Berlin 

(/bɜːrˈlɪn/ bur-LIN, German: [bɛʁˈliːn] ( listen))[7] is the capital and largest city of Germany by both

area and population.[8][9] Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city,
according to population within city limits.[2] One of Germany's sixteen constituent states, Berlin is
surrounded by the State of Brandenburg and contiguous with Potsdam, Brandenburg's capital.
Berlin's urban area, which has a population of around 4.5 million, is the second most populous urban area
in Germany after the Ruhr.[3] The Berlin-Brandenburg capital region has over six million inhabitants and
is Germany's third-largest metropolitan region after the Rhine-Ruhr and Rhine-Main regions.[10]
Berlin straddles the banks of the Spree, which flows into the Havel (a tributary of the Elbe) in the western
borough of Spandau. Among the city's main topographical features are the many lakes in the western and
southeastern boroughs formed by the Spree, Havel and Dahme, the largest of which is Lake Müggelsee.
Due to its location in the European Plain, Berlin is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. About one-
third of the city's area is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers, canals and lakes.[11] The city lies in
the Central German dialect area, the Berlin dialect being a variant of the Lusatian-New Marchian dialects.
First documented in the 13th century and at the crossing of two important historic trade routes,[12] Berlin
became the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1417–1701), the Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918),
the German Empire (1871–1918), the Weimar Republic (1919–1933), and the Third Reich (1933–
1945). Berlin in the 1920s was the third-largest municipality in the world.[13] After World War II and its
subsequent occupation by the victorious countries, the city was divided; West Berlin became a de
facto exclave of West Germany, surrounded by the Berlin Wall (from August 1961 to November 1989)
and East German territory.[14] East Berlin was declared capital of East Germany, while Bonn became the
West German capital. Following German reunification in 1990, Berlin once again became the capital of all
of Germany.
Berlin is a world city of culture, politics, media and science. Its economy is based on high-tech firms and
the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, research facilities, media
corporations and convention venues.[19][20] Berlin serves as a continental hub for air and rail traffic and has a
highly complex public transportation network. The metropolis is a popular tourist destination.[21] Significant
industries also include IT, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, clean
tech, biotechnology, construction and electronics.
Berlin is home to world-renowned universities such as the Humboldt University, the Technical University,
the Free University, the University of the Arts, ESMT Berlin and Bard College Berlin. Its Zoological
Garden is the most visited zoo in Europe and one of the most popular worldwide. With Babelsberg being
the world's first large-scale movie studio complex, Berlin is an increasingly popular location for
international film productions.[22] The city is well known for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife,
contemporary arts and a very high quality of living.[23] Since the 2000s Berlin has seen the emergence of a
cosmopolitan entrepreneurial scene.[24]
Berlin contains three World Heritage Sites: Museum Island; the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin;
and the Berlin Modernism Housing Estates.[25] Other landmarks include the Brandenburg Gate,
the Reichstag building, Potsdamer Platz, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Berlin Wall
Memorial, the East Side Gallery, the Berlin Victory Column, Berlin Cathedral and the Berlin Television
Tower, the tallest structure in Germany. Berlin has numerous museums, galleries, libraries, orchestras, and
sporting events. These include the Old National Gallery, the Bode Museum, the Pergamon Museum,
the German Historical Museum, the Jewish Museum Berlin, the Natural History Museum, the Humboldt
Forum, the Berlin State Library, the Berlin State Opera, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Berlin Marathon.

Road transport[edit]
In 2013, 1.344 million motor vehicles were registered in the city.[3] With 377 cars per 1000
residents in 2013 (570/1000 in Germany), Berlin as a Western world city has one of the lowest
numbers of cars per capita. Congestion pricing has been proposed.

