The Complete Business Tourist's Guide to Berlin

Business Meets Pleasure: An Ideal Mix How to ensure a successful business meeting while enjoying a good restaurant and a beer garden? Diesenhaus's 'Bleisure' Guide to Berlin covers all the bases for the savvy business traveler who knows that business and pleasure indeed go hand in hand.

Good Morning: Imagine your promising business day starts in Berlin. A city bursting with energy, attracting leading companies from sectors such as manufacturing, banking, technology, and more, plus some of the best dishes and must-attend events you'll ever experience.

If you're here, this travel guide is meant especially for you—business travelers who also appreciate a good strudel. Learn about the correct etiquette for meetings with locals, and where to relax at night. Take a deep breath, as we've compiled everything for you here. With this guide, truly no other guide is needed.

Business

We're sure you're business sharks, but to be successful in business in Berlin, personal charm and professional knowledge are just as important as understanding the cultural nuances and adapting to them. Hint: Referring to a client as 'father' is not on the menu.

• Advance preparation is the key to success in business meetings in Berlin. Conduct thorough research on the company and the people you're meeting with, set clear meeting objectives, and prepare an agenda. Arrive prepared with all relevant materials, such as presentations, reports, and data, and make sure there's no spinach in your teeth.

• Be punctual. It's hard to stress this enough without triggering anyone, but punctuality is highly valued in Germany. Always play it safe and arrive early for meetings. At worst, you'll spend some time on Instagram.

• The accepted attire is formal, with a suit and tie. Do not confuse this with the dress code for the Berghain, and certainly not KitKat.

• Shake hands as customary. Upon entering the meeting room, shake hands with everyone present, adhering to the company's hierarchy (as mentioned, there's no non-triggering way to say this). Similarly, allow senior company members to speak first.

• Observe conversation culture. Pay close attention and express views clearly and concisely. Most Germans speak English, but learning a few basic words and phrases in the local language will impress your clients and go a long way. During the meeting, maintain eye contact, convey confidence, and ask clarifying questions.

• Continuing this, body language is very important in German culture. Maintain a straight posture and direct eye contact, and avoid exaggerated hand movements.

• Germans tend to be more serious than others, so it's advisable to avoid jokes that could be seen as offensive. Yes, even no... yes. Additionally, Germans prefer to express criticism indirectly and diplomatically, avoiding direct or blunt criticism.

• After the meeting, send a thank-you note and a summary of the topics discussed.

Pleasure

Culture and Art

For our readers who like to maintain a touch of seriousness even in their pleasure.

• The Jewish Museum – A uniquely designed museum in a zigzag shape, offering both permanent and changing exhibitions on the Jewish history in Germany. The preferred leisure activity of this guide, as you know it.
• Museum Island – An area with several important museums, including the Pergamon Museum, offering a wide collection of art and antiquities.
• Tiergarten Park – A vast park in the heart of the city with walking paths, lakes, and beautiful gardens. An ideal place for a picnic or a midday nap.
• Brandenburg Gate – A famed symbol of the city representing German unity.
• The Berlin Wall – Remains of the wall that split the city during the Cold War. Yay.
• Reichstag – Another nostalgic memory related to history exams. The German Parliament building offering a fantastic panoramic view of the city.

Recommended Restaurants

Feel like your appetite is open? Great.

• Käfer Dachgarten – Yes, it's the restaurant on top of the Reichstag. With a panoramic view of the city and a rooftop brunch atmosphere. Reservations are mandatory, as well as bringing ID – otherwise you might end up outside hungry. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Reinstoff – A two-Michelin-starred restaurant hidden in a quiet residential neighborhood northeast of Brandenburg Gate. Offers an elite, sophisticated, and refined culinary experience – the pinnacle of elegance. Open for dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday. Don't rely on showing up spontaneously.
• Grill Royal – Steaks, high ceilings, high level, and an unofficial celebrity list. Open every evening, like a wallet in Berlin.
• Cookies Cream – Despite its sweet name, it's not an ice cream shop but a creative vegetarian Michelin-starred restaurant offering vegetables at their stylish best. Yes, even carrots can be haute couture. Located above a former nightclub, it offers a tasting menu that's not seen every day.
• Burgermeister – The most talked-about burger joint in town, operating out of an old public building (urban legend says it was once restrooms). Perfect for a late-night meal – especially if you're coming out of a club craving something greasy.
• Fassbender & Rausch – Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. A restaurant-confectionery serving cocoa-based dishes, desserts, and fantasies. If you don't visit here – how will you explain to your mom you came to Berlin?

