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Berlin Train Stations

First time travelers to Berlin Germany often wonder about getting around the city. Visitors will find that Berlin Train stations are conveniently located to hotels and apartments in Berlin making travel to and from Berlin as well as throughout the city easy. Berlin’s train stations have been modernized since German reunification. The stations provide up-to-the-minute service within Berlin and with other countries.

Berlin Central Station Hauptbahnhof WikimediaBerlin Central Station, the Hauptbahnhof, is the primary railroad station in Berlin. It opened for service in May 2006 on the location of the celebrated Lehrter Bahnhof. It is part of the Category 1 stations of the operations of Deutsche Bahn.

Lehrter Bahnhof began service in 1871 as the last stop for the railroad that connected Berlin with Lehrte. This line served as the major east-west train in Germany. Another station, Lehrter Stadtbanhof opened to connect with the Stadtbanh, Berlin’s multi-track elevated rail line that serves both main and local traffic. All connect to the Berlin S-Bahn.

After the damage from World War II, the railway partially reinstated services, which then ended along with razing of the main station during the Cold War.
The reunification of Germany brought about the expansion of Berlin’s railroad system with the development of a new north-south line.

The station has two levels of tracks. The top stage has six tracks with two used by the Berlin S-Bahn. The lower stage of the station has eight tracks with four platforms plus another for the Berlin U-Bahn. The two levels do not have links between the tracks. Eighteen hundred trains stop at the station each day with approximately 350,000 passengers using the station.

The station hosts a variety of railroad services. Travelers are able to reach Berlin from many routes by using the Intercity, the Inter City Express, Regional Bahn, Regional Express, Euro City and the S-Bahn. In addition, international trains use the station, and the Sibirjak Express reaches the far-off cities of Astana, Kazakhstan and Novosibirsk, Russia. The upper section of the station has the east-west tracks that are part of the Berlin Staadtbahn with trains traveling to Cologne and Hanover. The lower area handles the north-south tracks with trips to Munich, Leipzig or Hamburg.

The U55, or Berlin U-Bahn, which opened in 2009, joins the Brandenburger Tor Station with the Central Station. The link to the Berlin Schonefeld Airport updates the connection with the New Berlin Brandenburg Airport in June, 2012. The length of the trip to the airport will be 30 minutes.

The principal stations of Berlin that have connections to the intercity and international trains are Hauptbahnhof, Berlin-Ostbahnhof, Berlin-Gesundbrunnen, Berlin-Spandau and Berlin-Sudkreuz. Other stations throughout the region are Berlin-Lichtenberg, Berlin Zoologischer Garten, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse and Potsdamer.

Berlin’s chief stations have been refurbished. They have ticket offices, lockers that are coin-operated and a baggage storage service. Some of the sites have information booths providing maps and timetables but not tickets. Many locations include stores, restaurants, and bathroom services. All of the station’s information pages have links to the timetables on-line in English found at German Railways bahn.de website.

With the modernization of Berlin’s train stations and service, visitors will find travel within Berlin to be convenient and comfortable from area Berlin apartments and hotels.
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Filed Under: Berlin, featured, Germany

Spreewald Forest, Germany

Situated about 60 miles southeast of Berlin, a day trip to Spreewald Forest, Germany is a visit to an area with a unique mode of living that has remained largely unchanged for over a century. The area is named for the forests and waterways that make up the delta landscape. “Spree” means river; “Wald” means woodland. With a network of 170 miles of navigable waterways in Spreewald’s interior, the punt is the traditional form of transportation. Spreewald Forest makes for a great day trip from Berlin Apartments and hotels.

 

Spreewald Forest, GermanyGlaciers once covered the entire North German Plain. As the climate changed and the icebergs retreated, lakes were formed. Centuries of periodic floods left deposits of silt that gradually transformed the area into floodplains. In the early 20th century, flood protection measures were implemented. In 1991, Spreewald was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The wetlands feature forests of alder, grasslands and fields. Pine forests cover sandier regions.

Many of the 50,000 people that inhabit the area are descendants of Spreewald’s first settlers, the Sorbs/Wends, a Slavic tribe who first came to the delta more than 1,400 years ago. Most of the tribe were assimilated into the Germanic culture. Only Spreewald’s Sorbs/Wends have retained their language, clothing and culture.

The best way to explore the beauty and tranquility of Spreewald is by water. English-speaking guided boat tours are available from nearby Lübben or Lübbenau. Ferrymen use punts to propel the barges through the waterways, explaining the unique culture of the Spreewald along the way.