Autobahn[edit]
Berlin is linked to the rest of Germany and neighbouring countries by the
country's autobahn network, including the:
 A2 to Hannover and the Ruhr area, with links to Frankfurt am Main and western Germany
 A9 to Leipzig, Nuremberg and Munich, with links to Frankfurt am Main and southern
Germany
 A11 to Szczecin, with links to north-east Germany and Poland
 A12 to Frankfurt (Oder), with links to Poland
 A13 to Dresden, with links to Poland and the Czech Republic
 A24 to Hamburg, with links to Rostock and north-west Germany

Map of motorways in Berlin

All of these autobahn terminate at the A10 Berliner Ring, a 196-kilometre-long (122 mi) autobahn
that encircles the city at some distance from the centre, and largely in the surrounding state
of Brandenburg. Central Berlin is connected to the A10 by several shorter autobahns:

 A111 to the northwest (towards the A24 and Tegel Airport)

 A113 to the southeast (towards the A12, A13 and Schönefeld Airport)
 A114 to the north (towards the A11)
 A115 to the southwest (towards the A2 and A9)
The A111, A113 and A115 connect with the A100 Berliner Stadtring, an autobahn that forms a
half circle to the west of the inner city, and is one of the busiest motorways in Germany. [4] There
are plans to extend this motorway to form a full circle around the inner city.

Bus[edit]
The Central Bus Station Berlin (Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof Berlin, or ZOB) is located in Berlin's
western district Charlottenburg, close to the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds under the Funkturm.
The bus station served as an alternative to the rail transit corridors during German partition. From
ZOB intercity buses run to destinations throughout Germany and Europe. Some intercity buses
also stop at various other points in Berlin, including the airports and major railway stations.

Taxicabs[edit]

Mercedes-Benz taxicabs

In Berlin and Germany, taxicabs are mostly light yellow/beige ivory-coloured. The RAL number is
1015. Since 2005 the colour has not been compulsory anymore. Taxis have a small illuminated
cylinder-like "TAXI" sign on the roof of the car (on when available, off otherwise).
Typically the taxicabs are Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class along with other, mainly German,
brands. Taxicabs are either sedans, station wagons, or MPVs. Common station wagon taxicabs
include Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Among the MPVs, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, and Mercedes-
Benz Vianos are common. Most taxicabs are automatic transmission, and some have navigation
systems on board. Rates are usually near to other western European countries. [5]
In Berlin taxis have a special low fare (€4) called "Kurzstrecke" for distances less than 2
kilometers. "Street Hail" is a common practice in Berlin because cabs circle the cities when
vacant. Other hailing methods such as telephone based calls or taxi apps are common as well.

Cycling[edit]
Main article: Cycling in Berlin

Cyclists in Berlin

Berlin is known for its highly developed bike lane system. Among cities with more than one
million inhabitants Berlin is a metropolis with one of the highest rates of bicycle commuting in the
world. Around 1,500,000 daily rides account for 13% of total traffic in 2010. The Senate of
Berlin aims to increase the number to 18% of city traffic by the year 2025.
Riders have access to 620 kilometres (390 mi) of bike paths including some 150 kilometres
(93 mi) of mandatory bicycle paths, 190 kilometres (120 mi) of off-road bicycle routes, 60
kilometres (37 mi) of bike lanes on the roads, 70 kilometres (43 mi) of shared bus lanes which
are also open to bicyclists, 100 kilometres (60 mi) of combined pedestrian/bike paths and 50
kilometres (31 mi) of marked bike lanes on sidewalks.[6][7]
The Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle Route (Radfernweg Berlin-Kopenhagen) is a 630 km
(390 mi) long-distance cycling route that connects the German and Danish capital cities. The
German portion of the route, between Berlin and Rostock, is approximately 370 km (230 mi); the
Danish portion, between Gedser and Copenhagen, is approximately 260 km (160 mi). From
Rostock to Gedser, cyclists must take a ferry.

