Categories
Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Hamburg to Berlin

Hamburg is Germany’s Gateway to the World, home to the country’s biggest port. The city offers plenty of things to do and places to visit.

Berlin is Germany’s capital, a city well known for its history and nightlife. It also offers plenty of interesting places to visit and things to do.

Summary

The short distance (288 km) between Hamburg and Berlin doesn’t require a flight (although indirect flights via Dusseldorf are available and start at €98 one way in mid-June 2012). The cheapest way to get between the two cities is the bus (whether you can score a ticket in advance for €9 or pay the standard fee of €22 or €27). Trains aren’t very expensive (from €29) either if you book in advance.

Trains from Hamburg to Berlin

Bahn.de operates fast trains (ICE , IC) between Hamburg and Berlin. The travel time is between 1h 40 min and 1h 50 min. The single savings fare starts at €34 and the standard fare is €73. On the slower trains (EC), the single fare is €29 and the standard fare is €59. The travel time is 2h. There are trains departing hourly from Hamburg between 3:46 a.m. and midnight.

>>read more about Train Travel in Germany

Buses from Hamburg to Berlin

Berlin Linen Bus operates direct buses between Hamburg and Berlin. If booked in advance the single fare starts at €9. Otherwise the fare is €22. Buses depart hourly from Berlin, starting at 7 a.m and ending at 9 p.m.

On the way back, from Hamburg to Berlin, expect fares of €9 (if seats are available and if booked in advance) or €27. Buses depart Hamburg hourly between 6:10 a.m. and 9 p.m.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Germany

Driving from Hamburg to Berlin

You can certainly rent a car in Hamburg and enjoy the 288 km drive to Berlin in A28. The travel time is about 3 h 10 min.

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Munich to Vienna

Munich is the capital of Bavaria, well known for Oktoberfest. But the German city also offers palaces, churches, relaxing gardens and interesting squares to spend your time. Don’t miss visiting some of the museums either.

>>read more about the Things to do in Munich

Vienna is the capital of Austria, a lovely city well known for its architecture, museums and opera. Walk on the Ring Street to see the most important sights in the country, visit Schonbrunn Palace with its gardens and zoo. And don’t miss Stephansdom, an impressive Catholic cathedral right in the center of the city. For lovely views of the city, talk the elevator to the observation deck on Danube Tower or ride the Giant Ferries Wheel in Prater.

Summary

If you purchase the train ticket in advance , it’s almost as cheap as the bus ticket (€39 train, €34 bus) but you’ll be saving two hours of traveling. Either way , you won’t need to deal with getting to/from the airport.

Flights from Munich to Vienna

Munich International Airport (MUC) is the second busiest airport in Germany and is a major hub for Lufthansa. It is also hub for: Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways and Air Dolomiti.

Vienna International Airport (VIE) is located just outside the city limits and is home base for Austrian Airlines and Niki. It is the busiest airport in Austria. S-Bahn (commuter rail) is the cheapest and easiest way to get from the airport to the city center but there are also buses which go to important squares.

Flights between Munich and Vienna are operated by: Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Niki, Air Berlin and TUIfly. The flight time is 50 min. In mid-June 2012 expect to pay from €63 one way on Air Berlin. A return flight during the same period is €112 , also on Air Berlin. By mid-October 2012, expect to pay from €53 one way on Niki.

>>book a cheap flight to Munich

Trains from Munich to Vienna

Bahn.de operates trains between Munich and Vienna (Wien) Westbahnhof . If you purchase in advance, the single savings fare is €39 on the direct train (RJ) and €59 with a connection in Plattling. The standard fare ranges from €79.40 to €89.20 one way. The travel time is between 4 h 20 min and 5h.

The direct trains leave Munich daily at 1:27 p.m., 3:27 p.m. and 5:23 p.m. On the way back, the direct trains leave at 6:14 p.m., 6:14 a.m., 8:14 a.m. , 10:14 a.m. The complete scheduled can be found on the operator’s website (which also lists trains operated by other companies).

Buses from Munich to Vienna

Eurolines operates a bus line between Munich and Vienna. It departs Munich at 7 a.m. daily and the travel time is 6 h 30 min. On the way back, the bus departs Vienna daily at 4:45 p.m. The promotional single fare starts at €34 , but depends on how far in advance you purchase the ticket. The standard single fare is €47.

Driving from Munich to Vienna

You can certainly rent a car in Munich and drive to Vienna. Both Germany and Austria are part of the Schengen area so you won’t be paying any surcharges, either. On A1, the distance is 406 km and you should be able to cover it in about 5 hours (depends on the traffic, of course).

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Frankfurt to Munich

Frankfurt is the economical capital of Germany and home to the country’s largest airport, with a lot of connections to the rest of the world. The downtown area and the scenic neighborhoods attract millions of travelers each year.

