Why go
German cities often combine several transport modes in one journey. A regional transport association, or Verkehrsverbund, can link buses and urban rail under one local fare system. That makes transfers easier to plan, but a journey beyond its area needs a fresh ticket check.
The full story
Germany’s urban networks developed in layers. Electric trams appeared early: Werner von Siemens opened a line in Lichterfelde, near Berlin, in 1881. Trams became a mainstay of city travel in the first half of the twentieth century. After the Second World War, many West German cities closed tram lines, while others adapted them into Stadtbahn systems with central tunnel sections. Buses filled many gaps, including in rural areas. In larger cities, U-Bahn urban rail and S-Bahn suburban rail add faster links across the city and its surroundings. The names describe different systems, so the most useful map is the one for the whole local network. In the countryside, bus service can be thinner than a city map suggests. Some areas use demand-responsive buses, which require a separate check before setting out.
Useful to know
- Check the Verkehrsverbund map and fare area before combining a train, tram and bus.
- For a rural destination, verify the return bus and whether a demand-responsive service must be requested.
- Use the local network map to distinguish S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram and bus connections.