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Turning to next Saturday's match against Union Berlin - a city in which I've lived, spent many many holidays over the years, and have a deep affection for - I thought it might be useful to put together a little guide for those who may not have been before, and might appreciate a little additional information. I'll spread this out over a few posts in the thread. Do feel free to add your own questions, and I'll help where I can.
I'm sure BerlinerBlue will also have their own thoughts!
Getting There
If you're arriving by plane, you'll fly into Berlin Brandenburg International (on the former Schönefeld site), which is situated on the south-eastern edge of the city. There's no need to worry about a taxi or other sort of transfer into the city centre - the rail network will have you covered. The station is situated beneath Terminal 1. If you're arriving into Terminal 2 (which I think serves Ryanair flights) it's a short walk to the station, which may not be particularly well signposted (see below). From the station, there are a couple of options depending on your final destination.
If you're headed for central Berlin, or anywhere North/South/West of the city centre, you can take the FlughafenExpress (marked as 'FEX') which will take you straight to Hauptbahnhof (via Südkreuz and Potsdamer Platz) in about 25 minutes.
If the eastern side of the city is your aim, then you might be better served by the S-Bahn. The S9 and S85 both run through the south-eastern suburbs, with the S85 stopping at Ostkreuz before heading to the north-eastern suburbs, and the S9 running through Ostbahnhof on its way to the city centre and the western suburbs.
[Post edited 9 Aug 16:56]
Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman.
A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 20:42 - Aug 9 by Bluespeed225
Thanks for this. I've got tours lined up Thursday and Friday, thought I'd take in the DDR on Saturday morning, then breakfast up the tower ( I know, but I'm very much into my mid century stuff!), think it's a short stroll to Alexander Platz station for the train to the ground? I'm staying on Gabriele Tergit Promenade, Scandic hotel, short walk from main station I think?
You are closer to Potsdamer Platz station than the main station. Quick ride on the U2 towards Pankow to Alexandplatz.
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A brief Berlin guide... on 08:03 - Aug 10 with 1896 views
A brief Berlin guide... on 18:30 - Aug 9 by Zx1988
Thanks BB.
Has the change succeeded in making Zoo, Alex, and Ostbahnhof any less intimidating/unpleasant at times?
[Post edited 9 Aug 18:31]
Alex is a building site at the moment. Zoo and Ostbahnhof always attract the homeless, because of the shelters there. I worked at few days at Ostbahnhof last month, and it was nowhere near as bad at it used to be.
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A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 11:41 - Aug 10 with 1823 views
A brief Berlin guide... on 08:03 - Aug 10 by BerlinBlue2226
Alex is a building site at the moment. Zoo and Ostbahnhof always attract the homeless, because of the shelters there. I worked at few days at Ostbahnhof last month, and it was nowhere near as bad at it used to be.
I highly recommend Christiane F., a brutal but important film about the homeless children there in the 70s-80s, based on the book Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (We, Children from Zoo Station), (which I have not read.
A brief Berlin guide... on 11:58 - Aug 10 by urbanpenguin
I highly recommend Christiane F., a brutal but important film about the homeless children there in the 70s-80s, based on the book Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (We, Children from Zoo Station), (which I have not read.
[Post edited 10 Aug 11:59]
An absolutely fantastic film - we watched it in my A-Level German class when I was sixteen, and it's stayed with me ever since. A strong and brutal story, but also a fascinating time-capsule of West Berlin in the early 1980s.
I'd also highly recommend 'Good Bye Lenin', which is a dark comedy about a son's attempts to hide the fall of the Berlin Wall from his severely-weakened mother:
There's a full version with English subtitles on YouTube here:
Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman.
A brief Berlin guide... on 22:21 - Aug 9 by Zx1988
I think that's par for the course for Berlin. Groups comprising solely English lads don't stand a chance - rightly or wrongly.