Munich is mostly known for being home to Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer party, but the city also has a lot of other things to offer. The architecture and the culture are big parts of the city’s appeal to visitors.

Summary

With no buses connecting Frankfurt to Munich, the cheapest option is the train. Book in advance and you’ll pay €29 (savings fares one way on IC trains).

Flights from Frankfurt to Munich

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is a major international hub, the busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic in the country and connects Germany to the rest of the world. The airport is located 12 km from the city center and is hub for Condor Flugdienst and Lufthansa.

Munich is served by two airports, but the flights to/from Frankfurt land on / depart from Munich International Airport (MUC). It is located 28.5 km from the city center and is hub for Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways, Lufthansa and Air Dolomiti. It is the second busiest airport in the country.

The only company operating direct flights between the two cities is Lufthansa. In mid-June 2012 expect to pay from €78 one way on Lufthansa. A return flight in the same period starts at €159 on the same airline. The same fares apply later in the year, too.

>>book a cheap flight to Munich

Trains from Frankfurt to Munich

Bahn.de operates fast trains (ICE) between Frankfurt and Munich. The travel time is about 3 ½ h. If you book in advance (about a month) the single savings fare is €59 . The standard fare is €95 one way. Trains depart from each station every hour until 1 a.m. And they start around 5 a.m. daily.

The savings fare on the IC trains is €29 and the travel time is similar. If don’t mind traveling in the evening, these are excellent choices to save money and get between the two cities fast.

>>read more about Train travel in Germany

Driving from Frankfurt to Munich

You can rent a car and drive the 400 km (on A3 and A9) between Frankfurt and Munich. Driving in Germany is a delight and you should be able to cover the distance in about 4 h (depending on the traffic).

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
Germany Planning a Trip Things to Do Transportation

Getting from Frankfurt to Berlin

Frankfurt is the business and financial center of Germany and an important travel hub in the country, offering connections to the rest of the world. The downtown area is very popular among travelers and its off the beaten track neighborhoods still retain the old charm.

Berlin is a city filled with history, known for the remains of the Wall and home to Branderburg gate.

Both are important and interesting cities and traveling between them is an absolute delight. And there are plenty of choices , depending on your budget.

Summary

The cheapest option for traveling between Frankfurt and Berlin is the bus. The fares start at €33 one way (but they can be higher if you don’t book in advance) and the travel time is 9 h. A more expensive, but much faster – 4 to 5 h – option is the train. Book in advance and you can pay just €59 one way.

Flights from Frankfurt to Berlin

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is a major international hub , located 12 km from the city center. It is hub for Condor Flugdienst and Lufthansa and is the busiest airport by passenger traffic in Germany.

Berlin is served by three airports: Tegel International Airport (TXL), Schönefeld (SXF) and Brandenburg (scheduled to open in June 2012). When the airport opens, Schönefeld is scheduled to close (as of August 2012).

Tegel International Airport (TXL) is the main airport serving Berlin and is located 8 km from the capital city. The airport is hub for Air Berlin and Germania and is the fourth biggest airport in Germany. It is also a focus city for Lufthansa.

Flights between Frankfurt and Berlin are operated by: Air Berlin (Tegel) and Lufthansa (Branderburg, Tegel). The flight time is 1h 15 min.

In mid-June 2012, expect to pay from €71 one way on Air Berlin. Lufthansa charges a slight higher price (€74 one way). Return flights during the same period start at €122 on Lufthansa. By mid-October, expect to pay from €53 one way on Air Berlin and from €102 for a return flight on the same carrier.

>>book a cheap flight to Berlin

Trains from Frankfurt to Berlin

Bahn.de operates trains (ICE and IC) between Frankfurt and Berlin. The travel time is between 4 h and 5 h. Book in advance (about 1 month) and you can find the cheapest fare of €59 one way (savings fares) rather than the standard fare of €118. The fares do depend on the hour of departure and route. Some trains connecting the two cities are direct, while some require a change in Hannover.

>>read more about Train Travel in Germany

Buses from Frankfurt to Berlin

Berlin Linien Bus operates buses between Frankfurt and Berlin and offers the possibility to book the ticket online. Book in advance and you pay only €33 one way between the two cities. The bus leaves Berlin at 7:06 a.m and arrives in Frankfurt 9 hr later. On the way back, catch the bus in Frankfurt at 8 a.m. and by 5 p.m. you’ll be in Berlin. The schedule and prices are here (pdf).

>>read more about Bus Travel in Germany

Driving from Frankfurt to Berlin

Driving in Germany is an absolute delight. The roads are in excellent condition and the drivers obey the rules. Especially if you are not traveling alone, renting a car here can be an excellent way to get from one city to another.

There are several routes to choose from when getting from Frankfurt to Berlin and, if you use Google Maps, you can get accurate traffic information. On the shortest route – 547 km on A4 and A9 – you can cover the distance in about 6 h.

