Last updated on Tuesday 13 May at 18:25 CEST.

On this page you will find all the relevant practical information to help you plan your trip to and stay in Berlin. 

As always, don’t forget to pack lightly, but consider bringing your walking shoes. Please bring some warm clothes, a sweater or a jacket as even though it’s predicted to be nice weather in Berlin, it can get cold in the evenings and some of the main sessions will also take place outside.

Please bring your own water bottle and reusable mug. 

Please also use the IETM Forum to share your suggestions on how to minimise your footprint travelling to and during this meeting.

You can click on the links below to jump to the desired section.

CONTENT: 

• Main venue information: General info about the mainmeeting venue, including accessibility
• Day 1 'Journeys' venues accessibility information
• Map: Overview of the meeting venues 
• Travel: Advice on how to get to and around the city 
• Accommodation: Suggested best locations to look for accommodation
• Food and drink: Places to enjoy a good meal and drink
• Visa: Info on visa requirements
• Currency: Info on exchange offices and cash dispensers
• Useful numbers
• Environmental consciousness at the meeting
• Frequently Asked Questions

Main meeting venue 

ufaFabrik

Address: Viktoriastraße 10-18, 12105 Berlin, Germany

For decades, the celluloid dreams produced on the grounds of the south Berlin UFA film lab were banned. The building was slated to be demolished in 1979, but was eventually saved in order to create the International Cultural Center ufaFabrik Berlin, the most unique work/life project in all of Europe. On its 18,566 square metres of land, 200 employees and around 30 residents work around the clock to bring harmony and meaning to issues such as housing, employment, cultural events, creativity and other social areas of life.

Various new and unconventional ideas have since been implemented including; ecological pilot projects, energy efficient buildings, innovative community concepts and social networks for people of all ages, families and neighbourhoods.

Public transport connections:

• U-6 - directly at the Ullsteinstraße underground station. A: Viktoriastraße.
• Bus 170 / 246 (Friedrich Karl Strasse and Attilaplatz)
• Night buses: N 84 / N 6 (Tempelhofer Damm and Attilaplatz)

For more information on public transport links, jump to the transport section.

Check this video on how to get to ufaFabrik

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HOW DO THE JOURNEYS WORK?
Day 1 'Journeys' venues accessibility information

Dock11

• Step: 1
• Ramp

Uferstudios

• Ramps: 5.2% - 6% incline

Both venues

• No elevator access
• Travel between venues will be by metro. The total journey length is about 3.5km on regular streets, mostly flat but sometimes uneven. It is usually quite busy, with traffic.
• Taxi drop-off point: Kastanienallee 79 10435 Berlin
• Seating: on chairs and seat cushions
• Indoors and outdoors
• Toilets
• Gender neutral toilets
• Accessible toilets
• Possible occasional loud noises and lighting effects during the artist presentations.
• Headsets might be used (it is not obligatory to use them).
• Content warning: the work pitched will address themes  including climate crisis, freedom of expression, authoritarianism, inequality.

LAKE Studios Berlin

• Step free
• Doorways wider than 90cm
• Ramp: 2 degrees
• Taxi drop-off point: in front of the studios
• Seating
• Indoors
• Toilets
• Gender neutral toilets
• Accessible toilets

HAU Hebbel am Ufer

• Part of the work showcased has English subtitles, please ask the staff for more information
• Steps: 10+
• This session is partially accessible by elevator (on request); some of the performances and the bar are only accessible by stairs
• Doorways wider than 90cm
• Taxi drop-off point: outside the main entrance of HAU1 
• Seating: folding chairs, theatre chairs
• Indoors
• Toilets
• Gender neutral toilets
• Accessible toilets
• Loud music as part of performances. Ear plugs are provided if necessary.
• Some performances have strong, strobe-like lighting effects.
• Content warning: references to masculinist radicalisation, mass extinction of animals and nudity.

• Step free
• Elevator access to all locations where activity will take place and to toilets
• Doorways wider than 90cm
• Taxi drop-off point here
• Seating
• Indoors
• Toilets
• Gender neutral toilets
• Accessible toilets

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Click here for a map of all venues, restaurants and hotels.

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IETM is a strong advocate for rail travel, and we therefore encourage you to travel by land if you are able to.

If you are a category 1 or 2 IETM member, you may qualify for one of our travel grants. Learn more about the travel grants here.

For any frequently asked questions about travel, you can consult our FAQ.

Getting to Berlin

By train

Taking the train is a comfortable and environmentally friendly way to travel. All train stations in Berlin are well connected with the public transport systems for onward travel.

You can reach Berlin through the following train companies in mainland Europe:

• InterCityExpress
• InterCity
• EuroCity
• InterRegio Trains

For more information on travelling to Berlin through Europe by train, you can consult the Eurail website as well as the European Sleeper to find out about night trains.

