Transportation in Berlin
Find your way around town
Berlin's 3.4 million inhabitants live in a cluster of neighbourhoods, each with
its own strong sense of identity.
Having been two cities for much of the latter half of the last century, Berlin's
sights are spread out. Luckily they are connected by a highly developed and
user-friendly transport system.
In central Mitte and Tiergarten just to the west, find the top attractions,
along with upscale hotels, restaurants and department stores. In the southeast,
Kreuzberg is a bustling slice of the Middle East, and the centre of the city's
Turkish migrant population. Schöneberg in the southwest is the beating
heart of the gay and lesbian communities. In the west is palatial Charlottenburg,
while to the east lies bohemian Friedrichshain.
Read more about transport from and to the airport
S-Bahn & U-Bahn
It's best not to think of Berlin's train and underground rail networks as independent of each other, because they're so seamlessly integrated. Operating from 4am to past midnight, there are 15 S-Bahn and nine U-Bahn lines. Maps of the system are readily available and display the network as a simple whole. The S-Bahn and U-Bahn run 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
In addition to the rail network is the bus system. Buses are not as quick, but at least they're comfortable. After midnight they can be your only option. Tickets are sold on board and stops are marked with an ‘H'. Bus routes 100 and 200 take in Berlin's key landmarks and are a cheap, fun way of seeing the sights; both stop at Unter den Linden.
Tram
One of the legacies of Berlin's split is its tram system, which exists only in what used to be the eastern part of the city. The network of some 30 lines, all servicing the east, is one of the few infrastructural survivors of that period and recently underwent an extreme makeover of sorts, with sleek new yellow trams replacing their rickety old ancestors.
Boat
Although boats ply Berlin's waterways, they're a minor public transport option. They are, nevertheless, an excellent way to discover the city from new angles, and a great means of getting to the lake at Wannsee.
Transportation Tips
Ticketing on Berlin's various public transport services is fully integrated, which means you can use the same ticket on S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus, tram and boat services. The best option is to buy a Tageskarte (day ticket) which can be used on all transport systems for a whole day (until 3am the next morning). A ticket covering zones A and B should suffice to cover the main tourist sights. These can be bought from the ticket machines on S-Bahn and U-Bahn platforms. Single tickets must be stamped before boarding. Don't even chance not buying a ticket as ticket inspectors don't wear uniforms and are very difficult to avoid.
Special Transportation
Bicycle
As soon as you arrive in Berlin – at least in the warmer months - you realise the city has an on-going love affair with pedal power. Cyclists are everywhere to be seen and getting around on two wheels is the best way to enjoy the city when the weather is fine, especially the green spaces of the Tiergarten. Bikes can be taken on water taxis and trains.
