Berlin Bike Sharing Comparison Guide: What’s The Best (and Cheapest) Way To Hire A Bicycle in Berlin

Chloe Smulian
  • Written byPost author:Chloe Smulian
  • Post last modified:Updated on
a couple cycling bicycles using bike sharing in berlin germany
Locals show you how to explore the best of Berlin using bike sharing

Locals compare the most popular bike sharing apps in Berlin to help you decide what’s the best option for YOU! From how to easily rent a bicycle (or e-bike), the pros and cons, and a detailed price comparison, to what’s the cheapest bike rental in Berlin for short trips, day tours, and monthly hire.

There’s no better way to explore Berlin than cycling. It’s one of the best ways to get around the city whether you’re a local (or expat like us), or a tourist spending 2 or 3 days sightseeing in Berlin.

There’s no need to figure out how public transport works, you’ll see more of the city, and also reduce your carbon footprint by burning fat, not fuel.

And the best part is that you don’t even need to own a bicycle to enjoy the city on two wheels. You can easily rent one using bike sharing. There are plenty of options in Berlin.

So many in fact, that it can be hard to decide which bike share you should ride with. Especially when you can’t see prices or how much it costs until you download the app, create an account, AND pick the bicycle you want to rent…

Don’t worry friends, that’s what we’re here for!

This ridiculously, detailed guide compares all the bike sharing options in Berlin so you can decide what’s the best option for YOU! 

From how renting a bicycle (or e-bike) using bike sharing works, the pros and cons of each option, and detailed price comparison, to what’s the cheapest bike rental in Berlin for short trips, day tours, and monthly hire.

And if you’re still undecided on which one to go with, we’ve included discount codes so you can get a free ride and try it for yourself!

Table of Contents icon

What Is Bike Sharing and How Does It Works

Before we jump straight into comparing all the bike sharing options available in the city, let’s quickly explain what it is and how it works.

Imagine you’re out exploring Berlin and you suddenly feel inspired to ride a bicycle. But then you realise, ‘I don’t have a bike…’ (teary face).

Don’t be sad – that’s where bike sharing comes in!

It basically works like a big community bike rental service. You’ll find either bike stations or bicycle rentals all around the city, waiting for riders like you.

All you got to do is walk up to the bike that catches your eye, unlock it using your phone, and you’re good to go!

three orange city bicycles from donkey republic bike sharing in berlin germany
What some of the bike sharing bicycles look like in Berlin

You can ride around for as long as you like. And when you’re done, you just return the bike to a station or designated parking area nearby.

SO easy and SO convenient especially if you don’t have your own bicycle or if you’re traveling and want to explore a new city on two wheels.

And that’s essentially how bike sharing works in a nutshell!

Bike Sharing vs Traditional Bike Rental

Okay… Bike sharing sounds cool, but what’s the difference between that and traditional bike rental, you ask?

We’ve tried both options and there are a few reasons why we prefer bike sharing rather than renting a bike in Berlin.

Firstly, you don’t need to find a bike rental shop. With bike sharing, you can pick up a bicycle on a whim. Perfect for those spontaneous ‘I-want-to-feel-like-a-kid-again’ moments.

You also won’t need to pay a deposit or leave your passport (or a photocopy of it) like you would if you rent a bicycle the traditional way.

With bike sharing, you have the benefit of picking up and dropping off the bike whenever you like. There’s no need to return it to the rental shop (and hope and pray you get your deposit back).

This flexibility is priceless! It means you can easily abort your cycling mission if the weather takes a turn for the worst. Or… you’ve come across one of Berlin’s enchanting beer gardens and no longer have the coordination required to pedal away.

a group of friends renting a bicycle from a bike rental shop
It’s always more fun to cycle with friends

Lastly (and most importantly), you won’t need to worry about having your bicycle stolen with bike sharing. The same could not be said if you went the traditional bike rental route. Especially in a city like Berlin, where bike theft is rife!

Need I say more?

