Berlin: An Insiders Guide

Friends and family, this one's for you.

1. Don't walk in the bike lanes. They're usually differently patterned from the normal sidewalk, sometimes red. You will get yelled at.
2. Visit the Berliner Dom - gorgeous views of the city, a beautiful building. Or at the very least, get to the top of one of the taller buildings to get an overall view of Berlin (i.e. the TV tower, PanoramaPunkt, HighFlyer, French Cathedral, etc).
3. There is not really a way to eat German food all the time. Food in Berlin is incredible diverse. Be open to new food from all cultures. 
4. That weird B looking symbol? (ß) It's called an eszett, and is the symbol for sharp s sound. 
5. If you're coming in from Berlin Schonefeld Airport, buy a ticket for all three zones of transport. The airport is just within Zone C, and apparently, they like to check tickets on that train.
6. Eat döner kebab. And currywurst if you feel like it. But eat döner first. And drink some beer.
7. Validate your transit ticket - you can't just walk on the train, you need to get a stamp on it in one of the yellow or red boxes. If you see everyone else pulling out their tickets, get yours out too, as plain clothes inspectors enforce the system, not turnstiles. If your ticket isn't validated its a 40€ fine. Keep your ticket with you at all times on public transport. 
8. Words to know: Danke/Dankeschon, Bitte, Ja, Nein, Entschuldigung, Ich möchte bitte (Kaffee, Tee, etc), Sprechen Sie Englisch?, etc. 
9. Do as the Berliners do. Go with the flow. This city is relaxed and nonjudgemental. 
10. Wander into churches that you see. They're old, beautiful and usually free.
11. Be a little self-depreciating about your American self. Try to blend in, don't be loud. 
12. A lot of exhibits covering the Cold War and World War II eras are free, including the Topography of Terror, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Berlin Wall Memorial, East Side Gallery, and many others. Take advantage of this, as it's educational and eye-opening.
13. Wander around Alexanderplatz, the base of the TV tower, and Unter den Linden. 
14. Use the public transport as much as you can - trams, S-Bahn, U-Bahn and buses. The BVG app is a godsend, with the system map and timetables at a moment's notice. Also, fair warning, the trains at night can be a little weird, particularly during the weekend.  
15. Don't be afraid to wander a little too. You can always find a public transport stop to take you back to where you need go.
16. Follow the Berlin Wall for a bit. Two cobblestone lines run around the city marking where it stood, as the majority of the structure has been destroyed.
17. Keep your eyes and ears open on public transport. You'll never know what'll happen. Beware of pickpockets, and scammers. A common scam is to have someone approach you, ask you to sign a petition, and then ask for money. Don't fall for it. 
18. The public transport stops all have maps of the city and can help you get your bearings in case you get lost. 
19. Rules about dogs are pretty lax and it's common to see them on the public transport, in a coffee shop, or off a leash on the street. In regards to petting them, unless you have the express permission of the owner, don't.
20. Highly recommended sights: Museum Island, Berliner Dom, Alexanderplatz, East Side Gallery, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauerstraße, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, and Tempelhof Park.
21. Good apps for traveling in Berlin: Triposo, BVG/Fahrinfo, CityMaps2Go, WordLens.
22. Bus 100 - Starting at Alexanderplatz, offers a good route of the main portion of the city,  as it travels down Unter Den Linden, past the Berliner Dom, Museum Island, Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, and other famous sites in the city.