Modal share[edit]
The modal share development within the city of Berlin in percentage:

Modes of 200
2013 2018
transport 8

Walking 32 31 28

Motorized transport 33 30 32

Public transport 24 27 27
 Cycling 11 13 13

Water transport[edit]
Berlin is linked to the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the River Rhine by an extensive network of
rivers, lakes and canals. An equally extensive network of waterways exists within the city
boundaries, providing local access and various short-cuts. The waterways accommodate a
mixture of commercial traffic, sightseeing tour boats, ferries and a large fleet of private leisure
boats.

Waterways[edit]

Map of waterways in the Berlin region

Berlin city centre is located on the River Spree, which runs roughly east to west across the city.
The River Dahme joins the Spree at Köpenick, in the city's eastern suburbs. At Spandau the
Spree joins the River Havel, which flows roughly north to south along the city's western
boundary. To both east and west of the centre of Berlin, all three of these rivers flow through
substantial chains of lakes. These include the Tegeler See and Großer Wannsee to the west,
and the Müggelsee, Langer See, Seddinsee and Zeuthener See to the east.[8]
The Elbe–Havel Canal links the River Havel downstream of Spandau with both the River Elbe,
which flows into the North Sea at Hamburg, and with the Mittelland Canal, which stretches
across Germany to a network of canals that provide a link to the River Rhine. Both the Oder–
Havel and Oder–Spree canals provide routes from the Berlin area to the River Oder, which flows
into the Baltic Sea near Szczecin and provides links to Poland. The Oder-Havel Canal links with
the River Havel north of Spandau, whilst the Oder-Spree Canal links with the River Dahme east
of Köpenick.[8]

Multimodal train station Berlin Friedrichstraße alongside the River Spree

The most important canals within Berlin run roughly east to west between the rivers Spree and
Havel. The canal system to the north of the Spree begins with the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal,
which runs from the Spree near the Hauptbahnhof to the River Havel above Spandau.
The Westhafen Canal and the Charlottenburg Canal, both near Charlottenburg, provide further
connections between the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal and the River Spree. [8]
The main canal to the south of the Spree is the Teltow Canal, which runs from the Dahme south
of Köpenick through the southern part of Berlin to an arm of the Havel just east of Potsdam. A
shorter canal, the Landwehr Canal, parallels the Spree through the centre of Berlin. It begins at
the Spree between Treptow and Kreuzberg and rejoins the Spree in Charlottenburg.
The Neukölln Ship Canal connects the Landwehr Canal with the Teltow Canal; while the Britz
Canal connects the Teltow Canal with the Spree at Baumschulenweg. [8]
Whilst not within Berlin, the existence of the city and its partition led to the construction of
the Havel Canal in 1951–2. This canal provides an alternative route
between Hennigsdorf and Paretz, both then in East Germany, and avoids the stretch of the River
Havel that was under the political control of West Berlin.[8]

Ports[edit]

The Westhafen

Berlin's largest port is the Westhafen ("west port"), in Moabit (Mitte), with an area of

173,000 m2 (1,860,000 sq ft). It lies at the intersection of the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal and the
Westhafen Canal. It handles the shipping of grain and pieced and heavy goods. The Südhafen
("south port"), which actually lies along the Havel in Spandau, in far western Berlin, covers an
area of about 103,000 m2 (1,110,000 sq ft) and also handles the shipping of pieced and heavy
goods. The Osthafen ("east port"), with an area of 57,500 m2 (619,000 sq ft), lies along the Spree
in Friedrichshain. The Hafen Neukölln, at only 19,000 m2 (200,000 sq ft), is located along the
Neuköllner Ship Canal in Neukölln. It handles the shipping of building materials.
Sightseeing boats operate on the central section of the River Spree and its adjoining waterways
on a frequent basis. Common tours operated include short tours on the River Spree in the city
centre, and a three-hour circuit of the city centre via the River Spree and the Landwehr Canal.
Other sightseeing boats operate on the various lakes to the east and west of Berlin. [8][9]
Several ferry services operate on and across Berlin's waterways (see ferries below).