Oh yeah, they mostly weren't shy about telling us the reason. It was never 'you're too drunk,' or 'no groups of lads', it was just because we were English.
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A brief Berlin guide... on 19:57 - Aug 10 with 1537 views
A brief Berlin guide... on 14:48 - Aug 9 by Zx1988
Getting About
Public transport in Berlin is plentiful and easy to use. You can find ticket information here: https://www.bvg.de/en/subscrip
Tickets are valid on all bus, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, and ferry services, as well as RE/RB services within the Berlin area. Broadly speaking you have two options for tickets:
1) Individual BVG 24-hour tickets These cost €11.20 for Zones A&B, and €12.90 for Zones ABC. They're valid for 24hrs from the point of validation, so will carry over into the next day depending on when you start travelling.
2) The Berlin WelcomeCard This is a more tourist-oriented ticket, and comes in durations from two to six days. It would prove more expensive than using 24-hour tickets for stays of one to four days, but is the cheaper option regardless if you're staying five or six days.
The value proposition is that it comes with a range of discounts for various attractions and restaurants - https://www.berlin-welcomecard - so it may work out the better option for a shorter trip if you've got sightseeing planned.
Bear in mind, however, that there are three price levels for the Welcome Card - WelcomeCard, WelcomeCard Museumsinsel, and WelcomeCard all inclusive - and your own plans will dictate which one (if any) offers you the best value.
REMEMBER TO VALIDATE YOUR TICKETS
If you're using a paper ticket, check whether it needs validation before use. This sets the time period for which they are valid. If you don't validate your ticket, you can be fined. Look for machines like these in and around stations, and on buses/trams which will allow you to validate your ticket:
A yellow validator, commonly found on buses, trams, and the U-Bahn
A red validator, commonly found on the S-Bahn network, and in 'normal' train stations
Once you've validated your ticket, you don't need to stamp it again.
The Honour System There are no ticket barriers in Berlin's public transport system - you are trusted to be in possession of a valid ticket. Semi-regular inspections are undertaken by plain-clothes staff and, if you don't have a valid ticket, you'll have to pay a €60 fine.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that the airport is only just inside Zone C. This is one of the most regularly-patrolled sections of the network for this precise reason, and there's always at least one tourist who ends up with an expensive end to their trip. Don't be that guy/gal.
Tickets are transferable, so if you find yourself back at the airport with a good chunk of validity left on your ticket there's no problem with gifting it to someone who's just arrived, if you're that way inclined.
[Post edited 11 Aug 8:25]
Just to note that on the S-Bahn, the validation machines are red. Yellow ones are for the trams, U-Bahn and buses.
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A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 20:01 - Aug 10 with 1532 views
A brief Berlin guide... on 08:26 - Aug 11 by Zx1988
Good point, Lettuce. I've edited the post to show both.
And don't forget you can buy tickets on your phone too, using one of the apps, BVG, VBB, S-Bahn Berlin or DB Navigator. Just don't get on before the 2 minute countdown has finished. I wouldn't use the BVG, at work loads of people come up to my with problems with it.
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A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 19:03 - Aug 11 with 1247 views
I asked Union's 'Head of Fan Involvement' about watering holes for Saturday.
He advised that Town fans do not under any circumstances try and drink at the 'Abseitsfalle Fankneipe' on Hämmerlingstraße to the north-eastern corner of the stadium complex. My understanding is that it's Union's equivalent of the Drum & Monkey.
He did, however, recommend 'Tusches Kick and Rush' at Am Generalshof, about a 15min walk from the stadium. It's managed by a former Union Berlin legend Torsten Mattuschka, so it could be an interesting stop on the way to the ground.
Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman.
A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 20:42 - Aug 9 by Bluespeed225
Thanks for this. I've got tours lined up Thursday and Friday, thought I'd take in the DDR on Saturday morning, then breakfast up the tower ( I know, but I'm very much into my mid century stuff!), think it's a short stroll to Alexander Platz station for the train to the ground? I'm staying on Gabriele Tergit Promenade, Scandic hotel, short walk from main station I think?