Nightlife

Now we're getting started.

• If there's one thing Berlin knows to do well—besides museums and sausages—it's night. That is, a night that lasts until mid-day the following day. Here are some places that will make you consider moving furniture in your living room to simulate a dance floor:
• Berghain – The club that no list of Berlin is complete without. The iconic techno club operating in a huge industrial building. Considered one of the best in the world, and if you manage to get in – let us know why. The selection is notoriously tough and mysterious, so prepare mentally (and wear black).
• Watergate – A riverside club with a glass wall and stunning views. The music here is less aggressive, and the vibe is more refined – Berlin chic at its best.
• Tresor – An old techno institution operating in a former power station. Heavy sound, dedicated crowd, and a sense of "this is how it was once—and how it should be".
• KitKatClub – A daring club with a very open dress code, and no, your Bermuda shorts don't belong here. The atmosphere celebrates freedom, sexuality, and costumes. Intended for those seeking a different experience and who know—emphasis on know—what they're getting into.
• Sisyphos – A club with a festival-like atmosphere. Dance floors, chill-out zones, food stalls, and a lost sense of time. Open both in summer and winter, with indoor and outdoor spaces suitable for every season.
• Salon zur Wilden Renate – A multi-story club that feels like a crazy house party. Each room is different, the party is intimate and eclectic, and everything is wrapped in an atmosphere of "am I in a very weird dream".

General

Where to sleep, how to charge – and other basic needs.

Accommodation: Berlin offers a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to youth hostels. It's likely that a room with four other twenty-year-olds is less appealing, but who knows, maybe the adventurous side will take over. It's recommended to choose a hotel in a central area, close to public transport and attractions.

Transportation: If there's one thing Germans understand—it's trains (we're open now). Berlin's public transportation system is very efficient and easy to use. Tickets can be purchased at subway stations, on buses, and in kiosks. The most common ticket is the Berlin WelcomeCard, offering free public transit rides, discounts on many attractions, and free guided tours. You can also rent bicycles or an electric car for traveling around the city.

Transportation 2: For those in a hurry or those preferring taxis, you can of course use the known "Uber" app, or – pay attention – the "Freenow" app, which is more recommended and considered more reliable in Germany, especially in Berlin.

Bring a power adapter: The most common power outlets in Germany are Europlugs. You may need an adapter if you're bringing electrical devices from your home country.

Bring cash: While credit cards can be used in most places, it's recommended to also have cash for street stalls and a stunning handmade troll keychain you must buy for your mom.

Travel insurance: It's recommended to purchase travel insurance before a business trip to Berlin. The insurance will cover you in case of a flight cancellation, baggage loss, injury, or illness, God forbid.

Visa: Israeli citizens do not need a visa to travel to Germany as long as the stay is up to 90 days. We've won.

We hope this guide helps you get the most out of your business trip to Berlin – with successful meetings by day and dreamy adventures by night. Stay with us for more equally comprehensive guides on the hottest business and pleasure destinations.

Whether it's a business trip, a personal vacation, or a combination of both – Diesenhaus Group brings extensive experience, a full range of services, and exclusive representation of the global BCD Travel company. Thanks to a global reach and tailored local capabilities, we know how to turn every trip – for any purpose – into an accurate, smooth, and profitable experience. Because in an era where borders are blurring, you need a partner who knows how to connect worlds. So if leisure trips speak to you – talk to us :)

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