Travel and transport agencies Berlin & Brandenbourg

The BVG - Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe - is to Berlin what the RATP is to Paris. On its website you will find maps of the network and all the fares for regular tickets (single journey, booklets, day tickets, weekly tickets, etc.). The BVG application is useful for calculating its routes. The BVG also has two information centres, at Alexanderplatz and Zoologischer Garten, where you can buy tickets but also souvenirs (bags, flip-flops, glasses, mugs, etc.) with company motifs.

The central station is impressive. Built according to the plans of architect Meinhard von Gerkan and designed as a glass cathedral, it was inaugurated in 2006. Since then it has been connected to other modes of public transport. It is served by three bus lines, the central S-Bahn line (S3, S5, S7, S9), the underground line (U5) and the tram lines (M1, 5, 8, 10). Berlin's main railway station also has a tourist information office.

Right next to Alexanderplatz and under the Television Tower, Fat Tire enjoys an ultra-central location for its bike rental: standard and trekking bikes are available. In addition to bike rentals, the agency also offers guided tours with frequent stops to take the time to comment on the monuments and views of the city. Bicycles and helmets suitable for children are also available. And since you were wondering: "fat tire" means in English the big tires of the bikes.

Opened in 1882, the "Zoo" station today has 6 tracks and 3 central platforms, two for regional trains and one for the S-Bahn. Inherited from its status as the main station of West Berlin, it continues to be very well served by public transport. The station is located on the U-Bahn lines 2 and 9 and on the central S-Bahn line (S3, S5, S7, S9). There are also numerous bus lines on the Hardenbergplatz esplanade as well as cabs.

After 14 years of construction, the Willy Brandt Airport Berlin Brandenburg opened in 2020 and is among the 15 largest airports in Europe. It replaced the two former Berlin airports, Tegel and Schönefeld. Brandenburg Airport is located 18 km southeast of the city center and serves as the main base for the airlines EasyJet, Ryanair and Eurowings. Expansion is planned for 2035 to increase passenger capacity from 45 to 58 million per year.

Convenient for those who wish to cycle through the city on time. Bicycle hire with Vélib' type relay points throughout zone A. In the Nextbike application, select the country, then the city. Fill in your information (identity and payment card). A PIN will be sent to you by SMS. In the application, the card will give you information about bikes and stations nearby. The Nextbike service is a little expensive but very efficient. If you travel in Europe, Nextbike bikes are available in about 20 countries.

In addition to its rich and varied program of guided tours (available in French), Berlin on Bike also offers a classic bike rental service for adults and children. With a network of 620 km of bike paths, this is a great way to get around the capital! It's practical, fast and environmentally friendly. To visit the city in a more touristy way, don't hesitate to ask about guided tours (thematic tours: Berlin Wall, alternative Berlin, historical Berlin, etc.).

Since 2018, Flixtrain has supplemented the bus network of its parent company, Flixbus, with rail connections. It primarily offers trips across Germany, including on the Berlin-Cologne, Stuttgart-Berlin, Hamburg-Berlin and Frankfurt-Berlin routes. Flixtrain offers easy, high-speed travel at an unbeatable price between more than 50 German cities, while protecting the environment. Since 2022, Flixtrain has expanded its network to cover 70 domestic destinations, and has also launched services in Sweden and Switzerland.

A good, cheap and friendly way to travel in Germany (to go to Berlin or to other cities). Very common in the country, carpooling makes it possible to travel for a modest sum, while meeting people. In 2015, the French group Blablacar acquired the famous German car sharing platforms mitfahrgelengenheit.de and mitfahrzentrale.de and is to date the largest platform in the world for car sharing trips. Blablacar's website is clear and intuitive, easy to use for everyone.

With a network of more than 1,000 destinations and an annual traffic of more than four million people, Eurolines is the largest long-distance bus network in Europe. Eurolines is now part of Flixbus and has access to even more routes than before, consisting of 29 independent bus operators. Eurolines offers a daily trip to Berlin from Paris. This route is also available from about 30 cities in France. Several routes are available but still include one or more connections.

The bus station (Zentraler Omnibus Bahnhof, or ZOB) is located next to the Radio Tower (Funkturm). U-Bahn. The nearest underground station is Kaiserdamm (U2, direct to Zoo, Stadtmitte or Alexanderplatz). Then you have to follow the sign U and walk north up the Messedamm boulevard. S-Bahn. The nearest S-Bahn station is Messe Nord ICC, which takes you directly to the Ring (the circular S-Bahn line). Taxi. The cost of a taxi to the city centre is €17.

This is the bicycle rental system set up by the Deustche Bahn. 4,200 bicycles are distributed throughout the city. The first step will be to register on the site, fill in your personal information and your bank details (credit card) for payment. You will receive an email with a confirmation link and an SMS with the unlocking code. Then you can use the application to find the nearest bike. You type the number of the bike to unlock it, then you will put it back in the area marked in red.

The French Institute in Berlin is located in the legendary Maison de France on Kurfürtendamm Avenue. On the first floor, a large, rich and luminous media-library with an excellent collection of comic books. Like other French institutes around the world, the IF of Berlin hosts numerous cultural events (readings, conferences, meetings). On the ground floor, the Paris cinema showcases French-language films.

This Democratic Association of French Abroad is an apolitical and progressive association, with its heart on the left, which promotes France abroad and opens the French to the world. Founded in 1980, its ambition is to bring together fellow citizens who wish not only to stay informed about the cultural, political, economic and social life of France, but also to deepen their ties with their host countries. It has a large network of partners.

This "University of the Arts" - UdK for short - is, with more than 3,500 students, one of the largest fine arts schools in Europe. All artistic disciplines can be studied here: theatre, film, music, design, architecture and more. The University's buildings are spread throughout the districts of West Berlin. Every year in July, UdK students hold open days where they present their work.

Founded in 1948 in West Berlin, the Freie Universität (Free University of Berlin) belongs to the twenty largest and most prestigious universities in Germany. Its 38,000 students can study humanities and political science (Otto-Suhr-Institut). The FU's campus is located in the affluent district of Dahlem, between the Botanical Gardens and the Grunewald. The university is very well served by the U3 subway line and has a large number of international programs. Its library is the work of Norman Foster.

Humboldt-Universität is the oldest university in the city, yet it dates back only to 1810. It is named after the Humboldt brothers: Alexander, the explorer and naturalist, and Wilhelm, the linguist. With more than 43,000 students, it is also one of the largest universities in Germany. It has nine faculties. Thus, one can study law, mathematics, natural sciences, economics, languages, archaeology, history, etc., among others.

Sandemans Berlin offers daily tours in English, Spanish and German. The original Free Tour of Berlin covers many of Berlin's main attractions, including the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate. In addition to the free tour, the company also offers private, in-depth tours, such as the Third Reich tour, which takes in the former Jewish Quarter, the former Nazi government district, and areas that contain memorials to victims of Nazism.