Public transportation

Berlin has a safe and excellent network of public transportation, comprising extensive underground rail (U-Bahn), rapid rail transit (S-Bahn), bus, tram, ferry and commuter train (RE/RB) links. You will rarely be more than a 15 minute walk away from a link to one of these modes of transportation in any given location in the city.

The System

Most public transportation in Germany operates on the honour system, that is, there are no physical check point barriers. Bus travel is the one exception in Berlin. One buys a ticket for the journey in advance at a vending machine (located in stations and on trams) or from a ticket counter at a station and validates it on the train platform or in the vehicle (tram). Exceptions: monthly passes and tickets purchased on buses or some ferries; these will be automatically validated on issue. Please note that it is not possible to purchase tickets once you have boarded a train, but tickets can be bought on buses. Depending on the type of ticket you purchase, it will be valid for 3-6 stops, 2 hours, until 3 am the next day or for a month after validation. The Berlin Transport Works and Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (BVG & VBB, respectively) have three travel zones (A,B,C) served by the above mentioned forms of transportation. Zone A corresponds to central Berlin (including the S-Bahn ring); Zone B covers the area outside of that to the city limits and Schönefeld Airport; Zone C covers the greenbelt around Berlin and the city of Potsdam. Tickets can be purchased for zones AB (Berlin city limits), BC (suburban Berlin and part of Brandenburg) or ABC (all of the above).

Tickets are valid on all modes of transportation within the selected zones. The full fare applies to persons over 14 years (exceptions apply). Reduced fares (ermäßigt) apply to children from 6 to 14 years and ID- carrying school children. Special rates are available for trainees for monthly and yearly tickets. You only pay for 10 months when you buy a yearly ticket - very good value for your money. Vending machines accept coins, bills and EC cards; in German rail (DB) train stations, you can also pay with credit and debit cards at vending machines. You can also top up your mobile phone credit on some of these machines.

for the up-to-date fare-information please check

www.bvg.de/e_index.html

Airport Connections:

Tegel Airport: Buses X9, 109, 128

Tempelhof Airport: U6 Platz der Luftbrücke; Buses: 119, 184, 341 to Flughafen Tempelhof and 104, N4, N76 to U Platz der Luftbrücke

Berlin-Schönefeld Airport Trains: RE4, RE5 RB22, RB24 S45, S9; Buses 171, N46, N60 160, 163, 602, 735, 736, and 737 to have a direct connection to S-Bhf Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld DB. There is a free shuttle bus from the S-Bahn station to the main airport building every 10 minutes (if you have no luggage, a 5 minute walk).

At the airport, look for public transportation information in English at the BVG counter.

Berlin Cards (WelcomeCard and CityTourCard)

A boon for any one who would like to get to know Berlin intimately and save money as well: WelcomeCard or the CityTourCard. They both come in booklet form with over 50 coupons for up to 50% discounts on city tours, boat trips and entry to points of interest, museums and theatres. In addition, you can ride the rails and roads of Berlin (CityTour) or Berlin and Potsdam (Welcome) to your heart's content on the S- and U-Bahn, Bus and Tram for a full 48 or 72 hours. The WelcomeCard costs €16 or €22, the CityTourCard €14.90 or €19.90 and are available at the tourist information office in the Europa Center, all S-Bahn and German Rail Stations, in hotels, and at the airports near the information counters.