Population & Demographics

• Population: 3,748,148 (2018)

• Ethnic groups: Germans, Turks, Arabians, Russians, Vietnamese, Polish, Africans

• Languages: German and Berlinerisch dialect

• Religions: Protestant, Roman Catholic , Muslims

Industry Sectors

Students interning in Berlin are placed with companies ranging from innovative start-ups to global organizations and multinationals in a variety of industry sectors:

• Communications: advertising, design, media, multimedia

• Entertainment/Culture: film, music, television, theater production

• Infrastructure: urban planning, transportation, architecture, construction, transportation

• Life Sciences: biotech, environmental sciences, medical engineering

• Technology: software, hardware, finance tech, mobile apps, e-commerce

Government

Berlin is a city-state and capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. Berlin's political system consists of the mayor, the House of Representatives, or city Parliament, which is elected for four-year terms with a minimum of 150 representatives and public meetings, and the Senate. The constitution written in 1950 for western Berlin has applied to eastern Berlin since 1991. All major governmental offices located on the banks of the river Spree.

Transportation

• S-Bahn (Above ground): Covers 15 lines on a 330 kilometer long regional network and with almost 170 train stations. In the center of Berlin, the S-Bahn mostly runs above ground. Train stations can be identified by the green and white S symbol.

• U-Bahn (Underground): Covers 146 kilometers and includes 173 stations. The U-Bahn Berlin is known for its yellow-colored trains.

• Buses: Transport service in Berlin's urban area is provided by several public bus lines of the BVG. They cover routes which are not covered by other public transport. A special feature of Berlin are the double-decker buses whose upper decks offer a great view.

With a valid ticket, ticket holders have access to all public transport in Berlin: S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses, trams and ferries.

• Buying Tickets: Students can purchase daily, weekly, and monthly transportation tickets. Tickets can be purchased at multilingual ticket machines on the platforms of S-and U-Bahn stations. In buses, fares are paid to the bus driver, in trams at machines inside the trains. In larger stations the S-Bahn and BVG provide ticket counters.

• Validation of Tickets: Before the journey starts tickets must be validated by stamping them at the yellow or red boxes on the platforms, in buses or trams. In case of inspection, a ticket that is not stamped is invalid.

Festivals & Holidays

Fastnacht/Karneval (Carnival/Mardi Gras)

The date varies, but the German version of Mardi Gras, the last opportunity to celebrate before the Lenten season, goes by many names: Fastnacht, Fasching, Fasnacht, Fasnet, or Karneval. The main highlight, the Rosenmontag, is the so-called Weiberfastnacht or Fat Thursday, celebrated on the Thursday before Karneval, which features parades, and ceremonies to drive out any evil spirits.

May Day

The first day in May is a national holiday in Germany, Austria, and most of Europe. International Workers' Day is observed in many countries on May 1. Other German customs in May celebrate the arrival of spring. Walpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht), the night before May Day, is similar to Halloween in that it has to do with supernatural spirits, and has pagan roots.

Oktober (October): Oktoberfest

Even though it starts in September, the most German of holidays is called Oktoberfest. This holiday started in 1810 with the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. They held a big party near Munich, and it was so popular that it became an annual event, with beer, food, and entertainment.

Erntedankfest

In German-speaking countries, Erntedankfest, or Thanksgiving, is celebrated on the first Sunday in October, which is usually also the first Sunday following Michaelistag or Michaelmas. It's primarily a religious holiday, but with dancing, food, music, and parades.

December (Dezsember): Weihnachten (Christmas)

Germany provided the roots of many of the American celebrations of Christmas, including Kris Kringle, which is a corruption of the German phrase for the Christ child: Christkindl. Eventually, the name became synonymous with Santa Claus. The Christmas tree is another German tradition that has become part of many Western celebrations, as is the idea of celebrating St. Nicholas (who's also become synonymous with Santa Claus and Father Christmas).

Toursim

• Dalí – The Exhibition at Potsdamer Platz

• German Spy Museum

• Jewish Museum Berlin

• Holocaust Memorial

• Anne Frank House & Museum

• The Brandenburg Gate

• Museum Island

• The Berlin Wall Memorial

• Checkpoint Charlie

• Charlottenburg Palace and Park

• The Nikolai Quarter

• East Side Gallery

Food

• Currywurst

• Spätzle

• Schnitzel

• Bratwurst

• Döner Kebab

• Berliner Pfannkuchen

Berlin Travel Guides