What You Need To Bike Share

Ready to embark on your very first bike share voyage? Here’s what you’ll need:

  1. A smartphone (any phone that can download apps)
  2. SIM card (you need internet to bike share)
  3. A bank card (credit, debit, and some even accept PayPal)
  4. Earphones (so you can listen to GPS navigation)
  5. Insurance (not mandatory but always good to have!)

It’s that easy!

If you’re traveling to Berlin and don’t have an EU SIM card that works throughout Europe, get a local eSIM. We promise it will be cheaper than international roaming – WAY CHEAPER!

Related Post: Cycle safely in Berlin by knowing these important Cycling and Bike Laws in Germany. Not only will they keep you safe, but also help you avoid getting in trouble with the police and risk unnecessary fines.

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Should I Get Bike Insurance?

Insurance is always good to have when you travel. It will help you cover costs in the (hopefully unlikely) event you get injured from a bike accident, a victim of theft, and even trip cancellations.

If you’re planning to cycle in Berlin (or anywhere else) on your travels, always get travel insurance. You never know when you’ll need it.

Here are our favourite companies that offer the best value and service:

a vandalised bicycle lying against a tree with its wheels stolen
The ‘remains’ of a vandalised bicycle in Berlin

If you’re a local (or expat) living in Berlin, make sure you have personal liability insurance before cycling in the city. It’s crucial to have – so much so, that it ranks second after mandatory health insurance!

Cycling in Germany is fun. But it can quickly become a nightmare if you accidentally cause another person harm or damage their property in any way.

For cycling, that could mean accidentally hitting a pedestrian who was walking in the bike lane (even when it’s their fault), to your parked bike falling over and damaging someone’s car…

Get peace of mind by having personal liability insurance. It’s really affordable (costs as little as €4.99 per month) and it will cover you for up to €30 million in damages.

How To Rent A Bicycle with Bike Sharing in Berlin?

It’s super easy to rent a bike in Berlin with bike sharing. The added bonus is that they pretty much all work the same way. Here’s how bike sharing rentals generally work:

  1. Download the bike sharing app you’re going to use
  2. Register an account with your mobile number or e-mail address
  3. Add payment method to verify your account (we use our Wise, Revolut or N26 bank accounts)
  4. Select a bicycle or e-bike (some companies also offer e-scooters)
  5. Unlock the bike by scanning the QR code, via bluetooth or access code provided on the app
  6. Cycle from A to B
  7. Return and lock bike in the designated parking area (indicated on the app) when you’re done and VOILA!
blue nextbike bicycle parked at a docking station in berlin germany
Bike sharing makes renting a bicycle as easy as one, two, three

Tips For Avoiding Extra Charges When Bike Sharing

  • Bike sharing charges are calculated based on time intervals. That means that if you cycled for 32 minutes, you will be charged for two 30 minute intervals (i.e. 60 minutes)
  • Always adjust the seat and check all the lights before you unlock the bike. Save those few minutes for a beer later
  • Make sure you return the bike at specified drop off zones. Don’t leave them in prohibited areas like in parks or outside the Berlin S-Bahn ring. Always check the relevant bike sharing app to see where you can drop off your bike. If you don’t, you might be surprised with a big fine

What and Where is the Berlin S-Bahn Ring?

The S-Bahn is the overground train that runs around the perimeter of Berlin. You can see the ring on Google maps but here is a simple illustration of the Berlin S-Bahn Ring.

map of berlin sbahn ring
Make sure to return the bike within the Berlin S-Bahn Ring
© Von CellarDoor85 by Maximilian Dörrbecker

Leaving your bike share outside the S-Bahn ring is equivalent to taking the bike outside of Berlin. All the bike sharing companies will fine you for this. The only difference is how much they’ll fine you.

So if you do plan to make a day trip to Potsdam or Liepnitzsee from Berlin using bike sharing, make sure to not end your session outside the S-Bahn ring. Rather pause your subscription if you need to temporarily park your bike share. Then bring your bike back within the Berlin S-Bahn ring before ending your session to avoid the fine.

How Does Payment Work

The payment method for each bike sharing company is slightly different.

When using bike sharing in Berlin for the first time, most companies will reserve or take an initial fee from your credit or debit card (Mastercard, VISA, American Express).

