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Berlin is very well connected to the rest of Germany and other European cities by plane, car, train or bus. It has two airports, four main train stations and a good but crowded ring road.

The main airport is Tegel International Airport. Unlike other big airports, it is not connected by rail to the city. The only options are buses and taxis. Buses can take you either to the city center or to some very close underground stations (Jakob-Kaiser Platz or Kurt-Schumacher Platz). Once you get into the underground, you can reach virtually any place in Berlin very easy. Berlin is well known for its excellent underground network.

Brandenburg Gate is the famous symbol of Berlin. It is situated in the center of the city, in Pariser Platz, close to the Reichstag and to Potsdamer Platz. It was once the symbol of the division between Western Berlin and Eastern Berlin. After the German reunification, it became the symbol of the reunited Berlin. Many concerts and the New Year's Eve party take place right in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

Even if Berlin may get crowded on occasions, driving is actually quite pleasant. Germans observe traffic rules and drive in a predictable manner, so you will have no problem to integrate in the traffic. Berlin has a low accident rate and most accidents are minor. The best way to enjoy driving in Berlin is to also observe all the rules. This is important because the city is full of traffic cameras and police also organize traps.

Berlin is famous for its excellent public transport facilities. It has one of the best underground systems in Europe. Lots of trains and buses complement the underground and allows you to get virtually anywhere. That's why so many people in Berlin only use their personal cars during their holidays.

The underground in Berlin (called U-Bahn) is simply great. It has a huge number of stations, covering not only the city center, but also the suburbs. It is fast and reliable. Some underground lines also operate during the night. Digital displays in the station will show you how much time to wait for the next underground.

Berlin is a shopping paradise, with lots of department stores and shopping malls all over the city. All major retailers and many local ones have lots of shops, so you can virtually spend days in the stores.

Most stores in Berlin are on two big shopping streets. The first one is Kurfürstendamm, with famous international brands like H&M, Benetton, Zara and many others. Next to Kurfürstendamm, there is Tauentzienstrasse, with many other shops. Official website: www.kurfuerstendamm.de.