If you like your mid-century stuff, I'd highly recommend a stroll down the western end of Karl-Marx-Allee. The Kino International and Cafe Moskau are some of the finest examples of Soviet/DDR architecture you'll find anywhere in the city.
Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman.
A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 20:54 - Aug 11 by Zx1988
If you like your mid-century stuff, I'd highly recommend a stroll down the western end of Karl-Marx-Allee. The Kino International and Cafe Moskau are some of the finest examples of Soviet/DDR architecture you'll find anywhere in the city.
Oh wow, cheers, I'll try and squeeze it in! I'm just reading that we're playing on the exact date the wall started to go up in 61', 15th of August! There is a ceremony at the memorial, about a 40 minute walk from my hotel. i've got a packed itiinerary, looking at both Bowies and Hitlers Berlin. 2 different men with very different outlooks!
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A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 06:49 - Aug 12 with 1032 views
A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 01:47 - Aug 12 by Bluespeed225
Oh wow, cheers, I'll try and squeeze it in! I'm just reading that we're playing on the exact date the wall started to go up in 61', 15th of August! There is a ceremony at the memorial, about a 40 minute walk from my hotel. i've got a packed itiinerary, looking at both Bowies and Hitlers Berlin. 2 different men with very different outlooks!
Just to clarify - the main anniversary is tomorrow; 13th August.
You may have already seen it, but there's a fairly comprehensive list of events/exhibitions here: https://berlinwallmap.info/new
Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman.
For a train journey from the Airport into the City, you will need to purchase an ABC ticket. Don't forget to punch the ticket to validate before you board. Plain clothes inspectors are everywhere & it's not worth a €60 on the spot fine.
Once you are in the City, an AB ticket will suffice.
[Post edited 12 Aug 9:32]
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A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 16:16 - Aug 12 with 824 views
A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 09:31 - Aug 12 by Johnny_Boy
For a train journey from the Airport into the City, you will need to purchase an ABC ticket. Don't forget to punch the ticket to validate before you board. Plain clothes inspectors are everywhere & it's not worth a €60 on the spot fine.
Once you are in the City, an AB ticket will suffice.
[Post edited 12 Aug 9:32]
Email I got from Union earlier
Union meets Ipswich - Come together on Friday evening
dear Town fans,
as a celebration ahead of our first ever friendly, we would like to invite you for a drink, a Bockwurst and a chance to meet each other in one of our beergardens at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Friday evening.
There’ll be music, the chance for some of you to have a stadium tour (depending on the numbers) as well as an exchanging of gifts between the clubs.
Unfortunately capacity is limited, and due to the huge number of travelling Town fans, entry can not be guaranteed. To help us plan the evening, please register (no obligation) by clicking on the link below.
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A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 16:24 - Aug 12 with 806 views
A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 16:16 - Aug 12 by BerlinBlue2226
Email I got from Union earlier
Union meets Ipswich - Come together on Friday evening
dear Town fans,
as a celebration ahead of our first ever friendly, we would like to invite you for a drink, a Bockwurst and a chance to meet each other in one of our beergardens at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Friday evening.
There’ll be music, the chance for some of you to have a stadium tour (depending on the numbers) as well as an exchanging of gifts between the clubs.
Unfortunately capacity is limited, and due to the huge number of travelling Town fans, entry can not be guaranteed. To help us plan the evening, please register (no obligation) by clicking on the link below.
What a lovely bunch of chaps!
Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman.
A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 16:33 - Aug 12 by Leaky
Yep, have accepted our invitation, sounds like a nice friendly gesture
I touched base with Union to clarify the location - apparently it'll be to the left of the main stand as you arrive at the stadium, which would appear to be the general vicinity of the club shop (called the Zeughaus).
Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman.
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