Municipal public transport in most German cities (though western Berlin and Hamburg are notable exceptions) is still centred on trams . Increasingly, these are sleek modern vehicles capable of moving at a fair speed between stops. They often have an underground stretch in the city centre, where they're known as the U-Bahn . This is often a source of confusion; it's important to remember that Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Nürnberg have a much more extensive U-Bahn system using tube trains as distinct from trams, while in cities with trams only you may have to look both above and below ground in the central area to find the stop for the service you want. In some cities, old boneshaker trams are still the mainstay of the public transport system, though these are gradually being replaced. Wherever the trams and U-Bahns do not go, you can be sure that there will be a bus to fill the void.

 

Tickets , which can be bought from automatic vending machines or the driver, are valid on all the different forms of transport - which include the S-Bahn and mainline trains as well in all the major conurbations - and you can change from one to another, with no supplement for transfers. This means that, if making a train journey between two places within the same public transport authority, you are entitled to have what are in effect free rides on the local public transport systems at either end, provided these are made within the allowed time periods. Normal single fares are relatively expensive - DM3/1.50 is the standard rate in many cities, though there's generally a special lower tariff for short journeys ( Kurzstrecke ).

If you're planning to make several journeys, it's advisable either to buy in blocks (usually offering a total saving of around 30 percent), or invest in a fixed time period (generally 24hr) ticket. The latter, which can be bought for the city itself or the whole of the regional network, can be a tremendous bargain - in some cities, up to two adults and two children are covered by the ticket, for an outlay of around DM8/4 for the city only and DM15/7.50 for the regional network. Even better value are the cards which, for a minimal extra outlay, include free or reduced admission to the main museums and monuments. Details of these are given throughout the Rough Guide , but note that exact conditions are particularly prone to change.

Finally, note that the purchase of tickets functions largely on the honour system, and spot checks by plain-clothes inspectors are fairly rare. However, they do take place rather more frequently than was once the case, and result in an automatic DM60/30 fine for anyone caught without a valid ticket.