Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Museum Island, restaurants, nightlife, connection to Prenzlauer Berg hotels and eateries),
and Alexanderplatz (eastern end of Unter den Linden).
Sections of the U- or S-Bahn sometimes close temporarily for repairs. In this situation, a
bus route often replaces the train (
Ersatzverkehr,
or “replacement transportation”;
zwischen
means “between”).
Berlin's public transit is operated by BVG (except the S-Bahn, run by the Deutsche
Bahn). Schedules, including bus timetables, are available on the helpful BVG website
(
www.bvg.de
)
.
By Taxi
Taxis are easy to flag down, and taxi stands are common. A typical ride within town costs
€8-10, and a crosstown trip (for example, Bahnhof Zoo to Alexanderplatz) will run about
€15. Tariff 1 is for a
Kurzstrecke
(see below). All other rides are tariff 2 (€3.20 drop plus
€1.65/kilometer). If possible, use cash—paying with a credit card comes with a hefty sur-
charge (about €4, regardless of the fare).
Money-Saving Taxi Tip:
For any ride of less than two kilometers (about a mile), you
can save several euros if you take advantage of the
Kurzstrecke
(short-stretch) rate. To get
this rate, it's important that you flag the cab down on the street—not at or even near a taxi
stand. Also, you must ask for the
Kurzstrecke
rate as soon as you hop in: Confidently say
“Kurzstrecke, bitte”
(KOORTS-shtreh-keh, BIT-teh), and your driver will grumble and flip
the meter to a fixed €4 rate (for a ride that would otherwise cost €7).
By Bike
Flat Berlin is a very bike-friendly city, but be careful—Berlin's motorists don't brake for bi-
cyclists (and bicyclists don't brake for pedestrians). Fortunately, some roads and sidewalks
have special red-painted bike lanes. Don't ride on the regular sidewalk—it's
verboten
. Good
bike shops can suggest a specific route.
Fat Tire Bikes
rents good bikes at two handy locations—East (at the base of the TV
Tower near Alexanderplatz—facing the entrance to the tower, go around to the right) and
West (at Bahnhof Zoo—leaving the station onto Hardenbergplatz, turn left and walk 100
yards to the big bike sign). Both locations have the same hours and rates (€7/4 hours, €12/
day, cheaper rate for two or more days, free luggage storage and Internet access, daily May-
Sept 9:30-20:00, March-April and Oct-Nov 9:30-18:00, shorter hours or by appointment
only Dec-Feb, leave ID, tel. 030/2404-7991,
www.berlinbikerental.com
).
In eastern Berlin,
Take a Bike
near the Friedrichstrasse S-Bahn station is owned by
a lovely Dutch-German couple who know a lot about bikes and have a huge inventory.
They can help you find the perfect fit (3-gear bikes: €12.50/day, €19/2 days; more for better
