INTERNAL AFFAIRS

POPULATION

Germany: 80 million

Berlin: 3.1 million

  TIME

GMT plus one hour; summertime (last Sunday in March to last Sunday in September), GMT plus two hours

  TELEPHONE

IDD country code 49

Berlin 49-30

Cologne 49-221

Frankfurt 49-69

Hamburg 49-40

Munich 49-89

To call internationally from Germany, dial 00 followed by the country code and number you require.

To call inside Germany dial 0 followed by area code and number you require. Omit the area code if you are calling from within the area.

Phonecards are becoming a necessity and are widely available (ask for 'telefonkarte').

  Directory enquiries

National 0 11 88

International 00 118

AT&T 0130 83 88 88

(freefone)

  WEATHER

Temperatures may well be over 30°C in July and August but depressing sub-zero temperatures are possible any time from September onwards. Berlin winters tend to be dry.

  COMMERCIAL HOURS

Banks at least 9.00-13.00 weekdays. Afternoon hours vary from bank to bank and branch to branch.

Shops 9.00-18.30 weekdays (to 20.30 Thursdays). Everything closes at 14.00 on Saturdays.

Offices officially 8.30-18.00 weekdays, but don't be surprised if no-one answers the phone after 14.00 on Friday.

  NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 1996

5-8 April (Easter weekend), 1 May, 16 May, 27 May, 3 October

  BEST GUIDES & MAPS

Berlin The Time Out Guide and David Tabatsky's Berlin What's Cool ('the only guide with absolutely no discos listed')

Germany Berlitz and Baedeker's Allianz.

Herder, Tauentzienstr. 13 (opp CineCenter) has a fair selection of English-language books.

  TOURIST INFORMATION

Berlin Tourist Information

Europa Center, 10787 Berlin. Tel 262 60 31 Fax 212 32 520

  ELECTRIC CURRENT

220 volts/50 hertz

  TRADING PLACES

Number of cinemas in Germany: 3,750

Number of cinemas in Berlin: approx. 95 (140 screens)

VCR penetration (Germany): just over 50% of households

  TV NETWORKS

SAT 1 Budapesterstr. 35-38, 10787 Berlin Tel 212 41-0 Fax 212 41-165

RTL Plus Rosenstr. 18, 10178 Berlin Tel 23148-6 Fax 21 73 31 42

ZDF Oberlandstr. 88, 12099 Berlin Tel 75761-0 Fax 75761-271

  INDUSTRY EVENTS 1996

Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)

February 15-26

Munich Film Festival

June 29-July 6

Filmfest Hamburg

September 21-29 (tbc)

  EMERGENCIES

Police 110

Fire/ambulance 112

Suicide 11101

Alcoholism 802 50 80

  LOST/STOLEN CREDIT CARDS

American Express 882 75 75

  COURIERS

Local Express 85 00 85

National UPS 0130 6630

International DHL 347 850

  PHOTO DEVELOPING

Fix Foto - on every street corner

  LATE NIGHT SHOPPING

Ku'damm underground station (to 11pm)

  TRANSLATION SERVICES

Norbert Zänker 884 30 25-0

  PUBLICATIONS

To find out what's going on, pick up a copy of tip or Zitty, Berlin's fortnightly listings magazines. For an English-language perspective, try the monthly International Community.

  ALL NIGHT CHEMISTS

Sign on every chemist's door indicates nearest open all night.

  THE X FILES TIPPING

In restaurants, around 10% of the bill; in cafés and taxis, simply round up as appropriate.