City guide article

Driving Tips

Germany has a world-renowned series of superhighways, the AutoBahn; they were in fact the first of their kind in the world. Driving in Berlin and elsewhere in Germany therefore, is enjoyable and safe. Traffic moves on the right so be wary if you are inexperienced in this. Try to avoid the far left lane on the autobahn as speeds can often exceed 100mph/161kph.

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Overview

Parking is allowed only on the right side of the road except on one-way streets where both sides are valid. Parking spaces with meters are usually free of charge at night, but check the information and ask if unsure. Most petrol stations are open from 8am to 8pm. On the Autobahn however, as well as within Berlin, they are open 24 hours a day. Tollgates are not used in Germany.

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Buses

Transportation

Metro and the Railway system

Berlin has an extensive network of railways which can be fairly confusing for a first time visitor. The national rail service is Deutsche Bahn and it has four train categories. The Regional (RBP), the Regional Express (RE), the Interregional Express (IRE) and the Intercity Express (ICE). The Express lines have trains that do not stop at every station. Tickets can be bought online or at a station, but can be expensive. There are several special offers that can make your travel a lot cheaper so look out for them in newspapers, TV and online. The English language paper ‘Exberliner’ has useful information and news.

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Transportation

Taxi

Taxis can be a convenient method to get around when there is no other option. They can be flagged down on the road (when the yellow light is on, the taxi is empty) or at a taxi stand. You can expect Taxi drivers to speak passable English. Although all taxis are metered, there may sometimes be a cheaper alternative if you are only going a short distance and have flagged the taxi on the road.

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Transportation

Car for hire

There are facilities for renting cars in Germany, provided you have a valid driving license and are over 18 years old. Depending on the type of rental car, you might need to have held your license for 1-3 years. A young driver surcharge may sometimes be added and all passengers are required to wear a seatbelt. Most of the big car rental companies are situated close to the Tegel Airport and prices are reasonable. Cars rented in Germany can be driven to the surrounding countries, provided the rental company is notified. They generally have a list of allowable countries.

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