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'''Berlin''' is the capital of [[Germany]].

== Hitchhiking out ==

=== Northwest towards [[Hamburg]], [[Rostock]] and [[Scandinavia]] {{Autobahn|24}} ===

For hitchhiking to Hamburg prepare a cardboard sign with "HH" written on it, which is the license plate sign for cars from Hamburg and understood widely. "HRO" stands for Rostock by the way.

==== Option 1: Kurt-Schumacher-Damm ====

Take U-bahn U6 direction Alt-Tegel and get off at ''Kurt-Schumacher-Platz''. Then walk ≈500 m south along Kurt-Schumacher-Damm to the start of the Autobahn. Alternatively, about 2 minutes away from the U-Bahn station there is a ''Jet'' petrol station. You can either ask the drivers who stop there or stand at the road right before it.

* [[User:MaxHermens|MaxHermens]] says: It's best to ask drivers if they are going on the Autobahn, and if so, if they can take you to the above mentioned Stolperheide. Then you can avoid the long walk and start hitching straight away.

* [[User:t0ma5|t0ma5]] says: In July 2017 this option worked fine for me, 15 minutes wait just before the gas station with a sign reading "autobahn"

==== 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, both on the right side for the drivers going towards the Autobahn. It may be worth walking to the second petrol station as it's cheaper and more frequented. However, it might happen that the staff at this second (Shell) station tell you to leave their property and threaten to call the police.

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 ====

Take S-Bahn S25 towards Henningsdorf and get off at ''Heiligensee'' (EUR 2.60). Turn left from the station and walk north 300 m down Ruppiner Chaussee. Then turn right on an asphalt walking path (there's a sign saying "Berliner Mauerweg"). Follow the path for 1.2 km, crossing the bridge over the Autobahn. Then turn immediately left down a little path - you can stay close to the Autobahn in order not to lose it and quickly you will see a pathway that you can follow to this Raststätte. There is a small fence to the left of the path which you have to jump at some point before you reach the station. The easiest place is probably to the right of a green fenced enclosure about half way to the . The walk from the bridge is about 1.5 km.

Note: A (maybe not so good) nearby spot that saves you the 2 km walk: Get off one station earlier at ''Schulzendorf''. Walk ≈150 m north along Ruppiner Chaussee and take the first right (Schulzendorfer Straße). After ≈200 m, you will arrive at the Autobahn entrance sliproad. However, at this spot the access ramp is quite narrow, and there is not a good place for cars to stop safely. There is also a curve in the road, and cars are traveling quickly, so this spot might be dangerous for you and the drivers. You can take ''any'' ride. If the driver doesn't go your way, they can drop you off at the petrol station "Rasthof Stolper Heide" mentioned above, 3.5 km up the road.

==== For [[Scandinavia]] bound hitchhikers ====

'''For Sweden bound travellers '''

You can also head for one of the direct ferries to [[Trelleborg]], leaving from either [[Rostock]] or [[Sassnitz]] ([[Rügen]]), they might be a bit harder to hitch but at least the one is [[Sassnitz]] have been reported to be possible.

=== Northeast towards [[Szczecin]], [[Gdańsk|Gdansk]] (Danzig) {{Autobahn|11}} ===

==== Option 1: Berliner Allee ====

Take tram M4 from ''Alexanderplatz'' to ''Berliner Allee/Indira-Gandhi-Str.''. Then walk 150 m along ''Berliner Allee'' to the bus lay-by. Many cars at this intersection have Polish license plates and are heading northeast, some as far as Gdansk. Using a [[Szczecin]] sign will surely persuade a Polish driver to stop, though be prepared to mix your languages and refer to cities by their Polish names.

Alternatively, walk 1 km north along Berliner Allee from ''Berliner Allee/Indira-Gandhi-Str.'' to the place just before where Darßer Str. passes over ''Berliner allee''. I found this place to be much better. It's a long straight road where people don't drive too fast and where there are a couple of pockets for cars to stop. There's less local traffic and a higher concentration of relevant traffic (Poles, to be blunt), and it's much nicer to stand here. I waited around 40 minutes until a truck driver stopped.

==== Option 2: 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" (ca. 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 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 direction, that means coming from Schwanebeck, you have to pass the first on ramp which leads towards western direction. 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 on ramp for the A11 straight away, but rather to the "Berliner Ring" (A10); the A11 goes 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.

* Update: Due to reconstructions of the on ramp that finished in 2013 the situation looks different. There is hardly a spot for drivers to stop and the cars are going quite fast. Berliner Allee might be the easier option.

=== South towards [[Leipzig]], [[Munich]] {{Autobahn|9}} and West towards [[Magdeburg]], [[Hannover]] {{Autobahn|2}} ===

==== Option 1: Raststätte Grunewald ====

There are often other hitchhikers here early, and it is polite to wait until they have left. Get here early to avoid the competition.