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
Germany Transportation

Germany’s Train Stations: Timelapse Video

If this awesome timelapse video of Germany’s train stations doesn’t make you want to book a train trip somewhere – to Germany or otherwise – I don’t know what will.

German Rail Timelapse from Holger Mette on Vimeo.

Visit the Veo el Mundo blog post about this video to find out more about Germany’s rail system.

Categories
Planning a Trip Portugal Transportation travel guide

Getting from Lisbon to Sintra


Lisbon , the capital of Portugal, is a vibrant European city, offering stunning views of the Atlantic. It is also an excellent base for exploring the near-by cities and attractions, such as Sintra and its Moorish castle. Aside from the castle, Sintra is also home to Pena Palace. The surrounding hills as well as the historical center are UNESCO Heritage Sites.

Quick summary

The easiest way to get from Lisbon to Sintra is by train. There are trains departing every 15 min from Lisbon’s Entrecampos station and the fare is €1.95* one way (unless you have a Lisbon travel card and then you won’t pay anything for this ride).

Trains from Lisbon to Sintra

There are train departing Lisbon Entrecampos to Sintra every 15 min , every day of the week. The travel time is about 40 min and the single fare is €1.95. Trains don’t run between midnight and 6 a.m. (last train departs Lisbon at 11:42 p.m.).

If you purchase Lisbon travel card, you should know that it covers the price of the train ride to Sintra (and other cities located close to the capital).

The train station in Sintra is located about 10 min walk from the city. If you don’t plan to do any walking, you can catch a bus from the bus station, located opposite the train station.

Tickets can be bought online here

>>read more about Train Travel in Portugal

Driving from Lisbon to Sintra

You can rent a car and drive the 35 km from Lisbon to Sintra on A16. A shorter route (32 km) is via A5 and IC19. In either case the travel time is little over ½ h.

View Larger Map

Note:*at the time the article was written

Photo credit

Categories
Planning a Trip Portugal Transportation travel guide

Getting from Faro to Seville


Faro is the main gateway into the Algarve region of Portugal and although it is generally overcrowded by tourists pretty much year-round, it is also quite popular among budget travelers who use it as a base for exploring other cities in the area or traveling to Spain. In fact, the Far to Seville route is very popular among backpackers and budget travelers, in general.

Seville is the cultural and financial capital of Southern Spain and also a top destination in Andalucia. There is a lot to do and see here and the budget travelers are happy to find affordable accommodation.

Although both cities are served by airports, the short distance between them (about 200 km) doesn’t require a flight. There are connecting flights via Lisbon, but the time spent traveling is long (about 4 hours) and the prices start at €124 one way during early spring (although it’s possible to find flights from €98 when the low cost carriers start to serve Faro during the summer months).

Quick summary

With no railway between Faro and Seville, the best option for any traveler is to travel by bus. There are several companies operating on this route and the single fares start at €16*.

Buses from Faro to Seville

Eva Transportes offers daily connections between Faro and Seville (Sevilha) . There are two buses per day from Faro, at 8:20 a.m. and 3:35 p.m. The travel time is 4 h 40 min and the single fare is €16. The return fare is €27.20. On the way back, catch the bus from Seville at 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.

Eurolines also operates on this route, but to find the buses, go on the Spanish site and look for Seville to Faro (if you go on the Portuguese site, you cannot find the Faro to Seville route). There is one bus departing Seville at 11:59 p.m. daily and arrives at 2:30 a.m. (local time in Portugal). The single fare is €20. On the way back, catch the bus at 2:30 a.m. in Faro and you’ll be at 6:15 a.m. in Seville. The same fare applies.

Driving from Faro to Seville

You can rent a car in Faro and drive the 197 km to Seville on A22 and A-49. You will be driving on a coast for a while, so you are also rewarded with lovely views.

Make sure to ask the rental company whether you are allowed to take the car across the border.

View Larger Map

Note: at the time the article was written

Photo credit

Categories
Planning a Trip Portugal Transportation travel guide

Getting from Faro to Lagos

Faro is the main gateway into the Algarve region and also home to the closest airport to Lagos . Faro is generally over crowded with tourists pretty much year-round, but it is also a good base for exploring Southern Portugal as well as a gateway into picturesque cities, such as Lagos.

Quick summary

Bus tickets are cheaper than train tickets but not by a lot. Both are good options for those looking for a way to get between Faro and Lagos.

Trains from Faro to Lagos

Faro and Lagos are connected by “Regional” trains. There are 9 departures per day from Faro, between 7:16 a.m. and 8:12 p.m. The travel time is 1h 35 min to 1h 50 min. The single fare is €6.80.

On the way back , catch one of the 9 trains which depart Lagos between 6:05 a.m. and 7:19 p.m. The same travel time and fares apply.

