Local Transport In Germany – Part 2
We have discussed Germany’s leading local transport types in our previous articles. Everything has been explained soundly about the trains and buses transportation. You will get to know about the varieties in both transportations. Fares have been described for your convenience for local transport in Germany.
Now we’ll discuss the other types of public transport which we haven’t covered in the previous article. We’ll cover all the helpful local transport types to ease your travel in Germany.
Table of Content
Taxis Services in Germany
In Germany, taxis are costly because of their excellent public transportation services. You can quickly get a taxi at hotels, transportation hubs, and taxi stands. For the taxi services, using an app is a better option.
Taxi cabs in Germany have strong regulations to follow. So being a passenger, you should set your expectations accordingly. In the country, fares are standard with regional variations. Usually, there is a base fare of €3-5, and a distance-based rate varies from €1-3 per kilometer. For longer trips, you can get discounts or fixed fares, for example, a trip to an airport. The driver and the passenger agree to a price beforehand if the ride is longer than 50 kilometers. Most taxi drivers in Germany take the shortest route.
Taxis are primarily of a beige color in Germany. Mostly taxi drivers drive the same car; Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Ride-hailing services cannot operate in the country. In Germany, Uber cab services are also popular. Apart from Uber, there are many other cab service providers. You can avail of the services through taxi apps available in Germany. For example, FREE NOW has wider availability in Germany.
If you don’t hire a taxi through the app, you need to make the payment in cash. Payments by Girocard or credit card are not generally acceptable. But if you book via apps, the tax-hailing apps accept payments through cards.
Tips for drivers are not common in Germany, especially for shorter trips. The same also applies to getting a lift. For the longer trips, a 10% tip is acceptable.
Best Taxi Apps in Germany
We have a list of the best taxi apps available in Germany, which are also considered the best Uber alternative.
- FREE NOW: It was previously known as “MyTaxi.” It is active in most German cities and trendy in Berlin and Dublin.
- Taxi EU: Taxi EU serves most German cities, top-rated in metropolitan areas.
- Uber: Uber is available in most large German cities.
- Gett: Gett is a go-to app for business travelers primarily focusing on B2B and corporate travel.
- G7: G7 is widespread in most German cities.
Car-sharing Services in Germany
We all know that Germany has one of the highest numbers of cars in Europe. You can see that in some of the congested cities. Cologne, Hamburg, and Munich are the cities with the heaviest traffic. It was essential to reduce the congestion and keep the residents happy with the convenience of personal cars. To do this, car-sharing companies are offering better cars with better prices and more comfort.
Now Germany has the most significant number of shared cars on its roads. The popularity of car-sharing in Germany is increasing day by day.
As a foreigner, importing a car or buying a new car could be expensive. The initial expense will be registration and number plate fees. Apart from this, fuel, taxes, insurance, and maintenance expenses are also there. For the citizens who live and work in the same city, expenditure on the personal car could be too much if your vehicle is for limited use.
The alternative is to rent a car from a standard agency whenever you need it. It could also be pretty expensive for you. You should choose car-sharing because it is not a typical car agency. You may save more with car-sharing.
Car on Rent in Germany
With the help of car-sharing companies, you can rent cars by the minute, not by the day. These companies are offering a one-off registration fee. Most companies provide the option to park the car overnight during the week at no charge. There is a list of well-known car-sharing companies in Germany, which includes;
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- Car2go
- DriveNow
- Drivy (in German)
Other Methods of Public Transportation in Germany
- Ferries: Ferries are not used as a common type of public transportation. Ferries in Germany are used only in Berlin and Hamburg. In Berlin, BVG oversees six urban ferries, including the city’s cult favorite, Line F24, a rowing boat that crosses the Muggelspree. In Hamburg, HADAG runs seven ferry routes that cross the Elbe.
- Bike Sharing: The popularity of bike-sharing services is increasing. Biking is one of the fantastic ways to travel around the cities. Getting a second-hand bike could be expensive. If you need a bike for the short term, you can use the bike-sharing programs. In Germany, helmets are not required for bike riding, and there are plenty of bike lanes. These services are managed at the municipal level. There is a list of well-known bike-sharing companies in Germany, which includes;
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- Call a bike, it is run by Deutsche Bahn
- Metropolradruhr
- Nextbike
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- E-Cycle Sharing: In Germany, citizens and visitors can hire a cycle through the capital on share bikes for flexibility and sustainability. You will find most of the providers of bike-sharing and bike rentals. They will give you the information on registration, pricing models, and coverage in the city area. There is a list of well-known bike-sharing companies in Germany, which includes;
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- Wheels
- LimeBike
- Jump
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Navigate Public Transport Like a Pro
All of the vital information about the local transport in Germany is now with you. We have a separate article on the subject of train travel in Germany. You can refer to that article for the complete guide on train transport. Apart from this, we have well explained about the buses and trams. These are also one of the best sources for local travel. With all the information you can navigate public transport like a pro. You can choose the type of transportation as per your requirement.
Conclusion
Germany’s public transport is outstanding and effectively covers regions inside the big cities. The transport system is interconnecting cities and connecting smaller towns along the way. Its excellent reputation is reliable, comfortable, and relatively fast. We all are aware of the reality that Germans are known to be car lovers. Most citizens living in big cities, especially foreigners, choose to use public transport daily. That’s why we have discussed the other transportation options to travel within the cities. You can use all these options for your cost-effective and comfortable travel.
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