Getting around Berlin – Tips on public transport

Foto von Fabian Iber - @johannfabian

If you're planning a trip to Germany's capital anytime soon chances are you'll be using the public transportation. Luckily, getting around the city whether with the U-Bahn or bus is relatively straight forward, but here are some tips that might be helpful for first time visitors make their trip from A to B. 

Your mobile is your friend

There are many mobile Apps at your disposal that'll help you plan your trip, the most popular of which include Google Maps, Moovit, Citymapper and of course the official BVG Fahrinfo Plus Berlin App, where you'll also be able to purchase tickets from your mobile. All these Apps are available to Apple and Android users. Make sure to check out the website www.bvg.de – it's the official website for Berlin's public transport where you will find a journey planner and information on the transportation services available to you.

Transportation made easy  

Berlin's public transport consists of the Regionalbahn, S Bahn, U Bahn, Tram and Bus services, all of which you'll find to be pretty reliable. On the other hand, not being from Berlin myself I've found the transport to be pretty pricey, with a day travel pass costing a whopping 7€. BVG also offer a range of tourist, student and family tickets at reduced prices and if you're planning on staying a while, a weekly/monthly/annual pass will definitely save you some cash. However it's important to note, the BVG consider language students as tourists and therefore aren't eligible for a student ticket.

The transportation network in Berlin is divided into a 3 fare zone (A,B,C). Zone A is the center, B is the surrounding areas, the urban ring and Tegel Airport and C is the greater Berlin area. If you're staying pretty central, the cheaper AB tickets will be enough to get you around and will cover all the major sightseeing spots in Berlin. The ABC and BC tickets are only necessary if you're planning on going to Airport Schönefeld or Potsdam. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at major stops, from various transportation offices and directly from bus drivers, but make sure you always stamp your ticket or it'll cost you a hefty 60€ fine!
 

Families can save money when using public transportation as children up to six years can travel free with adults – usually up to three children allowed per adult. Children aged between 6-14 years pay a reduced fare (Ermäßigungstarif) which will save you about a third of a standard ticket.

Student's are able to purchase student tickets at a reduced price, however keep in mind that there are two types of student categories – those studying at a Berlin University/School, and those who Study outside of Berlin. If you're a student but working at an internship in the city you are also eligible for a student ticket, but make sure to bring valid Student ID or documentation from your internship when purchasing this ticket from transportation offices.

Berlin – A cycling city

You'll find that a lot of the locals get around by Bike, and why wouldn't you? It's a flat city with dedicated cycling lanes everywhere you look. Berlin has many popular cycle routes including Tempelhof, Treptower park and along the Berlin wall. Areas like Kreuzberg are very popular among cyclists and many shops offer bikes to rent for a daily fee. Fleamarket's here such at Boxhagnerplatz every Sunday sell secondhand bikes for around 100 Euros. A good website to check out for new bikes is www.radlust.com. You'll also find many cycling tours available around areas popular for tourists – to find out more info on cycling tours visit www.berlinonbike.de. Bikes are also allowed onto public transport when you purchase a bicycle ticket at the station, prices for these start from as low as 1,20 Euros.