Berlin - Tips for travelling

Berlin - not alone

I arrived in Berlin for the first time luckily for me, my friend, Chau is currently studying information technology in Berlin, thanks to Chau, I am more comfortable to explore the vast Berlin.

My first impression with one of the biggest city in Europe

The first thing I have to say is Berlin is really wide. The size of the city is bigger several times that Paris, but the population is smaller, but you know how large Paris is, walking around the heart of Paris is also left my foot exhausted.

Compared to Barcelona, I amnot very clear, but perhaps wider, although Berlin had two city centers in the past.

However, for me, Berlin's public transport is extremely convenient with its metro, tram and bus systems, as well as S-Bahn and U-Bahn.

Single travel ticket is used for all types of public transportation.

Modern Transportation system of Germany

The transport system in Berlin is considered one of the most modern advanced transportation systems in the world. The highlight is that you will never be late for school or work late in Germany while learning from the precision of every second of the German public transport system. Most cities in Germany have subway (U-Bahn) systems that connect to the transnational railway system (DB).

Germany people are cold

Before coming to Germany, I have heard about the "cold" character of the Germans. While I was on the subway, I have watched the Germans on the subway. Someone said that, on the subway, you know best about the Germans.

They look so cold. Actually, completely quiet and silent on the subway.

Even my friend Chau, who has lived in Germany for nearly four years, did not show any joy in the subway, perhaps he was stressed out of urban life. They close their eyes, or the head swaying to the rhythm of the portable player.

Advanced Automated System

Tell you that, at the station in Berlin, most of the service systems is automated. Therefore, you will see very little presence of staff at the station. Passengers can buy tickets by ticket machines installed at the station.

In general, this is a little bit different than when I visited Madrid, when there were quite a lot of ticket controllers, which is similar when I visited Budapest city in Hungary.

I realize that the way ticket management and control is also simple, but effective. Rather than controlling daily tickets, which cause confusion or discomfort to guests, the U-Bahn and S-Bahn systems have uniformed employees who sometimes carry out checking fare operations on any passenger compartment. You board the train normally, because each train only stops about a minute for passengers up and down. Then, the staff will "key" the card out in front of you asking for tickets. In the case of "forget to buy tickets" you will be fined very seriously: 40 euros.

Meanwhile, if you buy a ticket, only 2 euros. This control is both effective and time saving.

Today, I will guide you on how to use the transportation system in Berlin, I am here for quite a long time because I live in the house of my friend so I also learn a bit.

Hope it can help people when visiting Berlin.

Unluckily unemployed, or students are paid cheaper than ordinary civil servants. So Erasmus students are comfortable in Berlin.

Fly to Berlin

Berlin has two major airports: Schönefeld Airport (SXF) and Tegel Airport (TXL). You have a lot of options for getting from the airport to the city, such as Airport Express, S-Bahn, shuttle bus or taxi. To better understand the system of trains in Germany you can read more about this on DB website.

At both airports there is also a place for you to relax if you have long transit or long waiting times, which is the second floor area where you can see the planes taking off and landing.

The charge is 2 € for adults and 1 € for children.

Flying from Barcelona: I have to say that Barcelona and Berlin are the two airports in Europe's largest airport group, so there are a lot of Barcelona flights to Berlin and vice versa during the day.

In general there are many airlines I found Ryanair airline tickets very cheap, Vueling range of 20 euros also.

Flying from Vietnam, I have to say that currently Vietnam does not have direct flights from Hanoi or Hochiminh City to Berlin. However, the interesting thing is that we do have direct flights from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Frankfurt International Airport. Of course as a student, I do know that you will like to have cheap tickets, so flights with one stop I think are okay with us.

Below, I have made a table of cheap flight tickets from Vietnam to Germany (Berlin), you guys (Vietnamese Students should have a look).

Airlines - Itineraries - Fare (USD)

• Aeroflot Flight tickets from Hanoi to Berlin from 420 USD
• Flights from HCMC to Berlin from 310 USD
• Qatar Airways Flights from Hanoi to Berlin from 309 USD
• Flight tickets from Saigon to Berlin from 361 USD
• Turkish Airlines Flights from Hanoi to Berlin from 650 USD
• Flight ticket from Saigon to Berlin from 621 USD
• Etihad Airways Flights from Hanoi to Berlin from 460$¡USD
• Flight tickets from Saigon to Berlin from 460 USD
• China Southern Airlines Flights from Hanoi to Berlin from 795 USD
• Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Berlin from 824 USD

As far as I know, there are a lot of Vietnamese friends who do not know English or German, or because the Vietnamese community in Germany is close to 100 000 people, so many Vietnamese come to visit relatives who do not know clearly the procedures for entry at the Germany International Airport so many Vietnamese have been in trouble with the German police.

