Berlin's Ringbahn, the S41 and S42, loops right around the city through 27 stations in about an hour. Here is what the circle line actually is, how to tell which direction each train goes, what ticket covers a full loop, and the stops that are genuinely worth leaving the train for.

The first German you hear in Berlin is a recorded voice on the train. Here is what Zurückbleiben bitte, Nächster Halt, Ausstieg rechts and Ersatzverkehr actually mean, why the S-Bahn plays that little three-note chime, and the one word that tells you the train is about to terminate.

A blue U, a green S and a row of numbers on the same wall. A local guide to the U-Bahn vs S-Bahn difference: which is which, which to take, and why one ticket covers both.

A calm tourist guide to Berlin lost property: BVG, S-Bahn, DB, BER Airport, the central Fundbüro, passport loss, wallet/card steps and what to write in a report.