Although we encourage land travel as much as possible, we are aware that the German train company Deutsche Bahn is currently subject to delays and cancellations. We therefore encourage you to allow plenty of time for your journey and advise you to download the DB App for real time travel information. In the event of a cancellation, you can ask for a refund through the following online form. Please note that most tickets are valid for every DB train travelling that day, so if your train is cancelled, you will be able to get on the next one.

Train stations in Berlin

Berlin Central Station (Berlin Hbf)

Berlin Central Station is the central hub for rail traffic in the capital. Here, inter-city and regional trains connect with Berlin's local rail, underground, tram and bus network:

• S-Bahn (suburban railway) lines S3, S5, S7, S9 and S75 link the Central Station with the East and West of the city.
• U5 U-Bahn (underground) line connects the station to the government district and leads directly to the Brandenburg Gate.

Berlin Gesundbrunnen Station

This station is located in the Northern part of the city.

Berlin Ostbahnhof

Berlin’s Ostbahnhof railway station is one of the city’s key contact points.

Berlin Südkreuz Station

An important link for the traffic in the North-South direction.

By bus

National and international coach services to Berlin arrive and depart at the central bus station in the Charlottenburg district, opposite the ICC International Congress Centre and close to the S Bahn Stop Messe/ICC (S41/42) and U Bahn Kaiserdamm (U2).

You can find a selection of long distance buses in Germany here. 

Car pooling 

If you choose to drive to Berlin, don’t forget to ask other participants if they want to share a ride by posting on our Forum.

Berlin has direct connections to the European network of motorways, making it easy to get to and from most European cities. 

Please note that in Berlin, you will have to pay to park or use the hotel parking if possible. Parking spots can be expensive and are in high demand in the city, and therefore hard to find. Please check with the hotel you have chosen for parking options. You can find information on how and where to park while you are in town on this map.

By plane

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) serves the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region and is located on the southern outskirts of Berlin. 

The airport consists of two terminal complexes:

• Terminals 1 and 2 are located in a newly built airport building; direct connection to Berlin centre from BER Airport station (S-Bahn, regional trains and buses)
• Terminal 5 is a 10 minute drive away from the main building. To reach Berlin center you first have to take an S-Bahn to Terminal 1 / 2 BER Airport station, then take an onward connection.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport has a link to highway A113 which leads to the city centre.

Getting around Berlin

In Berlin, the public transport consists of buses and tramways, as well as an underground metro and trains. A one-way ticket for public transport costs between 3,80€ and 4,70€ depending on the length of your journey. You can also purchase a daily or weekly ticket, which covers all types of public transport.

With 16 S-Bahn (suburban railway) lines, 10 U-Bahn (underground) lines and more than 200 landlines (trams & buses), public transport in Berlin is one of the most efficient in Europe, both day and night with continuous S and U-Bahn at weekends, safe and regular night buses during the week.

There are three fare zones:

- Zone A: Berlin inner city, the heart of the city

- Zone B: Berlin extra-muros (B), Tegel Airport, the suburbs and the lakes

- Zone C: Brandenburg (C), Brandenburg Airport, Potsdam, Oranienburg

Travel validity for One-way tickets

• Ticket is valid only for the selected fare zone (AB, BC or ABC)
• One journey in one direction
• Changes permitted
• Round and return trips are not permitted
• 120 minutes validity 

For more information on daily, multiple trips and weekly tickets please visit BVG

Accessibility

You can find more information about accessibility on public transport on BVG.de

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Where to stay

As one of the most touristic cities in Europe, Berlin has many accommodation options to choose from. This year, IETM invites its participants to select the best option for them and within their budget. Hotel rooms range from 80€ to more than 300€ a night and we advise you to book your accommodation as soon as possible, with May being a popular period for Berlin tourism.

Day one of the meeting will take place in multiple locations around Berlin, whereas day two and three of the meeting will take place in ufaFabrik. We therefore recommend that you stay in an area with strong public transport links to the ufaFabrik, which is on the U6 metro line. The area around ufaFabrik has little to offer in terms of restaurants and things to see and do, so the following areas may be suitable:

• Kreuzberg
• Tempelhof
• Mitte
• Schoeneberg

Share a room or host an IETM participant

Looking for someone to share a room with? Post your accommodation offer or find a bunkmate on our Forum.

Accessibility

You can find more information about accessible hotels on visitberlin.de

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Please, note the IETM team is unable to give personalised recommendations.

On site at ufafabrik you will find:

Throughout the day ufaFabrik will offer water, fruits and biscuits to all participants in the workshop rooms and foyers for free. There will also be two stations for free filter coffee and tea located at the bars inside the Theatersaal-Foyer and Variété Salon-Foyer. The bars are open from 9:00 to 18:00 and will additionally offer a regular drinks menu for sale.

