Getting around Berlin
The best ways to get around Berlin
BER airport trains, the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, day tickets and the WelcomeCard, taxis and Uber, and day trips by train. Here is how to get around Berlin, with honest advice on which ticket pays off, where to find your train or ride at the airport and what you can’t cancel.
See our 6 picks
The best way to get around Berlin is the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, and a 24-hour AB ticket costs €11.20. From BER airport, the FEX train reaches Hauptbahnhof in about 23 minutes on a €5 ABC ticket. You don’t need a car in the city, and Uber, Bolt and FREENOW pick up at the airport.
The 6 tickets and rides we would book
Three hop-on hop-off buses, one airport transfer and two WelcomeCards. The buses and the transfer show free cancellation; the WelcomeCards cannot be cancelled. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 28 October 2026.
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from €21 per person Our top pick About 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. 4.3 (8,850) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hop-on hop-off bus with live commentary
A guide on board talks in English and German. Buses come every 20 to 30 minutes, from about 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first stop is Kurfürstendamm 231.
Best for Sights and a ride in one
Check availability: Hop-on hop-off bus with live commentary on GetYourGuide -
from €35 per person 4.2 (2,261) reviews on GetYourGuide
East and West hop-on hop-off bus
Audio commentary in 20 languages, with a children’s channel in English and German. You can start at any stop. The listing says times may differ from the timetable.
Best for Both halves of the city
Check availability: East and West hop-on hop-off bus on GetYourGuide -
from €24 per person 24 or 48 hours 4.0 (5,104) reviews on GetYourGuide
City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus
The Classic Route runs every 25 to 30 minutes, and the last bus leaves Stop 1 at 4 p.m. Audio comes in 13 languages. The listing text says “All sales are final”, but the booking flag shows free cancellation.
Best for Two bus routes
Check availability: City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus on GetYourGuide -
from €34 per person 1 hour 4.0 (214) reviews on GetYourGuide
BER airport private transfer
A driver meets you at BER or your hotel, with 60 minutes of free waiting time. It covers the city center only; other areas cost extra. Rated 3.99, lower than our other picks: read the recent reviews first.
Best for Late arrivals, lots of bags
Check availability: BER airport private transfer on GetYourGuide -
from €29 per person 2–6 days 4.4 (1,256) reviews on GetYourGuide
Berlin WelcomeCard AB
Buses and trains in zones A and B, plus discounts at sights. Up to 3 children aged 6 to 14 ride free with you. It does not cover BER airport, which is in zone C. Non-refundable.
Best for Many rides inside the city
Check availability: Berlin WelcomeCard AB on GetYourGuide -
from €46 per person 48 hours to 6 days 4.6 (8,601) reviews on GetYourGuide
Berlin WelcomeCard ABC
Adds zone C, so it covers BER airport and Potsdam. Only the person named on the voucher can use it, so bring ID. Non-refundable.
Best for Airport rides and Potsdam
Check availability: Berlin WelcomeCard ABC on GetYourGuide
Berlin tickets and rides compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hop-on hop-off bus with live commentary | €21 per person | About 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. | Yes | Sights and a ride in one | The only bus here with a live guide, and the most reviews. |
| East and West hop-on hop-off bus | €35 per person | Not stated | Yes | Both halves of the city | It covers East and West, and kids get their own audio channel. |
| City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus | €24 per person | 24 or 48 hours | Shown; check the terms | Two bus routes | It adds an East Berlin and Wall route on the All Lines ticket. |
| BER airport private transfer | €34 per person | 1 hour | Yes | Late arrivals, lots of bags | Door to door with your bags, but rated under 4 stars. |
| Berlin WelcomeCard AB | €29 per person | 2–6 days | No: non-refundable | Many rides inside the city | Rides and discounts in one card, for 2 to 6 days. |
| Berlin WelcomeCard ABC | €46 per person | 48 hours to 6 days | No: non-refundable | Airport rides and Potsdam | The card to buy if you fly into BER or visit Potsdam. |
Hop-on hop-off bus with live commentary
€21 per personAbout 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. 4.3 (8,850)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Sights and a ride in one
- Why we picked it
- The only bus here with a live guide, and the most reviews.
