Home:

»

Berlin City Breaks

Berlin City Break

Berlin city breaks offer a multifaceted experience, with the East and West of the city only recently being united, when the Berlin Wall was pulled down in 1990. The fortified wall separated the socialist and democratic sections of the city and when the wall came down the city discovered it suddenly had two of everything. The dual societies and cultures developed separate from each other, and now the city of Berlin offers a wonderful blend of the two ways of life.

All signs of the Berlin Wall have disappeared, however the difference between East and West is still evident in the city's architecture. Contemporary skyscrapers dominate the skyline in the West of Berlin, amidst the many shopping centres and urban developments of a modern city. In the East, the city has retained its historical buildings, which are mostly pre-War and offer an insight into Berlin's colourful history.

Berlin is becoming a centre for arts and on Berlin city breaks or weekend breaks in Berlin visitors can explore the many art galleries, museums and theatres, including the Beliner Philharmonie concert hall and galleries housing some of Europe's most impressive art collections from the thirteenth to eighteenth centuries.

Berlin city breaks offer a flamboyant nightlife, with an array of bars, clubs and theatres offering everything from the historical cabaret halls of the 1920s to festivals, parades and vivacious evening attractions to suit all types of visitors.

 

 


Essential Information on Germany

Money

The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents. ATMs and exchange bureaux are widely available. The major credit cards are becoming more widely accepted in many large shops, hotels and restaurants, although Germans themselves prefer to carry cash. Travellers cheques are best cashed at exchange bureaux, as banks often won't change them. The quickest and most convenient way to change money is to obtain cash from one of the ATM machines that are ubiquitous features on all German streets. Banks are closed on weekends, but exchange bureaux at airports and main railway stations are open daily from 6am to 10pm.

Source: www.wordtravels.com

Passports / Visas

The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that has a multiple entry option that allows the holder to travel freely within the borders of all. Also required for non-EEA members are onward or return tickets, sufficient funds to provide financial support, and documents for further travel. Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, USA and New Zealand do not need to hold onward or return tickets.

Source: www.wordtravels.com

Communications

The international access code for Germany is +49. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Berlin is (0)30. Note that telephone numbers in Germany can range from four to nine digits. There are surcharges on international calls made from hotels; it is often cheaper to use public telephone boxes in post offices, which use phone cards. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns.

Source: www.wordtravels.com