Close to the outdoor stage Sommerbühne you will find: 

Location: Sommerbühne 
Address: Viktoriastraße 10-18, 12105 Berlin, Germany | Venue Information | Event Map

Coffee Bike Weiland (cash only)

Opening hours: 
Friday 16 May  9:00 - 18:00
Saturday 17 May  9:00 - 18:00

A mobile coffee station, serving Barista coffee in all variations.  

Foodtruck SURFN’CHEESE

Opening hours: 
Friday 16 May  12:00 - 14:30
Saturday 17 May  12:00 - 14:30

What they will offer: Vegan or vegetarian pasta and burgers

Solidarity Soup (cash only)

Opening hours : 
Friday 16 May  12:00 - 14:15
Saturday 17 May  12:00 - 14:15

ufafabrik restaurant has prepared a solidarity soup for the Plenary participants at the cost of 3,50€. This meal is also free of charge for people in need. Don’t hesitate to tell the staff at the counter. On Friday, the restaurant will serve lentil soup with bread and on Saturday it will serve pumpkin soup with bread. 

Rudi & Rosa / Café and Restaurant (ufaFabrik)

Address: Viktoriastraße 10-18, 12105 Berlin, Germany
Contact: +49 30 75503120

Opening hours: Monday - Sunday from 10:00 to 23:00

Description: Regional dishes and delicious drinks, beers and coffee specialities & cakes are served daily in the newly renovated dining room and outdoor. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options are available

LPG Biomarkt / Market and bakery (ufaFabrik)

Address: Viktoriastraße 10-18, 12105 Berlin, Germany
Contact: +49 30 439739180

Opening hours: Monday - Saturday  7:30 to 20:00
Description: Fair and predominantly local produce and products from a range of within 200 km radius. The bakery offers a wide range of options for breakfast, snack or light lunch sandwiches, quiches, cakes and hot drinks

Around ufafabrik you will find:

Libanon Snack

Address: Tempelhofer Damm 222, 12099 Berlin
Contact: +49 30 75443330

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday  09:00 to 22:00

Libanon Snack is a Lebanese bistro in the heart of Tempelhof. Here you can enjoy the best Lebanese delicacies in a modern ambience. Great for falafel, shawarma and manakish. 

Albayt Aldimashki

Address: Tempelhofer Damm 232, 12099 Berlin
Contact: 0163 0014005

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday  08:30 to 22:00

Explore the taste and flavour of Syrian cuisine, with an order from Albayt Aldimashki! Colourful and fragrant mezze, fresh warm pita bread and many more delicious treats.

Tempelhofer Hafen - Mall with restaurants & supermarkets

Address: Tempelhofer Damm 227, 12099 Berlin

Close to ufaFabrik (a 5 min. walk), crossing Tempelhofer Damm you will find Tempelhofer Hafen, the old port which has been turned into a mall with supermarkets and several restaurants. Head to the lower floor to find the foodcourt. Restaurants, bistros and cafés

Tempelhofer Damm

Tempelhofer Damm is the large main road 5 min walk from ufafabrik that has a large variety of snacks and restaurants (chinese, indian, greek, italian cuisine and more) 

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If you are not from an EU or EEA country, you must have a valid passport to enter Germany and it must be valid for the whole length of your stay.

Citizens of several nationalities do not require a visa to enter Germany for short-term stays (90 days within any given 180-day-time-span). To check if you require a Schengen visa to enter Germany, please follow this link. 

You can find out about visa requirements for Germany and how to apply here or here.

If you need an invitation letter to apply for a visa, please register for the meeting and contact [email protected] with the subject line ‘VISA LETTER - Your Name’. 

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The currency in Germany is the Euro. You can check the conversion rate to your currency here. Be sure to check with your bank for any fees on exchanging money and using international currency abroad. 

Please note that cash payments are still largely preferred in Germany; in some places you’ll be able to pay with major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express. 

Cash exchange bureaus around Berlin:

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)

Reisebank
Area M Arrivals, Arrivals area, Level E0
Opening hours depend on the current flight volume.

Friedrichstrasse Station

Reisebank
Mon–Fri 7:30 - 20:00
Sat–Sun 8:00 - 20:00

Zoo Station

Reisebank
Daily from 8:00 - 21:00

Alexanderplatz Station

Euro Change
Mon-Sat from 8:00 - 20:00

Ostbahnhof (Eastern Station)

Reisebank
Mon–Fri 8:00 - 21:00
Sat–Sun 8:00 - 20:00

PAYMENT at ufaFabrik:

Card payment is not accepted at every selling point. The closest ATMs are located in the kiosk 200m from the venue and in the shopping mall next to the metro Ullsteinstrasse station. Please consult the event map.

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Emergency number for medical assistance and fire: 112

In case of emergency, the 112 emergency number is the European number to call for help and get quick and vital assistance. 112 allows you to be quickly connected to the fire department or an ambulance. It is available every day, at any time.

