Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [701]
Fares are either determined by zones or time travelled, or sometimes by both. A multi-ticket strip (Streifenkarte) or a day pass (Tageskarte) generally offers better value than a single-ride ticket. Normally, tickets must be stamped upon boarding in order to be valid. Fines are levied if you’re caught without a valid ticket. For details, see the Getting Around sections in the destination chapters.
Bicycle
From nuns to Lance Armstrong wannabes, Germans love to cycle, be it for errands, commuting, fitness or pleasure. Many cities have dedicated bicycle lanes, which must be used unless obstructed. There’s no helmet law, not even for children, although using one is recommended, for obvious reasons. Bicycles must be equipped with a white light in the front, a red one in the back and yellow reflectors on the wheels and pedals. Click here and Click here for additional cycling information.
Bus & Tram
Buses are the most ubiquitous form of public transport and practically all towns have their own comprehensive network. Buses run at regular intervals, with restricted services in the evenings and at weekends. Some cities operate night buses along the most popular routes to get night owls safely back home.
Occasionally, buses are supplemented by trams, which are usually faster because they travel on their own tracks, largely independent of other traffic. In city centres, they sometimes go underground. Bus and tram drivers normally sell single tickets and day passes only.
S-Bahn
Metropolitan areas, such as Berlin and Munich, have a system of suburban trains called the S-Bahn. They are faster and cover a wider area than buses or trams but tend to be less frequent. S-Bahn lines are often linked to the national rail network and sometimes connect urban centres. Rail passes are generally valid on these services. Specific S-Bahn lines are abbreviated with ‘S’ followed by the number (eg S1, S7) in the destination chapters.
Taxi
Taxis are expensive and, given the excellent public transport systems, not recommended unless you’re in a real hurry. (They can actually be slower than trains or trams if you’re stuck in rush-hour traffic.) Cabs are metered and charged at a base rate (flag fall) plus a per-kilometre fee. These charges are fixed but vary from city to city. Some cabbies charge extra for bulky luggage or night-time rides. It’s rarely possible to flag down a taxi. Rather, order one by phone (look up Taxiruf in the phone book) or board at a taxi rank. The phone numbers of local taxi companies are often listed in the Getting Around sections of the destination chapters.
U-Bahn
Underground (subway) trains are known as U-Bahn in Germany and are generally the fastest form of travel in big cities. Route maps are posted in all stations and at many you’ll be able to pick up a printed copy from the stationmaster or ticket office. The frequency of trains usually fluctuates with demand, meaning there are more trains during commuter rush hours than, say, in the middle of the day. Buy tickets from vending machines and validate them before the start of your journey. Specific U-Bahn lines are abbreviated with ‘U’ followed by the number (eg U1, U7) in the destination chapters.
TRAIN
Deutsche Bahn
Germany’s rail system is operated almost entirely by Deutsche Bahn (DB; 01805-996 633, free automated timetable information 0800-150 7090; www.bahn.de), with a variety of train types serving just about every corner in the country (see the boxed text, Click here). The DB website has detailed information (in English and other languages), as well as a ticket purchasing function with detailed instructions. Tickets may be bought using a credit card up to 10 minutes before departure at no surcharge. You will need to present a printout of your ticket, as well as the credit card you used to buy it, to the conductor.
Otherwise, tickets are available from vending machines and agents at the Reisezentrum (travel centre) in train stations.