Can A Rider Hire More Than 1 Bike At A Time?

That depends on the bike share company. Some yes, others not.

In Berlin, you can hire more than one bicycle or e-bike with almost every bike sharing app except Call A Bike (i.e. only 1 allowed).

All the other options allowed you to rent 4 or 5 bikes at a time.

Berlin Bike Sharing Options

You’re spoilt for choice in Berlin! There are plenty of bike sharing options whether you want to hire a bicycle or e-bike (electric bike).

For bicycles, your options are:

  • Nextbike
  • Donkey Republic 
  • Call A Bike

Mobike and Lidl Bike used to be available in Berlin. But they seem to have disappeared due to bankruptcy or take-overs.

For e-bike sharing, your options are:

  • Tier
  • Uber Lime
  • Voi

Price vs Value Comparison

We’ve compared the most popular bike sharing companies in the city.

Check out the table below for our side-by-side comparison. Read further for each companies pros and cons, and find out which one we think is the best bike sharing in Berlin.

an infographic comparing prices of different bike sharing options in berlin germany
How much it costs to rent a bicycle with the different bike sharing apps

Nextbike Berlin

You’ve probably seen these blue bikes before if you’ve travelled a lot around Europe. They operate in more than 300 cities worldwide. You can usually find them standing in neat rows at docking stations outside of train stations or along main roads.

These blue bikes have gotten a makeover with the change from Deezer Nextbike, to just Nextbike.

The new Nextbike bicycles ‘powered by Edeka’, are sportier, lighter and even more comfortable than the older models.

nextbike by edeka bicycle parked in a park in berlin
A new Nextbike by Edeka bicycle parked illegally in a park

Nextbikes are great for short trips. It’s one of the cheapest bike shares if you’re cycling for less than 30 minutes.

But returning a Nextbike is a bit more inconvenient compared to other bike shares in Berlin. You have to drop the bike off at a Nextbike docking station.

If you drop it off in their flexible zones, there’s an additional charge of €0.50. It’s not much, but if you go this route then it will no longer be the cheapest bike rental option in Berlin.

How Much Does Nextbike Cost

Nextbike has an easy price structure. It simply costs €1 for every 15 minutes you rent the bike.

Out of all the bike sharing options, Nextbike is the cheapest if you’re cycling for less than 30 minutes.

They also have great packages for daily, weekly and annual passes.

different prices to rent nextbike in berlin for daily, monthly and annual tariff
Nextbike’s different tariff options

The daily pass is €3. For the next 24 hours the first 30 minutes per rental are free. Every additional 30 minutes thereafter is €1 and the maximum charge is €15 per 24 hours.

This is a great option if you’re making a number of short trips under 30 minutes in the next 24 hours. Just bear in mind that you’ll have to lock and return the bike within those 30 minutes for that to count towards one rental session.

Great if you’re doing short trips from train station to train station. Not so great for touring the city because you’ll need to keep hunting down docking stations to return your bike.

The weekly and annual pass follow the same rules mentioned above. Just a different price over different time periods.

Useful Tip: Adjust the height of your bike seat and check that all your lights are working before hitting that unlock button. The countdown starts immediately after unlocking your Nextbike. You don’t want to waste your 30 minutes doing this after the bike is unlocked.

Nextbike Pros

  • You can make as many stops as you like. Simply lock and unlock your bike as you please
  • The newer Nextbike models (powered by Edeka bicycles) have baskets, but the older models don’t
  • The quality of the bikes are usually great
  • All their bikes have 3 gears
  • You can rent up to 4 bikes, but each rider needs to register their own account. If you want to pay on the same card, you can register the same credit/debit card for up to 4 accounts
  • There are plenty of Nextbike bicycles around, so finding a bike to rent in Berlin is easy. You can also rent bikes in other cities where Nextbikes are available with your existing account
  • Cheapest bike rental option in Berlin for less than 30 minutes

Nextbike Cons

  • No cellphone holder
  • Drop-off (i.e. returning the bike) is less convenient than other bike sharing companies. Some cities have two types of flex zones. The blue one is free but if you return the bike in a pink zone there is an additional €1 surcharge
  • Customer care and support don’t respond to incorrect charges (based on personal experience…)

Donkey Republic Berlin

Just the name ‘Donkey Republic‘ alone tells you they have a fun brand, right? From their story, their bright orange bikes, right down to giving each ‘donkey’ a unique name, everything is sprinkled with a good dose of fun and quirkiness.

an orange donkey republic bicycle
Meet Steinfurt, my ‘donkey’ for the day

Maybe we’re just nerds, but we love this type of attention to detail and thoughtfulness.