East and West hop-on hop-off bus
€35 per person 4.2 (2,261)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Both halves of the city
- Why we picked it
- It covers East and West, and kids get their own audio channel.
City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus
€24 per person24 or 48 hours 4.0 (5,104)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Shown; check the terms
- Who it suits
- Two bus routes
- Why we picked it
- It adds an East Berlin and Wall route on the All Lines ticket.
€34 per person1 hour 4.0 (214)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Late arrivals, lots of bags
- Why we picked it
- Door to door with your bags, but rated under 4 stars.
€29 per person2–6 days 4.4 (1,256)
Details
- Free cancellation
- No: non-refundable
- Who it suits
- Many rides inside the city
- Why we picked it
- Rides and discounts in one card, for 2 to 6 days.
€46 per person48 hours to 6 days 4.6 (8,601)
Details
- Free cancellation
- No: non-refundable
- Who it suits
- Airport rides and Potsdam
- Why we picked it
- The card to buy if you fly into BER or visit Potsdam.
- Only the airport transfer picks you up, at BER or your hotel. The buses start from their stops, and the WelcomeCards come by email.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 28 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
The best way to get around Berlin, route by route
Trains run often, and one ticket covers trains, trams, buses and ferries.
First visit? Ride the U5 from Hauptbahnhof. It stops at U Bundestag for the Reichstag, then at Brandenburger Tor and Museumsinsel. Our guide to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag covers the dome visit.
With kids? A 24-hour ticket covers up to three children aged 6 to 14. Landing late? The S9 from BER runs all day and on weekend nights.
The table below shows each main route, with the time, cost and hassle the operator states. Where the operator gives no figure, we say so.
| Route | Option | Time | Cost | How often | Hassle | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BER airport to Hauptbahnhof / Mitte | Train | FEX about 23 min to Hauptbahnhof (19 to Potsdamer Platz, 14 to Südkreuz) | ABC ticket €5 single (BER is zone C) | FEX every 15 min, about 4 a.m. to 1 a.m.; RE20 hourly 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Same route and stops for FEX and RE20; stamp paper tickets before boarding | BER airport: public transport |
| S-Bahn | not stated by BER airport | ABC ticket €5 single | S9 every 20 min via Alexanderplatz and Hauptbahnhof, all day and weekend nights | S9 serves Alexanderplatz and Hauptbahnhof; S85 goes via Ostkreuz instead | VBB: getting to BER | |
| Bus | not stated by BER airport | ABC ticket €5 single | X7 every 5–10 min, X71 every 20 min; night bus N60 from Alexanderplatz every 30 min | X7 and X71 run to U Rudow, so you change to the U-Bahn | BER airport: public transport | |
| Taxi or ride app | not stated by berlin.de | about €58 to Alexanderplatz, about €63 to Kurfürstendamm; €1.50 airport surcharge | on demand | Ride apps (Bolt, FREENOW, Uber) pick up in an outdoor zone on level E0 in front of Terminal 1; ride-app prices not stated | berlin.de: taxi fares | |
| Tour | 1 hour | from €34.15 per person (private transfer) | not stated by GetYourGuide | Private transfer to or from the city center or your hotel; rated 3.99 | GetYourGuide: BER airport private transfer | |
| Hauptbahnhof to Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and Museum Island | U-Bahn | not stated by visitBerlin (the whole line, Hauptbahnhof to Hönow, 41 min) | short-trip ticket €2.80 (up to 3 stations); single AB €4 | not stated by visitBerlin | U5 from Hauptbahnhof without changing: U Bundestag (Reichstag), Brandenburger Tor, Museumsinsel | visitBerlin: the U5 |
| Berlin to Potsdam | Train | about 26–27 min Hauptbahnhof to Potsdam Hbf (sample connection) | from €6.99 (ICE) / €17.98 (RB) sample fares on bahn.de; in the Berlin ticket area an ABC ticket (€5 single) | up to 112 direct connections per day; weekend schedule differs | Check the timetable for your date | bahn.de: Berlin to Potsdam |
