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Berlin
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|BW = DE/Land%20Berlin/Berlin
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'''Berlin''' is the capital of [[Germany]].
== Public transport ==
Despite its size and unless going from one edge of an outer suburb to one on the opposite side of the city, going from one point to another within Berlin seldom takes more than one hour. Use [https://www.vbb.de/en VBB.de] to find out how to get from one location to another within Berlin and also the surrounding state of [[Brandenburg]]. Berlin operates on a fairly simple tariff zone system: Zone A is anywhere within the suburban train ring (''Ringbahn'' / S-Bahn lines S41 and S42), zone B from the ring to the administrative borders of the city, and zone C is a defined area of Brandenburg in proximity to the city (somewhat confined by the terminal stops of the S-Bahn).
As of April 2023, the current prices for a single adult, one-way ticket are: €3.20 (tariff zones AB), €3.80 (tariff zones BC) and €4.00 (tariff zones ABC). There is a plethora of concession, daily, group and other discounted tickets too, check the VBB or [https://www.bvg.de/en BVG] website for more information.
== Hitchhiking out ==
==== Option 2: Prenzlauer Promenade ====
The street '''Prenzlauer Promenade''' is called ''Prenzlauer Allee'' in the city centre and becomes the Autobahn A114 next to the S-Bahn station ''Pankow-Heinersdorf''. From there, just walk 500 m down the bridge and you've got a traffic light as well as two petrol stations(Star and HEM). Additionally, both on at the right side for last intersection before the drivers going towards Autobahn starts, there's another petrol station (Shell) on ''Rothenbachstraße'' next to the Autobahntraffic lights. It may be worth walking to checking out which of these three is the second petrol station as it's cheaper cheapest and more most frequentedone on a given day – usually one of the two former. However, it might happen Be aware that the staff at this second (the Shell) station might tell you to leave their property and threaten to call the police. There is usually a lot of traffic on this road, so you could also hitch with a sign. Coming from ''Pankow-Heinersdorf'', 50 m before the first petrol station, there is a shoulder where cars can stop and people waiting at the traffic light are able to see you.
Much of the traffic here is local, but there is also significant traffic towards Hamburg and Rostock. Try to get a lift to at least the first petrol station on the Autobahn ("Linumer Bruch").
==== Option 3: Raststätte Stolper Heide ====
'''If you don't mind spending the extra money on a C zone ticket to save yourself most of the walking: You can catch the S25, get off at 'start from any district in West Berlin'Hennigsdorf'', change to bus 809 (direction: take S-Bahn S25 towards ''S HermsdorfHennigsdorf'') and get off at ''Stolpe Heiligensee'' (OHVAB or BC ticket required). Turn left from the station (so that you face North), Autobahnbrückeand walk up ''Ruppiner Chaussee'' for 300 m. As this bus line only runs once Then turn right on an hour at asphalt walking path (there's a sign saying "Berliner Mauerweg"). Follow the mostpath for 1.2 km, check [https://wwwcrossing the bridge over the Autobahn.vbb.de/en VBB.de] Immediately turn left down a little path – you can stay close to the Autobahn in advance for departure timesorder not to lose it and you will quickly see a pathway that you can follow to the Raststätte. Coming from There is a small fence to the left of the other direction, path which you can also take have to jump at some point; the easiest place is probably to the right of a green fenced enclosure about half way to the same bus (direction: ''Hennigsdorf, FRaststätte.-Wolf-Str.'') The walk from station ''Hohen Neuendorf'' when taking the S1 or S8 priorbridge is about 1.5 km.
If you for some reason don't have or want to get a ticket including tariff zone C, you may also take S-Bahn S1 (direction: ''Oranienburg'') to ''Frohnau''. Getting off there, head to ''Ludolfingerplatz'', a small green square surrounded by a roundabout immediately west of the station, and start walking along ''Maximiliankorso'', the first road branching off on the right. Keep walking until the small intersection with ''Hainbuchenstraße'' (there's a bus stop with the same name), and walk over the road with this name, following it until its very end: It makes a sharp bend at the end of a cemetary (on your right) and a forest in front of you. Enter the forest, walk until a path branches off to your right and turn there. At the end of the branch, you should see a golf course. Turn left and just keep walking straight now, which will take you to the Raststätte's fence. This route is about 3.64 km long and will take roughly an hour.
''' Direction Denmark''': The ferries leave 15 km north of Rostock at Warnemünde and from [[Puttgarden]], from Berlin generally people head for the ferry at [[Rostock]] but it leaves more seldom, and if you are offered the right ride you could go to the [[Puttgarden]] one instead, which is a good option especially if you are only transitting through [[Denmark]] to [[Sweden]] seeing as on the Rostock - Gedser ferry there is very little Sweden bound traffic.
