For most tourists, Berlin is an exciting city. So much to do, so much to see... but how do you get to where you can do things and see stuff? The Guide offers you some insights on how to experience Berlin by Car. However, for those among you who are sane enough not to plunge into that adventure, there is help. Like many other German cities (take Munich as an example) Berlin has a sophisticated system of public transportation.

Types of Transport

There are different kinds of public transportation in Berlin. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks. What makes getting around in Berlin fairly comfortable is the fact that the different systems work together. As far as it is possible, the various modes of transportation are timed in such a way as to keep waiting time short.

These are the different systems you can go by:

• Bus
• S-Bahn
• U-Bahn
• Straßenbahn

Buses

Buses in Berlin are... well, buses are simply buses. Big cars with seats for a lot of people and with combustion engines, usually driving on diesel fuel and usually blasting black clouds of fume and smoke from their exhaust pipes. There are some double deckers out there, but more often than not, the buses are just one storey deals.

Buses can be found all over Berlin, so there is a good chance that you will be riding on one of them at some point. Provided that there are no delays, most buses will stop at your station at 20 minute intervals, or 10 minute intervals during rush hour. On many of the bigger streets, buses have a lane for themselves, so they get around quite well - until they come across that one car driver (and there always seems to be one, somewhere) that uses the bus lane as extra parking space for himself.