Over the summer, we visited London, Berlin and Munich. I wrote in another post about our experiences using the London Underground. Germany proved to be very different.
Remnants of the wall
Before the Berlin Wall was constructed in 1961, Berlin had a thriving metro system that covered the city. Once the city was separated, routes were split with most going to the wall and turning around. However, there were several West Berlin U-Bahn lines that actually went through East Berlin. The trains would slow as they went through the “ghost stations” but wouldn’t stop.
Additionally, the systems evolved differently. In the West, tram lines were removed and replaced with buses, but the East kept their trams along with the rail.
Today when you’re in Berlin, you don’t have to worry about armed guards at former East Berlin stations. However, you can still take advantage of the trams that run through the East side and are slowly being reestablished in the Western parts too.
Another way of thinking
Berlin transit is set up differently from any other transit system I’d ever ridden. In Tokyo, Paris and London, you buy a ticket that opens gates to let you access your train. In Berlin, there are no gates or barricades. It’s a trust-based system. You are still expected to purchase and validate (more on that below) your ticket, but there’s nothing to stop you from getting on a train without one.
Well, nothing physical. Berlin employs a roving band of ticket checkers who will fine you on the spot if you’re found to be traveling without a ticket. And the fine isn’t cheap. If you’re caught without a ticket or without validating your ticket, your fine can be €60. Apparently these ticket checkers work on commission so talking your way out of the ticket isn’t likely.
While it’s a different system, it’s very easy to use. Ticket kiosks are available at every station, and the validating machine is usually right beside them. And it’s definitely nice not to queue to get into or out of the station.
Ticket options
To ride on the Berlin metro, you can purchase a single fare ticket, a four-trip ticket, a day ticket (for one or a group), a seven-day ticket, a short distance ticket, the Berlin Welcome card or upload the Berlin app. Any of these tickets can be used on any bus, tram, U-Bahn (underground) or S-Bahn (suburban) journey.
- The single fare ticket is valid for one person for a two-hour trip in one direction. You would need to purchase another ticket to return to your starting location.
- The four-trip ticket is cheaper than four single tickets. You get two tickets (each one good for two trips).
- The one-person day ticket is valid for one person to travel throughout the day with unlimited trips. Additionally, fares for three children (up to age 14) are included in the ticket price.
- The one-person seven-day ticket is similar to the day ticket but covers unlimited trips for seven days.
- The group day ticket allows five people traveling together to have unlimited trips. You must travel together to take advantage of this fare.
- The short distance ticket is valid for up to three stops on the U- or S-Bahns, or six on buses and trams (no transfers on buses on trams using a short distance ticket).
- The Berlin Welcome Card provides unlimited travel on public transport for the amount of time you purchase and 50% discounts for select attractions.
- The Berlin app allows you to purchase tickets directly on your phone.
Note that there may be long-term ticket options for commuters or other discount plans available. More information is available on the Berlin.de site or the Berlin metro site.
How pricing works
The Berlin transit system is set up in three zones. “A” is the center where the vast majority of tourist sites are located. “B” is an outer ring and Tegel Airport, and “C” includes Schönefeld Airport and Potsdam. Tickets are sold covering zones AB, BC or ABC.
Children under the age of six (accompanied) travel for free. Those ages 6-14 are eligible for a reduced fare.
Single Trip Options:
Single AB: €2,80 adult, €1,70
Single ABC: €3,40 adult, €2,50
Four trip AB: €9,00 adult, €5,60
Day Ticket Options:
Day Ticket AB: €7 per adult
Day Ticket ABC: €7,70 per adult
Day Ticket Group:
Day Group Ticket AB: €19,90 5 people (any age)
Day Group ABC (Schönefeld): €20,80 5 people (any age)
When I compared the Berlin Welcome Card to the options above, it was too expensive for my family’s needs, even with the discounts. Additionally, while the app is available and works for some, read the reviews. People have expressed frustrations with the app malfunctioning, even causing a few to report having to pay fines when they couldn’t pull up their tickets.
Don’t forget: Validate your ticket. Depending on the station, the machine may be red or yellow and is usually right beside the ticket kiosk. It’s easy to do – simply insert the correct portion of the ticket into the machine. Validate only once.
What we chose
As with London, we chose a range of ticket options. We arrived at Schönefeld Airport so we needed an ABC ticket to get to our apartment. Since there were four of us (three full fare and one discounted) it was cheaper to buy an ABC Day Group pass because we knew we would be making at least two sightseeing trips the day we arrived.
We planned to purchase a Group AB pass every day for the rest of our Berlin sightseeing (for three full days). We probably could have nickel-and-dimed it to have a less expensive fare, but we preferred the freedom of hopping on and off as much as we wanted while we were there. However, we had a sick child so one day we purchased single tickets since only two of us were traveling.
On our last day we bought the four-trip ticket to get to our rental car location. Overall, we spent a little less than €4,50 per person per day for transit in Berlin.
The one thing we had to remember, especially coming from London, was we needed to buy tickets more than once. This would have been easy to forget since it was a trust-based system. We purchased and validated tickets at the kiosk each morning before we set off.
Perceptions
Berlin transit, like London, was very easy to use. Signage was excellent and we were able to easily get into and out of the stations. We also used the same app as in London to find out the estimated times and best trains/trams to use.
Interestingly in Berlin, trains weren’t always on time. I was surprised at how often we arrived at the platform and would see that the train was due in 2 minutes. Two minutes would pass, then the electronic sign would either go blank or update to say when the train was now due. Sometimes it would come right then, sometimes it would arrive several minutes later. It wasn’t nearly as precise as London.
I had my operator error moments in Germany too. First, we had no idea how to get on a tram. We thought they would stop in the middle of the street but we ended up on the wrong side of the street so it kept going. We walked down to a stop and watched the Germans. The tram stops, cars stop as well, and you walk across the lanes to get on the tram.
We also found ourselves on an older U-Bahn train that didn’t have push-button door openers. When the door didn’t open at our stop, the four of us looked at each other and then at the door, and by then the train was moving on. Fortunately someone got off at the next stop and we learned how to open the doors. We took the train back one station and were then pros of the system.
Roving Ticket Checkers
As you learn more about the Berlin system, you may read articles where people mention that they rode the subway free or never saw a ticket checker. In our five-day visit to Berlin, we had our tickets checked once. It was simple, the person was very polite (probably since we had a ticket), and it took all of two minutes. However, supposedly there are group message boards and chats detailing where ticket checkers were last seen and how to avoid them. Having read that, I thought I would see someone scamper quickly in the other direction when the ticket checker asked for our ticket. Alas, no one was running to escape the fines. My two cents – pay for a ticket.
Enjoy Berlin!
U-bahn photo by Victor Xok
Other photos by Marley