''' Direction [[Puttgarden]]''': From Berlin is possible if you are offered a ride to
''' Direction Hamburg-Stillhorn''': If you can get a ride to this gas station you can walk under the highway and hitchhike the other direction towards [[Lübeck]] - however, only people living in the southern part of the city are likely to pass by here.
''' Direction Lübeck''': It is possible to accept a ride either to Lübeck or to the Neustadt gas station just north of the city (but that is more rare). In case you can get dropped off at the onramp leading out of central Lübeck in direction Neustadt, wait for a ride that will take you at least to the gas station 10 km north.
'''Direction [[Århus]]''': You can also accept a ride towards [[Flensburg]] and some hitchhikers have even been known to accept such rides and then going to [[Copenhagen]] through Kolding and [[Odense]]. Also it is possible to reach both South western [[Norway]] with the ferries from [[Hirtshals]] (Hitchable??) and [[Göteborg]], [[Sweden]] with the ferry from [[Fredrikstad]].
'''Direction Sweden''': You can also head for one of the direct ferries to [[Trelleborg]], leaving from either [[Rostock]] or Travemünde near [[Lübeck]]. The ferry from Sassnitz on Rügen has been discontinued. '''Stockholm''' has a direct night ferry from Rostock 3 times a week running since autumn 2021. Currently they charge per vehicle and passengers so you couldn't join a crew, but passenger tickets go for 28€ so might still be worth it.
Getting onto the A11 is easiest by starting to hitch on road B2, a major thoroughfare which somewhat bisects the city from the Southwest to the Northeast; the B2 merges into the A11 beyond the motorway junction with the A10. The following options suggest different spots along the B2, option 1 being the closest/shortest one when coming from the city centre and option 4 being the one furthest away/taking the longest time respectively.
==== Option 2: Darßer Brücke ====
==== Option 24: Autobahn Junction Berlin-Weißensee ====
Take S-Bahn S2 (direction : ''Bernau from Friedrichstr. '') and get off at "''Buch"''. From there, catch a bus that goes to "''Schwanebeck, Dorf" '' (caapprox. 10 min). Several buses will go there so check the time table there or ask the driver or someone else. Note that you will need a ticket including Zone tariff zone C, as Schwanebeck is located outside of the border of Berlin. Next, you'll have to walk the main road of the village into southern direction. It's about 1.2 km to the on -ramp; before that there is a petrol station where one can already ask drivers. You'll need the on -ramp towards eastern directionthe East, that means coming from Schwanebeck, you have to pass by the first on -ramp which leads towards western directionthe West. There, standing behind the safety fence, you are visible to all drivers who queue up at the traffic light from both sides. It is not very easy for drivers to stop by but just before the actual on ramp cars can pull over, as they are not on full speed and a little firm area off the road allows to stop. On your sign you should write "A11" as it's not the actual on -ramp for the A11 straight away, but rather to the "Berliner Ring" (A10); the A11 goes branches off the A10 about a kilometre after this on -ramp. If your driver is not going to your destination but follows the A11 for a while, ask to be dropped off at Raststätte "Buckowsee", which is located some 35 km after the A11 begins. This Raststätte is the only one on the A11 and afterwards on A20 (leading towards [[Stralsund]] or [[Rügen)]] ), but a very busy one. From here you should try to find your final ride.
=== South towards [[Leipzig]], [[Munich]] {{Autobahn|9}} and West towards [[Magdeburg]], [[Hannover]] {{Autobahn|2}} ===
==== Option 1: Raststätte Grunewald ====
Take S-Bahn S7 (direction : ''PotsdamHbf''), or S1 (direction : ''Wannsee''), and get out at ''Nikolassee''. Walk out of the train station, cross the bridge and you'll see the [[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol station]] to the right. You can talk to drivers at the petrol station or on the parking lot. There are often other hitchhikers here early, and it is polite to wait until they have left. Get here early to avoid the competition.
This spot is both faster and cheaper to get to than option 2: Michendorf. You will need 25 minutes from Hauptbahnhof (Berlin Main Station) on an AB ticket (EUR 2.90), compared to ~1 hour (including the walk) on an ABC ticket (EUR 3.60) to Michendorf.
There is a lot of long distance traffic heading south and west, with high chances of finding a ride for at least several hundred kilometres. However, it is '''not''' a good spot to hitch East.
If you find nobody heading in your direction, you can also get a short lift until Michendorf and try your luck there, but this is usually not necessary.
