Berlin for people with reduced mobility

Wall Museum - Checkpoint Charlie

The Berlin Wall no longer exists in its entirety, but some sections have been preserved and it is considered a symbol of the division of Germany during the Cold War. The wall separated Berlin into East (GDR) and West (FRG) for 28 years, from August 13, 1961 to November 9, 1989.

The Wall encircled the western part of the city for 160 kilometers and was approximately four meters tall.

It is not known how many people died trying to cross the border through the wall, as the eastern side was heavily guarded and there was no hesitation in shooting those who tried to cross to the western side without permission. Some 3,000 people were detained while trying to cross into the West (FRG) illegally. The death toll ranges from 125 to 200, including more than 30 who died from landmines.

There are many points in the city where you can learn more about the Berlin Wall, including:

Wall Memorial Site:

Located at Bernauer Strasse 111, the exhibition is fully accessible to people with mobility, vision, and hearing impairments. It offers a glimpse into the history and construction of the Berlin Wall.

The exhibition is a permanent display that can be visited in either German or English. It includes a control tower with views of the border facilities, which can be accessed via an elevator. There is also a digital archive with documents and recordings from both sides, which is accessible via a ramp.

Guided tours are available, and the exhibition is conveniently located near the Nordbahnhof train station, which also has an elevator.

Outdoor exhibition Platz November 9, 1989:

This exhibition located on Bornholmer Strasse in the Pankow district, where the old GDR border crossing was located, and where you can learn about the following topics:

November 9 in German history
The Peaceful Revolution in the GDR and November 9, 1989
Facilities and border crossing at Bornholmer Strasse
Other sites of commemoration and remembrance of the Berlin Wall.

This square is next to a section of wall that delimited the border crossing perpendicular to the route of the border. A time line on the ground evokes the historic day the Wall fell.

Checkpoint Charlie Museum:

Since 2012, visitors can explore the Checkpoint Charlie Gallery, an open-air exhibition that provides information about the past and present of the famous Berlin checkpoint. The exhibition features 320 plaques, 175 large-format photographs, brief bilingual commentaries in German and English, and various objects used by people attempting to escape.

The venue is wheelchair accessible and located at Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10117 Berlin.

STASI museum:

This building, located at Normannenstrasse 20, house 1, was built in 1960 as the residence of Erich Mielke, the GDR's security minister. In 1990, various social rights groups decided that it should be established as a Stalinism memorial and research center, and since then it has been designated as a historical site on GDR state security. Since January 2015, there has been a permanent exhibition on "State Security in the SED dictatorship."

Today, the building is known globally as the STASI Museum.

The museum is accessible to people with reduced mobility, but you must enter through the staff door, located to the left of the main entrance. Once inside, there is a stair lift to reach the lobby and the adapted bathrooms.

Museum hours are Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Address and contact:

Normannenstrasse 20, house 1. 10365. Berlin.
Telephone (+49) 0305536854
Email: info@stasimuseum.de

Museum Island

On the Spree river, there is an island called Fisherman's Island, or "Fischerinsel" in German. The northern part of the island is home to several internationally renowned museums.

It all began in 1841 when Frederick William IV of Prussia dedicated this space to various art and archaeology collections. In 1918, the Public Foundation of Cultural Heritage began to manage the collections that have survived to this day.

It should be noted that during World War II, some of the museums were destroyed, but were later recovered. In 1999, UNESCO added them to the list of World Heritage Sites.

The Berlin Cathedral is also located on the same island.

If you have a "Berlin Welcome Card," you will receive a discount on the entrance fee to the five museums.

Pergamonmuseum (Temporarily closed until at least 2025)
Neues Museum
Altes Museum
Bode Museum
Alte Nationalgalerie.
James Simon Gallery

Pergamonmuseum:

This is the most visited museum in Berlin, where we will find collections of classical antiquities, the museum of Islamic art, and also the one of the ancient East, as we have said before, there are some parts of the museum that are under rehabilitation and until 2025 they will be closed.

The most famous piece is the Roman Pergamon Altar, but you can also enjoy the 17 meter high market gate of Miletus and many other incredible pieces.

2. Bode Museum:

At the tip of the island is the Bode, which was renovated in 2005 and in it you can find a unique collection of sculptures and works that go from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, including some works by Donatello or Bernini, as well It has a numismatic collection among other collections.