Railways[edit]

Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the largest crossing station in Europe, in operation since 2006.

Long-distance rail lines connect Berlin with all of the major cities of Germany and with many
cities in neighboring European countries. Regional rail lines of the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-
Brandenburg provide access to the surrounding regions of Brandenburg and to the Baltic Sea.
The Berlin Hauptbahnhof is the largest grade-separated railway station in Europe.[10]
Deutsche Bahn runs high speed ICE trains to domestic destinations
like Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart, Frankfurt am Main and others. It also runs a BER
airport express rail service, as well as trains to several international destinations (some of them
in cooperation with railroads in other countries)
like Vienna, Prague, Zürich, Warsaw, Budapest and Amsterdam.

 Berlin Railways from 1846 to 1896 and their successive nationalization



 
 

Regional trains[edit]

Regional train (Regionalbahn)

Berlin is the centre of a system of regional trains operated by Deutsche Bahn, which operate to
destinations within the Berlin-Brandenburg suburban area beyond the range of the S-Bahn.
There are two kinds of regional trains, the frequently stopping Regionalbahn (RB), and the
faster Regional-Express (RE).
Unlike the S-Bahn, the network of regional trains does not have its own segregated tracks, but
rather shares tracks with longer distance passenger and freight services. Within Berlin, regional
services stop less frequently than S-Bahn services, especially where they run parallel to U-Bahn
or S-Bahn lines.
Regional trains often continue outside the Berlin-Brandenburg suburban area, but within that
suburban area they use the common public transport tariff managed by the Verkehrsverbund
Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB). This covers the city of Berlin and approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi)
beyond the city boundaries. These tickets are not valid on DB InterCity trains, Intercity-
Express trains and international trains, even within Berlin.

Public transport[edit]
Main article: Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg

Regional Railway System in Berlin and Brandenburg

Berlin's local public transport network is under the regional transit

authority named Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB), a common undertaking of the two
federal states (Bundesland) Berlin and Brandenburg, plus the counties (Landkreis) and cities of
the Land of Brandenburg. The VBB is the planning authority for regional transport, awards
service contracts to private and public companies, and sets the tariffs. For transport lines and
networks which do not pass a county's borders, the locality is responsible. This means also that
the city-state of Berlin is the sole authority to award service contracts for networks and lines
which do not pass beyond the city limits, but has to come to an agreement with the
surrounding Land Brandenburg for regional rail and bus transport, i.e. the S-Bahn and regional
trains.
The city's transit networks consists of several separate networks, with heavy and light rail
transport with five different and incompatible electrification systems. These include the U-Bahn
and S-Bahn urban rail systems, regional railway services, a tramway system, a bus network and
a number of ferry services. There are a large number of common interchange stations between
the different modes.
All these services are, as explained above, under the common public transport tariff run by
the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB). This covers the city of Berlin and approximately
15 kilometres (9.3 mi) beyond the city boundaries. The area is split into three zones. Zone A is
the central parts of the city (inside the Ringbahn), and zone B is the outer parts of Berlin City.
Zone C covers an area beyond the city boundaries. [11][12]
Ticket fares have a slight price difference between these three zones. For instance, in June
2012, a one-day ticket for zone A+B was priced at €6.30, a zone B+C one-day travel ticket was
€6.60, and for all three zones A+B+C, the price was €6.80. [11][12]

Stations / Lines / Passengers per

System Operator / Note
Net length year

166 / 15 / 327 km DB / Mainly overground rapid transit rail

S-Bahn 417,000,000 (2015)
(203 mi) system with suburban stops

173 / 10 / 146 km BVG / Mainly underground rail system /

U-Bahn 507,000,000 (2012)
(91 mi) 24h-service on weekends

404 / 22 / 189 km BVG / Operates predominantly in

Tram 181,000,000 (2014)
(117 mi) eastern boroughs

3227 / 151 / BVG / Extensive services in all

Bus 405,000,000 (2014)
1,626 km (1,010 mi) boroughs / 62 Night Lines

BVG / All modes of transport can be

Ferry 5 lines
accessed with a single ticket

U-Bahn[edit]
Main article: Berlin U-Bahn
Entrance to Viktoria-Luise-Platz U-Bahn station

