More about: Berlin Tourist Cards
When sightseeing in Berlin, the ideal is to have all the time and all the money in the world to enjoy what the city has to offer, but, as this is not always the case, there is a resource to save time and money: the Berlin Pass.
1. What is the Berlin Pass
The Berlin Pass is a tourist pass designed so that visitors to Berlin can visit its main points of interest with a series of benefits and saving money and time. Paying a fixed amount you can:
- Free entry to more than 50 museums and monuments in Berlin without waiting in line.
- Get discounts at selected restaurants and stores
- Take a cruise on the river that runs through the city
- Enjoy a sightseeing bus tour
- Get a color city guide to plan your trip
- Use the city's public transport free of charge if this option is selected
Day Passes
Depending on your travel plans, you can choose between the two-day Berlin Pass and the three-day Berlin Pass and, for a little extra, you can add free use of the city's public transport covering zones A, B and C to either of them.
2. How the Berlin Pass works
The operation of any tourist pass is simple: it is activated with the first use and thereafter you have a certain time to benefit from its advantages showing it at the entrance of museums and monuments. Once you arrive at the tourist site in question, pay attention at the main entrance because there is usually a special entrance for those who have this card to pass without waiting in line.
You can buy the Berlin Pass in Berlin, but you can also get it online easily and choose to pick it up in Berlin at an authorized post or receive it at home. Once you buy it you have a period of two years to activate it, so you don't have to worry about your travel plans being changed or cancelled. By purchasing the Berlin Pass online you can resolve any questions you may have by email when making your booking.
Prices per time of use
- 2 days: 99 euros
- 3 days: 119 euros
- 2 days + transport: 115 euros
- 3 days + transportation: 145 euros
Special rates
Children under six years old do not need the Berlin Pass to use public transport and to access free of charge to most museums and monuments in the city as long as they are accompanied by an adult. There is a special pass for children ages 6-14 that includes the same as the adult pass but at a reduced price.
Ana's Traveller Tip
Calculate the distance from your accommodation to the sights you plan to visit to see whether or not you should add the transport option to your Berlin Pass.
3. What attractions and experiences are included in the Berlin Pass
You already know what the Berlin Pass is, how it works, how to buy it and what are its advantages. Now I will tell you about the most interesting part: what free entrance to museums and monuments it includes and what experiences you can do during the time you have it active, also for free.
Wall Museum
Located at Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous of the border crossings of the Berlin Wall, is dedicated to the history of the wall that separated the city of Berlin in two and the years of the Cold War. An ideal option to learn in depth how this historical period affected the inhabitants of the German capital and how it has influenced what the city is today.
Pergamon Museum
The most visited of the famous Museum Island, one of the most important museum complexes in Europe. It houses Islamic and Near Eastern art highlighting among his works the frieze of Pergamon or the market gate of Miletus. Although this museum is currently closed for works and will have to wait several years for its reopening.
Climbing the Berlin Cathedral
One of the best places to contemplate the views of the city visiting, in passing, one of the most recognizable buildings of the same.
Old National Gallery
Techniques such as classicism, romanticism, impressionism and modernism are mixed in this renowned gallery.
Bode Museum
Also located on Museum Island, it houses Byzantine art and is a favorite visit for treasure hunters.
Madame Tussauds Museum
It is one of the best wax museums in Europe and the quality and quantity of their figures makes it worth a visit. It can also be a fun plan for the whole family.
Tourist bus tour with free stops
This is one of the main advantages of the Berlin Pass. During a day of your choice you can access a tour on the Berlin sightseeing bus with panoramic views and commentary on board. This tour also includes free stops, ie: you can get on and off the bus at the stops you want using it as a means of transport that will facilitate your sightseeing in the city.
City river cruise
If you travel to Berlin in summer (in winter the low temperatures do not allow it) you will also have access to a one-hour cruise on the Spree River. I recommend you to take advantage of this opportunity; you have different schedules and it is an ideal opportunity to enjoy the sights of the city without haste or stress.
