Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [73]
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Media
For entertainment-listings zines, Click here.
Berliner Zeitung Left-leaning German-language daily most widely read in the eastern districts.
Der Tagesspiegel Local German-language daily with centre-right political orientation, solid news and foreign section, and decent cultural coverage.
Exberliner English-language magazine about the city; for expats and visitors, with features, essays and listings.
taz Appeals to an intellectual crowd with its unapologetically pink-leaning news analysis and reporting.
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Medical Services
The US and UK consulates can provide lists of English-speaking doctors. Listed here are hospitals with 24-hour emergency rooms.
Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin ( 844 50; Hindenburgdamm 30; Botanischer Garten) In the Steglitz district in southern Berlin.
Charité Campus Mitte (Map; 450 50; Charité-Platz 1) The most central of the big hospitals.
Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum (Map; 450 50; Augustenburger Platz 1; Amrumer Strasse) In the Wedding district in northern Berlin.
Zahnklinik Medeco (Dental Clinic; Map; 2309 5960; Stresemannstrasse 121; 7am-9pm) Has several other branches around town.
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Money
Change money at banks or at currency exchange offices at the airports and major train stations. ReiseBank (www.reisebank.de), for instance, has branches at Bahnhof Zoo, Hauptbahnhof, Ostbahnhof and Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse, while Euro-Change (www.euro-change.de) is located in Alexanderplatz and Hauptbahnhof stations, at Friedrichstrasse 80 (Map) and inside the Europa-Center (Map). ReiseBank keeps slightly longer hours (at least until 8pm); on Sundays your only bet is at the offices in the airports.
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Post
Post offices abound throughout Berlin. The most convenient branches for visitors:
Charlottenburg (Map; Joachimsthaler Strasse 7; 9am-8pm Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm Sat)
Mitte (Map; Rathausstrasse 5; 8am-7pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat)
Potsdamer Platz (Map; inside Potsdamer Platz Arkaden; 10am-10pm Mon-Sat)
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Tourist Information
The city tourist board, Berlin Tourismus Marketing (BTM; www.visitberlin.de) operates four walk-in offices and a call centre ( 250 025; 8am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat & Sun) whose multilingual staff field general questions and can make hotel and ticket bookings. From April to October, all branches except Hauptbahnhof keep extended hours.
Berlin Infostore Alexa Shopping Center (Map; ground fl, Grunerstrasse 20, near Alexanderplatz; 10am-8pm Mon-Sat)
Berlin Infostore Brandenburger Tor (Map; south wing; 10am-6pm)
Berlin Infostore Hauptbahnhof (Map; ground fl, enter from Europaplatz; 8am-10pm)
Berlin Infostore Neues Kranzler Eck (Map; Kurfürstendamm 21; 10am-8pm Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm Sun)
Euraide (Map; www.euraide.de; Hauptbahnhof; 10am-7pm daily May-Aug, 11am-6pm Mon-Fri Sep-Apr, closed 23 Dec-15 Feb) Inside the Reisezentrum on the lower level (B1), this independent office is staffed with fluent English speakers eager to assist you with all train-related issues (rail passes, tickets) and other travel-related topics.
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SIGHTS
Each of Berlin’s districts has its own appeal, but must-see sights concentrate in Mitte and Tiergarten. The Jewish Museum and Checkpoint Charlie in Kreuzberg, and Schloss Charlottenburg also rank high on the list of major attractions. Of the outer districts, the prettiest is leafy Zehlendorf with fabulous museums, lush parks and lakes. For GDR-era relics, head to eastern districts such as Friedrichshain and Lichtenberg.
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Mitte
Mitte is the glamorous heart of Berlin, a cocktail of culture, architecture and history. Packed with blockbuster sights, this is likely where you’ll concentrate your sightseeing time, where you’ll come to play and learn, to admire and marvel, to be astounded and charmed.
BRANDENBURGER TOR & PARISER PLATZ
A symbol of division during the