Hiring a Bike in Berlin: Providers and Routes

Berlin is a cycling city. The terrain is flat, the distances are long, and if you truly want to understand the city, the best way to do it is from the saddle. No bus or taxi will show you just how close Kreuzberg and Mitte really are, how a canal can lead you out of the urban noise, or what a Berlin morning feels like when the streets are still empty. On a bike, you notice all of that. It is no surprise that Berlin has been expanding its cycling infrastructure for years — the city now has over 1,600 kilometres of cycle paths, with more being added all the time.

If you have not brought your own bike, you still have plenty of options. Providers differ in price, coverage and quality — depending on the length of your stay and how much you plan to ride, different options will suit you better.

Providers Compared

Nextbike

Nextbike is Berlin's most comprehensive station-based hire system. Around 300 stations are spread across the city, from Prenzlauer Berg to Spandau. The concept is straightforward: pick up a bike at one station, return it at any other. The price is one euro per 30 minutes, with a day pass costing nine euros. Registration is done via the app or website. Nextbike is particularly well suited to spontaneous single trips and for anyone who does not want to plan ahead too much. The bikes are functional rather than beautiful — but they get the job done.

Lime

Lime operates a large fleet of e-scooters and e-bikes in Berlin. There are no stations and no fixed drop-off points — you scan the vehicle with the app, ride off and leave it at your destination. E-scooters cost one euro to unlock plus around 0.20 euros per minute; e-bikes cost slightly more. That can add up quickly, but for short point-to-point journeys it is often very convenient: no detours to the nearest station, no hunting for a parking spot. Riding an e-bike through Mitte or along the Spree is genuinely enjoyable. For longer tours, however, the cost becomes too high.

Donkey Republic

Donkey Republic uses an app-based locking system on standard bicycles. The quality is noticeably better than Nextbike: sturdier bikes, smoother gears, a more comfortable ride. The price reflects this — around four euros per hour or 15 euros for a full day. The bikes are available at numerous locations across the city and can be booked and unlocked via the app. If you want to cycle intensively for one or two days, a day ticket is excellent value.

Swapfiets

Swapfiets is not a conventional hire service but a subscription model: you pay between 16 and 19 euros per month and receive a high-quality bicycle — with the guarantee that any faulty bike will be replaced within 24 hours. For a stay of a week or longer, this can be well worth it, especially if you are cycling every day. No counting minutes, no app hassle. The bike is yours for the duration of the subscription. Booking and collection are handled through the website.

Four Routes Through Berlin

Along the Landwehrkanal (14 km)

This route runs from Kreuzberg to Charlottenburg, following the canal the entire way. Fourteen kilometres, almost no inclines, plenty of shade beneath old trees. You pass the Admiralbrücke — the quintessential summer gathering spot, where dozens of people sit out on warm evenings — cycle past small cafés and moored boats, and gradually leave the dense urban fabric behind. For half a day, this is the perfect route. Calm in the morning, lively in the afternoon, unmatched in the evening.

Tiergarten Loop (8 km)

Eight kilometres, entirely within the park, not a car in sight. The Tiergarten has its own dedicated cycle paths; the route passes the Siegessäule and the Café am Neuen See, where you can order a beer and sit right by the water. This route suits everyone: children, beginners, older visitors. Simple and lovely. The best entry point is along the Straße des 17. Juni from the Brandenburger Tor.

Mauerweg Section Friedrichshain/Kreuzberg (8 km)

The Mauerweg in its entirety stretches 160 kilometres around the whole city, following the former course of the Berlin Wall. You do not need to ride it all at once. The section from the East Side Gallery to the Bornholmer Brücke — approximately eight kilometres through Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg — is well signposted and historically rich. Information boards explain what once stood here, what has disappeared and what remains. One of the most instructive cycling routes in Berlin, without ever feeling like a museum visit.

Müggelsee Loop (20 km)

For the Müggelsee loop, you first take the S-Bahn to Friedrichshagen — bikes are permitted on most S-Bahn trains, except during peak hours. From there it is roughly 20 kilometres around the lake, through forest and past sandy beaches. This tour is ideal for families. The pace is relaxed and the route pleasantly varied. In summer, you can take a break at one of the swimming spots along the way.

Safety and Rules

If you are new to cycling in Berlin, there are a few basic rules to be aware of. On most streets there are red-painted cycle lanes — these are mandatory and must be used. Where there is no cycle lane, you ride on the road, not on the pavement. Ring your bell before overtaking pedestrians — this is taken seriously here. Hire bikes should always be locked, even if a lock is already attached; carrying a second lock is not excessive. Helmets are not legally required in Germany, but are strongly recommended, particularly on e-bikes.

There are certain streets that cyclists are better off avoiding: Karl-Marx-Allee and Potsdamer Platz are narrow, noisy and difficult to navigate. Visitors to Berlin who are not yet accustomed to city traffic are better off steering clear of these altogether. And before any longer ride, it is worth a quick check of the tyre pressure — hire bikes often sit unused for longer than is ideal.

Guests staying in one of the central Berlin neighbourhoods can start many of these routes directly from their apartment. In bevoflats apartments in the city centre, a bike is often the fastest way to get around — and by far the most enjoyable.