• Sights
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Travel Tips
• Features

By Public Transit

The city has one of the most efficient public-transportation systems in Europe, a smoothly integrated network of subway (U-bahn) and suburban (S-bahn) train lines, buses, and trams (in eastern Berlin only). Get a map from any information booth. Don't be afraid to try to figure out the posted schedules of buses and trams -- they often cut the most direct path to your destination. From Sunday through Thursday, U-bahn trains stop around 12:45 AM and S-bahn trains stop by 1:30 AM. All-night bus and tram service operates seven nights a week (indicated by the letter N next to route numbers). On Friday and Saturday night, most S-bahn and U-bahn lines run all night. Buses and trams marked with an M mostly serve destinations without S-bahn or U-Bahn link.

Most visitor destinations are in the broad reach of the fare zones A and B. Both the EUR 2.10 ticket (fare zones A and B) and the EUR 2.60 ticket (fare zones A, B, and C) allow you to make a one-way trip with an unlimited number of changes between trains, buses, and trams. There are reduced rates for children ages 6-13.

Buy a Kurzstreckentarif ticket (EUR 1.20) for short rides of up to six bus or tram stops or three U-bahn or S-bahn stops. The best deal if you plan to travel around the city extensively is the Tageskarte (day card for zones A and B), for EUR 5.80, good on all transportation until 3 AM. (It's EUR 6 for A, B, C zones.) A 7-Tage-Karte (seven-day ticket) costs EUR 25.40 and allows unlimited travel for fare zones A and B; EUR 31.30 buys all three fare zones.

The Berlin WelcomeCard (sold by EurAid, BVG offices, the tourist office, and some hotels) entitles one adult and three children under the age of 14 to either two or three days of unlimited travel in the ABC zones for EUR 16 or EUR 22, respectively, and includes admission and tour discounts detailed in a booklet. The CityTourCard, good for two or three days of unlimited travel in the AB zones costs EUR 14.50 and EUR 18.90, respectively, and details 50 discounts on a leaflet; up to three children under 6 can accompany an adult.

Tickets are available from vending machines at U-bahn and S-bahn stations. Look for rib-high red or yellow machines that time-validate tickets. If you're caught without a ticket or with an unvalidated one, the fine is EUR 60. All stations have intercom stands through which you can ask for travel advice. The Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe also answers calls day and night. There's a BVG information office on Hardenbergplatz, directly in front of the Zoo train station. Questions about S-bahn connections can be answered by S-bahn Berlin GmbH.

Information about all transportation methods within and between Berlin and the outlying state of Brandenburg is provided by the region's central transit authority, the VBB.

Contacts

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (030/19449. www.bvg.de). S-Bahn Berlin GmbH (030/2974-3333. www.s-bahn-berlin.de). VBB (Hardenbergpl. 2, Western Downtown. 030/254-140 or 030/19449. www.vbbonline.de).

Disabilities & Accessibility

All major S-bahn and U-bahn stations have elevators, and most buses have hydraulic lifts. Check the public transportation maps or call the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe. The Service-Ring-Berlin e.V. runs a special bus service for travelers with physical disabilities. Though hotels can often make the arrangement, you can call the Verband Geburts- und anderer Behinderter e.V. to borrow a wheelchair (donations are accepted).

Information

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (030/19449. www.bvg.de). Service-Ring-Berlin e.V (030/859-4010). Verband Geburts- und anderer Behinderter e.V (030/341-1797).