Passport & Visa
Citizens of the UK, Irish Republic and other EU countries do not require a visa, but please ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months. Other nationals please check before travelling as to which documents are required. For more travel advice visit www.fco.gov.uk and got to ‘Travel Advice by Country’.
Vaccinations
Please check with your GP or visit www.dh.gov.uk and go to ‘Policy and Guidance’, scroll down to Health Advice for Travellers.
Currency
The local currency in Germany (Berlin) is the Euro (€) – there are seven banknotes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500, and eight coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cent and €1 and €2. The notes are identical in all the countries with the euro currency although each country has their own coins. However, all notes and all coins can be used throughout the euro area (i.e. a French euro coin can be used in Germany). ATM’s (cash machines) are generally available in most tourist areas, but ask your British bank about withdrawal charges as these can be heavy, especially if you withdraw only a small amount of cash. Travellers’ cheques are still the safest way to carry money and can be obtained in sterling or Euro denominations. Please note your passport is likely to be required when cashing travellers’ cheques. Remember to make a record of the cheque numbers and keep this record totally separate in case the cheques are lost. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops in the tourist areas. Remember to make a record of your credit card number and the emergency phone number for cancelling your card, should you lose it. If possible, take a mixture of cash and travellers’ cheques with you and remember not to carry all your credit cards, money, passport and travellers’ cheques when going out and about.
Local time
Berlin is on Central European Time, therefore one hour ahead of GMT, with summertime tending to run from late March until late October.
Tourist Information
In the UK: German National Tourist Board – PO Box 2695, London W1A 3TN. (0207 318 0908, Fax: 0207 318 0917), www.germany-tourism.co.uk.
In Berlin:Tourist Offices in Berlin are well organised, and can provide free maps, leaflets, brochures, tickets for museums, the theatres and other events. You can also purchase your Welcome Card here (see Out & About for more info):
Tourist Information Offices :
Europa-Center, Budapester Straße 45, 10787 Berlin
Open Monday–Saturday 10am–7pm, Sunday 10am–6pm, (1st April - 31st October extended opening hours).
Brandenburger Tor, South wing
1st November – 31st March, Open daily 10am-6pm.
Fernsehturm (TV Tower), Alexanderplatz
Open daily 10am-6pm, (1st April – 31st October extended opening hours).
Tourist Information Points:
Tegel Airport, Main Hall. Open daily 5am - 10.30pm.
KaDeWe Department Store, Wittenbergplatz, Travel Centre, Ground Floor, Open Monday-Friday 9.30am - 8pm and Saturday 9am - 6pm.
“Berlin In Your Pocket” is a bi-monthly English-language city guidewhich details what’s on with regards to cultural and other events. Copies are sold locally in tourist offices and in selected hotels. There is also a website for reference www.inyourpocket.com
British Consulate - In Berlin the Consulate is located at: Wilhelmstraβe 70-71, 10117 Berlin, (0049 30 204570), Fax: 0049 30 20457 579, E-mail: consular@british-embassy.de. Opening hours: Monday-Friday 9am - 12noon and 2pm - 4pm
Mobile phones - For details of roaming implications, please contact your service provider
Personal Safety - please note the following:
- Leave all valuables, passports, tickets, credit cards and money etc in the hotel safe; only carry with you what you need for that day.
- Be aware of pickpockets, especially in tourist areas, on public transport, markets etc.
- When leaving a car, do not leave anything visible.
- If anything is stolen, please ensure you receive a police report.
For further detailed information on specific destinations, please visit the Foreign Office website.