| Tour | 4 hours | from €64 per person | not stated by GetYourGuide | Includes Sanssouci Palace entry | GetYourGuide: Potsdam and Sanssouci Palace tour | |
| Berlin to Sachsenhausen (Oranienburg) | S-Bahn | 45 min from Friedrichstraße to Oranienburg, then 20 min on foot | not stated by the memorial (admission to the memorial is free) | S1 every 20 min | Get off at Oranienburg; bus 804 (hourly, last 5:19 p.m.) or 821 stops at Gedenkstätte | Sachsenhausen Memorial: travel information |
| Train | 25 min from Hauptbahnhof to Oranienburg, then 20 min on foot | not stated by the memorial | RE5 hourly | Get off at Oranienburg, not at Sachsenhausen station | Sachsenhausen Memorial: travel information | |
| Car | not stated by the memorial | parking fee not stated by the memorial | not applicable | A111, then A10 to Birkenwerder, B96 into Oranienburg; car park at the entrance; don’t leave valuables in the car | Sachsenhausen Memorial: travel information | |
| Tour | 5 hours | from €19 per person | not stated by GetYourGuide | Guided tour from Berlin | GetYourGuide: Sachsenhausen Memorial tour | |
| Berlin to Dresden | Train | 1 h 39 min fastest (RJ); RJX 1 h 55 min | from €21.99 (RJ) / €23.99 (RJX) | up to 10 direct trains per day | Direct; sample fares, the price depends on the date | bahn.de: Berlin to Dresden |
| Berlin to Spreewald (Lübbenau) | Train | about 90 min to Lübben/Lübbenau, as VBB words it | not stated by VBB | RE2 hourly every day; RE20 also runs Berlin–Lübbenau | Direct regional train; RE2 construction 14 June to 12 December 2026, check your date | VBB: RE2 |
Read from the operators' own pages on 28 October 2026. Fares and timetables change; check before you travel.
Guides on getting around Berlin
- BER airport: getting from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to the city
- Berlin public transport tickets and the WelcomeCard
- Prague to Berlin by train and bus
- Trains to Berlin from other German cities
- London to Berlin by train
- Paris to Berlin by train, day and night
- Amsterdam to Berlin by train
- Trains to Berlin from Vienna, Copenhagen, Zurich, Warsaw and the rest of Europe
From BER airport to the city: train, S-Bahn, bus, taxi or ride-hailing
- €5
- ABC single ticket from BER
- 23 min
- FEX to Hauptbahnhof
- about €58
- taxi to Alexanderplatz
The fastest way from BER to the center is the FEX Airport Express. It reaches Hauptbahnhof in about 23 minutes and runs every 15 minutes, from about 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. It also stops at Südkreuz and Potsdamer Platz.
BER is in fare zone C. So you need an ABC ticket, which costs €5 for one trip. If you buy a paper ticket at a machine, stamp it before you board.
The RE20 runs the same route once an hour, from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. The S9 takes longer but runs every 20 minutes via Alexanderplatz and Hauptbahnhof, all day and on weekend nights. The S85 goes via Ostkreuz instead.
Buses X7 and X71 run to U Rudow, where you change to the U-Bahn. Late at night, the N60 bus links Alexanderplatz and BER every 30 minutes.
A taxi costs about €58 to Alexanderplatz and about €63 to Kurfürstendamm, says berlin.de. That includes a €1.50 airport surcharge.
Uber, Bolt and FREENOW pick up in their own zone. It is an outdoor area on arrival level E0, in front of Terminal 1.
Not booked a bed yet? See where to stay in Berlin: areas near the FEX and S9 stops save you a change.
Landing late, with kids or with lots of bags? A ride booked ahead takes you to your door.
Getting around the city: U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, bus and ferry
Inside Berlin, the U-Bahn and S-Bahn get you almost everywhere. Trams and buses fill the gaps, and one ticket works on all of them.
The Wall Berlin kept standing on Bernauer Strasse is easy to reach. The S1, S2, S25 and S26 stop at Nordbahnhof, right next to it.
How Berlin public transport works
The city is split into fare zones A, B and C. AB covers all of Berlin up to the city limits. C adds the area around it, with BER airport and Potsdam.
