Tourist Information
The main tourist information office is in the Europa Center in West Center on the Budapester Str. side of the building (tel 25 00 25), open Mon-Sat 8am-10pm, Sun 9am-9pm. There is also an office at the Brandenburg Gate, open daily 9.30am-6pm.

Tipping
Tipping is not obligatory but it’s the custom in Berlin and the rest of Germany to tip waiters and taxi drivers with a small amount, between 5 and 10%.

Emergencies
You can call an emergency doctor ("Notarzt") on 31 00 31. You will often find that doctors can talk to you in English. The emergency contact number for police is 110, and for ambulance and fire, 112. If you lose your passport, contact your embassy as well as the police. Pharmacy: 01141

Banks
Bank opening times in Berlin vary but most banks are open from 9am to 12.00 and from 2-4 in the afternoon, Mon-Fri. The bank at Tegel Airport is open daily from 6am to 10pm (9pm on Sun). The Reisebanks at Zoo Station and Ostbahnhof are open seven days a week from 7.30 in the morning.

Electricity
The voltage is 220 volts AC 50 cycles. US appliances won’t work in Germany and UK plugs won’t fit the sockets!

Newspapers
North American and British newspapers are available at kiosks in the centre of Berlin, at the airports, in the Europa Center and from specialist bookshops such as, for example, the British Bookshop near Checkpoint Charlie.

Post offices
Most are open between 8am and 6pm. A normal weight letter sent within Europe costs DM1.10 and to North America DM 3.

Telephones
The local area code for Berlin is 030 and the international code for Germany is 49. If calling from abroad, the combined code is +49 30. Some public telephones are coin operated (min. charge is 20 pfennigs), but for most you need a telephone card (min. cost DM12) which you can buy from post offices or newspaper kiosks.
For collect calls to the US, dial: 01300010; or for the UK, dial: 0130800044.

Drugstores
Look for the big red ‘A’ signs (for Apotheke). It’s worth remembering that prescriptions and over the counter drugs can only be purchased at Apothekes; you can’t, for example, buy aspirin at the supermarket. When the shops are closed, Apothekes display the address of the nearest open drugstore in their window. Note: a "Drogerie" does not sell medicines, but cosmetics, baby food etc.

Money
The German monetary unit is the Deutsche Mark (DM), which is divided in 100 Pfennig. Note: The banks like to provide the tourist bills of 500 or 1000 DM, but most shops don't accept this sort of bills. To exchange money you'd better go to a bank, because most of the hotels use less favourable exchange rates. With the beginning of year 2002, Germany’s currency will be the Euro, which is exactly 1,95583 DM.