==== Option 2: Raststätte Michendorf ====
[[File:IMG 5392.JPG|thumb|250px|right|[[Tiziano]] hitching from Berlin to [[Munich]]]]
==== Option 3: AVUS / Messedamm access lane ====
A good spot to stand with a sign is at the access lane onto the A115 (AVUS) from ''Messedamm''. The access lane is a part of the ''Funkturm '' junction which connects the A115 and A100. The exact place to stand is at the acceleration lane of the road connecting the Messedam ''Messedamm'' with the A115 in a U-turn around a quiet parking area at the ''Messedamm''. From S-bahnhof Westkreutz Bahn station ''Westkreuz'', walk north along the Halenseestrasse''Halenseestraße'', and cross the road at the big crossing cross the road intersection onto the Messedam''Messedamm''. After 100 meters on the Messedam , there is the quiet parking area at your left hand side. Walk across the parkingcarpark. To reach the place to standhitch from, climb the traffic barrier between the parking carpark and the acceleration lane. : [httphttps://gooosm.glorg/mapsgo/NlquZ 0MZuR0mAF?m= This] is the exact location . Hitchhiking is prohibited here as the location is behind the Autobahn sign, but the risk is worth it. From S-bahnhof Bahn station ''Messe Nord /ICC'' it is slightly further, but easier to find. Walk to the ''Messedamm'', follow it south and at the next crossing intersection turn right, then you 'll find the quiet parking area after 100 meters on your left hand side.
=== South towards [[Dresden]] and [[Cottbus]] {{Autobahn|13}} ===
Firest rest stop once out of Berlin is 25 km away Raststätte Am Kahlberg Ost on highway 13
==== Option 1: B96a Altglienicke ====
Take S-Bahn S9 or S45 to ''Altglienicke''. When getting off, you'll see there is a road that runs parallel on your left-hand side to the S-Bahn line (if you are facing south), and a red light. To get there, leave the platform by using the footbridge and turning right at the staircase (walk over the road running parallel). On the right side, There will be a pathway that goes down to the road - it's a little windy path that will eventually take you there. You will come to the road that runs parallel to the S-Bahn track (over which you just walked) and on that road is the red light that does not seem to have any shoulder space. But do not be confused. This is the BEST PLACE to stand and get an immediate ride. Cross the road to stand at the red light on the SBahn Track side. You can ask cars every time they stop for the red light. The red light is 100 m before the right hand onramp of the Autobahn going to Cottbus or Dresden.
==== Option 2: A100 Autobahn junction Tempelhof ====
[[File:Berlin-schoeneweide.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Hitchhikers next to the Raststätte in Schöneweide.]]
Take S-Bahn S8, S9, S41, S42, S45, S4, S47, or S85 to ''Schöneweide''. Then walk east out of the station, turn right onto Michael-Brückner-Straße and after 300 m, you'll find two petrol stations. Most people stops on second.
==== Option 4: A100 Auffahrt Siemensdamm ====
=== East towards [[Frankfurt an der Oder|Frankfurt (Oder)]], [[Poland]] {{Autobahn|10}} {{E|30}} ===
==== Option 1: Raststätte Michendorf / least walking ====
Alternative: Take bus 643 from ''Potsdam Hbf'', direction Busendorf, and get off at ''Michendorf, Bergheide''. Walk back 40 m in the direction the bus came from to the junction. There will be a small road going to the left, through the forest. Follow this road for ≈1 km to the Mcdonalds/Raststätte.
==== Option 2: Raststätte Am Fichtenplan ====
[[File:Berlinout.jpg|thumb|alt=E30 ''[[E30]]''.]]
Take S-bahn S2 to the end station ''Blankenfelde''. From there, take any regional train one stop to ''Dahlewitz''. Turn right from the station and walk southeast ≈4 km along Bahnhofstrasse/L40 until you cross over the Autobahn A10/E30 bridge. Head down to the Autobahn and walk 1 km east to the big Aral petrol station. Walking on the Autobahn is illegal, so if you want to avoid the risk of getting caught, continue walking straight on the L40 after crossing the bridge for 1.6 km. There will be a small road on the left heading to the Autobahn. Walk north 850 m along this road until the start of the bridge over the Autobahn. Climb down to the field and walk east 300 m, parallel with the Autobahn, until you reach the Raststätte. (There is a fence to with holes in it before/next to Raststätte). See the map on the right. There are a lot of cars and trucks. Altogether you You need to walk 5 to 6 km, but the place is very good! You won't have to wait too long to hitch a ride almost anywhere in Eastern Europe.
'''S-Bahn + 2 stops with train + 5 km walking'''
Take S-bahn S2 to the end station ''Blankenfelde''. From there, take any regional train 2 stops to ''Rangsdorf''. Walk the Kienitzer Str until the crossing with L40 road. Continue walking 500 metres and turn left on the gravel road. You will hear the highway and see a rest area through the bushes.