BVG also lets you take a bike on the U-Bahn, trams and ferries, with a bike ticket. Bus 100 is a normal city bus, but it passes the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden and Berlin Cathedral.
Train stations in Berlin you will use
Hauptbahnhof is the main station for long-distance trains, the FEX and the U5. S+U Brandenburger Tor serves the Brandenburg Gate on the S1, S2, S25, S26 and U5.
Alexanderplatz is the hub in the east, on the S-Bahn, the U5 and the S9 from BER. Friedrichstraße is where the S1 leaves for Oranienburg and the Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Berlin Hbf train station: finding your platform
Deutsche Bahn’s station page says Hauptbahnhof has tracks on several levels. Tracks 1 to 8 and the U-Bahn are deep under the ground. Tracks 11 to 16 are on the upper level.
Check your track number on the departure board, then follow the signs. Allow a few extra minutes to change levels.
Tickets, zones and city cards: what to buy
- €4
- single AB ticket, 2 hours
- €11.20
- 24-hour AB ticket
- €60
- fine without a valid ticket
For a day of sightseeing, buy a 24-hour AB ticket for €11.20. A single AB ticket costs €4 and lasts 2 hours, one way.
Berlin’s fares, read on 27 October 2026 for the 2026 Berlin Travel Cost Study, put a single AB ride at €4 and a 24-hour AB ticket at €11.20, so the day ticket pays off from your third ride.
For a hop of up to three train stations, a short-trip ticket costs €2.80. A 24-hour ABC ticket, for BER and Potsdam, costs €12.90. A 24-hour small group ticket for up to five people costs €35.30 for AB and €37.70 for ABC.
Stamp every paper ticket before you ride, at the yellow or red machines. Without a valid ticket you pay €60, even if you only forgot to stamp it.
The Berlin WelcomeCard
The Berlin WelcomeCard adds discounts of 25 to 50% at many sights to your rides. It starts at €28.50 for 48 hours and lasts up to 6 days.
It is delivered by email as a PDF, and it cannot be cancelled. The AB card does not cover BER. Buy the ABC card if you will ride to the airport or Potsdam.
Staying longer: the Deutschlandticket
The Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month in 2026. It covers buses, the U-Bahn, the S-Bahn and regional trains, but not ICE or IC trains.
It is sold only as a subscription that renews each month. Cancel it by the 10th of the month if you only want one month.
Walking, bikes and scooters
- €2.70
- Bike ticket on the U-Bahn, from
- 4
- Bike-share apps on berlin.de
- Free
- Folded bikes on trains
Central Berlin is good for walking between nearby sights, and bikes cover longer gaps. Trains are still faster across the city.
For a shared bike, berlin.de lists Dott, Nextbike, Bolt and Lime. Ride on the road or a bike path, not the sidewalk. Children up to 8 must ride on the sidewalk, and up to 10 may.
After dark your bike needs lights, and flashing lights are not allowed. To take a bike on the U-Bahn, buy a bike ticket, from €2.70. Folded bikes ride free.
Taxis and Uber in Berlin
Yes, Uber works in Berlin, and so do Bolt and FREENOW. At BER, Uber’s own page says the app shows you where to meet your driver. Check the name, plate and car before you get in.
We found no ride-app prices on the official pages we read. The app shows you the fare before you book.
Berlin taxi fares
A taxi starts at €4.30. Then it costs €2.80 per km (about 0.6 miles) for the first 3 km, €2.60 per km up to 7 km, and €2.10 per km after that.
For a hop of up to 2 km, ask for the €6 short-distance rate. It works only in a taxi you wave down on the street. You can also agree on a fixed price before the trip.
You can pay cash or by card, but drivers don’t have to accept every card.
Hop-on hop-off and sightseeing tours with transport built in
A hop-on hop-off bus is a ride and a city tour in one. The live-guided bus comes every 20 to 30 minutes, from about 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On the City Sightseeing bus, the last Classic Route bus leaves Stop 1 at 4 p.m.
The listing for the live-guided bus warns of detours around weak bridges. Its stops are not affected.
Day trips on your own: train, bus or car
- 26–27 min
- Potsdam
- 45 min
- Oranienburg, for Sachsenhausen
- 1 h 39 min
- Dresden
You can reach Potsdam, Sachsenhausen, Dresden and the Spreewald by train, without a car. Or let a day trip handle the ride.