Entry Procedures at Germany International Airport

So I decided to write the procedures for entry procedures at airports in Germany for everyone to consult.

Procedures for entry at German airports are similar to those of other airports and are in the following order:

• When you get off the plane, follow the instructions to go to customs. Observe the clock: set your watch to the local time. When you arrive at the counter, there are many check-in counters, you notice signs, some of the counters for diplomats, some for indigenous people, others for foreigners. Generally Vietnamese people go to the counter for foreigners.
• Countertop procedures. I also instructed my uncle to do the procedure even though my uncle did not know English, generally speaking, he / she presented a passport / visa, customs officer may stamp or post some related documents. Depending on the country you may be required to fill out a few pre-determined forms (Vietnam) or to answer a number of questions related to immigration, even if your documents are valid (for example, They are afraid of people from poor countries and then stay illegally).
• Then fill in your country's customs declaration form: Forms can ask flight attendants before arriving at the airport or are available at check-in counters to avoid too much time on check in.
• Queue in accordance with the regulations: Based on the type of passport you carry the procedures for entry. Passport air ticket and customs declaration of the host country.
• Pick up: luggage or baggage you send at check-in is given on the chain. There may be many numbered lines or instructions, see the electronic board / information sheet to know which line corresponds to your flight that pick up. Around the area there are trolleys to help you get your belongings.

To find out which items belong to the taxable list, you can find out in advance via the internet, the German embassy... or ask at Vietnam airport before boarding about the Items such as cigarettes, spirits, perfumes.

Note, each passenger is only carrying a certain amount, carrying too will have to pay taxes.

Travel from Schönefeld Airport to central Berlin

The story of my uncle during East Berlin period

About Schönefeld Airport, formerly the main airport of East Berlin, 18 km from the center, in the old days, about 25 years old, my uncle used to work near the airport which is the airport of East Berlin by the Soviet Union, now only an auxiliary airport. In 1989, the Soviet Union collapsed; the result is that my uncle had to come back to Vietnam.

That is the reason why I come back to Berlin to buy a special souvenir for him too.

This airport is mainly for cheap airlines like RyanAir, easyJet.

Airport Express is a regional train of DB Bahn that takes you from the Berlin-Schönefeld Airport Flughafen to the city on the RE 7 or RB 14, stopping at Berlin Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Central Station and the Zoologischer Garten. The price of the Air Express Train is just 3. 50 € while the taxi ride costs 40 €, which is the best way to get into the city.

The moment I want to go to Schoenfeld station at the airport, take the Airport Express line from the airport lounge where the taxi stands, looking to the left will see a covered walkway to the train station, follow this road to exit.

If you take the S-Bahn, it will take you longer because it will stop at more stations, but I prefer to take the S-Bahn, as the S-Bahn will operate all night on Friday and on Saturdays.

You can take the S45 train to the Bundesplatz and continue to take the S41 / S42 to the center, or take the S9 to Ostkreuz and change the S5, S7 or S75 to Mitte.

If you are on a bus I suggest you take the X7 bus to U Rudow and catch bus 171 on U Hermannplatz, this is U-bahn line U7. If you go at night you catch Night N7 bus running from the airport to U Rudow.

Travel from Tegel Airport to central Berlin

I do not fly this airport because I am entering Europe through Barcelona airport, however for most Vietnamese we will go to Tegel Airport, near the center and the main airport by the Major airlines like Lufthansa, Air France/KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways all fly through here. From Tegel Airport you just catch the Airport Express very quickly to the city, to points like Zoologischer Garten (Charlottenburg), Hauptbahnhof (Mitte) or Alexanderplatz, far more convenient than Schönefeld Airport.

Bus

In case of bus ride fare is 2, 40 € / time, buses parked at Terminal A, B.

Generally, there are many types of buses running to the center of the city, depending on which area you prefer to pick the right one. Often the car will go to a Metro station and from there you will catch Metro to the next need, but the car does not run directly into the city center.

