Local Transport in Berlin
 

Is a Global Eurail Pass valid for travel on the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses, trams and ferries in Berlin or only on the S Bahn?

Thank you

Only on S-Bahns and only technically on S-Bahns that link main train stations which would be most you'd want to use.

For lots on Global Eurailpasses and conditions, etc check www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com - Berlin has day transport passes that are cheap - you would of course only use the pass if it is a consecutive-day pass or on the days you are using the pass to get to Berlin or leave - otherwise not nearly cost effective on flexipasses to use a day - even to Potsdam (Eurails valid on that S-Bahn line IME).

This is from Rick Steves site: Posted by Laura
Rick Steves' Europe
The rule for S-Bahn coverage in Berlin is that you're only covered when traveling between the train stations. S-Bahns in other German cities don't have this restriction (but U-Bahns, city buses, etc. still are not covered). I assume that you're using a consecutive-day version of the Global pass, so nobody's counting how many trains or travel days you use within the activated period. If you had a flexipass, you would only take advantage of the S-Bahn coverage on the same day that you also take longer, more expensive train rides.

https://www.berlin.de/en/public-transportation/

Unless have consecutive-day pass or use flexipass on day of arrival or exit then other options are cheaper than burning a day on a pass.

The railpass is, as Pal has said, good on the S-Bahn because the S-Bahn is operated by the German national railroad.

But again Berlin is the only German city that restricts use of S-Bahns to traveling between DB (German Railways) train stations.

I am thinking of a 1 month Global Pass as we will be in Europe for 30 days. We will not be traveling by train every day and I do need to consider the expense vs convenience, but...

Is this good for 30 consecutive days or only, e.g, the month of September?

And, just to confirm - in Berlin this pass may be used on any S prefaced line and I will need to purchase a separate ticket/pass to use the U Bahn or Bus lines.

As always, thanks for your advice.

one month could be 28, 30 or 31 days.

No not any S-prefaced line but ones linking DB train stations. These will be most of ones you're taking probably. I always boarded any S-Bahn train without thinking as I did not know of this technicality until recently. Would not worry about it.

Hmmm. I take this to mean that a 1 month pass is only valid for a specific month. My trip will be spread over September and October, so if I bought a one month pass in September it would not be vaild for travel in October. Is that correct?

No- if you buy a pass you can activate it within six months of issuance (I believe that's the time line) in Europe at any train station and then the one-month period starts - do it today on Apr 13 and you pass would expire at midnight of Apr 12 - could use it all day Apr 12 til midnight.

Ahh. Thanks for the clarification.

If you have any questions about a pass and want an expert to talk to give the folks at BETS-European Rail Experts a call - I've used Byron there for years for buying passes and IME he'll expertly answer any questions even if not buying! And wait until buying as you may see specials for fall travel pop up - a day or two free or something thrown in.

There is one main S-Bahn line in Berlin that is Uber useful to tourists - the one between ZooDB staion and new Cental Station (Hauptbahnhof) and Friderchstrasse and Ost Bahnhof stations -just about every landmark in central Berlin is along that -like Reichstag, Brandenberg Gate, Unter den Linden, and Alexanderplatz.

Thanks so much for the helpful information and advice. We've not traveled in Central Europe before, so it's all new to me.

Now for the question I'm surprised no one has asked - are you sure you need a 1-month consecutive-day Global Eurailpass? Sometimes some individual or few-country passes are better - like the European East Pass valid in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Austria and Hungary - much cheaper per day of travel or a Global Felxipass if staying in bases like Berlin some days where a pass is of limited value unless doing day trips.

Why do you think you need a pass at all? It is often cheaper to buy actual tickets - ahead of time for specific trains, but if you know your itinerary, so what? And Eastern European trains are often cheap enough a pass is seldom cost effective even if you don't buy ahead.

See: https://www.seat61.com/Railpass-and-...pass-guide.htm

But if going first class as I prefer as do some others and wanting flexibility to chose which trains once there the pass could be a good deal if not the cheapest way around. So cost-effectiveness depends on what fares you are comparing them to. But that said most folks are not doing enough train travel to merit passes but again those like me who like to travel a lot even from bases by train and 1st class, etc could be great.