Arrival at the main stations

Arriving in Berlins main train station,the Hauptbahnhof, is quite an experience. The building in Spreebogen, which is the largest and most modern crossing station in Europe, effectively combines striking architecture with the mobility requirements of the 21st century. Every day, some 1100 long-distance, regional and rapid transit trains call at the 14 platforms on two different levels.

However, if you enter Berlin through Zoo Bahnhof (Zoologischer  Garten Bahnhof) brace yourself for a let down – it’s not exactly beautiful  and you may wonder why you travelled all the way over the northern flat plans (i.e. rear end) of  Europe to get here. Just think 30 years ago it looked great (!) having served as the gateway to the glamour and freedom of west Berlin. Don’t despair, you can put your gear in the luggage lockers (1€ to 2 € a day) then either: orientate yourself over breakfast by the real Zoo at the pleasant Schleusenkrug Café on the canal (from 10 am); wander up to the Tourist Office for general information; or jump right into it and join our Famous Insider Walking Tour opposite the Station for a complete introduction straight off the bat – ("Berlin in a nutshell" Lonely Planet). Otherwise check out our accommodation tips for west Berlin and head directly to a bed or shower!

If your destination/hotel/hostel is in Mitte, Friedrichshain or  Kreuzberg – check out our accommodation tips for east Berlin and get off at the Ostbahnhof –  (20 minutes away from Zoo) which serves as Berlin’s other main terminus. Unlike Zoo Bahnhof it is clean and modern with a food / shopping hall.

Note: If your rail pass states Berlin Stadtbahn it means you can use it on the S Bahn between Charlottenburg and Ostbahnhof Stations – more below.

Berlin´s public transport & the right ticket for you

Berlin has an integrated network of trains, trams, and buses. The same ticket can be used on all modes of transport. Most, if not all of the time you will be able to travel simply by train otherwise known as the U & S  Bahn.  U Bahn means underground train whilst the S  Bahn  (standing for Stadt or city) train serves as a commuter  line – however there is no great difference. Yet there are a couple of features to the system that will help you make sense of how to travel from A to B more effectively:

Firstly – the central band of  S Bahn lines links west with east Berlin. It passes through all main stations such as Zoo (the platform marked with the  S symbol) and Ostbahnhof (the platforms #10 & 11). Ideas: Get off at Hackescher Markt for Museum Island (see page 11, Friedrichstrasse or Zoo for shopping (see page 32), or travel 18 mins from Zoo to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof  for the Palaces (i.e. Sancoussi), lakes and gardens of the Prussian Kings (see  page 10).

Secondly, Friedrichstrasse Station links to the north-south line of the S 1. One stop north at  Oranienburger Strasse puts you amidst the Main Jewish Synagogue, restaurants and bars, and the Arthouse squat Tacheles of Mitte. One stop south takes you to Brandenburg Gate, two stops south to the shopping/casino/cinema/ theatres of Potsdamer Platz and the Philharmonie.

Thirdly, the U 2 is a key line linking the hip suburb of  Prenzlauerberg (key station: Eberswalder Str/ see  restaurants and clubs section page 24-31) in the east with the Potsdamer Platz, the Zoo and eventually Olympic  Stadium (hosted the World Cup in 2006) in the West.

TIP: use U &  S Bahn together for the fastest journey.  Lines are colour coded and numbered and the last station indicates the direction. Ticket machines are  found on platforms and on board trams and have  instructions in English. On buses the driver sells the ticket.

Useful link: timetables, routes, fares and more...

http://www.bvg.de/index.php/en/index.html

Tickets for Zones A & B

2,30€ Einzelfahrschein (single ticket) – valid for travel in one direction including transfers

1.40€ Kurzstrecke (short distance ticket) – valid for 3 stops on the  or Bahn or 6 stops by bus/tram

6.30€ Tageskarte (day card) – valid until 3:00  am next morning

15,00€ Kleingruppenkarte (small group ticket) –  a day ticket for up to 5 people.

Note: Be sure to validate your ticket in the red or yellow box on the platforms. It is an honour based transport system that makes for a more pleasant journey especially when compared to those turnstiles in London and Paris! However plain clothed inspectors will check occasionally – levying an on the spot fine of 40 Euro. You have a few options before you, either with elaborate international hand signaling and good timing get a stranger to slip you their ticket after they’ve been and before you’re checked, or, run, or, pay...

Useful link: timetables, routes, fares and more...

http://www.bvg.de/index.php/en/index.html

Transport

From the Airport to the City

Tegel Airport (TXL) – catch the bus TXL JetExpressBus, it runs every 15 to 20  minutes between 05:30 and 23:00. Buy the ticket (2 EUR) from the driver. It is fast and  efficient delivering you to the east Berlin center (Unter den Linden & Alexanderplatz) in around 25 to 30 minutes. Otherwise catch the X9, it runs every 5 to 10 minutes  between 04:50 and 23:00, to center west Berlin’s Zoo Station, travel time 20 minutes. The ticket in this case is the 2,30 € single ticket for zones AB.

Schönefeld Airport (SXF)   – The S  Bahn and regional train is on the left hand side of the airport car park. The Regional trains are faster than the S  Bahn and will pass through the main stations of Ostbahnhof and Zoo Bahnhof in 20 and  30 minutes respectively. Catch either the RE4, RE5, RB22 or RB24. Otherwise  the  Bahn (S9) will do the same job but takes around 50 minutes to Zoo, the  advantage however is that it stops at all main stations in the city centre i.e.  Warschauer Strasse, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Hackescher Markt etc. The ticket in this case is the 3,00 € single ticket  for Zones ABC.

From the City to the Airport

Tegel Airport (TXL) – quite simply go to Zoo Station(Bahnhof Zoo) and take the X9 which leaves every 10 minutes between 03:30 and 23:00. Travel time 20 minutes.

Schönefeld Airport (SXF)   – from either Zoo, Alexanderplatz or the Ostbahnhof catch the RE4 or RE5 - it takes only 20 to 30 minutes, faster than the S Bahn, and as we all know budget flights don’t wait!