Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Berlin Hauptbahnhof is not well-connected to the city's U-Bahn (subway) sys-
tem—yet.Thestation'ssoleU-Bahnline—U55—goesonlytwostops,totheBrandenburger
Tor station, and doesn't really connect to the rest of the system. It's part of a planned exten-
sion of the U5 line to Alexanderplatz that's far from completion. But for transit junkies, it is
an interesting ride on Europe's shortest subway line.
By Plane
For information on reaching the city center from Berlin's new airport, see “Berlin Connec-
tions” at the end of this chapter.
Helpful Hints
Medical Help: “Call a doc” is a nonprofit referral service designed for tourists (tel.
01805-321-303, phone answered 24 hours a day, www.calladoc.com ) . Payment is ar-
ranged between you and the doctor, and is likely far more affordable than similar care
in the US. The US Embassy also has a list of local English-speaking doctors (tel. 030/
83050, www.usembassy.de ) .
Museum Tips: Some major Berlin museums are closed on Monday—if you're in town on
that day, review hours carefully before making plans. If you plan to see several mu-
seums, you'll save money with the Museumspass, which covers nearly all the city sights
for three days—including everything covered by the one-day Museum Island Pass (see
“Tourist Information—Museum Passes,” earlier).
Addresses: Many Berlin streets are numbered with odd and even numbers on the same side
of the street, often with no connection to the other side (for example, Ku'damm #212
can be across the street from #14). To save steps, check the white street signs on curb
corners; many list the street numbers covered on that side of the block.
Cold War Terminology: Cold War history is important here, so it's helpful to learn a few
key terms. What Americans called “East Germany” was technically the German Demo-
cratic Republic—known here by its German name, the Deutsche Demokratische Repub-
lik. The initials DDR (day-day-AIR) are the shorthand you'll still see around what was
once East Germany. The formal name for “West Germany” was the Federal Republic of
Germany—the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (BRD)—and is the name now shared byall
of reunited Germany.
Internet Access: You'll find Internet access in most hotels and hostels, as well as at small
Internet cafés all over the city. Near Savignyplatz, Internet-Terminal is at Kantstrasse
38. In eastern Berlin, try Hotdog World in Prenzlauer Berg (Weinbergsweg 4, just a
fewstepsfromU8:Rosenthaler PlatztowardKastanienallee), or SurfInn atAlexander-
platz 9. Bahnhof Zoo, Friedrichstrasse, and Hauptbahnhof train stations have coin-oper-
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