Getting Around in Berlin (2023)
The best ways to get around Berlin if you’re moving here:
-Planning your journey: Check out www.bvg.de, which is the public transport site, or their app. It has a journey planner that you can use when getting from A to B.
-Travelling Cheaply: Get a transit pass for the beautiful network of S-bahn and U-bahn subways. One of the cheapest ways to do this currently is the Deutschlandsticket which allows you to use all public transportation and regional trains in the entire country for 49 EUR/month. It can be cancelled by the month. Otherwise, you can get a Berlin-wide transit pass. A monthly pass (booked for a whole year) costs 66,90 EUR/month, which isn’t as good a deal. Otherwise, a monthly ticket costs 91 EUR (or 67 EUR if you are only using it from 10 am). Note that with the regular monthly ticket another person can travel for free with you after 8pm and on weekends. A breakdown of all the fare types is here.
Train fares are on www.bahn.de
-Zones and Validation: Note that Berlin has three zones. The centre of the city is Zone A and Zone B. The airport is located in Zone C, which is probably the only time you will use a ticket for all three zones. But if you travel to Zone C, ensure you have an ABC ticket, or else you risk being fined. Or add on a zone with an extension ticket. Always remember to validate single-ride tickets before you ride using the boxes on the platforms in stations. There’s a trust system where you do not need to pass through turnstiles to enter stations and subway cars. Note that fare controllers are often plain-clothed and if you do not have a valid ticket it will cost you 60 EUR.
-Bikes: You can also transit buy a pass for your bike. If you will only travel after 10am, then you can get a cheaper pass. The city gets around on bike. You can get a used one here for about €150 at a market (try the fleamarket at Boxhagenerplatz on Sundays), or a new one for 300-up Euros. A good place to buy a new one is: http://www.radlust.com/ . Note that you must have a working bell, brakes, and lights, although helmets are optional here (but recommended!). Remember that turning right on a red light is illegal here. And be careful around tram lines (your tyres can get stuck in the groove).
CC 4.0 license, photo by IgorCalzone1
Here’s the index to the Moving to Berlin Guide, click on what you want to read next!
-Media, Films, and Books about Berlin
This is an independent guide to Berlin, with no ghostwritten content and no sponsored links or tips, from The Needle.
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(the author asserts his right to copyright, revised 07/2023)