Most parts of the city can be easily accessed by a very comprehensive public transportation system called the HVV (Hamburger Verkehrsverbund) including trains (S-Bahn), underground trains (U-Bahn), buses, night buses and some harbor ferries. Maps of the public transportation system are posted in every train station and train car. Each bus's point of destination and the various stops in between are posted at the bus stops, along with the applicable time schedule. A list of routes and schedules is available at: www.hvv.de or ww.geofox.de. If you travel late at night, make sure to catch the last U-Bahn or S-Bahn, otherwise take a night bus. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the trains run all night long, departing every 20 minutes. The entrance to the S-Bahn is marked with a white "S" in a green circle and the U-Bahn is marked with a white "U" in a blue square.
The HVV passes can be ordered via the Response Sheet and picked up by MLB students on the first day of the Orientation Program. Therefore, you will need to buy a ticket only on the first day of the Orientation Program - after that, you can use your HVV pass and no longer need to purchase individual tickets. Please note that the HVV pass is not transferable to any other person and is valid only with your ID. It allows you to use all public transportation means within Hamburg free of charge. The HVV transportation pass will be valid from August 23, 2010 until February 28, 2011 and costs approx. € 145. This pass can be issued only through a university and is much cheaper than the usual tickets (e.g. the price for a regular one-day-ticket is € 5,40). You can register for the HVV pass through the MLB Program via the Response Sheet! The registration is binding. You will be billed for your HVV pass in November. If you need this pass from April onwards, we can extend it until the end of the MLB Program for an additional € 145.
If you decide not to apply for a HVV pass through Bucerius, you must buy a valid ticket before using public transportation. Buses are an exception; you buy a ticket from the driver after entering. Prices depend on the distance traveled and the number of transportation zones crossed. Periodic checks are conducted to catch those traveling without a valid ticket. These checks can also occur after leaving the train before exiting the train station, so be sure to keep your ticket until that time. Violators will be fined approximately € 40 - in addition to the cost of the original train ticket. If you are caught without your ticket during a random inspection, inform the officer that you have a valid HVV pass but do not have it on you at the moment. You will then be fined and given instructions on how to proceed from there. You need to go to an office near the main train station and pay a lesser fee there. Best to always buy a ticket or carry your pass on you at all times!
To find information on the public transportation system (HVV): www.hvv.de .