Travel by plane

Two airports service Berlin:  Berlin Tegel (TXL) and Schönefeld (SXF).  Most intercontinental flights arrive at TXL, many of the low-cost carriers fly into SXF.

If you arrive at Tegel airport, take the bus labelled "TXL" direction "S+U Alexanderplatz".  It runs every 10 minutes from 5 am until midnight.  Exit at the stop "Unter den Linden / Friedrichstrasse" (a display in the bus will tell you what the current stop is).  The ride should take about 1/2 an hour.   Walk south on Friedrichstrasse for 200 meters (towards Checkpoint Charlie) until you reach Französische Strasse. The conference center is on the Northwestern corner.

For the bus ride from TXL, you need to purchase a ticket for zones AB.  These can be either purchased at the ticket machine or from the bus driver.  This ticket is valid for two hours for all transfers between regional trains, S-Bahns, busses, subways and trams within the city limit (one way only). The current rate is 2.10 Euros.

If you arrive at Berlin Schönefeld, take the regional train "RB14" (direction Nauen) to S Friedrichstraße, or take the S-Bahn to S Friedrichstraße (you will have to change trains at S Ostkreuz). At S Friedrichstraße, leave the S-Bahn and change to the underground railway line U6 with direction to Alt-Mariendorf. Leave the U6 at the station Französische Straße. The dbb forum is about 50 m North-West of the underground station.

The whole trip takes about 34 minutes.

For the entire trip from Schönefeld you need to purchase ONE ticket for zones ABC. This ticket is valid for two hours for all transfers between regional trains, S-Bahns, busses, subways and trams within the greater Berlin area (one way only). . The current rate is 2.80 Euros.

Travel by train

Berlin's main railway station is "Berlin-Hauptbahnhof".

If you arrive at Berlin-Hauptbahnhof, take the bus "147" (direction "Puschkinallee/Elsenstr."). It runs every 10 minutes. Step off at "Französische Straße". The whole trip takes about 15 minutes. Alternatively you can step into the S-Bahn to go one station towards the east to "S+U Friedrichstraße" and then change into the subway U6 (direction "Mariendorf") and step off at U Französische Straße. The latter trip takes only 10 minutes but is somewhat more complicated than the bus trip.

The conference center is on the Northwestern corner of your arrival point, the crossing Friedrichstraße/Französische Straße.

For the bus ride, you need to a ticket for zones AB. These can be either purchased at the ticket machine or from the bus driver. This ticket is valid for two hours for all transfers between regional trains, S-Bahns, busses, subways and trams within the city limit (one way only). The current rate is 2.10 Euros.

Berlin public transportation

Owing to safety-critical inspection work which has become necessary at short notice,  the Berlin S-Bahn is currently unfortunately unable to ensure a fixed timetable. They are, however, endeavouring to offer services at 20-minute intervals on all lines operating. Please use regional transport, the underground, buses and trams as an alternative

Check the public transportation website to calculate the optimal route between any two points within Berlin using S-Bahn, subway, buses, trams and ferries. Locate the conference venue or any other place on a Berlin map (choose "Als Start übernehmen" if you start from the conference venue, "Als Ziel übernehmen" if it is your destination). Or view an interactive line network (which includes S-Bahn and subway lines).

There are weekly tickets available at most of the (yellow) ticket vending machines which are valid for the entire BVG transporation system.

Maps

Check the SRF 2009 google map for a compilation of relevant locations. It contains the location of the conference venue, the conference dinner, a selection of hotels in the vicinity of the conference venue and various other places of interest. The subway stations closest to the conference venue are "U Französische Straße" and "Stadmitte". Click on the Subway-Station Icons to view the subway line.

Taxis

Taxis can be caught almost anywhere in the city at any time of the day. If you only need to go for a short distance of less than 2km, you can say "Kurzstrecke" (="short distance") to the taxi driver and pay only €3,50 (instead of >€10 regular fare). However, this only applies if you beckon to a moving taxi.

General Information

For general information about your travel to Germany please refer to the Federal Foreign Office:

http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/WillkommeninD/ReisezielD/ReisezielD.html