Editor's Review
Berlin runs one of Europe's denser transport networks, and Fahrinfo is the operator's own way into it. Enter a start and a destination and the app returns door-to-door routes across U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, bus and ferry, with walking legs, platform detail, interchange times and live departure boards for whichever stop you happen to be standing at. Disruption notices come from the operator directly, which is the main argument for using it over a general mapping app.
Tickets are the second reason. Single journeys, day passes and longer validities can be bought in the app and shown on the phone, covering the fare zones that catch out visitors who assume one ticket covers everything.
Its weaknesses are the ordinary ones of operator software. The interface has accumulated features across many redesigns and is busier than it needs to be, while the 3.77 average is dragged down by reports of sluggish loading, sign-in trouble around ticket purchases, and occasional suggested routes that ignore an obvious shortcut. Non-German speakers get an English option, though some notices and disruption text still arrive in German only.
For a Berlin resident it is the practical default. For a visitor staying a few days, it is worth installing mainly for the tickets.
Features
Door-to-door routing across U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, bus and ferry
Live departure boards for individual stops
Operator disruption and service change notices
Ticket purchase with the ticket shown on the phone
Saved favourite stops and repeated journeys
Fare zone information for the city and surrounding area
Pros
Disruption information arrives straight from the operator
Buying the correct zone ticket in advance avoids a penalty fare
Every mode in the network is covered, ferries included
Cons
The interface is cluttered and slow to load for some users
Certain notices and alerts appear only in German
