Bus 100 Berlin: The €4 Sightseeing Tour Locals Don't Want You to Know About

Every year, thousands of tourists in Berlin pay €25–€35 for hop-on hop-off bus tours. And every day, locals ride past the exact same landmarks on a regular public bus — for just €4.

Meet Bus 100: Berlin's worst-kept secret and the cheapest sightseeing tour in the city.

This double-decker public bus runs from Zoologischer Garten (City West) to Alexanderplatz (City East), passing virtually every major landmark in central Berlin. The ride takes about 30 minutes, buses come every 5–10 minutes, and you don't need to book anything in advance.

Here's your complete guide to riding Bus 100 like a local — and what to do when you get off at the other end.

The Route of Bus 100 Berlin: What You'll See From the Upper Deck

Bus 100 was created after German reunification as the first bus line connecting East and West Berlin. That historical accident turned it into one of the best sightseeing routes in Europe — entirely by coincidence.

If you start at Zoologischer Garten station (the western terminus), here's what unfolds from the upper deck:

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church — The bus pulls away from Zoo station and immediately passes this striking ruin. The neo-Romanesque church was built in the 1890s and partially destroyed during World War II. Berlin deliberately kept it in its damaged state as a memorial for peace. You can't miss the contrast between the shattered tower and the modern blue glass chapel next to it.

Tiergarten — Berlin's enormous central park (bigger than Hyde Park) stretches out on both sides as the bus cuts through the green heart of the city. You'll catch a glimpse of the Victory Column (Siegessäule) rising above the trees — the golden angel Berliners affectionately call "Goldelse."

Schloss Bellevue — The official residence of Germany's president appears briefly on the right side. It's an elegant neoclassical palace, and unlike most government buildings in Berlin, it actually looks inviting.

Reichstag — The bus passes right next to Germany's parliament building with its famous Norman Foster glass dome. Fun fact: you can visit the dome for free, but you need to book online in advance. Most tourists don't know this and show up without a reservation.

Brandenburg Gate — As Bus 100 turns onto Unter den Linden, you get a fantastic side view of Berlin's most iconic monument. For over 28 years, this gate stood in no-man's-land between East and West. Today it's Germany's symbol of unity.

Unter den Linden — Berlin's grandest boulevard unfolds in front of you. The bus rolls past embassies, the Humboldt University (where Einstein once taught), the State Opera, and the German Historical Museum housed in Berlin's oldest building on the boulevard.

Museum Island — You'll cross the Spree River and pass the UNESCO World Heritage site that holds five world-class museums. The Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) dominates the view with its massive green dome — built by Kaiser Wilhelm II to rival St. Peter's in Rome.

Alexanderplatz — The final stop. The bus pulls into the square beneath the TV Tower (Fernsehturm), Berlin's tallest structure at 368 meters. This was the beating heart of East Berlin, and today it's one of the city's busiest hubs.

That's roughly 20 major landmarks in 30 minutes — for the price of a single bus ticket.

Practical Tips: How to Ride Bus 100

Ticket price (2026): A single AB ticket costs €4. It's valid for 2 hours in one direction, so you can hop off and catch the next Bus 100 at any stop along the way. If you plan to ride more than once, the 4-trip ticket costs €12.40 (effectively €3.10 per ride). And if you already have a Deutschlandticket (€63/month), Bus 100 is included at no extra cost.

Where to buy tickets: At yellow BVG machines in any U-Bahn or S-Bahn station, through the BVG app, or — in a pinch — contactless payment directly on the bus (no cash accepted on buses).

Pro tip: Start at Zoologischer Garten and try to grab a seat on the upper deck, front row, right side. That's where you'll get the best views of Brandenburg Gate and Unter den Linden. If you start at Alexanderplatz, sit on the left.

Frequency: Every 5–10 minutes during the day. You'll never wait long.

Don't forget to validate: If you buy a paper ticket, you must stamp it in the yellow validation machine before boarding. An unvalidated ticket counts as no ticket — and the fine is €60, no exceptions, no tourist excuses.

Bus 100 vs. Hop-On Hop-Off: Is It Worth It?

Let's be honest about the comparison:

A typical hop-on hop-off tour costs €25–€35, comes with multilingual audio commentary, runs every 15–20 minutes, and covers a wider route including Checkpoint Charlie and Potsdamer Platz.

Bus 100 costs €4, has no commentary, runs every 5–10 minutes, and covers a concentrated route through Berlin's historic center.

So Bus 100 wins on price and convenience. But what you don't get is the story behind what you're seeing. You'll pass the Reichstag but won't know that it sat empty for decades after a mysterious fire in 1933. You'll see the TV Tower but won't learn about "the Pope's Revenge" — how the cross-shaped reflection on the tower's dome embarrassed the atheist East German government for 30 years. You'll cross Museum Island without knowing that Berlin spent over a billion euros restoring it.

The landmarks are visible from a bus window. The stories are not.

What to Do When You Get Off at Alexanderplatz

If you ride Bus 100 to its eastern terminus, you'll find yourself at Alexanderplatz — which happens to be exactly where my free walking tour starts.

Most visitors see Alexanderplatz as a transit hub and move on. But hidden just a few minutes' walk from the square is Berlin's medieval quarter, the city's oldest neighborhood that 99% of tourists never discover. From there, our route continues through 12 stops covering 800 years of history — from the medieval Marienviertel to the Prussian grandeur of Museum Island, ending at Hackescher Markt.

The bus shows you the surface. The walking tour takes you beneath it.

Ride Bus 100 for the overview. Then walk with us for the real stories.

📍 My free walking tour meets at Alexanderplatz, World Clock

🎫 Book your free spot at berlinwalk.com