This service must be reached in case of a life-threatening emergency such as an accident, fainting spells, fire, etc.

Police: 110

Poison Control Centre in Berlin: +49 30 19240

Giftnotruf Berlin Charité-Universitätsmedizin

The Poison Control Centre should be contacted whenever there is a risk of poisoning with hazardous products, household products, drugs, carbon monoxide poisoning, etc. You will be put in contact with an emergency toxicology information service immediately. Free service, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Remember to keep the offending product nearby to give all the information to the emergency poison control service.

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Environmental consciousness at the meeting

In addition to the precautions we take to make the impact of the Plenary on the environment as gentle as possible, we ask you to also contribute by following these tips:

• Switch off your computer and your smartphone when they are not in use;
• Connect to the venue’s public Wi-Fi instead of your 3G/4G data if possible;
• Avoid disposable tableware whenever possible and bring your own tote bag to shops and grocery stores;
• Sort your waste according to the instructions at the Plenary venues and throughout the city if possible; 
• Recycle bottles and cans. In Germany, you pay a deposit each time you buy drinks in cans or bottles with a deposit mark. You get your deposit back by returning empty cans and bottles using the dedicated vending machines located in grocery stores. Some public bins in the city also have a platform, where you can leave your bottle or can for someone else to pick up;
• Bring your own water bottle and reusable coffee mug to spare the environment the plastic and yourself the money;
• Refill your bottle. Tap water in Germany is completely safe to drink. We recommend that you fill up your water bottle in the morning at your hotel, and do refills during the day. You can do so in the bathroom at the meeting venues.

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Below, you can find all frequently asked questions on fees, registrations and programming to help prepare you for the IETM Berlin Plenary Meeting 2025. 

Please also use the IETM Forum to ask any additional questions you may have.

How do I register for the meeting? 

In order to register for the meeting you must have an IETM account. 

• If you don't have one yet or are not sure if you already have one, please click here. Please note that new accounts take up to 3 working days to be approved.
• If you have forgotten your login information you can recover it here.

After logging in to your account you will be able to proceed with the registration procedure here. 

How do I register a colleague?

If you are trying to register someone other than you for the meeting, you will first have to ensure the person has an IETM account. 

• If the person has an account,  you can log in to their account (If they forgot their login information, they can recover it here);
• If the person does not have an account, you can create one for them here (make sure you are not logged in to your IETM account). Please note that new accounts take up to 3 working days to be approved. 

After logging in to their account, you will be able to proceed with the registration procedure. 

How do I cancel my registration?

You can cancel your attendance by selecting ‘cancel my registration’ via the confirmation email you will have received when registering for the meeting.

We are expecting very high attendance, for this reason encourage anyone who is unable to attend the meeting to cancel their registration. Every spot is precious, so if you are not coming, please cancel!

Do I have to pay anything else besides the registration fee?

• You will have to pay for tickets to the artistic programme.
• You will also have to cover your own accommodation, travel, subsistence and other costs. 

For IETM members: Please make sure that your membership fee is settled before your arrival at the meeting.

Can I request a refund?

You are able to cancel your registration at any time, however, refunds will only be issued up until the early bird deadline of 24 April.

Refund requests are checked weekly and will be processed within 10 working days of the request being made. Please note that all refunds are made in euros and that IETM is not responsible for any bank fees incurred.

Can I propose a topic for a discussion?

Certainly! If you have an idea, a proposal or a suggestion please get in touch with us through our Forum. We will do our best to accommodate you. Please note however that an IETM meeting takes months and years to organise and that it is not always easy to respond positively to last minute requests.

How do the Journeys of 15 May work? 

On the first day of the Plenary ( Thursday 15 May), all participants can choose and book one Journey among 23 different proposals. You can discover how the Journeys work on this page. 

Do I need to book the sessions listed in the programme for 16 and 17 May?

No booking is required for the sessions of the 16 and 17 May programme happening at ufaFabriek, unless it is specified in the title and description of the session.

Can I propose a performance for the artistic programme?

The artistic programme of an IETM meeting gives a snapshot of the situation of the contemporary performing arts scene in the host country. It is not a festival, but rather an overview of the achievements, tendencies and concerns of the artists in the city, country or region hosting the meeting, and is curated by our local partners. 

What external mobility funding opportunities are available to potentially support my attendance at the IETM Berlin Plenary Meeting 2025?

IETM offers travel grants for its members. You can learn more about our travel grants here.

We also invite you to check out the following resources for information on mobility funding:

• On The Move (OTM) is the cultural mobility information network active in Europe and worldwide. OTM produces, together with its partners, national and regional cultural mobility funding guides.  
• Culture Moves Europe is the new, full-scale European cultural mobility scheme funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union and implemented by Goethe-Institut.