The U-Bahn is an urban rapid transit rail system, and is entirely within the city borders. Whilst the
majority of the system is underground, some sections operate on elevated tracks or at street
level. It is operated by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), the city owned municipal transport
operator, and uses the common public transport tariff managed by the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-
Brandenburg (VBB). In terms of system length the Berlin U-Bahn is the largest mainly
underground metro system in Germany and the fifth largest in Europe.
The U-Bahn now comprises nine lines with 173 stations and a total length of 147 kilometres
(91+1⁄2 mi). Trains run every two to five minutes during peak hours, every five minutes for the rest
of the day and every ten minutes in the evening and on Sunday. They travel 132 million km (83
million mi), carrying 400 million passengers, over the year. [13][14]

U-Bahn

The first line of the U-Bahn opened in 1902, and construction has continued spasmodically since
then, with the most recent extension (U5 to Berlin Hauptbahnhof) opening in 2020. The first four
lines to be built were built with a narrower loading gauge and a slightly different electrification
method to the later lines. This is most noticeably seen in the narrower trains on the earlier lines,
and rolling stock cannot easily be interchanged between the two groups of lines. However, trains
designed for the lines U1-U4 have been used during rolling stock shortages on the other lines
with so called "Blumenbretter" (flower boards) filling in the gap.
During the division of the city, the U-Bahn system was itself partitioned. One line – the U5 – was
entirely within East Berlin, and another – the U2 – was operated in two sections, one by each of
the two sides. The remaining lines were nominally within West Berlin, although two of them
passed under East Berlin without stopping, except at the Friedrichstraße station, which served as
a transfer point and border crossing. The U-Bahn stations physically located in East Berlin which
West Berlin services passed through without stopping came to be known as ghost stations.
Whilst the city remained partitioned, there was major expansion of the U-Bahn in the west, driven
both by the availability of funds from commercially successful West Germany and by the desire
to provide alternatives to the East German run S-Bahn. East German authorities extended the
sole line then entirely in East Berlin (today's U5) in stages from its then terminus
at Friedrichsfelde all the way to the city boundary at Hönow Since reunification, expansion has
been less fast, in part due to fewer funds being available and in part due to ongoing tram
expansion.
S-Bahn[edit]
Main article: Berlin S-Bahn

S-Bahn and U-Bahn map

The S-Bahn has aspects of both rapid transit and commuter rail operation. Historically it

developed from commuter services provided by main line railway operators, but now runs on
tracks that are separate from, but often parallel to, other trains. Most of the system is operated at
ground level, but there are significant sections of elevated tracks and tunnels. It has a somewhat
longer average distance between stations than the U-Bahn, and it also serves some of the closer
suburbs in Brandenburg. It is operated by a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, the national rail
operator, and uses the common public transport tariff managed by the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-
Brandenburg (VBB).[15] In terms of system length the Berlin S-Bahn is among the Top10 largest
metro systems in the world.

