Berlin is a city that offers a number of (generally) reliable transport options. There are S & U Bahn options throughout the city, a selection of trams in the East of the city (a sure sign that you are in East Berlin if you spot a tram track), taxis come with a built-in booster-type child seats (for older kids). Here are my tips for getting around Berlin with kids...
Berlin WelcomeCard
Depending on how long you are staying in Berlin, you may want to consider purchasing a Berlin WelcomeCard for getting around the city. This card comes in 48 hours, 72 hours and 5 days options and not only covers your journeys on Berlin public transport, but also comes with lots of discounts and deals for 200 venues around the city including museums, theatres, restaurants and more. Here you can find full details for the Berlin WelcomeCard.
Apps to help you make your way around Berlin
There are a couple of apps that can be useful for helping to plan your journeys around Berlin. Here are my recommendations:
S & U Bahn
Berlin has a strong train system with it's S & U Bahn. A mix of older and modern trains are used and each feature areas specifically intended for bikes (and useful for those travelling with prams as you can often find a seat to sit on whilst staying with your buggy/stroller).
Ticket machines can be found on most Berlin train platforms (sometimes they are found in the station buildings) and they offer English (and other) language options when clicking on the appropriate country flag. It is highly important that you 'validate' your ticket before travelling with it by stamping it in the little yellow stamp machine located near the ticket machine. You only need to do this one time per ticket.
Here's a breakdown of the most useful general tickets available:
All of these tickets will cover you for your journeys on trams, trains and buses throughout Berlin.
Trams
Trams can be found in the Eastern parts of the city and provide a useful, if a little slow, option for getting to some parts of the city that the trains don't access. You will find a mix of newer and older tram carriages and not all can take buggy's/strollers due to some having steps. Wait for the tram that doesn't have steps and there are particular carriages that are for buggy's/strollers with a symbol on the door. Tickets for trams can be purchased via machines in the middle of the tram and must be 'validated' by stamping it in the little stamp machine located near the ticket machine. You only need to do this one time per ticket.
You can find transport maps, plan your journey and other info in English for the trains, trams and buses via the BVG website.
Buses
Buses can be found throughout Berlin and you'll see a mixture of single decker, double decker and bendy buses in use. Tickets for the buses can be used on Berlin's S & U Bahn system and trams. Spots specifically for buggy's/strollers can be found in the middle of the buses. If there are people standing in the way, it is not uncommon to have to tell them to move (don't be shy about doing this, you are in Germany). During peak times of day, it can sometimes be tough to get a buggy spot on the buses. Some bus drivers will expect you to walk to the front of the bus to show your ticket (after parking your buggy), others won't.
Taxi
Official yellow taxis can be found easily in most major parts of the city and are a little more sporadic in the outer edges and more residential areas. There are many taxi ranks where you can pick one up or hold you hand out when you see a yellow taxi driving past with it's light lit. The start fare for a taxi is €3.40 with you paying €1.79 per km for the first seven km and €1.28 after that. As with the trains, buses and trams, the taxis offer a 'Short journey' fare when you are travelling two km or less. This fare is €5, however, you must say that you want a 'Kurzstrecke' fare before the journey starts to get this and it is only valid with taxis you wave down on the street.
Depending on how long you are staying in Berlin, you may want to consider purchasing a Berlin WelcomeCard for getting around the city. This card comes in 48 hours, 72 hours and 5 days options and not only covers your journeys on Berlin public transport, but also comes with lots of discounts and deals for 200 venues around the city including museums, theatres, restaurants and more. Here you can find full details for the Berlin WelcomeCard.
Apps to help you make your way around Berlin
There are a couple of apps that can be useful for helping to plan your journeys around Berlin. Here are my recommendations:
- Citymapper the award winning travel app with up to the minute information on all transport within Berlin. If you haven't downloaded it yet, what are you waiting for?
- mytaxi for those of you who want to travel by taxi, this mytaxi app let's you know which taxis are nearby and you can order them easily via this app, even pay with it and you can rate your driver afterwards. This app is available for both Android and iPhone. Uber doesn't really exist in Berlin.
S & U Bahn
Berlin has a strong train system with it's S & U Bahn. A mix of older and modern trains are used and each feature areas specifically intended for bikes (and useful for those travelling with prams as you can often find a seat to sit on whilst staying with your buggy/stroller).
Ticket machines can be found on most Berlin train platforms (sometimes they are found in the station buildings) and they offer English (and other) language options when clicking on the appropriate country flag. It is highly important that you 'validate' your ticket before travelling with it by stamping it in the little yellow stamp machine located near the ticket machine. You only need to do this one time per ticket.
Here's a breakdown of the most useful general tickets available:
- Short Journey Ticket - these are valid for short journeys on the trains, buses or trams. They are valid for travelling 3 stations on a train or tram or 5 stations on a bus.
- Single Ticket - single tickets are valid for up to two hours when travelling in just one direction.
- Day Ticket - day tickets are valid, as you likely realise, for the whole day that you've validated them.
- Extension Ticket - Most of the city is in the A,B zones but should you wish to travel to places like Potsdam or Schönefeld Airport or you are staying in those areas and want to travel in to the city, you will need an extension ticket.
- Four journey tickets - This is the one I usually buy as it's 4 tickets for €9 in zones A-B, so a little cheaper per ticket
All of these tickets will cover you for your journeys on trams, trains and buses throughout Berlin.
Trams
Trams can be found in the Eastern parts of the city and provide a useful, if a little slow, option for getting to some parts of the city that the trains don't access. You will find a mix of newer and older tram carriages and not all can take buggy's/strollers due to some having steps. Wait for the tram that doesn't have steps and there are particular carriages that are for buggy's/strollers with a symbol on the door. Tickets for trams can be purchased via machines in the middle of the tram and must be 'validated' by stamping it in the little stamp machine located near the ticket machine. You only need to do this one time per ticket.
You can find transport maps, plan your journey and other info in English for the trains, trams and buses via the BVG website.
Buses
Buses can be found throughout Berlin and you'll see a mixture of single decker, double decker and bendy buses in use. Tickets for the buses can be used on Berlin's S & U Bahn system and trams. Spots specifically for buggy's/strollers can be found in the middle of the buses. If there are people standing in the way, it is not uncommon to have to tell them to move (don't be shy about doing this, you are in Germany). During peak times of day, it can sometimes be tough to get a buggy spot on the buses. Some bus drivers will expect you to walk to the front of the bus to show your ticket (after parking your buggy), others won't.
Taxi
Official yellow taxis can be found easily in most major parts of the city and are a little more sporadic in the outer edges and more residential areas. There are many taxi ranks where you can pick one up or hold you hand out when you see a yellow taxi driving past with it's light lit. The start fare for a taxi is €3.40 with you paying €1.79 per km for the first seven km and €1.28 after that. As with the trains, buses and trams, the taxis offer a 'Short journey' fare when you are travelling two km or less. This fare is €5, however, you must say that you want a 'Kurzstrecke' fare before the journey starts to get this and it is only valid with taxis you wave down on the street.
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