3. Neues Museum:

This museum underwent renovations from 1999 to 2009 by architect David Chipperfield. Once the renovations were completed, visitors were able to enjoy one of the most important works in any museum: the Bust of Nefertiti, which is over 3,000 years old. However, the museum also houses an incredible collection of papyri and classical antiquities, as well as pieces from the Egyptian Museum.

4. Old National Gallery:

We cannot ignore that the Greek temples served as a model for the architect Friedrich August Stüler when constructing this incredible building.

This museum houses paintings and sculptures from Classicism, Romanticism, Biedermeier, Impressionism, and the early years of the Modern Age. It is known as one of the most complete art collections from the period between the French Revolution and the First World War. The museum contains world-famous works such as "Mönch am Meer" by Caspar David Friedrich, Monet's paintings, Renoir's paintings, and sculptures by Auguste Rodin.

5. Altes Museum:

Its entrance with 18 Ionic columns is already a monument in itself, but inside the museum you can find different ancient sculptures and a permanent exhibition on Greek, Etruscan and Roman art with various ancient objects.

Entrance:

There are different types of tickets, but the combined tickets for the 5 museums, including the Panorama exhibition, are 19 euros for the general ticket, and 9.50 euros for the reduced ticket. On the first Sunday of each month, admission is free.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed on Mondays).

Please note that tickets cannot be cancelled. The reduced price ticket can be used by students (with a valid student ID and proof of enrollment), military personnel or civil servants, the unemployed, and people with disabilities (at least 50%) upon presentation of a valid ID.

A free time slot ticket is also required for each museum and is valid for the reserved date when used in combination with a free time slot ticket.

Bathrooms:

You can find many adapted bathrooms throughout the route.

Accessibility:

There are many ways to get to the island of museums, we show you the most common by public transport:

Metro: U6 (Friedrichstrasse)
Train: S1, S2, S25, S26 (Friedrichstraße); S3, S5, S7, S9 (Hackescher Markt)
Tram: M1, 12 (Am Kupfergraben); M4, M5, M6 (Hackescher Markt)
Bus: TXL (State Opera); 100, 200 (Lustgarten); 147 (Friedrichstrasse)

Address:

I loved Lustgarten. 10117. Berlin (Very close to the cathedral.)

Your Berlin guide

Berlin is the capital of Germany, and capital of one of the 16 federated states or "Landers" or federated states of the country.

This incredible city is located in the northeast of Germany and has a population of 3.8 million people, making it the most populous city in the country.

In 2013 it was awarded by the EU as an example of an accessible city (Access City Awards), for its initiatives to improve accessibility. It is undoubtedly a very attractive destination for people with mobility problems, thanks to its wide range of leisure activities and tourist activities for people with reduced mobility.

It's worth noting that the city has made a significant effort in terms of public transportation and other services to be accessible to people with disabilities. We congratulate the city of Berlin for its efforts to make the city accessible and welcoming to people using wheelchairs

As far as tourism is concerned, we can say that the total number of visitors in 2020 and 2021 (the years most marked by restrictions) was around 10 million. In 2019 alone, before the start of the pandemic, almost 14 million people visited the German capital, with more than 34 million overnight stays.

Berlin has a wide range of museums (over 180), libraries, restaurants, nightclubs, and high-quality music events, making it a very cosmopolitan, young, and dynamic city.

We want to leave you the direct link to the tourist website of the city, since in it you can find a lot of information about tourist activities, accommodation, transport, events and other proposals accessible to PRM (They have a database called Mobidat that can be very useful).

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/wheelchair-accessible-berlin

Some interesting facts about Berlin:

It's currency is the €uro
His telephone prefix is (+49)
If you belong to the European Union you do not need a passport to enter the country. If you do not belong to the European Union, you must consult the conditions of access and visa in each case.
Its time zone is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +1
Its typical dishes are Currywurst or Eisbein.
One of the most important parties is the Oktoberfest, in which the main attraction is beer.
Germans are usually serious and distant, but as soon as you meet them you will see that they are hospitable and friendly people.

Berlin Tourist office

All tourist offices in Berlin are fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. In these offices you can get all kinds of important information about the city, maps, tickets for sightseeing and events, you can also book accommodation. The staff at the tourist offices are multilingual and are always willing to help to make your stay in Berlin unforgettable.

