Berlin

Berlin © hapa7 - Fotolia.com

Since reuinification in 1990, Berlin has evolved into a cutting-edge city with a feast of history, theatre and music. Berlin has become a vibrant centre for the arts, with many spectacular galleries and museums such as The Jewish Museum.

Fast facts

Cost
From £139
Journey time
11h 30m
i-overnight Overnight

Journey planner

  1. London St Pancras
  2. Brussels
  3. Berlin

    
     
     or...

  1. London St Pancras
  2. Brussels
  3. Cologne
  4. Berlin

Getting there

You can be at work in London one day and at breakfast in Berlin the next by getting the Eurostar to Brussels at 18:11. Travel from Brussels to Berlin by sleeper train to Berlin, arriving at Hauptbahnhof at 08:11 and Berlin (Ostbahnhof) at 08:20.

The sleepers are of a high standard with one, two and three-berth deluxe rooms with private shower and toilet, one, two and three-berth standard rooms with a shared shower at the end of the corridor, air-conditioned four or six-berth couchettes.

Or you can travel from London to Berlin by day, using Eurostar to Brussels, a high-speed Thalys train to Cologne, then Germany's luxurious high-speed ICE (InterCity Express) train onwards to Berlin.

The Brussels-Berlin overnight train is one of the German Railway's excellent 'City Night Line' sleeper trains. Called the 'Perseus', it has new 'Comfortline' sleeping cars (one, two and three-berth deluxe rooms with private shower and toilet, or you can just go for a standard rooms with a washbasin. All of the rooms have power-points for mobiles and laptop computers), Or you might choose a modern, air-conditioned couchette (choose between a berth in a four- or six-berth compartment) or just an ordinary seat.

Inclusive fares are charged covering travel plus sleeping accommodation. The sleeping car fare includes a light breakfast in the restaurant car.

Highlights

  • Take an evening walk along the Spree River in Kreuzberg
  • Visit the Galerie Eigen+Art to see what is on the walls of this cutting-edge gallery
  • View a showcase of European painting from the 13-18th centuries at the Gemäldegalerie museum
  • Have a day out at Germany's oldest zoo the Zoologischer Garten
  • Hunt for bargains at the flea market Flohmarkt Am Boxhagener Platz

Lonely Planet itinerary

Want more expert travel tips on Berlin?

Check out Lonely Planet's suggested itinerary

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