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 ====

<ol>

<li>Take a regional train (e.g. RE7 direction [[Dessau]], check [http://www.fahrinfo-berlin.de/Fahrinfo/bin/ fahrinfo-berlin.de] for route information) from the centre and get off at ''Michendorf'' (zones ABC, EUR 3.30). Leave the station at the left side (in direction of the train). Turn right into the Potsdamer Straße and walk south 1.3 km. Turn right into Feldstraße and follow it till you see the [[rest area|Raststätte]]. Enter via the green emergency door.</li>

[[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 with the A115 in a U-turn around a quiet parking area at the Messedamm. From S-bahnhof Westkreutz walk north along the Halenseestrasse, and at the big crossing cross the road onto the Messedam. After 100 meters on the Messedam there is the quiet parking at your left hand side. Walk across the parking. To reach the place to stand, climb the traffic barrier between the parking and the acceleration lane. [http://goo.gl/maps/NlquZ 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 Messe Nord it is slightly further, but easier to find. Walk to the Messedamm, follow it south and at the next crossing turn right, then you find the quiet parking after 100 meters on your left hand side.

* This is the best place to hitch towards Dresden/Prague than Schöneweide in my opinion ( I second the opinion ) ! In Schöneweide I waited one hour and more, in Altglienicke max. 15 minutes! Some drivers also told me they say hitchhikers in Schöneweide but didn't take them because it was difficult for them to stop there. In Altglienicke it's easy.

We were two people trying to get a ride from Altglienicke to Dresden. There were many hitchhikers there and the traffic light is only red for 15 seconds, it's vert fast. If you are alone maybe you can try this spot but it's not easy. We waited more than 90 minutes and finally the highway police came and told us that it's forbidden to hitch here and we could have a 100€ fee. They said us to go to Schöneweide petrol station (option 3) and there we get a ride to Dresden in 20 minutes. So I strongly advice not to go to Altglienicke...

==== Option 2: A100 Autobahn junction Tempelhof ====

* (Update June 2015: A busy Friday afternoon, got a lift after 15 minutes all the way to Dresden so was very happy with this spot. It is possible to walk along the row of cars in the left-turning lane during a red light, but there isn't much space between these cars and the lane of traffic coming beside it in the opposite direction, so try to get back to the small pedestrian area at the traffic light before it changes. - grae)

* From the 96a road (not that much in use after opening the A113).

==== Option 3: B96a Schöneweide ====

[[File:Berlin-schoeneweide.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Hitchhikers next to the Raststätte in Schöneweide.]]

==== Option 4: A100 Auffahrt Siemensdamm ====

Directly in front of the junction "Siemensdamm" (at least towards south) there is a crossing of the streets "Siemensdamm" and "Nikolaus-Groß-Weg" with traffic lights. Moving away from the motorway there is a long line of parking spots, perfect to getting picked up. I've made the experience that directly at the traffic lights it's hard but a bit further it can work.

Of course it is probably a great spot towards AVUS and north as well.

* Autumn 2016. Morning. Got a ride after about 15 min. I came from Falkensee (next to Spandau right outside Berlin) and was dropped off at this spot which is probably well known by local drivers.

=== East towards [[Frankfurt an der Oder|Frankfurt (Oder)]], [[Poland]] {{Autobahn|10}} {{E|30}} ===

''If you are hitching in the direction of [[Wroclaw]], [[Katowice]] or [[Krakow]], you might find the route-page from [[:Category:Route_Berlin_-_Kraków|Berlin to Kraków]] useful.''

[[File:Berlinout.jpg|thumb|alt=E30 ''[[E30]]''.]]

There are a lot of cars and trucks. Altogether 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.

=== East towards [[Kostrzyn]] 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.

Directly before the entrance to the Berlin ringway there is a bus stop 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.

All in all it will take quite long time to get there, but if you need this direction it's easier, because it's outside the Berlin-Ringroad and you just have traffic in this direction. Waiting time between 1 and 40 minutes... average 15...20 minutes.

== Hitching In ==

A word about getting into Berlin since the ring is so big and maybe you are on a ride that's only passing by. But also the city itself is so big that if you get a ride to the other end of Berlin you have a long way to go, so a good option is to get out at...

=== 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.

<!-- [[File:DSCF0460.JPG |200px|thumb|left|got stuck]] [[File:DSCF0467.JPG|200px|thumb|left|behind the fence of Autobahn A2/E30]] -->

=== The Ruhr area ===

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]].

* I have experienced yesterday: Do not take a hitchhike in direction of Osnabruck/Bremen/Hamburg, be a little bit more patient and wait for a ride in direction Hannover! I have stepped off at the tankstation 10 km before Osnabruck at the A1 and have waited there for 4 hours, all cars go up north. I was coming from Essen.--[[User:Hapiel|Hapiel]] 02:25, 27 July 2012 (CEST) ''

=== Poland > Amsterdam highway 10 ===

The best to hitchhike is to get off at ''Rasthof Michendorf'' (after all the ring interchanges). There is a bridge over the Autobahn nearby so if you are coming from [[Poland]] you can jump over and easily find someone going into the city.

If you want to go '''reach Berlin most efficiently''' with public transports the best is to get of at "Königs Wusterhausen"/"Wildau". The exit is one exit after the "Schönefelder Kreuz" on the A10 direction Poland. I consider it as the quickest to get in Berlin from the South! Maybe your driver can drop you in the village at the S-Bahn otherwise here is the independent version:

Alternatively you can take the same road in the [https://goo.gl/maps/XhvjZqX9rks other direction] and go to the S-Bahn station of Wildau.

{{IsIn|Germany}}

[[trash:Berlin]]

[[wikipedia:Berlin]]

[[Category:Autobahn|Autobahn]]