City Sightseeing Berlin: HOHO Bus – All Lines (A+B) & Icebar

Berlin’s coolest surprise is not on the bus. It is the Icebar Berlin, where 69,000 kilos of ice shape the walls, furniture, and sculptures. Your ticket adds three drinks, including the chance to try something unusual such as nougat vodka, before or after you spend the day tracing Berlin’s divided past from an open-top double-decker.

I like the freedom of the 24 or 48-hour ticket, especially in a city where the sights are spread across several districts. I also like that one pass covers both the classic center and the East Berlin and Wall route, with audio commentary in 13 languages.

The main drawback is timing. The bus routes stop running relatively early, and Icebar entry is tied to a booked time slot. The two parts work best with planning, not as a last-minute hop-on adventure.

Key points to know before you book

• Two routes cover two very different Berlins: The A-Tour handles major central sights, while the B-Tour reaches Bernauer Strasse, Karl-Marx-Allee, and East Side Gallery.
• Icebar entry is timed: You receive three drinks, but late arrival may mean losing admission.
• The classic route takes two hours: Buses leave about every 25 minutes, making short visits at several stops practical.
• The East Berlin route takes one hour: It runs about every 40 minutes and has fewer stops, so plan your stops carefully.
• The bus is useful for first-day orientation: Open-top views help you understand how Berlin’s major districts fit together.
• The $48 price depends on how you use it: It is strongest value if you ride both routes and use the bus for several journeys over one or two days.

Two bus routes, one ticket, and a very large city

Berlin is not a city you understand from one central square. Its major sights stretch from Charlottenburg and the Kurfürstendamm to Alexanderplatz, the old government quarter, and the East Side Gallery. This ticket gives you a simple way to connect those areas while listening to recorded commentary in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hebrew, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Arabic, or Turkish.

You can choose a 24-hour or 48-hour ticket. A single ride on the classic route takes about 120 minutes, while the East Berlin and Wall route takes about 60 minutes. The bus runs every 25 minutes on the A-Tour and every 40 minutes on the B-Tour.

That schedule matters. The first buses leave Stop 1 at 9:30 a.m. The final departure from Stop 1 is 3:30 p.m. on the classic route and 4:30 p.m. on the East Berlin route. Those times describe departures from the starting stop, not necessarily the last chance to board at every stop.

I would use the bus first as an orientation tool, then as practical transport. Take one full circuit without getting off if you want the city’s broad outline. On a second circuit, leave the bus at the places that deserve real time.

The A-Tour: Berlin’s grand center and western boulevards

The classic route has 18 listed stops, linking western Berlin with the central sights. It is the best choice for a first look at the capital, especially if your time is short.

Tauentzienstrasse and KaDeWe

The route begins in the western shopping district at Tauentzienstrasse, near KaDeWe. KaDeWe is one of Berlin’s best-known department stores, and this stop suits anyone combining sightseeing with shopping.

Do not spend your whole ticket riding around if you already plan to visit the store. The value here is location: you are close to the Kurfürstendamm, the major commercial boulevard, and several western stops on the same route.

Lützowplatz and Potsdamer Platz

Lützowplatz brings you toward the modern city, while Potsdamer Platz offers one of Berlin’s sharpest changes in mood. The historic traffic-light display at Potsdamer Platz points to the city’s divided past and its later rebuilding.

This is a useful stop if you want to compare old Berlin with the post-Cold War city. The area is modern and heavily redeveloped, so the bus commentary helps connect what you see today with the earlier history of the square.

Gropiusbau and Checkpoint Charlie

Gropiusbau places you near one of Berlin’s major exhibition venues. The next stop, Checkpoint Charlie, is more directly tied to the Cold War. It was an important crossing point through the Berlin Wall, and the stop gives you a chance to pause at one of the city’s most recognizable political sites.

Checkpoint Charlie can feel crowded and highly arranged for tourism. I would still get off here if the Cold War is central to your interest, but leave time for a museum or nearby historical displays if you want more than a quick photograph. The bus ticket itself does not include food, drinks, or separate museum admissions.

Gendarmenmarkt and Neptunbrunnen

Gendarmenmarkt is one of the city’s most elegant squares, with grand architectural views on all sides. Neptunbrunnen, near the historic center, puts you within reach of central Berlin’s older streets and public spaces.

These are good stops for walking rather than quick viewing from the upper deck. The route gives you the big picture, but the best details here are at street level.

