Berlin to Amsterdam

Hey,

Please for the sake of every traveler, DO NOT HITCHIKE! No disrespect, just don't put yourself at risk even if it's safer than in the US. Check Air Berlin, a cheap no frills airline for a quick flight, or search at www.skyscanner.com for a flight, shouldn't be more than $50 one way, probably be a lot less. While it is probably legal, don't risk it. Also, check Eurolines bus website. Trains will be the most expensive.

Jason

Hi there,

I'd agree that if you can afford it, try not to hitch-hike. But the scare stories that you hear are the exception to the rule. Hitch-hiking is very popular in Germany, and Germany is one of the easiest Western Europe countries to hitch-hike in. The best way to do it is to get out of Berlin on the S-bahn to a Raststätte on an Autobahn, and you should find a ride in no time. Look out for Dutch number plates, or the prefix for West German cities, like Essen (E), Dusseldorf (D), Cologne (K) or Dortmund (DO).

There is often also a steady stream of Polish cars heading West to the UK.

It will help if you speak some German, Dutch or Polish.

Only you can decide if you're happy to get into the car of a stranger. Obviously follow all of the rules on the numerous hitch-hiking websites, such as keeping your bag in the car with you.

The previous poster is correct however about there being numerous cheap 'official' ways to get to Amsterdam. If you're under 26, there is a regular train from Berlin Hbf to Amsterdam Centraal which can be as little as 29€.

Be safe,

Mark

The legal and save version of hitchhiking is organized car pooling. Check out this website: http://www.mitfahrzentrale.de/index.php?landnr=D&lang=GBIf they can't offer you a car pool on a certain day and route check with alternative dates or from and to nearby cities. In this case use the advanced search functionality.

If you book NOW at www.bahn.de, you can get a Europa-Spezial Niederlande fare. The cheapest tickets are gone, but for some of the departure times there are still some tickets left at €49. Click on the drop-down menu in the upper right-hand corner for English. After you get summary timetables for Berlin-Amsterdam, go to the Savings fare column on the far right and click on "Check availability" for the time(s) of your choice.

Transavia has budget flights from Berlin to Amsterdam:
http://www.whichbudget.com/en/cheapflights.php?from=TXL

However, note that your departure date is really close to today's date, hence budget airlines may not be your best bet.