Can someone confirm that Kienitzer Dorfstrase almost all lenght have bicycle path next to it??????
'''Train + bus with one C zone ticket'''
[[File:Hitch_ber_pl_fichtenplan_2020.png|200px|thumb|right|How to walk from bus stop Am Weidendamm to Raststätte Am Fichtenplan]]
Once you’re on the bus, get off at ''Am Weidendamm'', the surrounding area being a business park. Walk towards the Northeast, there’s a crane business on the right hand side that you’ll spot from afar. The main road makes a left turn here, and a dead end road branches off: The latter is the one you have to take, the crane business coming closer and closer. A dirt road starts at the concrete square at the end of this road, and passes the crane business site, the fence of it being on your right.
Once on the causeway, turn right (South) and simply follow it. You’ll soon be on a forest road near the motorway, and likely also see a bridge as well as the Raststätte already. Cross the bridge, turn immediately left and enter the rest area.
==== Option 3: Raststätte Seeberg West====
From there, you’ll already see a big power line. Your destination is a wooden gate near the power pole on the field. Walk along its edge or simply across the field if conditions are favourable, no farmer is around and you’re wearing boots or something similar. Approximately 20 to 30 metres before the power pole, you’ll see the open gate (with nothing but an overgrown area behind it) on the edge of the field.
Enter the gate and immediately turn right; walk about ten metres, then turn slightly left (approx. 45°) and keep walking. The shrub is pretty dense in places so again it’s some bush bashing, but a few metres further you’ll already encounter the fence of the Raststätte. If you followed these directions, chances are you’ll already see the gate in the fence to enter the rest area. When [[User:Raureif|Raureif]] arrived here in October 2019, there was no padlock on the gate so it could simply be opened from either side of the fence.
Altogether, the walk is a little bit over 5 km and should take 90 minutes at the most. To skip walking the suburban part in the beginning, you can also take bus 943 (direction: ''S Hoppegarten'') from ''Hönow'' station and get off at ''Thälmannstr.'', with this bus stop being very close to where the dirt road is starting at ''Neuenhagener Chaussee''. However, the bus only runs once per hour during weekdays and operates in tariff zone C, meaning you'll likely need an additional ticket.
=== East towards [[Kostrzyn]] Poland and [[Frankfurt an der Oder|Frankfurt (Oder)]] ===
If you are going to Frankfurt/Oder or somewhere else close by, you can try to hitch along the national road B5/B1 instead of taking the highway A12.
Take the S5 to Mahlsdorf and follow Hönewer Straße to the South until the big intersection with the street Alt-Mahlsdorf. After the traffic light there is [https://goo.gl/maps/45v4qR1Np822 enough place to stop]. Cars go quite fast, but often slow down due according to the changing traffic lights. There is still a lot of city traffic though. Small walk away also is a Star Tankstelle petrol station (adress Alt-Mahlsdorf 117) Directly before the entrance to the Berlin ringway there is a bus stop & Shell Tankstelle suitable for hitching further. About 10 km after the highway the B1/B5 changes from a fast two lane road to a smaller national road.
=== North towards [[Fürstenberg]], [[Neustrelitz]] and [[Neubrandenburg]] ===
For the East part of Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania the B96 could be a good option instead of A11/A20, because there's only one petrol station on A11 and none on the eastern part of the A20.
Weekend or holidays it might be that there's nearly no bus via Sachsenhausen, Kirche. then you can go by train to Sachsenhausen (Nordb) and walk 30 minutes 1 km to the spot. Check before on vbbVbb-Homepage!
=== A115 - Spanische Allee ===
You can get off at the exit ''Spanische Allee'' if your driver takes the [[A115_(Germany)|A115]] passing by Potsdam to get into the city which most people do that are coming from the West. From the station ''Nikolassee'' right next to it you can take the S-Bahn to ''Zoologischer Garten'', ''Friedrichstraße'' or ''Warschauer Straße'' from where you can go anywhere. It is usually faster to do so unless your driver really goes directly into your neighbourhood, because you need more or less the same time by public transport to go anywhere in Berlin from this spot as with the car. Also your driver can easily go off the highway and back onto it.
== The Ruhr area warning ==
When hitch hiking towards Berlin from Belgium, avoid passing the Ruhr area (Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg). Once you get in, it's difficult to get out. Raststättes are rare and passing traffic avoids this region. We tried on several places and had to take the train to pass this area (lost 5 hours. There are sufficient work arounds to avoid this area. See also the hitchwiki page of the [[Ruhr Area]].