The document is a comprehensive travel guide to Berlin, highlighting its rich history, vibrant culture, and diverse attractions. It includes practical tips on public transportation, a survival guide with essential phrases, and advice on what to bring while visiting. The authors aim to inspire exploration of Berlin's neighborhoods, architecture, and the unique blend of history and modernity that the city offers.

1. e Berlin

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Table of Contents
Introduction 3
History 4-7
Transport 8-9
Survival Guide 10-13
Profiles 14-17
Blog
Brainy
Browsing
Bumble
Busy
Buzzing
Honey
Queeen
3
Introduction
Be Berlin doesn’t just outline the classics such as Brandenburg Gate or
Museum Island but also draws you into the buzz of local life. Even if
the infamous clubbing culture of Berlin isn’t for you, hidden cafes and
bars will show you “Bee-liners” in their natural habitat. In addition we
offer all kinds of practical tips in our survival guide and advice on how
to buzz around the city using the public transport.
As authors traveling around Berlin for one month, we have had an
un-bee-lievablely good time visiting and curating the ultimate list of
attractions. Berlin’s atmosphere is known for being open and accepting.
This translates into a variety of cultures, preferences and tastes that
culminate in their respective neighbourhoods and mix to form an
unusual but relaxed city in which everyone can enjoy themselves. We
hope this guide will be an inspiration for your own explorations.
Welcome to Be Berlin, a travel guide created by first time Berliners.
Here you’ll find what places are deemed by us, as well as seasoned
locals as must-see’s during your stay. Everyone can find something to
love in Berlin. From history buffs to foodies, night owls to nature lovers,
the city has much to offer. Whether you’re in town for just a few days,
or a few weeks, follow this guide to keep busy with a wide variety of
things to do and see.

3. 4
History
The capital of Germany, Berlin has been at the epicentre of not just
German, but European history for the duration of the turbulent
twentieth century. The first records of the city date back to the thirteenth
century, but it grew quickly and eventually became the capital city of
the newly created country, Germany, in 1871. Berlin was home to the
Hohenzollern family who ruled over Prussia until the end of the First
World War, and the reminders of this established family can be found in
Berlin even today. The Prussian Royal family remained here until 1918,
when, immediately following Germany’s defeat in the First World War,
Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last Emperor of Germany, fled to Holland never
to return.
foreign policy of the Nazi party led to the outbreak of the Second World
Just as other European nations were, Germany was devastated by the
effects of The First World War. However, having emerged from the
immediate post-war difficulties, Germany emerged into the roaring
twenties. Between the end of 1918 and 1933, before Hitler came
to power, Germany was a true democracy. Known as the Weimar
republic, it was arguably the most democratic country in the world at
the time, with all women being able to vote, unlike in Britain and the
USA. Berlin became a hive of art, jazz, and decadence. From Cabarets to
art galleries, the city was famous for its culture, and for being the capital
of the most democratic nation in Europe. Whilst some disliked the
culture brought about by Weimar, there was little political extremism
during this period. Life seemed to be improving in Berlin until the Wall
Street Crash of 1929 which brought about the Depression.
The great depression in 1929 – the catalyst for Hitler’s eventual rise to
power in 1933 changed this. Adolf Hitler took power in 1933, ushering
in the darkest period in Berlin’s history. The Nazis also brought in laws
largely targeted at political opponents, Jews and other minorities on
the fringes of German society such as Sinti and Roma and homosexuals.
Mass persecution of these groups followed and in 1939, the aggressive
aggressive foreign policy of the Nazi party led to the outbreak
of the Second World War. Many buildings were destroyed in air
raids during the war, meaning that many of the buildings in Berlin
today are of modern design. Once the Red Army invaded Berlin,
the war was at an end, and Berlin had been virtually destroyed.
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4. 6
Germany’s defeat in the Second World War led to the division of
Germany and Berlin between the USSR and the allied forces. This
led to the creation of two German states in 1949: The Federal
Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic,
colloquially known as West and East Germany. During the cold
war, tensions between the capitalist West and communist East
heightened. This led to the building of The Berlin Wall in 1961,
encircling West Berlin to prevent East Germans seeking refuge
in the economically prosperous West. The Eastern side of the
Wall was heavily fortified with dogs and border guards, making
it nearly impossible to cross. There were countless daring escape
attempts, the majority unsuccessful, by East Berliners attempting
to gain access to the West.
The Berlin Wall fell on 9th November 1989 and proved to be a
symbolicendtothedivisionofGermany.WithGermanreunification
only recent history, large sections of the wall still stand as a memory
to the post war story of a divided Berlin and the lives the wall
claimed. Smaller reminders throughout Berlin include traffic lights:
in East and West Berlin, even today the old illustrations for traffic
light men are used.
Since reunification, Berlin has once again become a hub for
liberalism and prosperity in an ever increasing tense global
environment. A thriving arts and culture scene, Berlin is now
providing classical and contemporary exhibits, something for
everyone’s taste. Even with a dark history, a united country;
a united city, is showing the world once again that Berlin and
Germany is forward looking and open for anyone to explore.
Welcome to the modern metropolis.
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5. 8
Transport
Transport of Berlin- Best to Worst ways of getting around
U-Bahn and S-Bahn:
S-Bahn runs slightly less frequently than the U-Bahn and has fewer
stops, but both run from 4am – 12.30am Sun – Thurs, and 24
hours on Fridays and Saturdays. For the weekday night-owls, see
the Buses section for info on night buses.
Trams:
Trams run 24/7 with hundreds of stations around the city, meaning
this is certainly the method of transport that will drop you closest
to home, if home should fall in the Eastern districts, as the Trams
unfortunately do not venture into Western Berlin.
Buses:
Slow and less frequent than U-Bahns or Trams. If you want a
cheap sightseeing tour, simply hop on the 100 or 200 and hop off
wherever takes your fancy along route. Also, the half hourly night
buses are handy for those enjoying the Kreutzberg mid-week
nightlife, when the U-Bahns and Trams have stopped running for
the night.
Ticket Prices for U-Bahns, S-Bahns, Trams and Buses (Prices range
depending upon how many districts you travel through): More
information can be found at www.vbb.de.
Einzelfahrschein (Single) = 2.80€ – 3.40€ / 1.70€ – 2.50€
(Concessions)
Tageskarte (Day Pass) = 7€ – 7.70€ / 4.70€ – 5.30€ (Concessions)
Wochenkarte (Week Pass) = 30€ – 37.50€
Monatskarte (Monthly Pass) = 81€ – 100.50€
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Cycling:
There is an extremely comprehensive bike lane system in the city,
and bikes are even allowed on U-Bahns, S-Bahns, Trams and Night
buses for a small Fahradkarte (Bike ticket) of 1.90€. There are
several reasonable bike rental stations around the city, including:
Fahrradstation (0180 510 800 / www.fahrradstation.com),
Prezlberger Orange Bikes (030 4435 6852 / www.orange-bikes.
de), Lila Bike (0176 9957 9089 / www.berlin-citytours-by-bike.
de). However, please take care when cycling, as although there is
usually a bike lane, the traffic can be very busy
.
Taxis and Ubers:
Avoid if you can, as this is the priciest
method of transport and usually takes
just as long due to the traffic in the
city. On a positive note, you can pay
by card if you have spent all your cash,
for a small surcharge of 1.50€. Taxis
can be ordered from 030 443 311 /
030 202 020, or you can usually flag
one down either passing by or at a taxi
rank. Driver tip is usually roughly 10%
of your fare.

