Hamburg Transport

Hamburg's main train station is the Hauptbahnhof. In addition, there are three other large train stations: Dammtor, Altona and Harburg. Many long-distance trains start in Altona and stop at the other stations.

The public transport system is operated by the HVV (Hamburger Verkehrsverbund) and includes S-Bahn, U-Bahn and buses.

Although Hamburg's airport is not far away from the city center, it still cannot be reached directly by U-Bahn or S-Bahn. In order to reach it by public transport, you have to use the U-Bahn or S-Bahn to Ohlsdorf. From here, the Airport Express goes to Hamburg Airport quite regularly. In 2008, the first direct S-Bahn to the airport will be opened.

As the S-Bahn and U-Bahn network is quite well-developed and extensive with regular trains, this is probably the easiest way of getting around. In addition, the system is not very complicated.

It is recommendable, however, to get a map of the network from one of the information centers. If this is not possible, there are maps at each station as well, mostly near the ticket machines.

For buses, it is possible to buy your ticket either before from a ticket machine or office, but also from the bus driver. This is not possible for U-Bahn and S-Bahn. There, you have to buy it before at a ticket machine or office and validate it before you start your trip.

The most convenient as well as the quickest way to get around Hamburg is probably the U-Bahn. The U-Bahn network covers the entire area of the city. Trains leave regularly and the train times are quite reliable.