Alexanderplatz and Lustgarten

Alexanderplatz is one of the key transport and meeting points in Berlin. It also connects directly with the B-Tour, making it a practical place to change routes.

Lustgarten gives you a different setting near Berlin’s museum district and monumental buildings. If you plan to explore the museums, check your available time before getting off. The bus frequency is useful, but waiting 25 minutes can matter when your day is tight.

Unter den Linden and Brandenburg Gate

Unter den Linden is Berlin’s famous central boulevard, leading toward Brandenburg Gate. This is one of the most rewarding stretches to view from the open top deck because the route brings several major sights into one broad panorama.

Brandenburg Gate is the city’s most familiar landmark and a natural place to leave the bus. You can take in the gate, walk toward nearby central sights, and return to the route later if the schedule works.

Reichstag and Hauptbahnhof

The Reichstag is the seat of Germany’s federal parliament, while Hauptbahnhof is Berlin’s large central train station. The bus gives you a strong exterior view of both, though this ticket does not list entry to the Reichstag.

Hauptbahnhof is also a useful practical stop. If you are arriving or departing by train, the route connects sightseeing with a major transport hub.

Siegessäule and the western return

The Siegessäule, or Victory Column, rises in the middle of the broad Tiergarten area. You see it as part of Berlin’s grand ceremonial axis, a reminder that the capital was planned on a monumental scale.

The final western stops include Zoo and Elefantentor, Café Kranzler, and Kurfürstendamm 236. The zoo stop works well for families or anyone already visiting the western attractions. Café Kranzler and Kurfürstendamm return you to the city’s shopping and café district.

The B-Tour: Wall history and East Berlin

The Trendy East Berlin and Wall Tour has eight stops and a different purpose. It is not a second version of the classic loop. It focuses on the former East Berlin, traces sections of the Wall, and reaches the East Side Gallery.

The route starts at Rotes Rathaus, near the Neptune Fountain, making Alexanderplatz a useful connection point. The first departure is at 9:30 a.m., the last from Stop 1 is at 4:30 p.m., and buses run about every 40 minutes.

Oranienburger Strasse and Bernauer Strasse

Oranienburger Strasse and Krausnickstrasse lead into a part of central Berlin known for historic streets and nightlife. The route then turns toward Bernauer Strasse, one of the most important Wall-related areas in the city.

Bernauer Strasse is valuable because the Wall’s impact is easier to understand there than at a single isolated checkpoint. The stop listed near Café Bar Central gives you a base for exploring the area on foot, while Mauerpark at Bernauer Strasse 45 offers another view of the former border zone.

Mauerpark is also a useful stop for anyone who wants to connect Berlin’s old division with its present-day public life. The experience here depends on how long you spend off the bus, so avoid treating the B-Tour as a quick photo circuit.

Park Inn and Karl-Marx-Allee

The Park Inn Hotel stop at Alexanderplatz 76 is convenient for changing between the two routes. Karl-Marx-Allee, near the Computerspielemuseum, takes you into a very different architectural chapter of East Berlin.

The broad avenue was built as a showcase boulevard in East Germany. From the bus, you get the scale of the project. To understand the details, get off and walk a little, allowing for the next bus interval.

East Side Gallery and Ostbahnhof

The East Side Gallery, near Mercedes-Benz Arena, is the B-Tour’s biggest draw. This long surviving section of the Berlin Wall is covered with murals, turning a former barrier into a public art site.

You should allow enough time to walk along the Gallery rather than viewing it only from the bus. The route then continues to Ostbahnhof and the Intercity Hotel, both useful for transport connections.

The B-Tour is shorter and less frequent than the A-Tour. That is not a flaw, but it does demand a plan. If you want Bernauer Strasse, Karl-Marx-Allee, and East Side Gallery in one day, check the clock before leaving the bus.

What the open-top deck adds

Berlin’s broad streets and monumental buildings are easier to read from an upper deck. You get 360-degree views of the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, avenues, towers, and major squares without having to navigate a new train or tram line every time you change districts.

The open deck also has limits. Berlin weather can change, and the ticket information does not promise a particular seat or guarantee open-top conditions in every situation. Bring a layer, and do not plan your entire sightseeing day around perfect weather.

The audio guide is useful for context while you ride. It cannot replace time on foot at Checkpoint Charlie, Bernauer Strasse, or East Side Gallery, but it helps explain why the city’s districts look so different.

