Germany, as a member state of the Schengen Area, permits the nationals of many countries to enter the European Union Schengen area (including Germany) without a visa. EU citizens may of course enter Germany with just an identification card.

To see if you are required to apply for a Schengen Visa, please check this list.

If you are not sure what type of visa you need, you can use this Visa Navigator.

Detailed information about Visa Regulations and Application Procedures can be found here.

Ready to begin your Schengen Visa Application? You can get started here!

For any other questions regarding Visas for Germany you can check the official Frequently Asked Questions

For any other questions regarding visas, your best option is to ask your German Mission in your country. You can find where your nearest German Mission is here.

For anyone required to obtain a short-stay visa, both the Stiftung Planetarium Berlin and Zeiss- Planetarium Jena are happy to help, provide letters of invitation or any other documents an IPS Member might need to attend. Please do not hesitate to contact Anna Green if you need such assistance.

Travel to Berlin

Please find practical information on travel to Berlin here. Further information about the current situation in Berlin can be found here.

By Train

Germany has an amazing, green and cost effective train system called Deutsche Bahn. The main train station is the Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Berlin Central Station) and can be easily reached not only from anywhere in Germany, but also from out of the country if you would like to travel Europe by rail. Find more information about international travel in Europe by rail here. General information on arrivals in Berlin by train can be found here.

You can reach Berlin from all directions by using the fast InterCityExpress-, InterCity-, EuroCity- and InterRegio-Trains. The new central station Berlin Hauptbahnhof in the heart of Berlin was opened in 2006 and a new concept for the railways and stations in Berlin was installed. All train stations are well connected to the public transport system.

By Bus

Coaches are a popular form of transport for people visiting Berlin. They are affordable, reliable and comfortable. With a number of coach stations all over the city, you can head straight to your desired location. National and international coach services to Berlin arrive and depart at the Central Bus Station (ZOB), opposite the ICC International Congress Centre. Please find general information on travel to Berlin by bus here.

By Airplane

The new BER »Willy Brandt« airport offers many flight options. All major airlines, budget airlines and even small charter companies will fly in and out of BER. BER is reachable from all major cities outside of Europe with one layover or less, and non-stop from within Europe. It is also quite easy to reach the inner city of Berlin with public transportation and of course, Taxis and Uber. Please find more information on travel to Berlin by airplane here.

Accessible travel to Berlin

Welcome to the German capital! When your doors open at Berlin Central Station, at the ZOB (Central Bus Station Berlin), at BER airport or simply at the car park in front of your hotel, you will not fail to realize: Berlin is accessible for everyone. And no matter what means of transport you use to get around, you will arrive without obstacles in the capital. Please find more information on an accessible arrival to Berlin here.

Travel within Berlin

Berlin has an excellent public transportation system that includes Subway (U-Bahn), Tram (or Straßenbahn), Bus, City Train (S-Bahn), and Regional Trains (Regional Verkehr). Every participant will get a pass for the week to use the public transportation.

For more information on how to use the public transportation system, please see this helpful video from VisitBerlin. 

Taxis

Taxis and different ride sharing apps like Uber are readily available in Berlin. Everything that you have ever needed to know about Taxis in Berlin can be found here.

Travel Between Jena and Berlin

We recommend traveling with Deutsche Bahn between Jena and Berlin. Trains can be booked here in multiple languages. The trains are a comfortable and climate friendly way to travel between the two host cities.

Travel to Jena

By Car

Jena is situated near the intersection of two major motorways, the A9 Rostock-Munich, running north to south, and the A4 Dresden-Eisenach-Frankfurt am Main, which runs east to west.

By Train

• Jena Paradiesbahnhof station | North-south connection | InterCity station
• Jena Westbahnhof station | East-west-connection (Chemnitz-Kassel-Aachen line) | InterRegio station, Elster Saale Bahn
• Jena-Göschwitz station | Railway junction in the south of Jena
• Saalbahnhof station | North-south connection | RegionalExpress, Elster Saale Bahn

DB Travel Service / Deutsche Bahn tel: +49 (0)180 599 6633 (travel service) | +49 (0)800 150 7090 (timetable information via DB voice response system, free from German landlines) | www.bahn.de

By Airplane

The nearest airport is at Erfurt (Erfurt-Weimar (ERF)), the state capital of Thuringia, only 70km from Jena. Travelling via the A4, the journey time by car is around 45 minutes.

Leipzig-Halle (LEJ) airport can be reached by car in about an hour via the A9 (136km).

Travel within Jena

Getting around in Jena

• You can purchase tickets on any Tram or Bus in Jena
• JenaCard ticket for tourists: 11,90€ per person (including free public transport and discount in many museums); valid for 48h
• Bus tours Jena Shuttle Service
• Weimar Tour (cooperation partner planetarium)
• Verari Travel