Tickets can be bought online here.

>>read more about Train Travel in Portugal

Buses from Faro to Lagos

Eva Transportes offers 6 buses daily between Faro and Lagos. They depart Faro at 8 a.m., 9:05 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. , 4:25 p.m. and 5:25 p.m. The single fare is €5.65 and the return fare is €11.30.

On the way back, catch the buses from Lagos at 6:50 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m, 12:35 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Portugal

Driving from Faro to Lagos

You can rent a car and drive the 92 km on A2 in about 1 hour.

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
Planning a Trip Portugal Transportation travel guide

Getting from Faro to Lisbon

Faro is the main gateway into the Algarve region. Usually overrun by tourists pretty much year-round, Faro is also a very good base for exploring Southern Portugal.

Lisbon , the capital of Portugal, is a lively European city, perched on the edge of the Atlantic and offering a lovely vacation destination.

Quick summary

Considering that train and bus tickets cost almost the same amount of money, it makes sense to book a train ticket as you’ll get to the destination faster (about 3 hours). Or, if you want to explore the country at your pace, you could consider driving.

Flights from Faro (airport code: FAO) to Lisbon

Faro Airport (FAO) is located just 2.6 km from the city. It mostly receives seasonal flights (March to October) but there are some year-round flights available, too. It is hub for Ryanair.

Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) is located just 7 km from the city center and is hub for easyJet , Portugália, SATA International, TAP Portugal, White Airways, and Luzair.

The only airline offering flights between Faro and Lisbon is TAP Portugal . The flight time is 45 minutes. Should you plan to fly in 2012, expect to pay from €154 one way. Return flights start at €185.

Read more about
>>Flights to Faro
>>Flights to Lisbon

Trains from Faro to Lisbon

There are direct trains daily between Faro and Lisbon. They arrive at Lisbon’s Entrecampos train station. You can choose between Intercidade (IC) and Alfa Pendular (AP), with the big differences between them being that AP trains are faster and more expensive than IC trains.

The train ride is about 3h 15 min on IC trains and there are 3 IC trains per day departing Faro at 9:18 a.m., 1:41 p.m., and 4:57 p.m.. A single ticket is €21 for an adult (2nd class). On the way back, catch the trains from Lisbon at 10:29 a.m., 2:29 p.m. or 5:29 p.m.

The train ride on AP trains is 2h 50 min and there are two trains per day departing Faro at 7:05 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. A single ticket is €22 for an adult (2nd class). On the way back, catch the trains from Lisbon at 8:31 a.m. or 6:31 p.m.

Tickets can be bought online here.

>>read more about Train Travel in Portugal

Buses from Faro to Lisbon

Rede Expressos is the most important bus company which offers long haul connections between Portuguese cities.

There are 15 daily departures from Faro. The travel time is between 3h 45 and 4 hours. The first bus leaves Faro at 1:30 a.m. and the last one at 8:30 p.m. The single fare is either €19 (Rede buses) or €19.50 (Mundial Turismo buses operated by Rede). Some buses only operate during the tourist season (March to September or June to September).

On the way back, catch one of the 18 buses from Libson to Faro. The same fares and restrictions apply.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Portugal

Driving from Faro to Lisbon

You can rent a car and drive the 278 km to Lisbon on A2 in about 3 hours. It is a stress-free drive on a modern highway.

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
Los Angeles Transportation

Bus Travel in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a huge city with quite a lot of districts. The largest city in California is famous for its nightlife, restaurants, shopping and being home to Hollywood. Whatever you do , at some point or another you’ll be using the public transportation. And although it’s not organized as well as it is in other Western cities , buses are cheap and you can get to the major tourist attractions pretty easily.

Public buses

The bus system in Los Angeles is operated by Metro (MTA) . The website is definitely the best way to figure it out as it offers timetables , maps and information about fares. The base fare is $1.50 (without connections) and the day pass is $5.00.

The buses are excellent if you travel within the central area of Los Angeles, as there are frequent connections.

If you need to get to the LAX airport, there are direct buses from various areas in the Los Angeles. A list can be found here (pdf).

Also, buses run during the night but many routes change, so make sure to check the timetable if you need to travel within the city by night. The Rapid buses have fewer stops and are efficient in the traffic.

Aside from the Metro buses, there are other companies which run buses within the city or connect to the neighboring cities (which have their own bus system). However, most of their routes are included in the MTA’s trip planner.

Private tours

Aside from the public buses available in Los Angeles, tourists can also choose the sightseeing private buses (such as those run by Starline Tours ) which go by the tourist highlights. There are Hollywood tours, Los Angeles tours and many more.

And yes, there’s also the possibility to choose Hop-On-Hop-Off ticket which has 50 stops and covers as many attractions.

Photo credit