planes, trains and automobiles

  AIRPORTS

Tegel (TXL)

Information 41 01 23 06/7

Tegel is still Berlin's premiere airport. A taxi into town takes 20-30 minutes and costs about DM30. Bus 109 leaves the airport for the city centre every 5-10 minutes, takes half an hour and costs DM3.70

Schöenefeld (SXF)

Information 609 15 10

East Berlin's airport is slowly catching up with Tegel. Your best bet is to take the free shuttle to the S-Bahn (overground railway) and head into town from there. Cost: DM4. Journey time to city centre: one hour, if you're lucky. It would be cheaper to hire a car than to take a cab.

Tempelhof (THF)

Information 69 51 22 88/9

Now only really used for domestic flights. Bus 119, every 10 minutes, gets you to the Ku'damm in just under 30 minutes for DM4.

  AIRLINES

Air France 26 10 51

American Airlines 0180 3242324

British Airways 69 10 21

Delta Airlines 0180 3337880

Japan Airlines 261 13 75

KLM 410 13844

Lufthansa 88 75 88

SAS 6951 2491/2

Singapore 88 59 22 15

United Airlines 41 01 34 35

  FLYING TIMES

Berlin-London 1hour 55mins

Berlin-Milan 1hour 50mins

Berlin-New York 10hours

Berlin-LA 16hours

Berlin-Tokyo 15hours 45mins

  CAR RENTAL

Avis 261 18 81

Sixt/Budget 261 13 57

Europcar 881 80 93

Hertz 261 10 53

Minibus 261 65 65

Chauffeur service 213 90 90

  TAXIS

26 10 26, 9644

  PARKING

Parking meters are now in operation in all the prime locations. Instructions in English (sometimes).

  PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The U-Bahn (underground) is the quickest way to cross the city, while the S-Bahn (overground) often leaves a lot to be desired. Both run from around 4.00 to around 1.00. Two U-Bahn lines run throughout the night at weekends.

There is an extensive bus and tram network, including a well organised night-bus network. A single fare within the city costs DM4 and there is a complex range of multiple and season tickets. Official 'Guardian Angels' patrol the entire network so you don't need to worry when travelling alone. However at night the station attendants will arrange for a taxi to be waiting for you at the end of the line.