Travel from the Airport quickly into the Centre
If you are arriving in Berlin by plane you will either arrive in Schönefeld on the eastern outskirts of Berlin or Wedding if you land at Tegel. If the traffic is good, it will take about half an hour to get from Tegel to Alexanderplatz with its famous television tower, and around forty from Schönefeld.
Editors note: Its a good idea to use a Sat Nav or Google Maps on your smartphone while driving in Berlin. Be prepared to assert yourself on the road and know that Berlin drivers are quick to use their horns. Also be aware that there are numerous cyclists in the city whom you need to look out for, especially when turning.
Parking on the street is not recommended, especially in the city centre where it can be expensive. For example, an hour in Prenzlauer Berg can easily cost 3 euros but, in a nearby side street, its just one euro. As an alternative, you would be better off using car parks to park your car hire in Berlin where you will find affordable daily rates. Its good to know as well that central Berlin is a low emission zone, but when you rent a car with Sixt this is no concern as all of our vehicles are the most recent models and carry the necessary sticker.
Berlin spans almost nineteen miles from East to West and has excellent transportation infrastructure. Travelling in your hire car, you can get from the Berlin ring-road to the city centre in about half an hour, as long as the traffic is on your side. Be warned: rush hour can be frustrating and bring traffic to a halt, not to mention the various roadworks and building sites across the city as Berlin continues to undergo change. Therefore, it often makes sense to use the A100 motorway, even it means making a bit of a detour. This way with your car rental you can reach outer-lying districts like Steglitz fairly quickly.
If you took the train into Berlin then you will find yourself at the Hauptbahnhof central station, which was newly opened in 2006. The station is very central, just a 10 minute drive from Alexanderplatz, but unlike other cities the surrounding area is not as vibrant and lively as you may expect. Sightseeing highlights such as the Natural History Museum and the Hamburger Bahnhof are just a short walk away however, so you can enjoy these before picking up your car hire and heading out to explore other areas of the city. Head to famous sights such as the Reichstag (5 min) and the Jewish Synagogue (6 min), and look out for the Chancellery building (popularly known as the Washing Machine) on the way to the Reichstag. You can have fun in Berlin sightseeing at Museum Island and the Brandenburg Gate or go on long shopping trips. The Kastanienallee in Prenzlauer Berg, Münzstraße in the centre, and Bergmannstrasse in Kreuzberg are all recommended.