Icebar Berlin at minus 10 degrees

Icebar Berlin is the ticket’s unusual extra. The room is kept at -10 degrees and contains about 69,000 kilos of ice, including sculptures and frozen furnishings. You receive three complimentary drinks, and the bar staff may suggest a flavored option such as nougat vodka.

The visit is designed as a short, memorable stop rather than a full evening at a normal bar. Wear the provided cold-weather gear if offered at the venue, and remember that you cannot treat the entry time casually. This is a timed ticket, and admission later than your booked slot is not guaranteed.

Opening hours are Tuesday through Friday from 5 p.m. until midnight, and Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m. until midnight. The bar is closed Monday, and last admission is one hour before closing.

This creates an important planning issue. The buses finish their first-stop departures by mid-afternoon, but Icebar is an evening activity. That separation can work well: use the bus during the day, then go to the Icebar at your assigned time. Do not assume you can simply arrive whenever the bus portion ends.

The Icebar ticket is non-refundable, even though the wider booking permits cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Treat the Icebar time as fixed once booked.

Is $48 a fair price?

At $48 per person, the ticket is not the cheapest way to move around Berlin. Public transport will usually be the more economical choice for simple point-to-point trips, though no public transit pass here includes a guided city circuit or Icebar admission.

The value improves if you use the bus for several rides, complete both routes, and make use of the three included drinks. The 48-hour option gives you more room to return to places such as Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Alexanderplatz, or East Side Gallery without trying to cram everything into one day.

The 24-hour option makes sense if you want a structured first look and a single evening at the Icebar. I would choose 48 hours if Berlin is new to you and you want time to get off the bus, walk, and rejoin the route without watching every minute.

Printed and mobile vouchers are accepted. The activity is wheelchair accessible, while pets and smoking are not allowed. Meeting points can vary by the option booked, so check the exact starting point before you set out.

Who will get the most from this experience?

I would recommend this for a first visit to Berlin, families who want an easy overview, and anyone who prefers seeing the city before tackling its public transport system. The open deck is especially useful for understanding the distance between the western center, historic Mitte, and East Berlin.

It also suits people who want a mix of serious history and a playful evening stop. The Wall route gives the ticket substance, while the Icebar adds something light and memorable.

I would hesitate if you already know Berlin well, prefer long visits at museums, or want to move around at the lowest possible cost. The route is fixed, departures end relatively early, and the Icebar time slot limits spontaneity.

One practical concern is customer support. If you need to ask a question before or after the activity, getting a prompt response may be difficult. Confirm your meeting point, route times, and Icebar slot before the day begins so you are not relying on last-minute assistance.

Should you book the Berlin bus and Icebar ticket?

Book it if you want a broad Berlin introduction, value an open-top view, and plan to visit both the classic center and the Wall-related sights. The East Side Gallery, Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, and Icebar make this more than a generic city loop.

Choose the 48-hour version if you can spare the time. It gives you a better chance to use the ticket as transport instead of simply taking one long ride.

Skip it if you mainly want fast local journeys or already have Berlin’s public transport system sorted. For most first-time visitors, though, the combination of two routes, multilingual commentary, and three Icebar drinks gives the $48 price a reasonable case, provided you plan around the fixed schedules.

FAQ

How long is the bus ticket valid?

You can choose a ticket valid for 24 or 48 hours.

How many bus routes are included?

The ticket includes the Classic Tour, also called the A-Tour, and the Trendy East Berlin and Wall Tour, also called the B-Tour.

How many stops are available?

The two routes together list 26 stops around Berlin. The A-Tour has 18 listed stops, and the B-Tour has eight.

What time does the Classic Tour operate?

The first departure from Stop 1 is at 9:30 a.m., and the last departure from Stop 1 is at 3:30 p.m. The full route takes about 120 minutes, with buses running every 25 minutes.

What time does the East Berlin and Wall Tour operate?

The first departure from Stop 1 is at 9:30 a.m., and the last departure from Stop 1 is at 4:30 p.m. The route takes about 60 minutes, with buses running every 40 minutes.

What languages are available for the audio guide?

Commentary is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hebrew, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Arabic, and Turkish.

What does the Icebar portion include?

Entry to Icebar Berlin and three complimentary drinks are included. The bar is kept at -10 degrees and contains ice sculptures made from about 69,000 kilos of ice.

When is Icebar Berlin open?

It is open Tuesday through Friday from 5 p.m. until midnight, and Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m. until midnight. It is closed Monday, and last admission is one hour before closing.