Berlin
Berlin is the cool kid of European capitals — gritty, creative, and shockingly affordable for a major city. A döner kebab costs €4–5 (the best late-night food in the world), a beer at a Späti (corner shop) is €1–2, and you can get a solid meal for under €10 almost anywhere. The city is massive and spread out, but the U-Bahn and S-Bahn system is excellent (day pass €8.80). The nightlife is legendary — clubs like Berghain don't even open until midnight and go until Monday morning. History is everywhere: the Berlin Wall remnants, Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie. Summer is perfect with everyone hanging out in parks and open-air bars along the Spree river.
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Berlin travel FAQ
How many days do I need in Berlin?
3–4 days minimum. Day 1: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag (free but book rooftop visit online weeks ahead), Holocaust Memorial, walk down Unter den Linden. Day 2: Museum Island — pick 2–3 museums max (the Pergamon is being renovated but the Neues Museum with Nefertiti's bust is worth it). Day 3: East Side Gallery (longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall), Kreuzberg for lunch and street art, Mauerpark flea market if it's Sunday. Day 4: Potsdam day trip — Sanssouci Palace is basically Germany's Versailles (30 min by S-Bahn). Or spend the day exploring neighborhoods: Prenzlauer Berg for brunch, Neukölln for bars.
How does Berlin's public transit work?
Berlin has U-Bahn (underground), S-Bahn (above-ground rail), trams, and buses — all on the same ticket system. Most tourists only need AB zone tickets (covers central Berlin). Single ride €3.20, day pass €8.80, or get a 3-day pass for €29. The system is technically honor-based (no gates), but plain-clothes inspectors do random checks and the fine is €60. Trains run until about 1am on weekdays, 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights. Google Maps works perfectly for routing. The Berlin Welcome Card (from €25) includes transit plus museum discounts, can be worth it if you're hitting multiple museums.
What's the best street food in Berlin?
Döner kebab is king — Berlin has the best in the world (seriously, the Turkish community here perfected it). Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap in Kreuzberg is the most famous (1+ hour line), but Rüyam Gemüse Kebab and Imren are just as good without the wait. Currywurst is Berlin's other iconic street food — try Curry 36 at Mehringdamm or Konnopke's Imbiss under the U-Bahn tracks (been there since 1930). For something more international, Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg has Street Food Thursday (5–10pm, incredible variety). A typical döner is €4–6, currywurst €3–4. Berlin is also surprisingly great for Vietnamese food — the large Vietnamese community means authentic phở for €8–9.