Bicycle tour of Berlin
During your visit to Berlin, especially during the good weather, you will see hundreds of passers-by cycling. This is a very widespread means of transport in the city and it is also an original and comfortable way to take a guided tour visiting the main points of interest of the city.
Jewish Museum
You will recognize it by the architectural complex on the surface and is a must on any visit to Berlin. Reserve a minimum of two hours to see it because inside there are many testimonies and contextual elements that will help you immerse yourself in a dark period of German history.
Stasi Museum
Dedicated to German espionage and the different historical moments in which it played a key role in the development of the war and the future of the country.
Museum of Photography
This museum performs an analysis of different themes through the photography of both the most recognized personalities of the genre and contemporary photographers.
German Historical Museum
More than 8000 objects of different types speak of the different periods of German history in this interesting museum. A must for history lovers.
Legoland
A paradise for the little ones and a curious and amusing visit for adults. In the complex dedicated to Lego you will disconnect from the stress of the city for a few hours.
Walking tours of the city
This is a must-do when visiting any city. Having an expert guide accompany you on a walking tour not only means discovering interesting corners of the city that you wouldn't otherwise visit, but also learning about important curiosities and historical facts that will help you appreciate even more everything you see during your trip.
Ana's Traveller Tip
There are many museums in Berlin that are closed on Mondays; keep this in mind before activating your Berlin Pass.
4. Should I buy the Berlin Pass?
Before deciding to buy this or any other tourist card my advice will always be the same: plan your trip and do the math. A tourist pass is an excellent option to save money and time, but you have to have a minimum of planning to take advantage of it.
Yes, when
- Your idea is to visit the city at an intense pace during the time the Berlin Pass is active and see two or three museums and monuments per day.
- You are going to use the city's public transport on a regular basis either because your hotel is far from the center or because you do not plan to walk.
- You are going to visit the city in high season during a weekend and want to save waiting time.
- You are interested in experiences such as a cruise or sightseeing bus tour.
No, when
- The museums you want to visit are closed during one of the days your card is active.
- You can access the museums or monuments with any kind of special discount (group, age, profession, etc.).
- You only want to visit two or three museums during your visit and the individual cost of the tickets does not cover the cost of the card.
Whatever you choose, remember that the city of Berlin is not only museums and monuments; there are neighborhoods and green areas to walk around and also places of interest that do not require an entrance ticket. Book at least one of the days of your trip to walk around Berlin at your leisure without rushing or schedules.
5. Difference between Berlin Pass and Berlin Welcome Card
If you have done the math and plans and have come to the conclusion that the Berlin Pass does not suit you, before completely discarding the tourist pass you can also check the conditions of the Berlin Welcome card. This is another option with which you can also save money during your visit to the German capital and I have written everything you need to know about the card here: Berlin Welcome Card.
The main difference between the Berlin Welcome card and the Berlin Pass is that the first one is more focused on free public transport (it has it incorporated in all its modalities) than on tickets to museums and monuments; in its standard version you can access with discounts to the main points of interest of the city, but not for free. On the other hand, while the Berlin Pass is valid for two or three days, the Berlin Welcome Pass can also be used for 4, 5 or 6 days.
Currently it is not available on the Hellotickets website any of these Berlin tourist passes, but you can take a look at the rest of activities that may interest you in your trip to the German capital. As a suggestion, do not miss some of the best museums in the city or climb the famous Berlin TV Tower.
6. If you are interested in purchasing the Berlin Pass, you will also be interested in
There is a visit that is not included in the Berlin Pass and that, if you have time, is well worth doing during your trip to the German capital: the tour of the Charlottenburg Palace.
This 18th century palace is the most important palace in the German capital and, in addition to enjoying its sumptuous interior decoration, it has impressive gardens open to the public free of charge. The visit is ideal to get away from the stress of central Berlin, is easily accessible by public transport and will take you no more than a morning.
In addition, Charlottenburg Palace also offers premium experiences such as a classical music concert by the Berlin Resident Orchestra or an elegant three-course dinner at the Orangery. If you're interested in learning more about this experience, you can visit this article on Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin Tickets and Tours.