A Brief History of Berlin

First documented in the thirteenth century, Berlin was successively the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918), the German Empire (1871-1918), the Weimar Republic (1919-1933) and the Third Reich (1933-1945). After World War II, the city was divided; East Berlin became the capital of East Germany while West Berlin became a Western exclave, surrounded by the Berlin Wall from 1961-1989. During this period Bonn became the capital of West Germany. Following German reunification in 1990, the city regained its status as the capital of all Germany, amd now hosts 147 foreign embassies. …Read more on Wikipedia

Transportation

Berlin is a very large city. But it is relatively easy to get around, with a well integrated network of underground and over ground trains, trams and buses, not to mention their excellent road infrastructure and extensive cycle-lane facilities.

U-Bahn and S-Bahn

The U-Bahn (Untergrund-Bahn), meaning Underground Train, is Berlin’s Metro system. In central areas at peak time, trains usually come within 3 minutes. The S-Bahn (Schnell-Bahn), meaning Fast Train, travels mostly over ground and is interconnected with the U-Bahn, usually having stops either in the same stations or in adjacent stations, and are also very regular and punctual.

Buses and Trams and Regional Trains

Buses can sometimes be a useful alternative to trains since they may, in some cases, take a more direct route to a particular destination, or might stop closer to your final destination. Trams are mostly found in the east of Berlin, and are also well connected to the U- and S-Bahn lines. There are also the RE Trains, which are a regional trains that run through Berlin, and can also be used on the standard tickets.

Transportation Maps

Get a pocket U-Bahn/S-Bahn map as soon as possible so that you can easily refer to it without having to find one at the station, resulting, possibly, in you missing a train. It is also easier to examine once on the train than the limited on-train map. Having your own map makes it easier to ensure that you alight at the ideal station for changing over to other lines. You can often pick up a free copy of BVG’s magazine on the platforms, which contains a U-Bahn and S-Bahn map, to help you navigate the cities transport system.

Stations

In most areas of Berlin, you will probably have a U-Bahn or S-Bahn station within a 10 minute walk of your residence. It is useful to have a good map of Berlin to find out where the stations are, though they are usually very easy to spot, being denoted by a large blue square with a white U for the U-Bahn and a large green square with a white S for the S-Bahn.

Timetables

Berlin’s transport network, including U- and S-Bahn, Buses and Trams, is managed by BVG. For timetables and other information, visit the BVG website. For timetables for the RE trains and U- and S-Bahn connections, visit the Deutsche Bahn website.

Tickets

Tickets are interchangeable on all of the trains, trams and buses in Berlin, as long as they are valid. You can travel anywhere within zone AB for Eur2.10. You can travel 3 stops for Eur1.30 using a Kurzstrecke (short trip) ticket. An ABC ticket, which you would need, for example, to travel to and from Schönefeld Airport, costs Eur2.80. You can catch the regional trains, e.g. the RE7, between Schönefeld and central Berlin using the normal ABC ticket, allowing you to get there much faster, as long as you time it well. Check the timetable in advance.All tickets are valid for 2 hours, but are not valid for your return journey, even if it is within the 2 hour limit. See terms conditions.

Cycling

Berlin is ideal for cycling around, with its predominantly flat topography and network of cycle lanes (more so in western Berlin). You can rent a bike from Deutsche Bahn's Call a Bike service, and you'll notice that cycling is an extremely popular method of transport in Berlin, both for tourists and locals, and is a very convenient and easy way to get around.

Travelling Outside Berlin

If you want to visit other parts of Germany during your stay in Berlin, you can take the train with Deutsche Bahn, or for a less expensive option, take the bus with Berlin Linien Bus.

Climate

Berlin experiences hot summers with lots of sunshine, with long days, when temperatures often exceed 86°F (30°C), especially in July and August. Summer months, however, are also unpredictable, when on occasion, the weather can rapidly change from sunshine to cloud. Berlin’s weather in winter is extremely cold and damp, with significant snowfall and frost. Temperatures tend to be just below freezing. Rain can fall at any time of year, but the most rain usually falls in June and August, whilst strangely, the driest months, on average, are October and February.Check weather predictions on this Berlin Weather Forecast service.