An S-Bahn train

The S-Bahn now comprises 15 routes with 166 stations and a total length of 331 kilometres
(205+1⁄2 mi). Over much of the network more than one route provides service over the same
tracks, and these routes all feed into one of three core lines: a central, elevated east-west line
(the Stadtbahn), a central, mostly underground north-south line (the Nord-Süd-Tunnel), and a
circular, mostly elevated line (the Ringbahn).[16]
The Stadtbahn carries both S-Bahn trains and regional and long-distance trains, on two separate
pairs of tracks. This line passes through most of the city's long-distance and regional train
stations, including Berlin Zoologischer Garten, Berlin
Hauptbahnhof, Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz, and Berlin Ostbahnhof. The Ringbahn forms a
circle around the inner city and crosses the Stadtbahn at Westkreuz ("west crossing")
and Ostkreuz ("east crossing"). The Nord-Süd-Tunnel intersects the Stadtbahn at Friedrichstraße
and the Ringbahn at Südkreuz and Gesundbrunnen.[16][17][18]
During the East German era the S-Bahn was run by the communist state, initially even in West
Berlin. As a result, and as a protest against the building of the Berlin Wall, the S-Bahn was
boycotted by West Berliners, and much of the system in West Berlin eventually closed through
lack of traffic. In 1984 (after a 1980 S-Bahn strike in West Berlin) the BVG took over operation of
the West Berlin section of the S-Bahn. After reunification, the two halves of the S-Bahn were
reunited under the ownership of the Deutsche Bahn. [15] Several of the S-Bahn services shut down
due to Berlin partition and the 1980 S-Bahn strike have still not been restored.
Trams[edit]
Main article: Berlin tram

Berlin trams

Berlin has a tram network comprising 22 tram lines serving 377 tram stops and measuring
293.78 kilometres (182 mi 44 ch) in length (two single tracks combined). All these services are
operated by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) and use the common public transport tariff run
by the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB).[14] The Berlin light rail system is one of the
five most extensive in Europe in terms of track lengths.
Of the 22 BVG-operated tram routes, nine are designated as part of the MetroNetz, which
provide a high frequency service in areas poorly served by the U-Bahn and S-Bahn.
These MetroTram tram lines are recognisable by an M prefix to their route number, and are the
only tram routes to operate 24 hours a day.[14]

Distribution of tram routes

Berlin's first horse tram opened in 1865, running from Brandenburger Tor to Charlottenburg. In

1881, the world's first electric tramway was opened by Werner von Siemens in Groß-Lichterfelde,
now part of Berlin. By 1910, the horse trams had been entirely replaced by electric trams.
Historically the trams were operated by several independent companies which were slowly
merged in the early twentieth century under the urging of Berlin politician Ernst Reuter and
brought into public ownership to form what is today the BVG.
Prior to the division of Berlin, tram lines existed throughout the city, but all the tram lines in the
former West Berlin had been replaced by bus or U-Bahn services by 1967. However East
Berlin retained its tram lines, and the current network is still predominantly in that area, although
there have been a few extensions back across the old border. After reunification tram expansion
has been prioritized over U-Bahn expansion and there are plans for a pan-Berlin tram network to
cover the entire city.
Besides the BVG tram routes, two further tram lines (numbered 87 and 88) cross the Berlin city
boundary in order to connect suburban S-Bahn stations within the city to the Brandenburg towns
of Woltersdorf, Schöneiche and Rüdersdorf. A similar line operates within the nearby town
of Strausberg, whilst the adjacent city of Potsdam has its own sizable tram network. Whilst none
of these lines is operated by the BVG, they all use the VBB common tariff.

Buses[edit]
Main article: Bus transport in Berlin
A Berlin double-decker bus in 2015

Berlin has a network of 149 daytime bus routes serving 2634 bus stops and with a total route
length of 1,675 kilometres (1,041 mi). All these services are operated by the Berliner
Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) and use the common public transport tariff run by the Verkehrsverbund
Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB).[14]
Of the BVG-operated bus routes, 17 are designated as part of the MetroNetz, which provides a
high frequency service in areas poorly served by the U-Bahn and S-Bahn. Like
the MetroTram tram routes, these MetroBus routes can be recognised by an M prefix to their
route number. A further 13 BVG-operated bus routes are express routes with an X prefix to their
route number.[14]
At nighttime, Berlin is served by a night bus network of 63 bus routes serving 1508 stops and a
total route length of 795 kilometres (494 mi). One night bus runs parallel to each U-Bahn line
during the weektime closing hours. Most of the MetroNetz bus and tram routes operate 24 hours
a day, and form part of both the day and night networks. Again services are operated by BVG
and use the VBB tariff.[14]
BVG bus service is provided by a fleet of 1349 buses, of which no fewer than 407 are double-
decker buses. Whilst such buses are common in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, their use
elsewhere in Europe is extremely uncommon.[14]

