Berlin
Berlin public transport: tickets, passes and apps
For 1–2 days of heavy riding, buy a 24-hour ticket for zones AB; for 3 days or more, or if you will also leave Berlin, the Deutschlandticket at €58 per month (2026 estimate) usually wins. Single rides suit one or two trips only. Pay by contactless card or the BVG app; paper machines still take coins.
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GuideBerlin
Key facts
- Best for 1–2 days
- 24-hour ticket, zones AB (2026 estimate)
- Best for 3+ days
- Deutschlandticket, €58 per month, cancel-anytime subscription (2026 estimate)
- Best for one or two rides
- Single ticket, zones AB (2026 estimate)
- Pay by
- Contactless bank card, BVG app, ticket machine (coins and cards), BVG customer centres
- Zones
- AB covers central Berlin; ABC adds BER airport and Potsdam
- Airport
- BER is in zone C; you need an ABC ticket unless you hold the Deutschlandticket
- Validate
- Stamp paper tickets in the red or yellow machines before boarding; app tickets are already valid
- Fare evasion fine
- €60 on the spot (2026 estimate)
Best ticket
Match the ticket to how many times you will actually board, not to how many sights you plan to see. Berlin is flat and walkable in the centre, so a two-ride day is common.
One or two rides: single ticket. A day of hopping on and off: 24-hour ticket. Three days or more, or any trip outside the city: the Deutschlandticket, which covers all regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses nationwide for a calendar month.
The Deutschlandticket is sold as a subscription, not a one-off pass. Buy it in the BVG or DB app and cancel before the end of the month to stop the next payment. Visitors can use it; there is no residency requirement.
| Ticket | Price (2026 estimate) | Zones | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single ticket | €3.50 | AB | One journey, 2 hours with changes, no return trip |
| Single ticket | €4.40 | ABC | One journey, 2 hours with changes |
| 24-hour ticket | €10.50 | AB | 24 hours from validation, unlimited rides |
| 24-hour ticket | €11.80 | ABC | 24 hours from validation, unlimited rides |
| 7-day ticket | €41.50 | AB | 7 consecutive days |
| Deutschlandticket | €58 per month | All Germany | Calendar month, regional transport only |
| Short-trip ticket (Kurzstrecke) | €2.40 | AB | 3 stops on U-Bahn/S-Bahn or 6 bus/tram stops, no changes |
Prices are 2026 estimates; confirm current fares with BVG before travel.
How to pay
Contactless bank cards and phones work on readers at U-Bahn and S-Bahn gates and on buses and trams. Tap in, tap out where readers exist; the system charges the best fare for your day automatically. Foreign cards are accepted, but a small foreign-transaction fee may apply.
The BVG app sells single, 24-hour and 7-day tickets, and the Deutschlandticket. Buy before boarding and show the QR code if asked. Paper tickets from machines must be validated in the small red or yellow stamping boxes on the platform or in the vehicle; an unstamped ticket counts as no ticket.
Machines take coins and often cards, but not all accept notes. BVG customer centres at major stations sell everything and take cash.
- BVG Fahrinfo — timetables, fares, ticket purchase
- DB Navigator — Deutschlandticket and regional trains
- Jelbi — BVG's bike, scooter and car-sharing app
- Contactless tap-and-ride — no app needed, best-fare billing
Zones
Berlin is split into zones A, B and C. Zone A is the ring inside the S-Bahn circle; zone B is the rest of the city up to the city limits; zone C is the surrounding area, including BER airport and Potsdam.
Most visitors never leave AB. Buy ABC only for the airport, Potsdam (Sanssouci), Sachsenhausen or Oranienburg. A ticket for AB is not valid in C, and inspectors do check the airport line.
The Deutschlandticket ignores zones entirely and covers regional trains across Germany, which makes it the cheapest option for a Berlin base plus day trips to Potsdam, Brandenburg an der Havel or Leipzig.
From the airport
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) sits in zone C, about 30 minutes from the centre. The FEX airport express and S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 run to Hauptbahnhof, Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz and Ostkreuz.
You need an ABC ticket (single or 24-hour) to reach the city, or a Deutschlandticket, which covers the whole trip. A zone AB ticket will not get you out of the airport.
Trains run roughly every 10–20 minutes through the day and less often overnight; check the last connection if you land late. Taxis and ride-hailing cost far more and are only worth it for groups or very late arrivals.
| From BER | To | Time | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEX / S9 | Hauptbahnhof | About 30 min | ABC |
| S9 / S45 | Alexanderplatz | About 35 min | ABC |
| S45 | Südkreuz | About 25 min | ABC |
| Regional train | Potsdam | About 45 min | ABC |
Times are typical, not guaranteed; check live departures.
Tips
Validate paper tickets before you board. Inspectors work in plain clothes and issue a €60 fine (2026 estimate) with no sympathy for tourists.
Bicycles need their own ticket on top of yours, and are not allowed on some crowded services at peak times.
U-Bahn and S-Bahn run through the night on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays on most lines; on other nights night buses take over.
Buy the Deutschlandticket only if you will ride on several days or leave the city; for a two-day museum weekend, two 24-hour tickets are cheaper and simpler.
- Validate paper tickets in the red or yellow box
- Keep the ticket until you leave the last vehicle
- Berlin WelcomeCard bundles transport with museum discounts — compare before buying
- Children under 6 travel free; check family rules for older children
Questions people ask
What is the best public transport ticket in Berlin?
For one or two days of riding, a 24-hour AB ticket (2026 estimate €10.50). For three days or more, or any trip outside the city, the Deutschlandticket at €58 per month (2026 estimate) is usually cheaper and covers all German regional transport.
Can I pay by contactless card in Berlin?
Yes. Tap a contactless bank card or phone at U-Bahn and S-Bahn gates and on buses and trams; the system bills the best fare for the day. Foreign cards may carry a small transaction fee. Paper tickets still need validating.
How much is a day pass in Berlin?
A 24-hour ticket is about €10.50 for zones AB and €11.80 for ABC (2026 estimates). It runs for 24 hours from validation, not per calendar day, and covers U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, bus and ferry.
Do I need a ticket for the airport?
Yes. BER is in zone C, so you need an ABC ticket (about €4.40 single, 2026 estimate) or a Deutschlandticket. An AB ticket is not valid to or from the airport.
Is the Deutschlandticket worth it for a short visit?
Only if you ride on several days or leave Berlin. It is a monthly subscription, so cancel before the month ends. For a two-day city break, two 24-hour tickets cost less.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialBVG — Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe
- officialVBB — Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg
- officialBerlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
- officialDeutschlandticket — official information
- officialvisitBerlin — public transport
- secondaryWikivoyage — Berlin