How to get around Berlin

The German capital has countless sights and cultural features to offer in a large urban area. The beautiful surroundings of the Brandenburg region also invite you to take leisurely day trips. What is the best way to explore it all? Just the way you like it – because from electric bikes to trains, Berlin has just about everything to offer in terms of transportation.

Subway and S-Bahn – Berlin’s most popular means of transport

Ask a Berliner how to get around in Berlin, and they’re sure to answer in one word: BVG. The Berlin subway maintains the largest subway network in Germany and, together with the S-Bahn and the streetcar, is the most popular means of transportation within the capital.

The Berlin Underground

Tickets for these public transportation services in Berlin can be found at ticket machines at almost all train stations, some advance booking offices or online. The prices are based on the tariff of the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). There, a basic distinction is made between subarea A (city center to S-Bahn ring), subarea B (S-Bahn ring to city limits) and subarea C (Berlin hinterland, about 15 km outside, as far as Potsdam). The BVG timetables and network maps can be found at all stops and online. Trains run through the city area around the clock. The ticket offers range from short-haul tickets to daily and monthly tickets. You can find more information on the BVG page. By the way: Almost 80 % of Berlin’s bus stops are accessible without steps and more than 70 % have a guidance system for the blind.

The Berlin S-Bahn

The S-Bahn also belongs to BVG and connects the entire city area. The city maps can also be viewed at the stops and via the BVG website. Next to the subway, the S-Bahns are probably the most popular means of transportation for Berliners.

The streetcar: riding with historic charm

The Berlin streetcar – affectionately known as the Tram – is certainly one of the best and most charming means of transport in the capital. It exudes a delightful historical charm and takes you relaxed throughout the city. The streetcar is also part of the BVG.

The BVG bus service

The BVG also takes you around the metropolis by bus. Here, too, the network of lines is very extensive. Buses do not usually run as frequently as subways and commuter trains, but night runs are possible here as well.

The ferry rides – the BVG secret tip

The BVG’s insider tip is the ferry trips across the Spree and Wannsee lakes. With it you will sail romantically and comfortably across the water from one place to another.

Muva – Service on demand

A brand new addition to the range is on-demand services for customers who need barrier-free access: If there is a breakdown – of an elevator, for example – and an alternative barrier-free connection takes significantly longer, the new Muva service is available in many places.

Sharing is Caring – bicycles, rental cars and e-scooters

Hardly any other city offers such a distinctive system of car, bike and e-scooter sharing as Berlin. In numerous places you will find the opportunity to jet through the city by bike, car, e-bike, motorcycle or electric scooter.

Scooter and bike

If you have time and do not have to cover immense distances, you should quietly resort to bicycles and scooters due to the heavy traffic. The website for Berlin tourism offers an overview of all sharing offers.

The car rental

For longer trips, however, the car can be worthwhile. There are plenty of providers: Some can be booked with the app, others via a website, by phone or on site. Some rental bikes can be picked up and dropped off at numerous bike racks throughout the city – this usually just requires an app that gives you a code to unlock and lock the bike.

With cab and Uber through Berlin

The public transportation networks are so well designed that you will rarely need to rely on any other form of transportation in Berlin. However, if you do want to get from one front door to the next quickly or there are no night buses or streetcars available on your street, you will also find numerous cab and Uber services in the city area.

The cabs in Berlin

Cabs are more known as a costly option. You can calculate the estimated prices online via the cab calculator. Prices vary, but an average trip from Berlin Central Station to Alexanderplatz costs around €15 by cab.

With the Uber through Berlin

Uber also allows you to go directly from your desired location to your destination. Uber’s offerings. can be found on the Uber website and app. Via Uber, the ride from Berlin Central Station to Alexanderplatz can be up to €5 cheaper.

On foot through the metropolis

You can also explore the metropolis on foot. Depending on where your accommodation is located, many sights can be visited quite comfortably during a walk. Ideal for this is the district of Berlin Mitte, from where you can see numerous sights from Potsdamer Platz to Alexanderplatz on a distance of about 5 km. These include Checkpoint Charlie, the Nikolai Quarter, the Berlin Cathedral and the TV Tower. Another popular tourist destination is the Brandenburg Gate. If you start here, during a walk along the former inner-German border you will reach the Tiergarten, the Siegessäule and finally Charlottenburg Palace. The trail runs for about 10 km. Other areas worth visiting and exploring on foot are Prenzlauer Berg, Kurfürstendamm and Berlin Kreuzberg. Tip: Ask your accommodation to give you a simple city map and show you the sights in your area.

With the trains to Brandenburg and all over Germany

The trains will take you quickly and especially comfortably to the surrounding areas and to more remote parts of Berlin. The largest provider is Deutsche Bahn, which takes you all over Europe. Day trips to Brandburg or Poland are no problem with these trains. The DB offers are particularly extensive and versatile . Other providers are in particular Flixtrain and the Czech provider RegioJet. The train prices of the ICs, ICEs and ECs vary greatly depending on the booking period. Those who book early usually get the best prices. Regional tariffs fluctuate much less. Regional trips are based on the VVB tariff (Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg). Groups in particular can travel inexpensively through the Brandenburg region with the Berlin-Brandenburg Ticket. You can find a detailed overview on the Deutsche Bahn website for the Berlin-Brandenburg region.

Numerous regional and long-distance train stations will take you all over the metropolitan area. Among the most important are Berlin Central Station in the government district, Berlin Ostkreuz Station in Friedrichshain, Berlin Gesundbrunnen Station and Berlin Spandau Station.

Long distance buses for excursions

For trips to some other cities in the region, long-distance bus companies are also suitable. Flixbus offers numerous trips to Brandenburg and even Poland. At the same time, some trips are also ideally suited for day trips. To Dresden, for example, you drive less than two and a half hours. To Szczecin in Poland, Flixbus even takes less than two hours. The Flixbus network is now particularly well and extensively developed.

Other long-distance bus providers are Pinkbus, which mainly offers trips to Hamburg, and the Czech provider RegioJet. You can find long-distance bus rides throughout Germany for less than 10 €. The average Flixbus price from Berlin to Dresden is between 10 and 20 €. Berlin has several long-distance bus stations spread throughout the city. Among the most important are the ZOB at the radio tower, the bus station at the Ostbahnhof in Friedrichshain, the bus stop at Alexanderplatz and the bus stop at Berlin Central Station.