6. 10 11
Survival Guide
Survival Pack
Berlin is a large culture ridden city and you want to make sure
that you are prepared for anything that comes your way. Wheth-
er it’s learning useful German phrases, packing your suitcases or
planning your days whilst you’re in Berlin, we have you covered.
Language
Hello Hallo
Goodbye Auf Wiedersehn/Tschüs
Yes Ja
No Nein
My name is… Mein name ist…
Please Bitte
Thank you Danke
Excuse me Entschuldigung
Good morning Guten Morgen
Good day Guten Tag
Good afternoon Guten Abend
Good evening Guten Nacht
What time is the next bus? Wann fährt der nächste Bus?
One one-way/return ticket Eine einfache Fahrkarte/Rück-
fahrkarte bitte
Where is the taxi stand? Wo ist der Taxistand?
I’d like a taxi for… Ich hätte gern ein Taxi für…
Please take me to… Bitte ringen Sie mich zu…
Essential Items
The items that you will need to bring with you of course depend
on the time of year as weather will vary.
However, please find a list of items to keep you covered for all
occasions;
Suncream
If you’re doing a lot of walking around then it’s easy to catch the
sun. There’s even places in Berlin where you can sunbathe so sun
protection is recommended.
Umbrella
There can be rainy days in Berlin so an umbrella or raincoat
would be useful.
Warm Clothes
Something warm to wear for the evening’s such as a jumper or
jacket
A black outfit
Berlin’s night scene is rather unique and they like to keep it
casual, so an all black outfit is advised
Insect spray
Berlin has a lot of nature so insect spray or repellent could keep
those mozzies away
Student card
A lot of attractions do discounts for students so if you want to
save a couple of euros then a student card will do just that
Walking shoes
Plug adapter