The area can be easily explored by canoe as well. Canoes can be rented from one of the numerous punt stations and boathouses. Trail maps can be purchased for a nominal fee. Since almost all of the waterways are shallow, canoeing in Spreewald is safe, although it does entail a fair amount of physical effort.

Guided canoe tours are available as well, with stops at tourist attractions like the Lehde Open Air Museum. The museum features traditional homes, clothing and handicrafts, as well as a display about the pickling of gherkins. The Spreewald includes some 110 square miles of agricultural land, and the area is known as one of Germany’s kitchen gardens. A broad array of vegetables are cultivated in Spreewald, but the area is best known for its pickled cucumbers.

Trains depart from Berlin to Lübben or Lübbenau hourly, and the trip takes about an hour making this a easy day trip from hotels and apartments in Berlin. Both towns have a variety of restaurants and accommodations. Spreewald can also be reached by car.

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Filed Under: Berlin, Europe, featured, Germany, Spreewald Forest

Magdeburg, Germany


Magdeburg, Germany is a center of industry and commerce in Saxony-Anhalt. Located on the Elbe river, it is home to a significant number of interesting landmarks and places to visit. Along with its remarkable architecture and beautiful scenery, there is a vast array of businesses in the city of Magdeburg, including sugar factories, paper and textile mills, and iron and steel manufacturers.

Magdeburg began as a corn mill center during the Middle Ages, and despite the many changes Germany has experienced from then until now the city has always maintained a presence as a thriving community where work is readily available for almost anyone. Magdeburg suffered considerable damage during The Great War, when a significant part the city was destroyed. However, in spite of this catastrophic harm, Magdeburg arose from the ashes to become a thriving and engaging city once again.

Abbey, Magdeburg, GermanyThere are many cultural and commercial attractions in Magdeburg that will enthrall visitors of all ages. One landmark that every tourist should consider visiting is The Citadel. Designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser to include a green garden roof and impressive embellishments, this attraction is considered an architectural masterpiece by many modern designers.

The celebrated Millennium Tower is also a sight no visitor will want to miss when spending time in Magdeburg. The influence of Focault, Da Vinci and Pythagoras can be see in the wooden tower’s design and the view from the top of the structure is outstanding. Inside the tower are six floors of scientific displays that are focused on human history and scientific advancements in various industrial fields.

One of the largest and well-known Gothic churches in Europe, Magdeburg’s Cathedral of Saint Mauritius and Saint Catharina is one of the city’s most stunning landmarks. The construction of the cathedral began in the 13th century, and many sections of the building still feature their original Medieval architecture. Small aisles and single chapels surround the two towers that make up the main church sanctuary. Numerous sculptures and pieces of art are contained inside the cathedral, along with the tomb of Emperor Otto I.

Anyone who enjoys history will not want to miss a trip to the Ship Mill Museum. The museum is home to myriad interactive displays and live presentations where talented staff members demonstrate how the ship mills worked in past centuries.

Two characteristics of Magdeburg that are held in high regard by both nature lovers and environmental enthusiasts are the city’s clean air and its lush vegetation. The Elbauen Park should definitely be placed on the must-see list of those who love the great outdoors. The park’s outstanding scenery and beautifully landscaped gardens create the perfect backdrop for a picnic, nature walk, or participation in the various family activities sponsored by the park staff.


The best time of year to visit Magdeburg, Germany is between the months of May and September when temperatures are pleasant and sunshine is abundant. The coldest month in Magdeburg is January, and temperatures begin to break in April. Both historical and city hotels are available to visitors year-round; however, it is wise to make reservations in advance when planning a trip to Magdeburg during the summer months. Regardless of when a person visits this enchanting city, those who spend time in Magdeburg are not likely to forget their experience.

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Filed Under: Berlin, Dresden, Europe, featured, Germany, Magdeburg, Potsdam

Potsdam, Germany


Potsdam, Germany is a city that has been planned for beauty. Over the past several centuries magnificent palaces, large landscaped parks and nature walks have been constructed to highlight the beauty of Potsdam as the residence of the Prussian royal family. Potsdam has a reputation for religious freedom which attracted Huguenots from France and others from the Netherlands, Russia and Bohemia. These immigrants created the historical districts in Potsdam which are Alexsandrovsk the Russian colony with decorated log cabins, the Dutch quarter with 130 high gabled brick houses and the weavers’ quarter among others. They give the city a truly European atmosphere.

