Berlin Information

Business hours
Banks in Berlin are open from 9 - 13.00 or 15.00.

Emergencies
Call the police on 110

Currency:
Since 2002, Germany has used the Euro in conjunction with most other European Union Members. The largest note is a whopping 500 euros, which is worth roughly $625.
Emergency Numbers:
Police:110
Fire Brigade and Ambulance: 112
Electricity:
In Germany sockets use 230 V and will require a two pin plug. For appliances outside Europe you may need to bring an adaptor with you.

Newspapers:
There is a long running and popular English-language paper called The Ex-Berliner which offers excellent listings of cultural and entertainment events throughout the capital. It can be bought from most newsstands.

Time zone:
Berlin sits in the Central-European time-zone, which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Moreover, the clocks are put forward one hour during spring and summer (from March to October).

Internet:
As with many European capitals there are plenty of internet cafes in Berlin which provide cheap access to the World Wide Web. If you have brought your own laptop, plenty of cafes will let you use their wireless connection free of charge.

Medical:
Chemists in Berlin are called Apotheke and are open Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 20:00.
If more serious attention is required, EU citizens are not required to show evidence of health insurance before treatment.

Squats:
Many buildings in East Berlin were left deserted after re-unification as businesses moved west. A number of these were squatted in and now have a legendary semi-legal status. Many have become living projects offering varied artistic and musical entertainment as well as food. The Tacheles in Mitte is perhaps the best known.

Berlin Shopping

Supermarkets
There are two kinds of supermarkets in Berlin, but the concept is 'stack'em high, sell 'em cheap´ types of store such as Aldi and Lidl. Both have over 100 outlets each and remain open Monday to Saturday, 08:00 to 20:00. Their websites are www. aldi.de & www.lidl.de

Department Stores
The top rated Department Stores in Berlin are:

Galeries Lafayette
Address: Franzosische Strasse 23; Phone: +49-(0)-30-2094-80; Fax: +49-(0)-30-2094-8102; U-Bahn: Französische Strasse. Galeries Lafayette in Mitte displays branded French designs, apart from select perfumes, colognes, shoes and accessories. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm.

KaDeWe
One of Berlin's - perhaps Western Europe's - largest and famous department stores, the legendary Kaufhaus des Westens in Charlottenburg is seven floors tall, selling high-end merchandise in fashion, cosmetics, kitchen ware, etc. U-Bahn: Wittenbergplatz. Working hours Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri 10am-9pm; Sat 9:30am-8pm. The Deutsche Selfridges!

Peek & Cloppenburg
Clothing stores, Department stores, Men's clothing. With five floors, Peek & Cloppenburg offers the widest range of current fashion to suit every taste. The building itself is unique - it's wrapped in an undulating glass curtain designed by Professor Gottfried Böhm. U-Bahn: Wittenbergplatz. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm.

Berlin markets
Full of character and real life, Berlin's busy markets are an integral part of local life. They provide a great place to find bargains or just browse around the wide variety of stalls and enjoy the exciting atmosphere and local market banter. Goods may include clothes, antiques, flowers, books, food, and much, much more. Berlin's bustling markets provide a fun way to shop, for both experienced and novice bargain hunters alike. Visiting the marketplaces is highly recommended for tourists in the day and also later at night, when they become some of Berlin's key social locations, suddenly full of pubs and bars. Berlin is a very regulated city, so you won’t find markets at every corner or nook.

Kurfürstendamm and Tauentzienstraße.
The northern quarter of Kurfürstendamm and the following Tauentzienstraße are a shopping delight, mainly for the younger generation, with H&M, Benetton and Zara right next to each other. Brands like Jil Sander and Yves Saint Laurent are also present. U-Bahn Kurfürstendamm/Uhlandstraße/ Adenauerplatz.

Wilmersdorfer Straße.
This shopping avenue has a large number of shops and department stores. All varieties of shops are found in proximity, making an ambling
shopping stroll an exhilarating adventure. U-Bahn Wilmersdorfer Straße/ Bismarckstraße.

Alexanderplatz
With the recent opening of the three-storeyed shopping mall ALEXA, the Rathaus passages and the department store Galeria, the famous Alexanderplatz has been transformed to another shopping walkabout. U-Bahn Alexanderplatz.

Old Town of Spandau.
Exuding its old world charm, the centre of Spandau with its lovely old-fashioned buildings begs for a walk from shop to shop. Neat boutiques with unique atmospheres add a personal touch to a shopping tour in Spandau.

Arminius Markthalle
Arminiusstrasse 2, Tiergarten, Turmstrasse.
The Arminius Market is the best of three remaining historical market halls, housed in a red and yellow brick building since inception almost one hundred and twenty years ago (1891). On the corner of Jonasstrasse with Arminiustrasse, it sells a wide variety of goods. U-Bahn Turmstraße
Open: daily 08:00 to 18:00, Saturday 08:00 to 13:00.