Car rental in Berlin

Most travelers find traveling in Germany, as well as in Berlin, and compared to other countries and cities in the world, to be relatively comfortable. Berlin is a very easy city to navigate and almost everyone who visited it and rented a car was satisfied with their choice and reported that getting around the city was easy and definitely possible for them. Whether you are planning a short visit to Berlin or a long one, whether one that focuses entirely on the city itself or one that includes a visit to cities nearby or far from it, renting a car in Berlin is a great solution for anyone who values ​​independence and wants to enjoy the real treat that such a mobility solution offers.

There are many car rental companies in Germany that offer rental cars to all who come to the city, and most of them have offices in the city itself, from which you can pick up the car if you want. At the same time, most travelers collect the rental car directly at the airport after landing, mainly due to the great convenience that allows them to arrive directly and quickly. Since there is a very high demand for rental cars in Berlin and since it is a particularly touristic city and one that is considered one of the main gateways to Germany, it is highly recommended to take care of ordering a rental car ahead of time and to conduct a price comparison and market survey to find the most profitable deal.

Parking
There are, and all over the city, very convenient and available parking solutions. Free parking is very common in Berlin and you can even find it in the city center. The paid parking, within Berlin itself, is mainly seen in areas such as Unter den Linden, Friedrichstrasse, such as Gendarmenmarkt and Alexanderplatz. Those who plan to park in these areas will be required to pay for parking Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and sometimes even until midnight (depending on the area itself). Some places will also require payment on Sundays. The cost for this parking is 75 cents for 15 minutes, equivalent to €3 per hour.

In other areas of Berlin, payment for parking is required Monday through Friday between 09:00 am and 20:00 pm and on Saturdays between 09:00 am and 2:00 pm, while in some places until 6:00 pm. The cost of parking in these areas is between 25 cents and 50 cents per 15 minutes. In places that are outside these areas, such as Mitte-Tiergarten-Wedding, you can find quite a few free parking lots and the advantage of them is their relatively central location (not far from the city center).

There are several underground parking lots in Berlin, where you can also park, such as Alexanderplatz, which is located near the Park Inn Hotel. The cost of parking in this case is 24 euros for 24 hours. Another option is to park in Prenzlauer Berg, where also the parking cost is 24 euros for 24 hours. On the official website of Berlin you will find a detailed list of all the parking lots there, those that are paid and those that are not.

It is important to know – there are several areas in Berlin where parking with the rental car is prohibited. In these areas you will find a sign that reads “Parken Verboten” which means – no parking, or “Durchfahrt Freihalten” which means – “Please keep access available to parking”. Additional places, which are also prohibited for parking in the city, will be at any point that is close to the crossing (or at least about 3 meters from it), in a bicycle lane or in the place that blocks an access path or entrance to a private area. In addition, parking on the sidewalks is prohibited, unless there is a sign with a picture of a car doing so or you see parked vehicles on the spot itself, so of course parking on green areas (lawns, etc.) is also prohibited.
A special parking device on the vehicle
Special parking devices (such as a disk attached to the vehicle) are usually used all over Germany, as well as in Berlin, to monitor the duration of the vehicle’s parking in the same parking space. This device can be purchased at police stations, grocery stores or tobacconists, but if you are traveling with a rented car, there is no need to purchase it. The rented vehicles come with the device itself (you must verify that this is indeed the case, before renting the vehicle and also at the time of renting and receiving it). The time of arrival at that parking lot must be set in the parking device and placed on the dashboard of the vehicle. It is important to make sure to return according to the time allotted on the device to avoid unnecessary charges.
City navigation
The excellent signs and markings on the roads within Berlin help in navigating it and enable anyone who arrives there for the first time to cope with the task with great success. At the same time, it is recommended to use innovative and up-to-date navigation solutions, such as navigation apps of various kinds, which help with this, especially for hesitant drivers. It is very worthwhile, and before setting off, to study the road map a little and also to get the addresses of the places in Berlin that you plan to go to. If you are leaving Berlin for other destinations, you must prepare for this in advance and properly plan the itinerary to avoid navigational errors or other difficulties that may arise during the trip.