If you visit Berlin, we recommend that you get the "Berlin Welcome Card" which, like in many other major European cities, gives you discounts on attractions, museums, and shows and includes access to public transportation.

You can get this card at any tourist information point in the city.

There are several options available, but you can choose between the basic one that costs €9 and it's valid for 72 hours, to the most complete one that has a starting price of €69 and with which you will have free access to many museums, discounts in restaurants, unlimited public transport and much more.

We leave you an interesting link where you can find much more information about the Berlin Welcome Card:

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-welcome-card

Brandenburg Airport Tourist Office:

This office is located in Terminal 1 on level E0 and is accessible to people with reduced mobility. It has multilingual staff available to assist you at all times. The office is open from Monday to Sunday from 09:00 in the morning to 21:00 at night. On New Year's Day, December 24th, 25th, 26th, and 31st, it has special hours, but it is always open until at least 6:00 p.m.

Address and contact:

Flughafen Berlin BrandenburgWilly-Brandt-Platz 112529. Schönefeld
Email: info@visitBerlin.de

Hauptbahnhof train station Tourist office:

This office is located in the shopping gallery of the Hauptbahnhof train station in a visible and accessible location. The staff is prepared to assist travelers in various languages and can help with many aspects of your stay in Berlin.

The office is open from Monday to Sunday from 08:00 in the morning to 21:00 at night.

On New Year's Day, December 24th, 25th, 26th, and 31st, it is open from 9:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.

Address and contact:

Erdgeschoss/ Eingang Europaplatz 10557. Berlin
Email: info@visitBerlin.de

Brandenburg Gate Tourist office:

This tourist office is located in one of the most visited landmarks in the city, making it a convenient stop for tourists in the area. Both the office and the attraction are accessible to people with mobility issues. The office is located in the south wing of the building and has staff trained to assist tourists in various languages. They can help with finding accommodation, suggesting attractions, and recommending restaurants and entertainment venues. Tourists can also purchase the Berlin Welcome Pass, find maps, and obtain tourist guides at the office.

The office is open from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On New Year's Day, it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on December 24th it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and on December 25th and 26th it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office is closed to the public on December 31st.

Address and contact:

Pariser Platz, sudliches Torhaus 10117. berlin
Email: info@visitBerlin.de

Humboldt Forum Tourism Office:

This tourist office, like the others, is accessible and located at Portal V, accessible via Schlossplatz in the direction of Schlüterhof. In addition to providing information on accommodation, attractions, restaurants, and other activities in the city, the office also features a model of what the city looked like in 1900.

The office is open from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On New Year's Day, it is open from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on December 24th it is closed, on December 25th and 26th it is open from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on December 31st it is closed to the public.

Address and contact:

Schloßplatz 10178. Berlin
Email: info@visitBerlin.de

Transport

As we have already mentioned, Berlin is a very friendly city with people with mobility issues and this is also due to its public transport which is prepared to meet the needs of people with reduced mobility, starting with its airport, but also its train, metro, bus or taxi services are very well adapted.

It's worth noting that Berlin is a very flat city, and the vast majority of its sidewalks have been lowered to make it easier for people using wheelchairs or scooters to move around.

We also want to emphasize that Berlin is a very flat city and the vast majority of its sidewalks are lowered to facilitate movement on a wheelchair or scooter.

Airport:

Berlin-Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport is 27 km from the city center and receives flights from almost everywhere in the world. The airlines that operate out of this airport include Lufthansa, Ryanair, EasyJet, and Eurowings.

For people with reduced mobility or physical or sensory impairments, Berlin Brandenburg Airport offers a free mobility service. If you are traveling to Berlin, we recommend that you inform your airline, tour operator, or travel agency of your assistance needs, preferably when booking your flight or at least 48 hours before your arrival at the airport, so that they can best serve you.

The airport is fully prepared and adapted to help people with mobility issues, with mobility service points located at the check-in counters in each terminal:

In Terminal 1, on level E1
In Terminal 2, on level E0

There are also call columns at the front of each terminal that you can use to communicate with the mobility service. You can also go directly to the check-in counter for your flight and inform the staff of your assistance needs. A member of the Mobility Service will be with you shortly to help you.