7. 12 13
Month Min Temp Max Temp Rain (mm) Average
Sunlight
(Hours)
January -3 2 46 2
February -3 3 40 2
March 0 8 33 5
April 4 13 42 6
May 8 19 49 8
June 12 22 65 8
July 14 24 73 8
August 13 23 69 7
September 10 20 48 6
October 6 13 49 4
November 2 7 46 2
December -1 3 43 1
Avoiding Stings
Overall, Berlin is a very safe city, as is Germany as a country. There
are, however, the usual risks associated with a large city, and
some of these are listed below. In general, it is always best to trust
your instincts, and be vigilant.
Pickpockets
In larger tourist areas (i.e. Paris Platz or Alexanderplatz) there are
bound to be pickpockets. Just make sure all your belongings are
in a safe, secure location and you should be fine.
Gorlitzer Park
Avoid this area at night, as there is a high crime rate and it is a
well-known drug dealing area.
Female Travellers
As it is a generally safe city, female travellers shouldn’t feel un-
comfortable or unsafe. A woman alone may draw more attention
at a bar or nightclub, but most men respect a firm ‘No, thank
you.’
Terrorism
Unfortunately, Germany has been hit by a lot of terrorist attacks
over the past few years. As when travelling to any major city, be
wary of suspicious characters or packages.
Accommodation:
The main neighbourhood area is situated in Kreuzberg where
you can find a variety of apartments, hotels and hostels. A few
hostels include; Wombats, ComeBackpackers and 36 rooms.
Essential phone numbers:
Emergency Services
Police: 110
Ambulance and Fire Brigade: 112
Money
Berlin is known as one of the cheapest capital cities in the world,
however, if you’re planning on doing a lot of sightseeing and
trying local cuisine then a budget of 20 euros per day is advisable.
Most of Berlin’s shops accept cash only so it is better to bring more
money in cash than on card. There are cash machines dotted
around the city but if you’re planning on buying something in a
shop then make sure you have cash to hand.
Medicine
Germany is not a self-medicating country like in the UK. As such,
you cannot buy things like paracetamol or cold tablets in the
supermarkets - you have to go to the ‘Apoteke’, the German form
of a pharmacy. Try to bring the majority of things you need with
you, as the Apoteke can be quite expensive.
Weather

8. 14 15
Name: Andrea Tang
From: Huddersfield town, in
West Yorkshire, England.
Place to Bee: Museum Island,
where five great museums are
combined together in one area
with the gorgeous green space
of Lustgarten nearby.
Impression: Berlin’s a hip,
modern and outward-looking
city, yet it still resonates with
history.
Members of the Hive
Name: Bethany Riley
From: Chorley, Lancashire
Place to bee: I particularly liked
the open air cinema as it made
for a chilled beer drinking
evening. The East Side Gallery
has also been another favourite
of mine.
Impression: My favourite thing
about Berlin is the atmosphere
– no matter where you go
you will always find a group
of people chatting and having
fun.
Name: Elisha Harley
From: Glasgow, recently
graduated from University of
Glasgow – studied English
Literature and History
Place to Bee: Friedrichshain/
Kreuzberg area – amazing
street art, cool vintage shops
and a wide variety of places to
eat.
Impression: Bustling city which
combines past and present to
create a unique place to visit.
Name: Frances Younger
From: Nottingham, England
Place to bee: Teufelsberg - it
is a prime example of Berlin’s
ingenuity, and the ability of the
people to redefine the city’s
history on their own terms.
Impression: This is a wonderful
city full of art and culture,
and it feels like a place people
live in rather than a tourist
destination.
Name: Isabelle Cadwallader
From: Liverpool
Place to bee: Tiergarten
Impression: Berlin is full of
art, culture, and history. It’s
impossible to be bored here.

9. 16 17
Name: Jack Dainty
From: Birmingham, going into
final year studying German and
History, after being on a year
abroad in Kleve, Germany.
Place to Bee: Badeschiff – nice
and chilled atmosphere
Impression: Berlin is a city
rich in history. Lively and with
endless things to do, I could
never be bored in Berlin!
Name: Lisa Chargois
From: Austin, Texas, recently
graduated from Texas
State University, studies
communication & international
studies.
Place to bee: Kreuzberg area-all
different kinds of things to do.
From eating to nightlife and
everything in between.
Impression: Busy city with
tons of beautiful history yet
simultaneously very modern
and hip, a city for everyone!
fun.
Name: Sabah Heydon
From: Oxford, currently
studying English in Bristol
Place to Bee: Friedrichshain –
sociable and stylish. Combines
all the best Berlin has on offer:
really tasty food, cheap drinks
and a buzzing atmosphere!
Impression: A unique and
futuristic place. Remembers the
past and where it came from
but looks with optimism and
vitality towards the future.
Name: Rosalie van Onzenoort
From: Oegstgeest, the
Netherlands. I am a studying
Philosophy, Politics and
Economics in London.
Place to bee: The
Charlottenburg area. The park
is beautiful and there are some
good art galleries nearby.
Impression: Berlin is a great
place for so many things.
Everyone will find something
to their taste here.
Name: Rachel Cox
From: Portsmouth, UK.
Place to Bee: The History is so
recent and relatable. I loved
looking along the East Side
Gallery and the remaining parts
of the Berlin Wall at the art and
the survivor’s stories, beautifully
contrasted to symbolise Berlin’s
strive for peace in the face of
the unjust.
Impression: I have grown to
acquire a taste Berliner Kindl
beer at 3€ per pint.