How to Plan a Trip to Berlin
The complete 2026 guide — flights, hotels, things to do and airport transfers, all in one place. Everything a first-time visitor to Germany needs.
Your 4-step Berlin plan
Step 1 — Book flights to BER
Brandenburg (BER) Airport (BER) is the main gateway to Berlin. Compare fares across major airlines and OTAs before locking a date.
See flight deals to BERStep 2 — Pick a neighborhood
Base yourself in Brandenburg Gate + Reichstag for the best first-time visit — 18th-century neoclassical gate + glass-dome Reichstag (free entry, must book ahead at reichstag.
Where to stay in BerlinStep 3 — Plan your itinerary
Start with Brandenburg Gate + Reichstag, then build outward. Most first-time visitors need 3-5 days to see the highlights of Berlin.
Things to do in BerlinStep 4 — Sort your airport transfer
FEX (Flughafen Express) to Hauptbahnhof is EUR 4.40 and takes 30 min. Pre-book a private transfer for stress-free arrival.
BER arrival guideBefore you book — visa check
Schengen — visa-free for US, UK, Canada, AU, JP, KR + 60 nationalities (90/180). Single Schengen visa covers all 27 countries.