortable enclosure.
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 20 minutes.
https://www.zoo-berlin.de/en
Satisfy that hunger!
Markthalle Neun
We all know how tricky it can be for a family to choose the perfect spot for a meal. While one wants a hearty hamburger, another would prefer a vegan buddha bowl! At Markthalle Neun, everyone will be happy during the Street Food Thursday events where you can eat your way around the world from Austrian cheese noodles to Japanese okonomiyaki (pancakes). Or visit during the day to stock up on healthy snacks and edible souvenirs.
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 50 minutes.
https://markthalleneun.de/
Shop ‘til you drop
Independent boutiques, flea markets and world famous label stores – you’ll get it all in Berlin, which make the city a wonderful one-stop-shop for your family’s shopping needs and treating yourselves. Here are some highlights to get you started. Remember to check Sunday working hours as it’s common for shops to be closed.
Kurfürstendamm
Berlin’s largest retail district also features its most famous department store – the six-storey KaDeWe. At one end of the street is Bikini Berlin – a shopping centre housed in a 1950s building with ample trendy boutiques. Head down any side street for more fashion, design and lifestyle finds.
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 20 minutes.
Flea markets
Sundays in Berlin would be incomplete without its much-loved flea markets popping up at squares and parks throughout the city including Mauerpark with the largest selection, Arkonaplatz and Boxhagener Platz. These are brilliant spots to pick up unique treasures from clothing to homeware. Add to the experience by grabbing coffee or lunch on the go from one of the street food vendors ever present at the markets.
Distances from Messe Berlin differ.
Mitte
Wander the streets of the central suburb of Mitte where doorways lead to independent bookstores, vintage shops and design boutiques. Hackescher Markt is a good starting point, venture further along Torstrasse, Alte Alte Schönhauser Strasse and streets nearby. It’s always a good idea to support local brands and fledgling designers! At Alexanderplatz, find well-known international brand stores.
Distance from Messe Berlin by public transport: 30 minutes.
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/shopping
Public transport in Berlin
An extensive network of trains, trams and buses make Berlin a very comfortable city to explore by public transport. Besides, tickets are very reasonably priced with special deals for groups and longer stays. A 24h ticket for all public transport services in the selected zones for unlimited number of journeys on day of validity costs 8.80 EUR. Kids up to the age of 5 travel free and 6 to 14-year-olds benefit from a reduced tariff.
The Berlin Welcome Card is a good choice as its offer includes public transportation, use of the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus network and entrance to 30 major attractions.
Taxis are pleasantly affordable and safe in Berlin with the base fare set at 3.90 EUR, each of the first seven kilometres costing 2 EUR and each subsequent kilometre just 1.50 EUR.
