Before you go · Berlin
Berlin essentials
The practical things worth knowing before you arrive, checked against official sources on 25 October 2026. Entry rules change: always check the official sources before you travel.
Updated October 2026
Entry to the EU
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) registers travellers from outside the EU electronically at the border.
ETIAS, the travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, is not yet in operation: the EU’s official site says it will announce the start date several months before launch. Never pay a third-party site.
From BER Airport
S-Bahn and regional trains link BER Airport with the Hauptbahnhof and the city centre; the airport’s website lists the lines. BER lies in fare zone C, so an AB ticket is not enough: buy an ABC ticket.
Arriving by train
Most long-distance trains call at Berlin Hauptbahnhof, on the S-Bahn and the U5; others use Gesundbrunnen, Südkreuz, Spandau or the Ostbahnhof. See our page Berlin by rail.
S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses
The BVG runs the U-Bahn, trams and buses, and S-Bahn Berlin the suburban railway; one ticket covers them all within its zones. Zone A is inside the S-Bahn ring, B runs to the city limits and C covers the surrounding area, including Potsdam and BER. Validate paper tickets before you travel.
Book the big sights direct
Register for the Reichstag dome on the Bundestag’s website, book Museum Island on smb.museum, the TV Tower on tv-turm.de, and Sanssouci on spsg.de. Book concerts and opera on the venues’ own websites.
Customs and etiquette
Most shops close on Sundays, apart from a few Sundays in the year. Some cafés, bars and small restaurants take cash only: carry some euros. Cyclists use the marked cycle lanes on pavements: keep off them on foot. At memorials, behave quietly and respectfully.
Emergencies
Call 112 for an ambulance or the fire brigade and 110 for the police. For urgent medical advice outside surgery hours, call the on-call doctors on 116 117. See our health page for hospitals. Carry your EHIC or GHIC, or travel insurance that covers medical costs.
Questions and answers
Do I need ETIAS to visit Berlin?
Not yet: ETIAS is not in operation. The EU will announce the start date several months in advance on its official site.
How do I get from BER Airport to the city?
By S-Bahn or regional train; buy an ABC ticket, because the airport is in fare zone C.
What is the emergency number?
112 for an ambulance or the fire brigade, 110 for the police.
Entry rules and transport change, sometimes at short notice. Check the EU’s official sites, bvg.de, sbahn.berlin and your government’s advice before you travel.