U-Bahn or S-Bahn to Berlin
 

Many thanks for any help you can offer.

We will visit Germany in early May. We'll have a car, but would like to take public transport from Lutherstadt-Wittenberg to Berlin, leaving in AM for Berlin's Gemaldegalerie. Then take a walking tour of that area, and return in late afternoon. Could someone advise us on the best train/bus option?

Thanks so much!

Hi WanderWoman,

it looks very easy by train. if you go to google maps and put in your departure and destination points, it comes up with regular trains from Lutherstadt-Wittenberg to Berlin, changing at Berlin-Sued-Kreuz for Potsdamer Platz, [about 45 mins total] and then walking for about 8 minutes.

Reverse to get back to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg.

Bahn.de will probably give you similar info if you want to confirm.

You have two options:

Fast trains (IC, ICE) - which require one change at Berlin-Südkreuz station (as annhig described above precisely). Travel time appr. 50 minutes.

Regional trains (RE) - which go direct from Lutherstadt Wittenberg to Berlin Potsdamer Platz station. Travel time appr. 75 minutes.

You find both at bahn.com

P.S.
I guess the title of the original post was a bit tongue-in-cheek.
U-Bahn means underground/subway/metro.
S-Bahn means suburban trains.
Neither goes so far from Berlin as to Lutherstadt Wittenberg.
You will use regular trains.

Faster trains can are also more comfy than regional trains but check price for both and if a lot more just take the regional trains.
No need to book them in advance - just show up as regional trains are very cheap for that distance.

- Cowboy does that route come under one Lander Ticket?

I'd consider going first class if the fare is not much more - regional trains can get SRO at times in 2nd class around rush hours but rarely IME in first class. www.bahn.de/en yes has the schedules - they go all the time and can book if there is a discounted fare available but that may tie you in to a certain train at a certain time - and you really do not know when you may want to return from Berlin on such a day trip. For lots of info on German trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. But Fodor's has some real experts too on German trains like Cowboy who posts above.

S-Bahns go above the ground usually and U-Bahns underground - forget the difference and take whatever one is most convenient - same price in Berlin but a non-issue to your getting to Berlin from Lutherstadt-Wittembreg which I have visited twice and really liked even though not so into Luther himself.

Pal - the route from Wittenberg to Berlin cannot be traveled with ONE Länder ticket as Lutherstadt Wittenberg is in another land (state).

Possible options would be:
Happy-Weekend-Ticket on - who would have guessed that - either a saturday, sunday or a public holiday.
Quer durchs Land Ticket on regular days. Valid only after 9am.
Both only valid on regional trains.
And yes, both names (of the tickets) sound somewhat silly in German, too.

The advantage of those tickets vis-a-vis a saver fare for the highspeed trains is that the former are not only valid on the specific trains but can be used on any regional train(s).

Thanks so much for all the information! This website is still the best help for planning trips! (p.s. to Cowboy1968 - not tongue-in-cheek, just ignorance!)