Walking around Berlin is simply impossible. Therefore, you have to use transport. And to make you feel confident in the city, I will tell you about public transport in detail.
Berlin
Buses, trams, ground (S-Bahn) and underground (U-Bahn) trains, ferries and river trams are conveniently combined into a single transport system. Any area of Berlin can be reached by public transport around the clock.
The transport system of the capital is managed by the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB), which includes several partners. The main ones are:
- Berlin Transport Company (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe)
- Deutsche Bahn AG (DB)
- Potsdam Transport Company (Verkehrsbetriebe Potsdam GmbH)
- S-Bahn Berlin GmbH
Underground
U-bahn
Metro is the most popular form of urban transport in the capital. The subway network includes 11 subway lines and 15 lines of city electric trains.
The metro is the largest in Germany and the most technically equipped in Europe. A high level of comfort makes travel in it the most expensive in the European Union.
See the metro map and timetables here.
S-bahn
Metro trains run on schedule from approximately 04:30 to 00:30. The interval in motion is 3-5 minutes. The central metro lines on weekends and holidays do not stop moving even at night.
The metro map of Berlin (U-bahn and S-bahn) is here.
In Berlin, there are night buses that run approximately along the subway train routes. Their numbers are from N1 to N9.
It is interesting that in the Berlin metro there is cellular communication everywhere, so you can easily talk on your cell phone. You can even recharge your cell phone from sockets located on vending machines for buying tickets from BVG.
Trams
Trams
The Berlin tram network (Straßenbahn Berlin) consists of 22 lines: 9 MetroTram- lines and 13 tram lines. Tram traffic starts at 04:30 and ends at 01:00. During the day, the interval in the movement of trams is 20 minutes, at night - 30.
Buses
Berlin bus
The bus network of the capital includes 196 routes. Bus traffic starts at 04:30 and ends at 00:30. Buses run every 10-15 minutes during the day, and once every 30 minutes at night.
BVG buses run on 150 day and 64 night routes and, in addition to the number, also have a letter designation:
- buses with the letter X - Express; they connect the metro with the airports and suburbs of Berlin;
- buses with the letter N - night.
Routes 100 and 200
Buses number 100 and number 200 run past the main tourist attractions of Berlin. A trip along these routes from start to finish is similar to a trip on a tourist bus, only without a headphone story.
City-Circle sightseeing bus
City- Circle Bus
City-Circle bus is probably ;, one of the best ways to get to know the city. There are two rounds. Price from € 15. You look at the information on a site, is in Russian.
Ferries
A network of canals connects the city with the Oder and Elba rivers. Ferries in Berlin belong to public transport. Regular tickets are valid here.
Tickets
Berlin is divided into 3 tariff zones:
A - includes the historical center;
B - comes to the border of the city;
C is the outskirts of the city, the airports of Oranienburg and Schönefeld, Potsdam.
Ticket price depends on the selected zone (AB, BC, ABC) and on the duration of the ticket. Children 6-14 years old can use the discounted ticket, and children under 6 years old travel for free.
Ticket Rates
Einzelfahrschein - an ordinary ticket. Valid for 2 hours. You can make transfers and change transport. Only this ticket has one drawback - you can not return to the place of departure. To return to the starting point, you need to purchase a new ticket.
Ticket price:
for zone AB: full - € 2.70; children - € 1,70;
for the aircraft zone: full - € 3.00; children - € 2.10;
for the ABC zone: full - € 3.30; children - € 2.40.
4-fahrten-karte - 4 regular tickets for a trip in the AB zone.
You get a discount: full - € 9,00; children - € 5.60.
Kurzstrecke - A ticket for one trip, which should not exceed 6 stops by tram or bus or 3 stops in the subway. It operates in zone A, B; between B and C; in zone C only on the S-Bahn. You can go non-stop and in only one direction.
Ticket price:
full - € 1,70; children - € 1.30.
4-fahrten-karte - 4 tickets for one trip in zone AB.
You get a discount: full - € 5.60; children - € 4.40.
Tageskarte - one day ticket. You can move around on all modes of transport. The ticket is valid from the moment of composting until 03:00 the next day.
Ticket price:
for zone AB: full - € 7.00; children - € 4.70;
for the aircraft zone: full - € 7.30; children - € 5.10;
for the ABC zone: full - € 7.60; children - € 5.30.
Berlin public transport tickets are the same, so they operate on buses, trams, S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains, ferries. Entrance to the bus station or metro station is free, but for travel by public transport, you must stamp the ticket if it is not already stamped.
Where to buy tickets
- In vending machines at stops;
- in vending machines on buses or trams;
- at the BVG sales center and electric trains (S-Bahn);
- at the driver.
A ticket purchased from a driver is valid for only one trip. You do not need to compost the ticket, as it already has a seal on it. And if you already have a validated ticket that you purchased in advance, and its term has not expired, then this ticket must be presented to the driver.
Taxi
Taxi
There are over 7 thousand taxis in Berlin that will take you anywhere in the city. You can catch a car right on the street, take a taxi in the parking lot or order by phone.
The cost of a taxi includes approximately: call - € 3.20; the average cost of 1 km is € 2; inclusion of the counter - € 1,5; 1 hour of waiting - € 25; bulky luggage - € 1.
Taxi carriers are popular: Funk Taxi Berlin and TaxiFunk Berlin GmbH.
You can pre-book a transfer on KiwiTaxi's website.
Bicycle
In Berlin there is an extensive network of bicycle roads and many bike rental points. There is a Deutsche Bahn city rental system in place.
