Berlin, Germany
Travel
Traveling to and within Berlin is quite easy, especially because of the extensive mass transit system. If flying internationally from Europe, Flughafen-Berlin Schönefeld [http://www.berlin-airport.de/EN/index.php?] will most likely be the airport of arrival. To get into the city center from Schönefeld, take the S45 or S9. This will take you to the main train station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof). The cost for taking this train is €2,10 per person, and the trip takes approximately 45 minutes. Another, faster way to travel into the city center from Schönefeld is to take the regional trains, either RE7 or RB14 (double check these when you arrive). The trip lasts around 30 minutes.
If traveling from the U.S., it is likely that Tegel Flughafen will be the final destination. Traveling from there via mass transit is also very easy and inexpensive. With a regular S- and U-Bahn ticket, one can take either the Bus TXL all the way to Alexanderplatz. With the bus X9, one can travel to the Zoologischer Garten, where many local trains are available.
When buying these tickets, for mass transit, make sure they are for Zones A and B, and validate your ticket before jumping on the trains/buses. They really don't like it when you don't validate the tickets.
For train travel to Berlin, the Berlin Hauptbahnhof will most likely be the final destination. Visit http://bahn.de for fares and schedules.International trains can often be expensive, so it is recommended to arrange for either a Euro-rail pass beforehand, or to explore the discount airlines such as EasyJet [http://www.easyjet.com] or Berlin Air [http://www.airberlin.de].
Local Mass Transit
For local mass transit, visit http://bvg.de for schedules, fare information, and route lines. Generally speaking, each ride one direction (longer than 3 stops) is about €2,10. One ticket is valid for the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and the trams. Traveling by train is on the “honor system,” which means that all you have to do is validate your ticket before taking mass transit, but not actually feed it into a machine or hand it to someone. Occasionally an agent (dressed like a civilian) will ask to see your ticket, when showing you his/her identification. There is a fine for being caught without a proper ticket.
For trips equal to or shorter than three stops, one can take a “Kurzstrecken,” which is €1,20. A day pass for zones AB is €5,80. A 7-day pass costs €25,40 (zones AB). Taking a bike on the train costs extra, and often requires a separate ticket. One ticket works on all trains, buses, and trams. For updated fare information, visit: http://www.bvg.de/index.php/en/Bvg/Index/folder/706
Trains generally run steadily until midnight, and all night on the weekend.
A complete, downloadable map of the S- and U-Bahn lines is available here: www.bvg.de/index.php/de/Common/Document/field/file/id/68A downloadable map of the trams is available here: www.bvg.de/index.php/de/Common/Document/field/file/id/1395
Traveling by Bike
Traveling by bike is one of the best ways to both see and get around in Berlin. There are many bike paths and beautiful trails. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about when the trains stop running in late-nite Berlin. For a list of bike-rental agencies, please visit: http://www.berlinfo.com/Traveltime/WithinBerlin/by_bike/bike_rental/index.htm