Organize your stay Berlin
Money Berlin
Since 2002, Germany has been using the euro instead of the Deutsche Mark. And it's very convenient for Belgian and French tourists. Swiss tourists will exchange €1 for CHF0.95 and Canadians €1 for CAD1.46. Remember to withdraw money when you see an ATM, as cash payments are preferred in Germany. In restaurants and cafés, cards are often refused, not to mention cheques, which are absolutely unheard of on the other side of the Rhine. Ask your bank about its German partner bank to find out where you can withdraw money free of charge. The ATMs you'll see all over town charge exorbitant withdrawal fees (between €4 and €5).
Budget & Tips Berlin
While prices have soared since the city's reunification, the cost of living in Berlin remains well below that of other European capitals. The restaurant sector is by far the most affordable. You can easily eat for around ten euros. You can even eat on the go for €4-6. For a room in a youth hostel, count on a minimum of just over €12, for a small hotel €50-60 a night, and for a nice room, over €140. Public transport is rather expensive, but indispensable for saving precious time (€9.50 for a day ticket).
Taxes are included in the price you pay. In cafés, bars and restaurants, on the other hand, a tip of around 10% of the price is almost always left as a thank-you for the service. When the waiter comes to bring you the bill, you can round up the amount and announce a higher price. For example, if the bill comes to €11.80, you'll say "auf 13" when you pay, meaning that the waiter should give you change for €13 and keep the difference for himself. If you have €13, you can announce "stimmt so".
It's not customary to haggle in the stores, but of course you can always get the price down at the flea market.
Passport and visas Berlin
European citizens do not need to complete any formalities prior to their stay.
Driver's license Berlin
European driving licenses are also valid in Germany, as in the rest of Europe.
Health Berlin
The European Health Insurance Card guarantees that you will be covered under the same conditions as Germans, and that medical expenses will be reimbursed on the spot, or very soon after your return. You need to apply for it at least two weeks before your departure from your local health insurance office. If the deadline is too short, you will be issued with a provisional replacement certificate. No specific documents are required, and the card is valid for one year. It is personal, so each child must also have his or her own.
Once you're in France, you'll need to show your card to doctors, pharmacists and public hospitals. You'll either be exempted from having to pay medical expenses in advance, or you'll be reimbursed on the spot by the German social security organization, often the AOK.
Security Berlin
For the latest information on local security, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs. Please note, however, that the site lists all potential dangers and that this sometimes gives a somewhat alarmist picture of the actual situation in the country, but Germany and Berlin are generally very safe.
Time difference Berlin
It's very simple: France, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany are in the same time zone. On the other hand, if you're coming from Brest or Biarritz, you'll notice - because of the distance - a big difference between sunrise and sunset.
Spoken languages Berlin
With 130 million speakers in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol, German is the most widely spoken mother tongue in Europe. It comes in many dialects, with great differences between Bavarian, Saxon and Swabian. Few Berliners speak the local dialect, Berlinerisch, preferring standard German, Hochdeutsch. But there are a few telltale signs. If your interlocutor replaces "g" with "j", "s" with "t" and "ei" with "e", he's a Berliner. And of course "ick" means "ich".
German has a letter found in no other language: ß. It looks just like a capital b, but the sound of ß (sand ɛsˈt͜sɛt) corresponds to two "s". You'll see this letter on every street corner. Literally on every street corner. In fact, it's found in the German word for street: Straße.
Berlin is a cosmopolitan city, where many languages other than German are spoken. You'll hear Turkish, Russian, Polish and more. Berlin has attracted people from all over the world, and English has established itself as a lingua franca. So if you're not familiar with Goethe's language, you'll have no problem making yourself understood in English.
Communication Berlin
As of 2017, goodbye to extra costs when traveling in Europe. Roaming charges no longer apply in the 28 member countries of the European Union. Check with your operator. Wifi is often free in most bars, cafés, restaurants and even in the metro.
Electricity and measurements Berlin
Identical in every respect to France, Germany has the same electrical outlets, and units of measurement are also in kilograms and kilometers.
Luggage Berlin
There's nothing special to plan for a stay in Berlin that you wouldn't take for a stay in France, warm clothes and good shoes if you decide to go there in winter, especially at New Year's time, as temperatures easily drop below zero. In the spring, you might need winter wardrobe... as well as summer.