How Much Does Donkey Republic Cost

The price to bike share with Donkey Republic differs depending on how long you rent the bicycle for. It costs €1.80 for the first 15 minutes or €2.30 for 30 minutes.

The ‘donkeys’ are designed to work out cheaper, the longer you cycle. That’s why riding ‘donkeys’ is one of the best ways to rent a bike in Berlin for cheap!

That’s what we rode on our self guided Berlin Wall by bike tour. It only cost us €8.50 to hire our bikes for 4 hours.

a screenshot of prices to rent donkey republic bikes in berlin
The longer you cycle, the cheaper it gets

Donkey Republic Discount Code

Try your first Donkey Republic bike for free with discount code 5B81D5. This will give you a free 15 minute ride to test out these colourful and fun Donkey Bikes!

Donkey Republic Pros

If that’s not enough to convince you, here are some other things we love about these orange ‘donkeys’:

  • It’s the only bike share that has built-in cellphone holders. This is a necessity if you want to avoid holding your phone while cycling and risking a big fat fine
  • You can make as many stops as you like. Simply lock and unlock your bike as you please
  • Returning the bicycle is super convenient. When you’re ready to say goodbye to your ‘donkey’, open your app and it will show you the closest drop off point
  • The quality of the bikes are great! Plus the size of the bikes are comfortable whether you’re 1.6 meters (aka Chloe) or 1.92 meters tall (Michael)
  • All their bikes have 3 gears – this comes in handy when you find that occasional uphill in Berlin
  • Great option for cycling with friends – you can rent up to 5 bikes from one account!
  • There are plenty of orange donkeys around, so finding a bike is easy
  • The cheapest way to rent a bike in Berlin for less than 4 hours or 2 days and more

Donkey Republic Cons

  • One of the more expensive options for short trips (15 minutes or less)
  • Price to rent a bike for a day (24 hours) is expensive unless the Day Deal for €12 is available
  • Bikes don’t have baskets, only a strap to hold down your bags.

Call A Bike

Call A Bikes are back in Berlin! If you didn’t know, Call A Bike is the bike sharing platform developed by Germany’s national railway company, Deutsche Bahn.

These were the first bike share rentals available in Berlin and Germany 20+ years ago! Back then, you had to literally call to rent a bike in Berlin. Hence the name ‘Call A Bike’.

Now with modern technology and smart phones, you can easily access these bike rentals in Berlin via the Call A Bike app instead.

two grey and red call a bike bicycles parked on the pavement in berlin
Call A Bike – the first bike sharing company in Berlin

The quality of Call A Bikes are great. They’re actually quite similar to Lidl Bikes (before they disappeared) and have 7 gears too. But unlike Lidl Bikes, you don’t need to pay an annual subscription fee to rent Call A Bikes in Berlin.

That’s why the ‘Starter’ tariff option is perfect if you’re touring Berlin by bike. There’s no annual fee and it’s the cheapest bike sharing option in Berlin if you’re cycling for more than 4 hours.

If you live in Berlin or Germany, you can get cheaper bike rental rates by subscribing to the Call A Bike ‘Basic’, ‘Premium’ and ‘Premium Flex’ option. You also get even more discounts if you’re a BahnCard holder.

How Much Does Call A Bike in Berlin Cost

The price of Call A Bike is very similar to Nextbike with one exception – there is a €1 unlock fee. But otherwise, it also costs €1 for every 15 minutes you hire the bicycle.

