A visitor’s guide to Berlin transportation
Zurückbleiben, bitte! (please stand clear!) When you arrive in Berlin for the first time, there are all these different types of transportation systems that just might be a bit overwhelming. I mean, I’m from a small farmer town with 2000 inhabitants, with only one bus every hour that leaves the town. So when I arrived in Berlin I got a bit lost, like what is the S-Bahn? Where is the U-bahn? How does this work? Let’s dive in and get ourselves familiar with how we can get around beautiful Berlin.
Despite all the bewildering options, Berlin is considered the city with the best public transport in the world. It is also one of the best walking cities, meaning there’s broad sidewalks and promenades and bike lanes everywhere.
Berlin Oberbaumbrücke
Berlin has a variety of options to move around the city, no matter where you want to go, you will always have choices! The most popular is the U-Bahn (subway AB zone) which connects to different locations within Berlin. It is perfect for zipping in the city center quickly, taking you to all the main neighborhoods and attractions. Remember to avoid the bus and tram during rush hours and take the subway and the metro instead.
So, whether you’re going to grab a coffee in Kreuzberg, visit the East Side Gallery, or even join us on our tour at Potsdamer Platz, the U-Bahn will be your first choice.
Now if you are looking to go a bit further, take the metro or S-Bahn (suburban rail ABC zone) and you can reach the suburbs and nearby towns like Potsdam and Oranienburg. It does not stop there, Berlin also has an excellent tram system, which is only in former East-Berlin and of course your buses, which are also a lifesaver at night when the trains slow down.
The S-Bahn system includes the famous Ringbahn, the line that circles the city center in both directions all day all night. It also has gorgeous views during the day. Inside this ring is the Berlin A zone.
Now if all these fail you can always get a taxi/rideshare or just ride the electric scooter! While Uber is available in Berlin, there are other more ubiquitous companies such as FreeNow and Bolt. If you have a licence that works in Germany, Bolt also lets you rent cars by the minute.
ABC
Public transport in Berlin is divided into 3 zones. Zone A is the heart of Berlin, where you will find the iconic spots like Brandenburger Tor, the Museum island and most important, Potsdamer Platz, where our Rude Bastards tour of Berlin starts! Zone B covers the surrounding neighborhoods within Berlin, where most locals live. You’ll still find cool places here, like hip cafes, parks, and street art. It’s basically the rest of the city outside the central tourist spots but still within the Berlin borders. Zone C stretches beyond the city limits. This includes places like the beautiful town of Potsdam, with its palaces and gardens, and also Berlin Brandenburg Airport. So, if you’re heading out to catch a flight or planning a day trip, you’ll be crossing into Zone C.
Berlin subway running through a station
BVG
When you’re visiting Berlin the BVG app is the most important app. On this app you can easily plan your journey, you can buy your tickets and have real time information of all the public transport. You can download it for Android here and for iPhone here.