Introduction
If you expect to be in Berlin and wish to have the maximum fun, you have probably heard of the Berlin Welcome Card. But is it worth it? In this present post, you are going to get an overview of the advantages and the disadvantage of receiving the Berlin Welcome Card so that you can in a position to make the right decision while buying it.
Berlin Welcome Card: What is it?
Berlin Welcome Card is a transport pass which in addition to free travel on all the public transport means in Berlin provides combined ticket prices for many attractions, museums and restaurants. It can be hired for 48 hours, 72 hours, 4 days, 5 days, and 6 days depending on the traveler’s itinerary of choice.
Advantages of the Berlin Welcome Card
1. Free Public Transportation:
The second desirable feature of the Berlin Welcome Card is free entrance to the majority of sights in Berlin, and the third one is the possibility to use all types of public transportation, such as buses, trams, U-Bahn and S-Bahn for free as well. This means that you can move around the city covering various sites without any strain of buying single tickets.
2. Discounts on Attractions:
The card provides up to 50% discount for a great number of the sights, museums, and sightseeing tours in Berlin. Many tourist sites such as the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Television Tower and Museum Island on offer discounted rates for holders of the card.
3. City Map and Guidebook:
While buying the Berlin Welcome Card, you also get a map and a guide of Berlin which can be a lot more advantageous in finding what one should see in Berlin.
Disadvantages of the Berlin Welcome Card
1. Limited Validity:
There is a time frame within which the card’s usage is allowed, these may include 2 days 48 hours or 3 days 72 hours. In case, you are not going to sight many places and are not going to travel by buses, trams, trains etc. during that period then you might not really gain anything out of carrying this card.
2. Not Valid for Airport Transportation:
The Berlin Welcome Card does not include travel between the airport and the city center. If you will be traveling anywhere to or from the airport then you will we’ll have to purchase a ticket separately.
3. Some Attractions Not Included:
Moreover, despite a long list of the offered discounts for popular spots, it’s necessary to bear in mind that many of them are still excluded from the list. However, it is vital to know that some of the places of interest may be separately charged instead of which, you use your card to gain entry.
Is It Worth It?
This means that the decision to take or not to take the Berlin Welcome Card depends with the travel plans or liking. If your itinerary involves multiple sightseeing spots and if you will be relying heavily on the public transportation system, the card will pay for itself in savings although there is the added added advantage of not having to buys multiple tickets. Also, the discounts which may be given can even help to cut your expenses so much.
Nevertheless, in case you have rather a sparse schedule or choose walking around the city, the benefits of adding such a card may not compensate your expenses. However, it is crucial to consider the advantages against personal requirements and company’s financial capabilities.
How to Use a Berlin Welcome Card
1. Plan Your Itinerary:
For this purpose, spend a little time thinking about what type of locations you will be visiting on your trip and which of them are likely to offer a discount if you use the card. In this way, one can avoid visiting places were the card has little value as is sometimes the case with many tourist cards.
2. Use Public Transportation:
The card also comes with free unlimited use of public transport, so be sure to make use of the special offer. It is the best way of getting around the city as it affords a view of many of the neighborhoods in the city.
3. Check the Exclusions:
In regard to this, one needs to ensure that it is aware of the fact that the card can be used to pay for the entrance fee for any attraction one is planning to visit or not. Depending on the company some of the most popular sites may not be on the list, there may be extra charges involved.
4. Activate the Card:
Before the Berlin Welcome Card can be used for the first time it has to be activated. It can be activated at any ticket vending machine installed at public transport or the tourist information desks across the city.
Conclusion
The Berlin Welcome Card can be of great value for the tourists, who are going to visit many sights and are planning to use the means of public transport frequently. It is convenient, cheaper and comes with extra incentives such as lower charges for admittance and free guide books. Despite this here are some things to remember before you go for the card, you should ask yourself when making the decision;.
So if you follow the advantages and disadvantages detailed in this post and think about your schedule, you can make the right choice and have wonderful time in Berlin!