From the airport to the city centre Germany
As an international crossroads, Berlin-Brandenburg airport has excellent road and rail links. With a train station at Terminal 1 (level U2), it is directly connected to the S-Bahn and regional rail network. Regional and long-distance trains from Flughafen BER - Terminal 1-2 take you quickly to the center of Berlin and beyond. The S9 and S45 commuter trains also connect the airport with the city center, departing every 20 minutes. These trains also stop at Terminal 5, and you can reach Berlin's main railway station (Hauptbahnhof) in 30 minutes with the Airport Express. Two new PlusBus Airport-Region bus routes also run hourly on weekdays between Königs Wusterhausen, Wildau, Miersdorf, Schulzendorf and BER airport. BEX Charter's BER1 airport shuttle bus runs every 60 minutes southwest of the city to Steglitz town hall. There are plans to extend the express bus service to the Zoologischer Garten station. Regional train line 22 connects the airport with Potsdam in just under an hour.
Arrival by train Germany
Thanks to its location at the heart of Europe, Berlin is an ideal hub for European rail links. Berlin's main railway station (Hauptbahnhof) is Europe's largest rail hub, welcoming trains from all over the continent, including day and night trains from France. High-speed rail lines allow you to reach the capital from any major city, as well as providing connections between them. From Paris, there are direct Eurostar (formerly Thalys) services to Cologne, Frankfurt, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart, Mannheim and Karlsruhe. The national railway company, Deutsche Bahn (https://int.bahn.de/fr), operates most routes. Beware, however, of frequent delays.
Arrival by boat Germany
You can get to Germany by sea via the ports of Rostock, Kiel and Hamburg. Although Berlin is not located by the sea, passengers can also arrive by boat. The capital can easily be reached from any of Germany's Baltic Sea ports. A 1.5-hour train journey from the port of Hamburg, 2 hours from Rostock or 3 hours from Kiel is all it takes. Tourists from Scandinavia and Northern Europe in particular like to use the waterways to visit Germany. Passengers on cruise ships that drop anchor in Rostock, Kiel or Hamburg, for example, like to leave the ship and make a detour to the capital.
Public transport Germany
Germany is well served by public transport, whether by train, commuter train, subway or bus. Tickets for buses, streetcars, subway trains and commuter trains can be purchased from ticket machines on the platforms or streetcars, or directly from the bus driver. Fares vary according to distance travelled, and are calculated according to Tarifzonen fare zones. Passengers without a Schwarzfahrer ticket will be fined at least €30 on the bus or metro.
Rail travel. Longer journeys are made with the German railroad company, Deutsche Bahn (DB), also known as Die Bahn. The DB discount system is complicated, but used correctly, it can save you money. Tickets bought several days in advance are often cheaper. An accompanying person pays only half the fare. Children under 15 travel free when accompanied by their parents or grandparents.
If you regularly travel by train, we recommend that you buy one of the discount cards (BahnCard) offered by DB. Depending on the card, you'll get a 25% or 50% discount. It's best to know your departure and return dates well in advance. Combining the various discounts makes rail travel a relatively economical means of transport. Deutsche Bahn offers other preferential fares, such as the Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket (weekend ticket), the Länderticket (regional ticket) and the annual or monthly pass. The Interrail ticket allows you to travel throughout Europe for one month for €522, with no age restrictions.
For further information, contact Deutsche Bahn or visitwww.bahn.de.
Cabs. There are numerous cab ranks in Germany's major cities. You can also stop a cab en route with a wave of the hand. In small towns and isolated areas, it's best to order a cab by phone.
Car sharing. Mitfahrgelegenheit carpooling is an economical and environmentally friendly way to travel. For more information, visit www.mfz.de or www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de.
Bike, scooters & co Germany
German cities are generally equipped with cycle paths worthy of the name, and many city dwellers use their bikes to get to work, to the market or to take the kids to school. Cycle tourism routes are well-marked and offer beautiful scenery, with some mountain passes renowned for their steep gradients!
By car Germany
Ideal for independent vacations, cars can be a real drag in the city! Traffic in big cities is often difficult, and pedestrian zones and one-way streets abound. The best thing to do is leave your car in a parking lot, then get around on foot or by public transport. Keep to the speed limit, as the Germans don't take kindly to people who think they're ace drivers.
In town, the speed limit is 50 km/h, on main roads 100 km/h. There is no speed limit on freeways, unless otherwise indicated. In poor visibility (less than 50 m), the speed limit is reduced to 50 km/h. This rule also applies if your vehicle is fitted with chains. Stay vigilant on freeways. While most sections of the Autobahn allow you to push your vehicle to the limit, we recommend that you do not exceed 130 km/h. Note, however, that some sections may be subject to a limit in the event of roadworks, congested areas, etc. In these areas, speed cameras are in operation. Speed cameras are common in these areas, and fines can be very expensive.
Car rental. Many international agencies have branches in Germany, particularly in airport arrival halls and railway stations.
Accessibility Germany
Germany has an excellent infrastructure for people with reduced mobility(Körperbehinderte): ramps, elevators, etc. Many public transport systems, public buildings and hotels are easily accessible, and the staff are friendly. Many public transport facilities, public buildings and hotels are easily accessible, and staff are friendly. Many hotel rooms are designed to facilitate the stay of disabled guests. You can contact an association for the disabled(www.bsk-ev.org) or the National Koordinationsstelle Tourismus(www.natko.de), which promotes access to tourism for the disabled (it has an online guide, in German). Your destination's tourist office will also be able to give you information on local facilities.
Tourist traps Germany
You're in a country where safety is important. There are few deviances, even in the face of naïve tourists. But keep an eye out for incivilities, just as you would anywhere else.