Ferries[edit]

A BVG Ferry on route F11

Main article: Ferry transport in Berlin

Berlin has an extensive network of waterways within its city boundaries, including
the Havel, Spree and Dahme rivers, and many linked lakes and canals. These are crossed by six
passenger ferry routes that are operated by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) and use the
common public transport tariff managed by the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB).[19]
There are also a number of other ferry routes that are not managed by BVG, and do not form
part of the VBB common tariff. These include passenger and car ferries serving islands within
Berlin's lakes, as well as a car ferry across the River Havel. The adjacent city
of Potsdam operates a ferry that is within the VBB common tariff.

Cableways[edit]
Main article: IGA Cable Car
The IGA Cable Car is a 1.5 km (0.93 mi)-long Gondola lift[20] line serving and crossing
the Erholungspark Marzahn. Built for the Internationale Gartenausstellung 2017 (IGA 2017), it is
the first cableway opened in Berlin.[21][22] It has a separate, more expensive, ticketing scheme from
VBB integrated services.

Berlin Public Transportation Statistics[edit]

The average amount of time people spend commuting with public transit in Berlin, for example to
and from work, on a weekday is 62 min. 15% of public transit riders, ride for more than 2 hours
every day. The average amount of time people wait at a stop or station for public transit is 10
min, while 10% of riders wait for over 20 minutes on average every day. The average distance
people usually ride in a single trip with public transit is 9.1 km (5.7 mi), while 22% travel for over
12 km (7.5 mi) in a single direction.[23]

Airports[edit]

Map of former and current Berlin Airports

Berlin Brandenburg Airport

Former Berlin Tegel Airport

Former Berlin Schönefeld Airport

Berlin has one commercial international airport: Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), located just
outside Berlin's south-eastern border in the state of Brandenburg. The airport opened in October
2020 after extensive delays and cost overruns, and replaced Tegel Airport (TXL) and Schönefeld
Airport (SXF) as the single commercial airport of Berlin, integrating the existing facilities at
Schönefeld Airport.[24] The BER will have an initial capacity of around 35 million passengers per
year. Plans for future expansion bringing the terminal capacity to approximately 50 million
commuters per year are in development.
Before the opening of Bradenburg Airport, Berlin was served by Tegel Airport and Schönefeld
Airport. Tegel Airport was situated within the city limits while Schönefeld Airport was located near
the current Bradenburg Airport site. Both airports together handled 29.5 million passengers in
2015. In 2014, 67 airlines served 163 destinations in 50 countries from Berlin. [25] Tegel Airport
was focus city airport for Lufthansa and Eurowings and a hub of Air Berlin until its demise in
2017. The military aviation unit (Flugbereitschaft des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung) of
the Federal Republic of Germany was based there as well. Schönefeld served as an important
destination for airlines like Germania, easyJet and Ryanair.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport[edit]

Main article: Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Following German reunification in 1990, the inefficiency of operating three separate airports
became increasingly problematic. Berlin's airport authority (the Berliner Flughafen GmbH, a
subsidiary of the Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld GmbH) transferred all of Berlin's air traffic to a
greatly expanded airport at Schönefeld, later renamed Berlin Brandenburg Airport.[26]
The existing airport in Schönefeld was greatly expanded to the south from its current state to
allow this. In fact, the new airport only has the current southern runway (the new designated
northern runway) in common with the existing airport.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport is predicted to be Germany's third busiest international airport, as
Berlin's airports served around 33 million passengers in 2016. [27]