Please note that there may be stairs and long distances within the airport, and you may also have to use stairs if your plane is parked at a gate that requires them. If you are unable to overcome these obstacles independently, make sure to register with the Mobility Service in advance.

If you are traveling with your own wheelchair, you can check it in at the baggage counter. At this time, you will be given a Mobility Service wheelchair for your transfer from the counter to your plane seat. If you use an electric wheelchair, remember to always check it in at the baggage counter.

Airport contact:

Twitter: @berlinairport
Telephone: (+49) 30609160910

From the airport to the center:

Train:

Without a doubt, the best option for getting from the airport to the city center is the train, as it has stations in Terminals 1 and 2 and operates from 04:30 in the morning until 00:30 at night. The trains are fully adapted for people with mobility issues, with carriages equipped with ramps and interior space for several wheelchairs. It is advisable to request assistance from the Deutsche Bahn service, but it is not mandatory, as the trains have very good accessibility.

The "Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg – Terminal 1 and 2" train station is directly below Terminal 1, and elevators take you directly from the arrivals or departures terminal to the train platform.

The Flughafen Express trains (RE7 and RB14) run every 5-10 minutes and take about 30 minutes to reach the center of Berlin. The ticket price is €3.60, but we recommend getting the Berlin Welcome Card, which includes zones A, B, and C, to cover the journey to the airport.

If your flight arrives at Terminal 5, we recommend taking the S Bahn S9 train, which runs every 20 minutes and takes about 30 minutes to get to Alexanderplatz.

Bus:

The X7 bus is available in all 3 airport terminals, it is accessible for people in wheelchairs, but it will not drop you off in the city center, it will drop you off at the U Rudow metro station and from here you can take the metros U1, U3, U7 and in about 25 minutes you will be in the center of Berlin (Total journey is approximately 1 hour)

We recommend this option if you arrive at night (when the train does not work).

Taxi:

Taxis in Berlin are cream-coloured, making them easily recognizable. In Berlin there are about 7,000 taxis and their prices are €2 per-km but drop to €1.5 after 7 km. They will also add a surcharge of €1 per suitcase or package.

Remember that the raising of the flag is €3.9, you can pay by card or in cash.

The price of a taxi from the airport to the center is about €50 and the journey takes about 40 minutes.

We leave you the contact telephone number of some of the most important taxi companies in Berlin. All of them have vehicles adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Taxi Berlin: (+49) 3020 20 20
Wurfelfunk: (+49) 3021 01 01
TaxiFunk Berlin: (+49) 3044 33 22
Quality Taxi: (+49) 3026 300 0

Transportation within the city:

Train:

90% of the stations in Berlin and its surroundings are accessible to people with reduced mobility thanks to lifts and ramps that facilitate access.

The central station of Berlin "Hauptbahnhof" was inaugurated in 2006 and has ramps, elevators, optical signals and other facilities for people with some type of disability.

An S-Bahn station is only considered completely barrier-free if:

It has a platform or elevator (with handrail)
Elevators have braille buttons
The platforms are equipped with tactile guidance system
The signs and schedules are located in such a way that they can be read by a person in a wheelchair.

It is also important to know that

160 of the 168 S-Bahn stations in Berlin and Brandenburg are usually barrier-free due to their location at ground level, ramps and/or elevators. *
145 train stations are equipped with a platform guidance system for the blind.
49 stations have handrails on the stairs with Braille writing.
There are 238 elevators in the train stations.
There are 262 escalators in total at the stations.

The stations that do not have an elevator are:

Karl Bonhoeffer Psychiatric Clinic, Gehrensestrasse, Platform Yorckstraße S2, Nolderplatz, Marienfelde, Eichwalde, Schonfliess and Hirschgarten.

When boarding the train, it is recommended that travelers in wheelchairs get as close as possible to the driver for visibility. To locate the exact stop, travelers can look for markings on the platforms, such as blue signs with the label "Kurzzug start," as well as the destination indicators, which provide information about the length of the train.

New trains have multi-use compartments with ample space for wheelchairs, strollers, and bicycles. These compartments have service columns between the folding seats to facilitate wheelchair access and include:

Intercom: In an emergency, contact the security center, then the video image of the compartment is transmitted.
Blue button: Disembarkation assistance request button for wheelchair users (overflow ramp), extends the opening time of the doors at the front of the train.
Yellow button: button for voice connection to the S-Bahn service center for questions or to report dirt in the car.

