WHEN BEST TO GO
The best time to visit Berlin is from late spring to early autumn. May, June, September and October are ideal months as the weather is relatively warm and the tourist crowds are smaller.
Berlin is known for its sudden rain showers throughout the year and winter gets cold and snowy.
LANGUAGE
German is the native language but you’ll find many Berliners speak good English.
CURRENCY
EURO
EXCHANGE RATE
$1 = EUR 0.7361, £1 = EUR 1.175
COUNTRY DIALLING CODE
+49
24 HOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT
Ambulance: 112, Fire Services: 112, Police: 110 EMBASSY CONTACTS US: + 49 (0) 30 83 05 0 UK: + 49 (0) 30 20 45 70
TIME ZONE
GMT + 1 hour
POPULATION
3.5 million
RELIGIOUS DEMOGRAPHIC
Berlin is said to be the atheist capital of Europe, with more than 60% of the population claiming no religious affiliation. Of the rest, 22% are Protestant, 9.4% Roman Catholic, and 8.8% Muslim (largely among the Turkish immigrant community).
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
The principle public holidays in Berlin are New Year’s day, Good Friday, Labour Day, Day of German Unity, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Ascension Day.
TYPICAL OPENING HOURS
Normal business hours for shops are between 10am and 8pm, Monday to Saturday, while the bigger shopping centers stay open until 10pm on weekdays. Smaller shops may close between 2pm and 4pm on Saturdays, except in the four weeks before Christmas when they stay open until 6pm.
LOCAL CUSTOMS
Smoking in public places such as bars and restaurants is illegal, though many bars ignore this.
ATTIRE
Berlin is a very liberal city and people tend to dress informally. Warm clothes are essential in winter and a waterproof jacket and umbrella are recommended in spring and autumn. Shorts, t-shirts and sandals are perfectly acceptable in the summer. Germans are generally comfortable with nudity, so don’t be shocked to see the occasional topless sunbather in parks.
EXCLUSIvE TRANSPORT
INTERLINE
Interline prides itself on its safe and efficient service. Serving individual and business customers from a wide range of industries, Interline chauffeurs and pilots will ensure that you get from A to B safely, in comfort and, most importantly, on time.
Their limousine fleet includes new Mercedes, BMW and VW models, while their aircraft range includes Cessna, Embraer, Challenger, Falcon and Global Express planes. Interline offers local, national and international transportation.
DIAMOND DRIvE
Diamond Drive provides luxury limousines equipped with massage seats and entertainment systems, available 24/7 for airport transfers, on demand transportation and sightseeing tours.
Whether you want a swift transfer or a tranquil tour, your chauffeur will tailor your journey to suit your particular needs. Your sightseeing route is planned according to your interests and schedule, and led by a multilingual chauffeur-guide. Vehicles available include the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series and the Audi A8.
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