Getting to Central Berlin

The Berlin-Potsdam Welcome Card gives you 72 hours of free transport on all the buses and trams of the VBB network. Also good for free admission or up to 50% reductions for sightseeing tours, museums and many other tourist attractions.

Public Transportation: The Berlin transport system consists of buses, trams, and U-Bahn (underground) and S-Bahn (elevated) trains. The network is run by the BVG or Public Transport Company Berlin-Brandenburg. Public transportation throughout the city operates from about 4:30am to 12:30am daily (except for 62 night buses and trams, and U-Bahn lines U-9 and U-12). For information about public transport, call tel. 030/29-71-9843 or 030/19-449.

The BVG standard ticket (Einzelfahrschein) costs is valid for 2 hours of transportation in all directions, transfers included. There is also a 24-hour ticket for the whole city. Only standard tickets are sold on buses. Tram tickets must be purchased in advance. Unless you buy a day pass, don't forget to time-punch your ticket into one of the small red boxes prominently posted at the entrance to city buses and underground stations.
If you're going to be in Berlin for 3 days, you can purchase a Berlin-Potsdam WelcomeCard, which entitles holders to 72 free hours on public transportation in Berlin and Brandenburg. You'll also get free admission or a price reduction of up to 50% on sightseeing tours, museums, and other attractions, and a 25% reduction at 10 theaters as well. The card is sold at many hotels, visitor information Centers, and public-transportation sales points. It is valid for one adult and three children under the age of 14.

Getting There
There are hardly any direct flights to Berlin from overseas and, depending on the airline you use, you're likely to fly first into another European city such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris or London and catch a connecting flight from there. Berlin has three airports:
You can reach all three airports by calling the central service phone number 0180/500-0186);

Tegel (TXL) primarily serves destinations within Germany and Europe.

Schönefeld (SXF) mostly operates international flights to/from Europe, Asia, Africa and Central America.

Berlin-Tempelhof (THF) became famous as the main landing hub for Allied airlifts during the Berlin blockade of 1948-49. Today it's the main hub for domestic departures and flights to Central Europe.

Bus: Berlin is well-connected to the rest of Europe by long-distance bus. Most buses arrive at and depart from the Zentraler Omnibus-bahnhof in Charlottenburg, opposite the stately Funkturm radio tower.

Train: Until the opening of the huge new rail center (Lehrter Bahnhof) in 2002, train services to and from Berlin will remain confusing because of the extensive construction that affects several stations. Trains scheduled to leave from or arrive at one station may be spontaneously rerouted to another. Zoo Station is the main station for long-distance travelers going to and from the west.

Bicycles: Berlin is very cycle friendly, and it's a good way to get to know the city - there are specially marked bike lanes everywhere. There are also many bike rental shops.

Tegel Airport is only 6 km (4 mi) from the downtown area. The No. 109 and X09 airport buses run at 10-minute intervals between Tegel and downtown via Kurfürstendamm, Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten, and Budapester Strasse. The trip takes 30 minutes. If you rent a car at the airport, follow the signs for the Stadtautobahn into Berlin. The Halensee exit leads to Kurfürstendamm.

Tempelhof is linked directly to the city center by the U-6 subway line.

From Schönefeld a shuttle bus leaves every 10-15 minutes for the nearby S-bahn station; S-bahn trains leave every 20 minutes for the Friedrichstrasse station, in downtown eastern Berlin, and for the Zoologischer Garten station, in downtown western Berlin. Bus 171 also leaves every 10 or 15 minutes for the western Berlin Rudow subway station. A taxi ride from the airport takes about 40 minutes. By car, follow the signs for Stadtzentrum Berlin.