traveldk.com

The Berlin U-Bahn, or underground railway, has one of the largest networks in Europe, providing the fastest and most convenient means of getting around the city. There are ten U-Bahn lines each sporting their own colour. The U-Bahn runs from 5am to 1am; at weekends lines U1 and U9 run throughout the night. The station indicated on the platform is the final destination of the train.

The S-Bahn or Stadtbahn (city railway) has 15 lines, connecting the centre with the suburbs, They run at 5- to 10- minute intervals. Many lines share tracks so you will need to pay attention to indicator boards.

Berlin has a dense network of bus routes. The famous yellow double-decker buses operate mostly in the centre. Bus lines have three-digit numbers, except for express services, which have two-digits or a preceding “X”. After midnight, many routes provide night services. When boarding the bus, you may use the back door (which opens when a button is pushed) until 8pm. Afterwards you may board the bus only at the front, and you will have to present your ticket to the driver.

Tickets for U- and S-Bahn trains and for buses in Berlin are available at all stations and bus stops as well as from bus drivers. Berlin is divided into three zones: A, B and C. The best value for money is a day ticket at €6.10, which is valid until 3am the following day and covers all three zones. A single journey, costing €2.10, is valid for unlimited travel for two hours. A “Kurzstrecke” (short distance) counts as up to three U- or S-Bahn stations or six bus stops, and costs €1.20. Children under 14 years pay a reduced rate; those under six travel free. You have to stamp your ticket in a red machine in the station or on the bus before starting the journey.

Trams – operating only in the eastern part of the city – are part of the same network (BVG).

There are taxi stands all over Berlin. It is not always easy to hail a passing taxi. The basic starting price is €2.50, and a further €1.02 is charged per km (2/3 of a mile). A short-distance tariff also exists: if you hail a taxi in the street, you can travel for up to 2 km (1 mile) for €3.

You can hire a car from any of the large operators on production of a valid driving licence, passport and credit card; some only accept customers aged 21 years or over. There are car hire places at all airports and in central Berlin.

An unusual way to explore Berlin is by velotaxi – a bicycle rickshaw. These can be found in the city centre (from April to October only).

There are several bike hire places in town.

It can be rewarding but exhausting to explore Berlin on foot. You should, however, make sure you stroll along Ku’damm and Unter den Linden. Take particular care when crossing the cycle paths, which are marked in red.