Out of all the bike sharing options, Call A Bike is the most expensive if you’re cycling for less than 2 hours. But after the 2 hour mark, it hits the maximum daily price limit of €9 and becomes the cheapest way to rent a bike in Berlin for more than 4 hours.

different pricing structure or tariffs to rent call a bike in berlin germany
The basic, premium and premium flex options are better suited for locals who live in Germany

Call A Bike Pros

  • The quality of the bikes are great and very similar to Lidl Bikes
  • Call A Bikes have 7 instead of 3 gears
  • The cheapest bike sharing option in Berlin for a 7 gear bike if you’re planning to cycle for more than 2 hours
  • These bikes are available in more than 50 cities around Germany

Call A Bike Cons

  • An expensive bike rental option in Berlin if you’re cycling for less than 2 hours
  • Returning the bike is not as convenient. You have to return the bike to specified S-bahn train stations, otherwise you risk paying an extra €1 to €25 service fee
  • These bikes don’t have proper baskets, only a strap to hold down your bags
  • No cellphone holder

Berlin E-Bike Sharing

Like we mentioned earlier, some bike sharing companies also offer e-bike or electric bike options in Berlin.

What is an e-bike? E-bikes are basically bicycles with a built-in electric motor. It’s different to electric motorcycles in that you have to pedal for the bike to move.

E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and can travel up to 25 to 32 km/h (16 to 20 mph). The high-powered versions can even do more than 45 km/h (28 mph).

Before you get too excited, the e-bikes that bike sharing companies rent out are usually the lighter ones that travel up to 25 km/h. That’s still pretty fast for cycling!

Price vs Value Comparison

These are the most popular bike sharing companies that offer e-bike rental in Berlin: Tier, Voi and Uber/Lime.

We’ve shared a side-by-side comparison of them below.

infographic comparing prices for ebike sharing in berlin
How much it costs to rent an ebike with the different bike sharing apps

Tier E-Bike

Tier first started in Berlin offering only e-scooters. But since 2022, they’ve introduced e-bike rentals as well.

turquoise color tier e-bike parked on the pavement in berlin
You can’t miss these turquoise e-bikes

We love their eye-catching, turquoise electric bikes. The quality is superb and their e-bikes are the only ones with cellphone holders. A game-changer if you want to avoid getting in trouble with the police and risking a traffic fine…

Price to Rent Tier E-Bike

Whether you’re renting an e-scooter or e-bike from Tier, the price is the same. It costs €1 to unlock plus €0.25 for every minute you hire the electric bicycle.

As you can imagine, the price ratchets up pretty quickly the longer you ride. But Tier does offer a great Day Pass option.

The Tier Day Pass option costs €7.99 for the day for unlimited unlocks AND you get 100 minutes to use over 24 hours.

The only downside? It’s a once-off deal… So you can only use this incredible pass once. Use it wisely…

Tier Discount Code

Get a discount on your first Tier e-bike (or e-scooter) with our discount code APH3ZBB. We’ll both get 50% off our next five rides!

Tier E-bike Pros

  • They’re e-bikes and e-scooters are some of the easiest to find across Berlin
  • The quality of their e-bike rentals is superb
  • The only e-bike share with a built-in cellphone holder (includes wireless charging too!)
  • The front bike basket is handy for carrying a few personal items or bags
  • You can also rent Tier e-bikes via the FreeNow app

Tier E-bike Cons

  • Not a biggie. But compared to the other e-bike sharing options, Tier only allows you to hire a maximum of 4 bicycles (instead of 5)

Uber Lime E-Bike

These e-bikes have been around for the longest in Berlin. You may recognize these Ferrari-red electric bikes from the days they were called Jump Bike.

Then Uber came along and took them over. Now, they’ve partnered with Lime to create what is known today as the Uber Lime e-bike.

The bike is more or less the same. Just with new branding. The only new thing is that you can access their e-bike rentals on both the Lime and Uber app.

uber lime red e-bike parked on the pavement with trees in the background
Uber Lime e-bike – same bike, different branding

Price To Rent Uber Lime E-bike

Uber Lime e-bikes (and e-scooters) cost €1 to unlock plus €0.27 for every minute you hire the electric bicycle. The price is the same whether you use the Uber or Lime app.

