Berlin City Guide - Getting Around

Berlin has a highly integrated transport system comprising U-Bahn (underground), S-Bahn (commuter rail), bus, tram and ferry services, with easy connections to regional and mainline rail services. The Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB), Hardenbergplatz 2 (tel: (030) 2541 4141; website: www.vbbonline.de), co-ordinates activities among the Berlin transport providers and those of the surrounding region.

Berlin's Eastern and Western city centres are linked by the main east-west axis of the S-Bahn, which is crossed by the north-south lines at Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse and intersects the S-Bahn ring at Bahnhof Westkreuz and Bahnhof Ostkreuz. Operated by S-Bahn Berlin GmbH (tel: (030) 2974 3333; website: www.s-bahn-berlin.de), the trains run daily 0500 to 0030.

The other public transport services are operated by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe - BVG (tel: (030) 19449; website: www.bvg.de) and generally run daily 0600 to 2300. There are nine U-Bahn lines, which operate daily 0600 to 0000 with some services during the night. Bus services crisscross the city, and night buses operate when trains are not running, while the network of 27 trams only operates in East Berlin. There are three seasonal and three year-round ferry services to the ports of Hamburg, Kiel, Lubeck and Rostock, which are linked by road and rail to Berlin. The BVG has an information centre in the pavilion at Hardenbergplatz, in front of Bahnhof Zoo, as well as counters at Tegel and Schönefeld airports and at Turmstrasse U-Bahn station.

Tickets are priced for either two or three zones - almost all visitors will use the AB tariff. Nearly all tickets are available for purchase from automated machines at stations and stops, as well as from service desks and, in the case of buses, from the driver. Bus drivers only sell day tickets and two-hour tickets.

A number of passes are also available. You can buy day tickets valid until 0300 on the following day of purchase and seven-day tickets valid until 0000 on the seventh day. The WelcomeCard (see Sightseeing), available from the tourist office covers free travel on all buses and trains in zones A and B for one adult and up to three children under 14 and also includes reductions on many attractions and performances in Berlin and Potsdam. The City Tour Card combines transport in zones A and B and an advantage card for around 50 tourist attractions. It is available for 48 or 72 hours.

Beige Mercedes-Benz sedans make up most of Berlin's taxi fleet. Outside the main centres, it is better for visitors to find a taxi rank rather than try to flag one down. Taxis are also available by telephone from Taxi-Funk Berlin (tel: (030) 443 322; website: www.spreefunk.de), Würfelfunk (tel: (030) 210 101 or 0800 222 2255; website: www.wuerfelfunk.de) and Alt Ursel (tel: (030) 744 4592). It is standard for passengers to tip taxi drivers, usually between 5 and 10% of the fare.

Berlin has an excellent public transport system, so it should not be necessary to drive in the city. The city centre is now a 'Particle Free Emission' area and drivers must display a specially approved sticker or risk a fine. The ticket is available from Umwelt Plakette (website: www.umwelt-plakette.de).

All of the major car hire firms are represented in Berlin and all have multiple locations throughout the city. Some of the most central are Avis, Budapester Strasse 41 (tel: (030) 230 9370; website: www.avis.com), Europcar, Alexanderplatz 24H (tel: (030) 240 7900) and Messedamm 8 (tel: (030) 306 9590; website: www.europcar.de), Hertz, Budapester Strasse 39 (tel: (030) 261 1053) and Hauptbahnof, Europaplatz 1 (tel: (030) 2064 9328; website: www.hertz.com), and Sixt, Leipzigerstrasse 104 (tel: 18052 52525; website: www.sixt.com).

Drivers usually must be over 23 years old and require a valid national driving licence. Third party insurance is included in the rate.

Bicycles are plentiful in Berlin - the flat terrain and extensive network of bicycle paths make cycling in the city a pleasure. Cycling maps, information and assistance are available at Das Radlerzentrum, run by the cycling lobby group Allgemeine Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC), Brunnenstrasse 28 (tel: (030) 448 4724; website: www.adfc-berlin.de). Bicycle hire is available from Berlin by bike-Fahrradstation (tel: 0180 510 8000; website: www.fahrradstation.de), which has offices at Goethestrasse 46, Auguststrasse 29A, Leipziger Strasse 56 and Bergmannstrasse 9. You can also hire bikes left at stands at major junctions in the city from the Call a Bike service (tel: 0700 0522 5522; website: www.callabike.de). You call the company, give them credit card details and get a code to unlock the padlock. Pre-register one week in advance.