Berlin by train: day trips you can do alone
- Potsdam: bahn.de shows about 26 to 27 minutes from Hauptbahnhof. You need an ABC ticket for this trip.
- Sachsenhausen: take the S1 from Friedrichstraße to Oranienburg, about 45 minutes, every 20 minutes. The RE5 from Hauptbahnhof takes 25 minutes. Get off at Oranienburg, not at Sachsenhausen station, then walk 20 minutes or take bus 804 or 821. Entry to the memorial is free.
- Dresden: the fastest direct train takes 1 hour 39 minutes, with fares from €21.99 on bahn.de.
- Spreewald: the RE20 runs from Hauptbahnhof to Lübbenau once an hour. The RE2 also stops there, but its line has big construction works until 12 December 2026. Check your date.
When a rental car makes sense, and when it does not
- €5
- Green sticker at the office
- €6
- Green sticker online
- E plate
- Electric cars exempt
Skip the car inside Berlin: trains are faster, and parking is hard to plan. We found no official parking rates for the center.
A car only helps outside the city. Think of the Spreewald villages, or several stops in one day. For Sachsenhausen, the memorial has a car park at the entrance.
To drive inside the S-Bahn ring, your car needs a green sticker for the low-emission zone. It costs €5 at the office or €6 online. Electric cars with an E plate are exempt.
Need a car for the Spreewald villages or a day with several stops? Compare rental cars before you go.
Apps, maps and handy tips: nights, accessibility, strollers
On weeknights, the U-Bahn and S-Bahn stop around 1 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Then night buses take over, and Metrotrams run all night.
Out late on an evening tour, or one of the ghost tours Berlin visitors look for? Plan your ride home before 1 a.m. on a weeknight.
If the Berghain Berlin doorman sends you home, the U-Bahn runs all night on Friday and Saturday, every 15 minutes. The S-Bahn runs every 30 minutes.
Children under 5 ride free with an adult, berlin.de says. Children 6 to 14 need a reduced ticket, but up to three ride on your 24-hour ticket.
Berlin metro map and train map: use the app
Use the VBB Fahrinfo app or the BVG route planner as your map. VBB shows lifts that are out of order. You can also ask for a fully step-free route, which helps with a stroller or a wheelchair.
Tips for getting around Berlin
Buy the ticket, then stamp it
Stamp a paper ticket at the yellow or red machine before you ride. An unstamped ticket counts as no ticket, and the fine is €60.
Buy ABC for the airport
BER is in zone C. An AB ticket or the AB WelcomeCard does not cover it, so buy an ABC ticket for €5.
Day ticket from the third ride
A 24-hour AB ticket costs €11.20 and a single costs €4. Planning three rides or more? Buy the day ticket.
What you can’t cancel
The WelcomeCards are non-refundable and come by email as a PDF. The three buses and the airport transfer show free cancellation on GetYourGuide.
Getting around Berlin: questions and answers
Is there Uber in Berlin?
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in Berlin?
How do I use public transport in Berlin?
How do I get from BER airport to the city center?
More Berlin tours and transfers, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (26), facts checked on 28 October 2026
- BER airport: public transport
- BER airport: ride app pick-up
- VBB: getting to BER
- VBB: RE2
- VBB: lifts and step-free travel
- berlin.de: tickets, fares and route maps
- berlin.de: taxi fares and rules
- berlin.de: night transport
- berlin.de: low-emission zone
- berlin.de: bike sharing
- Berlin police: cycling rules
- Berlin police: bike lights (PDF)
- BVG: tickets
- BVG: bicycles
- BVG: sightseeing by public transport
- BVG: U5 route
- visitBerlin: the U5
- Uber: BER pickup
- Deutsche Bahn: Berlin Hauptbahnhof (station page)
- bahn.de: Berlin to Potsdam
- bahn.de: Berlin to Dresden
- bahn.de: Deutschlandticket
- Sachsenhausen Memorial: travel information
- Berlin Wall Memorial: visit
- Berlin WelcomeCard
- Berlin WelcomeCard: ticket terms