Out of the 3 e-bike sharing options, Uber Lime is the most expensive.

lime and white electric scooters parked on the pavement in berlin kreuzberg
Lime e-bikes and e-scooters cost the same price

Lime Discount Code

Want to try Lime scooters or Uber Libe e-bike for free? Use referral code R24FEDZ to get a €3 ride credit.

Uber Lime E-Bike Pros

  • The quality of their e-bikes are great
  • Their electric bicycles have been in the market for the longest
  • Their solid, front basket is probably the most secure of them all
  • You can rent up to 5 e-bikes per account (great for traveling in groups)
  • You can easily rent an e-bike in Berlin using the Uber app so you don’t have the hassle of downloading yet another app and create a new account

Uber Lime E-Bike Cons

  • The most expensive e-bike sharing rental in Berlin
  • No cellphone holder

Voi E-bike

And finally, you can also rent e-bikes (and e-scooters) via Voi.

Similar to Tier, their coral-colored e-bikes are easy to find in Berlin. But the difference vs Tier is that the Voi e-bikes don’t have a cellphone holder, and their open, front basket design is not very useful…

coral pink voi e- bike sharing parked on the pavement in berlin germany
Love the coral color, but the bike basket is not very useful

Price To Rent Voi E-Bike

Voi e-bikes cost €1 to unlock plus €0.24 for every minute you hire the electric bicycle. The unlock fee for their e-scooters is slightly less (€0.75) but it also costs €0.24 per minute.

Making it the cheapest e-bike (and e-scooter) to rent in Berlin (€0.01 less per minute vs Tier).

Again, the price of all e-bike sharing options ratchets up very quickly the longer you ride. But like Tier, Voi also offers a Day Pass option.

The Voi Day Pass option costs €8.00 for the day for unlimited unlocks AND you get 100 minutes to use over 24 hours.

Again, this is a once-off deal only. So do make it worth your while.

Voi Discount Code

Keen to try Voi out for yourself? Use our referral code to receive €5 credit.

Voi E-bike Pros

  • Voi e-bikes and e-scooters are easy to find across Berlin
  • The quality of their electric bicycles is great
  • You can rent up to 5 e-bikes (or e-scooters) per account (great for traveling in groups)
  • The cheapest e-bikes and e-scooters to rent in the city

Voi E-bike Cons

  • The Voi app isn’t as user-friendly for renting e-bikes. You have to get closer to see how much it will cost or reserve it
  • No cellphone holder
  • The design of the basket is not great

Monthly Bike Rental Options in Berlin

If you live in Berlin like we do, the cheapest way to rent a bicycle via bike sharing is to pick a monthly option.

Many of the bike sharing apps mentioned earlier offer monthly subscriptions. But we’ve found a better alternative that offers the best of both worlds.

You’re still bike sharing, but you get to keep the bike as if it were your own!

a man cycling in the bike lane on a swapfiets bicycle in berlin
Getting around with our Swapfiets bicycle

The easy way to explain it is that it’s like renting a bike on a lease contract. But simpler and cheaper because you don’t pay a deposit. Nor do you pay for repairs and wear and tear, so you know exactly how much to budget for each month.

Awesome, right?

Here are the monthly bike rental options:

  • Swapfiets city bike (€14.90 or €17.90 per month)
  • Swapfiets e-bike (€49.90 or €74.90 per month)
  • Dance e-bike (between €59 to €79 per month)
  • Dance Electric Moped (between €89 to €119 per month)

Swapfiets

We personally used Swapfiets and have been loving the freedom of getting around Berlin by bike! Keen to find out what we think of Swapfiets and whether it’s worth it? Read our honest Swapfiets Review! We’ve included the pros and cons and what you should know before renting a bike with them.

And if you want to try Swapfiets out for yourself, use our Swapfiets Discount Code and save €7.50 on your Swapfiets subscription (Discount Code: AASHAY22739).

If this discount code doesn’t work, let us know and we’ll find you another one.

Dance Electric Moped

Our latest obsession? Getting around Berlin by moped!

And the best part? You don’t even need to commit to owning a motorbike to enjoy riding it across the city. Yet we get to keep it as if it were our own.

