Berlin Airport (BER) to the City

Berlin has one airport, BER, with its station right under Terminal 1

This post covers getting from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) into the city. The airport station (Flughafen BER) is right under Terminal 1 on level U2, and both the Airport Express FEX and the S-Bahn lines S9 and S85 leave from it. Buses and taxis leave from in front of Terminal 1 on the arrivals level (E0).

The first thing to know is the fare zones. Zone A is the inner city up to the S-Bahn ring, B runs from the ring to the city boundary, and C covers about 15 km around Berlin, including the airport and Potsdam. Because the airport is in zone C, you need an ABC ticket to the city; an ABC single ticket costs €5.00.

When you book, check that the arrival airport on your ticket is BER. Below we go through the trains, buses and taxis, then accommodation areas, an at-a-glance comparison and an arrival-day checklist.

• Full Berlin travel guide →

Airport Express FEX: about 23 minutes to Hauptbahnhof

The FEX runs from the airport station via Südkreuz, Potsdamer Platz and Hauptbahnhof. According to the airport, it runs every 15 minutes from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m.; until December 2026, the FEX and RE20 together run four trains per hour. Check the official timetable again before you travel.

It takes about 23 minutes to Hauptbahnhof and about 19 minutes to Potsdamer Platz. The fare is an ABC single ticket at €5.00. A single ticket is valid for 120 minutes for a one-way journey with changes, but not for round or return trips.

S-Bahn S9 and S85: both every 20 minutes

The S-Bahn leaves from the same airport station. The S9 runs via Schöneweide, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof and Zoologischer Garten to Spandau; the S85 runs via Ostkreuz to Frohnau. Both run every 20 minutes.

The fare is the same ABC single ticket at €5.00. Check journey times in the official information. Finding out before you fly whether a station near your accommodation is on these lines saves time at the airport.

Express bus X7, night buses and taxis

From stops A6-7 in front of Terminal 1 on the arrivals level (E0), the express bus X7 runs every 5-10 minutes to U Rudow on the U7 subway line. The fare is an ABC single ticket at €5.00; check journey times officially.

If you arrive late at night, the N60 (towards Alexanderplatz, every 30 minutes) and N7 night buses serve the airport. The airport site sometimes posts service disruptions, so check before you travel.

Arriving passengers at Terminals 1 and 2 use the north and south taxi ranks in front of T1 on level E0, where licensed taxis wait. Only get into marked taxis at these ranks. Unless another route is agreed, the driver must take the shortest route, and must give you a receipt on request. Check fares and times officially.

Accommodation areas and airport train stops

Here are four areas to stay in Berlin. Reading them alongside the station names on the airport lines helps you get your bearings. Check the route from each stop to your accommodation address separately.

• Mitte (around Museum Island & Unter den Linden): for first-timers and walking to sights. Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral, the Humboldt Forum and the Brandenburg Gate are close
• Prenzlauer Berg: cafés, strolling, a relaxed feel. Cafés and eateries around Helmholtzplatz and Kollwitzplatz
• Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg: nightlife, street food, Wall history. The area around Warschauer Straße and Oranienstraße and Mehringdamm comes alive in the evening
• Charlottenburg (around the Ku'damm): shopping, palace, a calmer atmosphere. The Ku'damm starts at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, and Charlottenburg Palace lies to the west
• Airport train stops: FEX at Südkreuz, Potsdamer Platz and Hauptbahnhof; S9 at Schöneweide, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof and Zoologischer Garten; S85 at Ostkreuz

At a glance

Here is a quick summary. For items marked "Check official", confirm them with official sources before you go.

• FEX: airport station (level U2 under Terminal 1) → Südkreuz, Potsdamer Platz, Hauptbahnhof; every 15 minutes from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. (until December 2026, FEX and RE20 together four trains per hour); ~23 min to Hauptbahnhof, ~19 min to Potsdamer Platz; ABC single ticket €5.00
• S9: airport station → Schöneweide, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten → Spandau; every 20 minutes; time: check official; ABC single ticket €5.00
• S85: airport station → Ostkreuz → Frohnau; every 20 minutes; time: check official; ABC single ticket €5.00
• X7: stops A6-7 in front of Terminal 1, level E0 → U Rudow (U7); every 5-10 minutes; time: check official; ABC single ticket €5.00
• Night buses: N60 (towards Alexanderplatz, every 30 minutes) and N7, for late-night arrivals
• Taxi: licensed taxis at the north and south ranks in front of T1 on level E0; fare and time: check official

What to check when buying a ticket, plus an arrival-day checklist

Buy tickets in the official VBB, BVG or S-Bahn apps or at machines in stations and the airport. Paper tickets from machines must be validated before you ride. For the trip from the airport into the city, make sure you have an ABC ticket, not an AB one.

If you plan to ride a lot from day one, there is also the ABC 24-hour ticket (€12.90) and the 72-hour Berlin WelcomeCard (€45.50 for ABC), which gives unlimited public transport plus up to 50% off at over 170 partners. On days you stay within the city, an AB ticket is enough.

• Check that the arrival airport on your ticket is BER
• Airport to city needs an ABC ticket (single €5.00); validate paper tickets before you ride
• Carry some euro notes and coins: some small shops and cafés accept cash only
• Shops are closed on Sundays apart from a few exceptions such as airports and railway stations
• If you arrive on a Monday, many museums and palaces are closed (e.g. Neues Museum, Charlottenburg Palace); plan always-open places like the Brandenburg Gate
• Smoking is banned on public transport and at stops and stations
• Check official information on entry requirements before you go

• Incheon → Berlin flights →
• Berlin 4-day route plan →

FAQ

Related reading

Itinerary · GermanyHow Many Days in Berlin? A 4-Day Route PlanThree to four nights suits Berlin. BER to the city and a daily route: Reichstag dome,…ComparisonAirport to City: Train, Bus, Taxi or Transfer? A Practical ComparisonCompare the five ways to get from the airport into town, with tips for late-night…ComparisonPaying Abroad: Cash vs Credit Card vs Travel Money Card — What's Cheapest?How exchange rates and card fees really work abroad, when cash still matters, and how to…

All articles →