• USING THE BERLIN PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM
• GETTING TO AND FROM TEGEL AND SCHÖNEFELD AIRPORTS
• GETTING TO AND FROM THE CENTRAL BUS STATION

 Using the Berlin public transport SYSTEM

To get around Berlin we suggest sticking to the S-Bahn and U-Bahn – the lines that appear on the subway maps posted in every station. Free maps of the network are available at most stations, hotels, and airports. Or you can download a printable PDF version by clicking here.

S-Bahn stands for Schnell-Bahn (Fast-Train). The S-Bahn is often the fastest way to cover long distances. To figure out in which direction a train is going, check the name of the final destination on the sign hanging above the track. There are three main S-Bahn lines in central Berlin:

• The Cross-Town runs east and west across the middle of Berlin, passing through stations such as Zoo and Alexanderplatz, and is commonly traveled by visitors. It connects former East and West Berlin, as well as the main international train stations. It also stops near most of Berlin’s major museums and attractions.
• The Outer Ring encircles the city center (Zone A), and is an important link between outer districts like Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain.
• The North-South express is rarely used by visitors, but the S1 train is the one to take to get to Potsdam, or to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp (direction: Oranienburg).

U-Bahn stands for Underground-Train. U-Bahn lines are color coded. The signs above the track on the platforms indicate how long until the next train arrives, as well as the final destination. The U2 is commonly traveled by visitors as it connects Zoologischer Garten, the skyscrapers of Potsdamer Platz, the Friedrichstraße shopping boulevard, and the popular nightlife district, Prenzlauer Berg.

IMPORTANT RULES
Buy tickets at the electronic machines on or near the platform. The machines are touch-screen, and offer an English-language option.
Always validate your ticket at one of the stamping machines placed near the ticket machines. Tickets only need to be validated the first time you travel. The fine for being caught traveling without a valid ticket is €40. If you don’t have the cash on you, they’ll take you to a cash machine or call the police.

Night Transportation
Public transportation runs 24 hours a day. The S-Bahn system runs until 1:30am on weeknights and 24 hours on weekends. U-Bahn trains run until 12:30am on weeknights, and most lines run 24 hours on weekends.
Berlin also has an extensive and reliable network of night buses and trams, so you won’t get stranded if you stay out late during the week. At bus and tram stops, look for routes designated with “N” followed by a number (for example, N54).

Ticket Prices, for Zones A and B
• €2.10 Einzelfahrschein (Single Ticket) - one journey, valid for two hours
• €5.80 Tageskarte (Day Ticket) - valid all day until 3 am
• €1.20 Kurzstrecke (Short Trip Ticket) - for short trips, up to three stops
• €14.80 Kleingruppenkarte (Small Group Ticket) - day ticket for five people
• €14.90 CityTourCard 48 (see below) - unlimited travel in zones A and B, 48 hours
• €19.90 CityTourCard 72 (see below) - unlimited travel in zones A and B, 72 hours

The CityTourCard
This handy card does two things: first, it acts as an advantage card for more than 50 tourist partners in Berlin. You save money on all paid New Berlin Tours (20% off), museums, concerts tickets, and attractions like the TV Tower or the New Synagogue. Second, it works as a ticket on all trams, trains, and buses in zones A and B.

The CityTourCard is available from electronic ticket machines located on S-Bahn and U-Bahn platforms, S-Bahn ticket offices, BVG sales outlets, and selected partner hotels and hostels.

You can buy the CityTourCard 48, which is valid for 48 hours and costs €14.90, or the CityTourCard 72, valid for 72 hours and costs €19.90. Be sure to validate your ticket the first time you use the card. Getting caught using public transportation without a valid ticket costs €40, and the city cracks down in the summer months on people trying to beat the honor system, so better to be safe than sorry unless you’re good at crying on command.

When you start to do the math, the CityTourCard makes lots of sense. If you were to go on the Famous New Berlin Pub Crawl, you’d save €2 by showing the card. Go on another one of New Berlin’s Select Tours (Third Reich, Sachsenhausen, or Red Berlin) and save another €2. The savings keep adding up throughout your stay.

GETTING TO AND FROM TEGEL AND SCHÖNEFELD AIRPORTS

In all cases, S-Bahn tickets for zones A and B are acceptable, even for regional trains. Remember, when dealing with buses, check the final destination of the bus on the sign by the stop; also, be sure to show your ticket to the driver as you get on.

From the city to the airports:

• From Zoologischer Garten to Tegel:
  Take the X9 bus, which leaves about every 10 minutes between 3:30am and 11pm everyday from the bus stop located on the traffic island outside the station. The trip takes about 20 minutes.
• From Alexanderplatz to Tegel:
  Take the TXL bus from the stop on Karl Liebknecht Str. (Map 1). Buses leave every 15-20 minutes between 4:50am and 10:30pm. The trip takes about 40 minutes.
• From Zoologischer Garten, Alexanderplatz, and Ostbahnhof to Schönefeld:
  • The RE4 and RE5 (regional trains) run daily from Zoo Station, Alexanderplatz, and Ostbahnhof to Shönefeld Airport. They run every 30 minutes between 4:30am and 11pm.
  • You can also take the S-Bahn (S9) from these three stations to Schönefeld, but that takes longer. (The S9 doesn’t stop at Ostkreuz.)

From the airports to the city:

• From Tegel:
  There is no direct S-Bahn connection, so use the bus. You can buy a ticket from the BVG office in the airport or from the bus driver. Tickets cost €2.10, far cheaper than a taxi.
  • To Zoologischer Garten: take the X9 bus to Zoologischer Garten. The bus stop is on your left as you exit the airport. It leaves about every 10 minutes from 5am to 11:30pm (weekends every 20 minutes from about 6:15am to 6:30pm).
  • To Alexanderplatz: Take the TXL bus to Alexanderplatz. The bus stop is on your left as you exit the airport. It leaves every 15-20 minutes from 5:30am to 11pm and takes about 35 minutes.
• From Schönefeld:
  Take either the S-Bahn or a regional train. Use the ticket machine (English option) to buy a €2.10 ticket for zones A and B. Then go to the S-Bahn station: either take the free shuttle bus or walk; by foot it takes seven minutes; the station is on the other side of the car park, diagonally left as you exit the airport.
• Regional trains: take the RE4, RE5, RB22, or RB24. They leave regularly and stop at the main East and West Berlin stations – Ostbahnhof and Zoologischer Garten. (Schönefeld to Zoo takes about 30 minutes.)
• S-Bahn: The S9 cuts west right through the city and hits all the main stations, like Warschauer Str., Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz and Zoologischer Garten – but not Ostkreuz. (Schönefeld to Zoo takes about 50 minutes – a longer ride, but convenient if you already know your destination.)

GETTING TO AND FROM THE CENTRAL BUS STATION

The Central Bus Station (Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof), which is located at S-Bahn stop Messe Nord in West Berlin, services over 350 destinations across Europe. Clearly, ticket prices are some of the most competitive for international travel (go to Coupons additional savings on Eurolines). Getting to and from the Central Bus Station is simple: either use the Cross-Town S-Bahn line to get to Messe Nord/ICC, or use the U2 U-Bahn line to get to Kaiserdamm. The station is also connected to the rest of the city through a plethora of… buses! Who would have guessed? X34, X49, 104, 139, 149, 218, 349, N4 und N49 all service the Centeral Bus Station.