Thinking of visiting Germany and renting a car to fly down the autobahn? You may want to reconsider. With Germany’s incredibly efficient and accessible public transportation system, having a car felt completely unnecessary. From the moment I arrived, I relied on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses to get wherever I needed. There always seemed to be a stop at or near my destinations. The system felt very intuitive after my first few days in Berlin. All routes and times were fully integrated into Google Maps. Every aspect of transit was accurate down to the minute within the app. Whether I was heading to a museum, our hotel, or dinner, public transport was always the fastest, easiest, and most affordable option.
A great sense of reassurance came from the locals who were always willing to help when I was lost or unsure. A quick Google Translate and a smile usually led to someone pointing me in the right direction, especially in my first few days of confusion. Unlike New York City, where the subway system can feel like a confusing spaghetti maze, Berlin’s layout was logical, clearly marked, and clean on maps. Once I learned about the U-Bahn line that took me back to our hotel after our welcome dinner, everything started to make sense.
The best part of transit in Berlin was not stressing about parking, gas prices, or navigating unfamiliar roads. I felt like I got to experience the life of the city as I followed the same daily rhythms of local Berliners going to their jobs or to their loved ones after a long day.
If you’re planning on visiting Germany, skip the rental and let public transportation take the wheel. You wont regret it.