Metro:

This is one of the best ways to get around Berlin, its wagons are painted yellow and practically all of the Berlin metro stations are accessible to people with reduced mobility.

It has 9 lines, both underground and on the surface.

U1 line: Green
U2 Line: Red
U3 Line: Turquoise Green
U4 line: Yellow
U5 Line: Brown
U6 Line: Purple
Line U7: Light Blue
U8 Line: Dark Blue
Line U9: Orange

Its schedule is from 04:00 in the morning to 01:00 in the morning, but many lines are open 24 hours a day, and their frequency at rush hour is 5 minutes, at night it is 10 minutes, and the weekends the frequency is 10 minutes and at night 15.

People with reduced mobility should sit in the first carriage so that the metro driver can easily see them.

We leave you a map of the stops and more information about it.

https://mapa-metro.com/es/Germany/Berlin/Berlin-U-Bahn-mapa.htm

Bus:

Berlin has over 300 bus lines, 40 of which are night buses, and almost all of them are accessible to people with mobility issues or using wheelchairs. The buses in Berlin cover most of the city, including tourist sites, but the metro and tram are generally faster modes of transportation.

The bus operates from 04:30 in the morning to 01:00 in the morning, and the night buses run from 00:30 to 04:30. From Monday to Friday, the bus has a frequency of between 10 and 20 minutes, while the night lines run every 30 minutes.

Taxi:

Taxis in Berlin are cream-colored and easy to identify. There are about 7,000 taxis in the city, and their prices are €2 per kilometer, dropping to €1.5 after 7 kilometers. They also charge a surcharge of €1 per suitcase or package. The base rate for hailing a taxi is €3.9, and payment can be made by card or in cash.

Several of the major taxi companies in Berlin have vehicles adapted for people with reduced mobility. Here are the contact telephone numbers for some of them:

Taxi Berlin: (+49) 3020 20 20
Wurfelfunk: (+49) 3021 01 01
TaxiFunk Berlin: (+49) 3044 33 22
Quality Taxi: (+49) 3026 300 0

Tram:

Trams are a popular mode of transportation in the eastern part of Berlin, especially during the Cold War. Most of the trams are adapted for people with reduced mobility. The tram system has 20 lines and over 400 stations, making it one of the longest systems in the world. It is convenient due to its speed and there is also a Metro Tram, which runs more frequently than the regular tram and operates all night on weekdays.

The tram runs 24 hours a day with a frequency of between 10 and 20 minutes (30 minutes at night).

Adapted restaurants

Hopfinger Restaurant: https://www.bier-genuss.berlin/hopfingerbraeu-am-brandenburger-tor/

This restaurant serves traditional German and Berlin cuisine, including dishes like currywurst, as well as pasta, salads, and soups. It features tables with a central leg to allow easy access for people in wheelchairs. The restaurant also has an indoor terrace, which is a great option on nice days.

The restaurant is fully accessible, including the restrooms.

Address and contact:

Ebertstrasse 24. 10117 Berlin
Telephone: (+49) 3020458637

Luise Kopenick Restaurant: http://www.luise-koepenick.de/

This restaurant, located right in front of the historic town hall and between the Dahme and Spree rivers, serves delicious German food and a wide selection of wines. It's a great place to go for a drink and watch the sunset. The restaurant is open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The restaurant is fully accessible, including the restrooms.

Address and contact:

Alt-Kopenick 20. 12555 Berlin.
Telephone: (+49) 3064329777

Restaurant Baret: https://www.humboldtforum.org/de/programm/dauerrangebot/essen-und-trinken/restaurant-baret-34035/

Located on the roof of the Forum Humboldt, this restaurant is easily accessible via an elevator and offers breathtaking views of the museum island, Brandenburg Gate, Mitte district, and other landmarks. It's a perfect spot to enjoy a meal prepared by Chef Octavio Oses Bravo. The menu features vegetarian options as well as meat and fish dishes of high quality.

The restaurant is also accessible to people with mobility issues, as are the restrooms.

Address and contact:

Schloßplatz 10178, Berlin
Telephone: (+49) 17672894500
Email: kontakt@baret.berlin

Wheelchair rental in Berlin

Discover Berlin

Opinions about Berlin

Other cities near Berlin