We’ve been trying out the Dance electric moped since April and we absolutely LOVE IT!

a man riding a purple dance electric motorbike in berlin
Enjoying the moped life in Berlin

We get around the city in 30% of the time it usually takes using public transport. Avoiding all the unpleasant body odors taking the U-Bahn… Plus, it is SO FREAKING FUN!

We’ll most likely write a detailed review of our experience at some point. But for now, do know that this is an option if you have a German driving license.

If you want to try the Dance for yourself, use our referral link to get 50% discount off your first 3 months on any e-bike or moped of your choice.

Berlin Bike Tours

If you’re keen to explore Berlin by bike, but don’t feeling confident enough to cycle alone, we’d recommend trying a guided bike tour first.

Here are some of the most popular bike tours in Berlin:

If you prefer the DIY route (like we do), explore the city of Berlin by bike on our FREE self-guided cycling tour of the Berlin Wall. You’ll see most of the main historical attractions of Berlin and follow the crumbs of the Berlin Wall story.

Otherwise, check out our Berlin Outdoor Activities guide to find forests, lakes and other green spaces to cycle in.

Best Bike Sharing Options in Berlin

This was a super long and detailed guide. So if you didn’t make it all the way to the end, we don’t blame you. Here’s a quick summary for those that don’t enjoy reading.

For Tourists (Day Tours and Weekend Trips)

Donkey Republic because returning the bike is more convenient compared to Nextbike and Call A Bike. You can drop it at the nearest designated zone instead of having to hunt down a docking or train station.

screenshot of where to park bike, e-bike, e-scooter sharing vehicles in berlin
Just follow the app and avoid the no parking zones

For Locals or Expats

Swapfiets for city bike and e-bike rentals. Dance for e-bikes and electric mopeds.

Cheapest Bike Rental

  • Short trips less than 15 minutes: Nextbike
  • Trips less than 4 hours: Donkey Republic
  • Renting a bike for 24 hours (1 day): Call A Bike
  • Rent a Bike in Berlin for 2 to 7 days: Donkey Republic

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Berlin bike-friendly?

Yes, Berlin is a very bike friendly city. There are cycling paths throughout most of Berlin. When there isn’t, it’s pretty safe to cycle on the road. Motorists are pretty considerate to cyclists and generally give way.

You don’t need to be super fit to cycle in Berlin. The city is quite flat which makes for easy cycling. Besides burning fat and not fuel, you’ll also get around the city faster by cycling rather than taking public transport.

Where can I bike in Berlin?

With over 620 kilometres of cycling paths in Berlin, you can just about bike everywhere. A third of the city is made up of parks and green spaces. So even if you’re not confident on the bike, there are plenty of places to practice before hitting the road.

How much is it to rent a bike in Berlin?

The price to rent a bike in Berlin ranges between €3.50 for one hour to €15 per day (24 hours) depending on the bike sharing app you use.

Can tourists use bike sharing in Berlin?

Yes – absolutely! Bike sharing is designed with tourists in mind. All you need to create an account is an e-mail or cellphone number to register and get riding.

Can you rent more than one bike at a time when bike sharing in Berlin?

Most bike sharing apps will allow you to rent more than one bike at a time (almost all except Call A Bike).

What is the best app for finding cycling routes in Berlin?

BikeMap is great bike route planner. But you could also just use Google Maps. Make sure to click on directions and select the bicycle icon to get Google to direct you to the bike lanes.

Wrapping Things Up

Hiring a bicycle could not be easier in Berlin. All you need is a smartphone and a bank card!

Gone are the days of traditional bike rental where you had to fill out paperwork, leave a deposit and a copy of your passport just to enjoy cycling through the city for a couple of hours.

Now with modern technology, you can easily hire a bicycle on a whim with bike sharing.

Bike sharing is very popular in Berlin and there are plenty of options. So much so, that it can be hard to decide which is the best one to ride with.

As locals who live in the city, we’ve done all the maths to help you pick the best bike sharing for you. Whether you’re looking to do short trips, day tours, monthly bike rentals, or just looking for the cheapest option.

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