If you take a taxi, it is cheaper than going from Schönefeld Airport, from 20-25 €.

Take the train to Berlin

This is a great way to go if you are an erasmus student in Germany, as you already have a student card and can book a regional train ticket.

In general, while my friend Chau has a comfortable ticket in Berlin, I have to pay for my own ticket.

Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Center Station)

Berlin's central station is the Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Center Station) and also the arrival station if you are traveling from other European cities. Located right in the city center, you can easily get to other destinations by S-Bahn train, or take the U-Bahn train with the U55 line running through it. This line is also a train to the Brandenburg Gate, just a short distance from the central station.

The photo I have taken in Berlin central station. Very impressive.

Flixbus is very famous among international students as well as local people in Europe, you what?

I have discovered that it was actually an Germany company, they even have their office center in Berlin, so prices to go to Berlin are also very cheap.

I have travelled to Berlin from Copenhagen once with Flixbus, which helped me save a lot of money.

If Alsa bus is kind of big player in Spain, Flixbus is a giant player in Germany.

This is the first time I have seen so many flixbuses in my travelling in Europe.

Berlin Wall.

Travel in the city of Berlin with public transport

General information

Berlin's public transport system is one of the most modern and comfortable in the world, its coverage extends throughout the city, densely populated and packed. Public transport in the city includes the U-Bahn, Bus, Tram and public ferry systems operated by BVG and the S-Bahn train of Deutsche Bahn.

Types of trains

• The U-Bahn is the subway system while the S-Bahn operates on the ground. Both are convenient, with some points you can leave the U-Bahn station via the nearby S-Bahn to get there. In the U-Bahn train station there are no ticket takers, you just buy tickets at the ticket machines, validate tickets in the machine and board.
• Do not intend to evade tickets because unfortunately found will be fined 60 €. With bus and tram you can buy tickets directly with the driver, tickets will be printed, not use electronic tickets.

Area of operation

• Berlin is divided into three main zones, A, B, C (see map below), suitable for regional classification and traffic management.

U-Bahn trains serve the central areas of zones A and B, while the S-Bahn serves both the ABC and Schönefeld airports. Actually go sightseeing in Berlin you only have to pay attention to zones A and B, only when you have to go to the airport to go to Zone C only.

Ticket prices depend on which zone you go in, and single or daily tickets. U-Bahn and S-Bahn will normally stop operating at 1:00 am, but there is still a bus from night to day. At the end of the week, all U-Bahn lines (except the U4 line) will run throughout the night (15 'per trip), while the S-Bahn runs 24/24 but at different times.

Passes in Berlin

For travel in the city, you can buy a Berlin Welcome Card for all types of vehicles such as Berlin's S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses, trams, unlimited ferry. In addition, this card is pretty much discounted when you use to buy tickets to the museums, attractions. If you are short on dates and only certain destinations you can buy tickets by region. Below I will list down main passes we can have in Berlin for travelling.

Train fare:

• With a single ticket in the AB zone, also known as a Long-trip ticket, it costs 2, 70 € per pass but will save 1, 80 € if purchased 4 times (only in zone AB and in time).

Unlimited number of exchange train

If you travel a lot you should buy a Day Ticket at 6, 90 € up to 3. 00 am the following day, or a Seven-Day ticket at 29, 50 € for 7 consecutive days. If you are in a group of 2-5, consider buying a Small Group ticket for 17, 30 € which is valid until 3. 00 am the next day.

In addition to a single ticket, a short-trip ticket is available for up to three U-Bahn or S-Bahn stations - 6 times a Tram / bus, 1, 70 € / visit.

Note that this ticket is not available for regional vessels. The odd ticket in zone A or C is 1, 60 €.

Berlin City Tour Card:

Like the Tourist Cards in major European cities, the City Tour Card allows you to travel all types of public transport in the city. Price for each type goes in Zone AB: Type 48 h: 17, 40 €; Type 72 h: 24, 50 €; Category 5 days: 31, 90 €. This card can be purchased at the auto ticketing points or tourist information counters, train stations, and so on, as well as maps of the city center.

Berlin WelcomeCard:

This is a card that includes unlimited travel, public transport and 50% discount on more than 200 tourist attractions in the city. Price for each type goes in Zone AB: 24 h Type: € 19. 50; Type 72 h: 26, 70 € and Category 5 days: 34, 50 €.