Chines Teahouse, Sanssouci, PotsdamPotsdam also has a modern section, Neubabelsberg residential district that has mansions designed by some of the greats. Mies van der Rohe, Grenander and Muthesius designed stately homes that were used by Churchill, Stalin and Truman as well as Marlene Dietrich. Nearby, the Babelsberg Bridge was the border between East and West Germany and spies were exchanged on that bridge during the Cold War.

Potsdam is very near Berlin and Frederick the Great build a summer palace in Potsdam which he named Sanssouci. It means ‘without worry’ and it is the most spectacular palace and garden in Potsdam. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and after reunification, according to his wishes, the final resting place of Frederick. The park contains many buildings, follies and monuments including Roman baths, a Dutch windmill, fountains, an Orangery, Chinese style architecture, a Romanesque church and much more.

Cecilienhof, originally built for the Brandenburg royals, has a huge historical significance. It is the country house where Truman, Churchill and Stalin met for the Potsdam Conference at the end of World War II. The rooms upstairs have been preserved, as they were when the conference took place.

For a different type of adventure, visitors tour the Studio Babelsberg. It was founded in 1912 which makes it the oldest large-scale film studio in the world. There is a film Museum near the Babelsberg Film Park that is fascinating for anyone interested in the history of the film studio.

Potsdam is surrounded by forests and lakes and the many parks and gardens bring the natural world into the city. There are 1,600 navigable kilometers of rivers, canals and lakes that have excellent conditions for touring the area between Potsdam and Berlin by houseboat, canoe or yacht.

Potsdam Volkspark has the biosphere with over 20,000 tropical plants and many research stations. The park is a relaxing place for families to have picnics, watch programs on the city’s largest outdoor stage or exercise and play sports.


For nature walks and cycling the Lennesche Feldflur is a large area of meadows and fields with networks of footpaths and cycling paths. Created by royal decree in 1842 to make the area more attractive, the area continues to delight with copses, trees, meadows and hedges.

Friendship Island is famous for its remarkable plants and flowers. It also has a playground, cafes, an exhibition pavilion and an open-air stage. It was designed in 1938 as an Exhibition and Viewing Garden for perennial blooming plants, grasses and ferns, and continued to be developed until 1970.

Just as Fredrick the Great wished, Potsdam is still a relaxing place to visit and leave worries behind.

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Filed Under: Berlin, Dresden, Europe, featured, Germany, Potsdam

Dresden, Germany


Dresden is a city located in the Free State of Saxony in Germany near the border of the Czech Republic, and has a population of just over 523,000 people. Dresden has a rich history that spans World War 2 and the reunification of Germany. Dresden is filled with beautiful architecture and wonderful culture that makes the city such a great place to visit.

Frederick Augustus I, the ruler of Saxony, gathered all of the great European artists and musicians to Dresden during his reign. This is how Dresden became one of the cultural leaders of all of the cities across Europe. In the mid 1700′s, Dresden would be captured by the Prussians during the Seven Years War. The city would be heavily destroyed during this time. Throughout the 19th century, Dresden would be the site of major battles in several wars including the Napoleonic Wars and German Revolution. Dresden would become the capital of the Free State of Saxony in the early 20th century and it still remains the capital today.

Dresden was bombed repeatedly during World War II and was eventually completely destroyed. After its destruction, the city became a hideout for refugees and wounded soldiers. Dresden was rebuilt after the war and once again became a industrial and cultural center in East Germany. While many parts of Dresden have been rebuilt since the war, there is still a lot of repairs that are still required. Since the unification of Germany, the German government has continued to try to build Dresden back up. Some of the ruins from the bombings still remain and are one of the most visited attractions in the city.

The weather in Dresden can be rather cold, which makes the summer months the best time to visit the city. The summer months of June, July and August will generally have high temperatures around 21 or 22 °C. Summer in Dresden is filled with beautiful weather that is warmer than most of the country. The temperatures several drop during the rest of the year in the city. The months of November, December, January, February and March will usually not see the high temperatures get out of the single digits. This means that most of the day is spent at or below freezing.


The two most popular museums in Dresden are the Old Masters Picture Gallery and the Green Vault. The Old Masters Picture Gallery contains artwork from the 15th century to the 18th century. Most of the art on display is from prominent Italian painters, but German and other European painters are also on display. The museum is owned by the State of Saxony and receives over 500,000 visitors each year.

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Filed Under: Berlin, Dresden, Europe, featured, Germany