How to buy tickets for cheap?

This is my specialy experience, before buying a ticket, I always consider whether my trip is long or short for long-trip or short-trip tickets.

For example, I have planned ahead for all day trips in Berlin, determine which day to go to the airport, which day go area, go more or less to buy tickets for savings.

For example, on the first day, I will just go to museums island, so I do not need to buy a day ticket. Instead, I am going less, buy a single ticket or a 4-way ticket, go more then buy a ticket.

Take a group of 3-5 people should buy a small group ticket for a total of only 17, 30 €, remember that this ticket cannot be torn and you have to fix the ticket, Sign up for a new go to use it.

Ticket prices for public transport tickets in Berlin:

Ticket- Type- Zones AB- Zones BC- Zones ABC

• Single ticket 2, 70 € - 3, 00 € - 3, 30 €
• Tickets 4 times - 4 Trip ticket 9 €
• Short trip ticket 1, 70 € all
• Tickets 4 times - 4 Short trip tickets 5, 60 € all
• Day tickets - Day ticket 7, 00 € - 7, 30 € - 7, 60 €
• 7 days ticket - 7 Day Ticket 29, 50 € - 30, 50 € - 36, 50 €
• Group Tickets - Small Group 17, 30 € - 17, 50 € - 17, 80 €
• Single tickets for Zone A or C 1, 60 € - 1, 60 €

As far as I know the Pass, Travel card in Berlin can also be used to go ferry, usually ferries on Lake Wannsee with beautiful scenery on either side.

I plan to take an S-Bahn train to Wannsee station and take a ferry to Kradow, where there are quite a few pedestrian streets with excellent beer gardens. Ferries run 1 hour per flight and take 20 minutes to reach Kradow.

Learn about travel

After learning about the main public transport and passages in Berlin, I found it important to learn about travel. For example:

S-Bahn train

: In the city center, look for S5, S7 or S75 S-Bahn lines as I stay at the hostel to remember S5, S7 and S75 to go into the center, these lines run from East Berlin to West Berlin, passing through many famous centers such as Central Station, Jannowitzbrücke, Alexanderplatz, Hackescher Markt, Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof, Bellevue, Tiergarten, Zoologischer Garten, Savignyplatz and Charlottenburg.

There are also lines S1, S2, S25 running north-south from Gesundbrunnen via Friedrichstraße and Potsdamer Platz to Südkreuz or Schöneberg. If you are a Vietnamese, visit S25 to go to Dong Xuan market, a very famous Vietnamese market in Europe.

U-Bahn train:

You can use the BVG's Journey planner to determine the points of departure, arriving in the fastest and most accurate way. There are all 10 U-bahn lines covering most of the city, while buses and trams help to link the rest.

Regional train:

Runs the same lines of the central S-Bahn but only stops at Lichtenberg or Karlshorst, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, Charlottenburg and Spandau. The north-south direction is the Jungfernheide or Gesundbrunnen along the Hauptbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz. Most of the long haul runs through the central station of the Hauptbahnhof, usually with one or two stops.

Taking the bus:

In Berlin there is a bus that can take you around the city, the bus 100, the first bus since the reunification of Germany between East and West Berlin.

In general, because I have a lot of time in Berlin, I do not have to take this bus, but I cannot help but mention its level of convenience.

This service starts from Alexanderplatz through the museums, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the Tiergarten, the Victory Tower and the Kurfürstendamm shopping district to finally stop at the zoo. If you take a train, there is also a city view tour which is a S-Bahn link between Zoologischer Garten and Alexanderplatz.

In addition to bus 100, I also recommend you can bus 200 is also a good choice for exploring the city at a cheap price, this bus goes through Zoologischer Garten, Breitscheidplatz, Philharmonic Hall, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Cathedral, Figure, Alexanderplatz, Volkspark Friedrichshain and finish at Prenzlauer Berg.

In conclusion

In conclusion, I think my experience with Berlin transporation system is quite great as I have been there for a quite long time, say a great thanks to my friend.

However, I still have to stay in hostel for 2 days.

Hope you find useful information about it in this writing; keep reading my blog as I will continue showing you my great time of discovering Berlin in next article.

So thank you! Keep on reading!

Photo gallery