What's the best option when buying public transport tickets in Berlin?

There are different types of tickets, passes, apps and cards for Berlin's public transport system. So whether you're a regular commuter, an occasional user or a tourist here for a short visit, there's an option that will work for you.

But first a word of warning. One aspect of public transport in Berlin that often surprises visitors is the absence of ticket barriers at stations.

Don’t be fooled – travelling without a valid ticket is not permitted. Instead, plain-clothed inspectors conduct ticket checks, and passengers without a ticket are slapped with a €60 fine. These encounters aren’t very pleasant, so it’s best to avoid them altogether by travelling with a valid – and validated – ticket.

With that in mind, let's look at some ticket options.

Ticket options 

Berlin’s U-Bahn (mostly underground) and S-Bahn (mostly overground) systems are extensive, and tickets are interchangeable between the two as well as for buses and trams in the city.

Also children under the age of six travel free with an adult, and there are reduced fares for children aged six to 14 years old.

For most visitors, an AB zone ticket will suffice for your stay, unless you’re venturing to the outskirts of the city or the airport.

Prices are straightforward: a single ticket for AB is €3.80, valid for two hours in one direction. ABC tickets are €4.70.

Short-trip (Kurzstrecke) tickets for €2.60 cover three S/U-Bahn stops or six bus/tram stops.

READ ALSO: 12 Berlin travel hacks to make your trip unforgettable

In addition to single-trip tickets, the following options are also available.

Day passes: The 24-Stunden-Karte (€10.60 AB; €12.30 ABC) gives unlimited travel for 24 hours from validation. Group day tickets are available for up to five adults plus children.

Weekly passes: The 7-Tage-Karte (€44.60 AB; €52.70 ABC) is ideal for week-long stays. After 20:00 on weekdays and during the weekend, you can travel with a friend and up to three children on the ticket.

The Berlin WelcomeCard, starting at €23.50 for 48 hours (AB), offers unlimited travel plus 25 to 50 percent discounts on over 200 attractions. It’s a great choice for tourists keen to explore museums and sights.

Or, if you'll be staying for longer you could consider purchasing a Deutschlandticket subscription via the DB Navigator app.

For €58 per month (€63 from January 2026), this covers all local and regional transport across Germany, including Berlin’s ABC zones. Even for shorter stays, it can be a cost-effective option for people planning multiple day trips beyond Berlin, and it's valid for trips to and from the airport.

Good to know

If you're looking for a single app which offers bus and train tickets for Berlin as well as bike and scooter hire, the Jelbi app is the one to go for.

Tickets can be also bought at machines which offer a range of languages and from ticket counters. Note that these tickets must be validated before travel – either stamped manually or activated in your app.

BVG and S-Bahn ticket machines accept cash, credit cards and Apple/Google Pay.

But if you want to buy a ticket on a bus or a tram, bear in mind that you won't be able to pay the driver with cash.

For visitors planning to enjoy the best of late-night Berlin, it’s worth knowing that buses and trams run 24/7 on some routes (M lines), with night buses after midnight. U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains run all night on Fridays and Saturdays, with reduced service in the late hours.

Getting to and from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)

Berlin Brandenburg Airport sits in zone C of the city’s transport network, so any journey to central Berlin requires an ABC ticket.

The fastest and cheapest way is via regional trains which run roughly every 20 or 30 minutes and take anywhere from 25 to 50 minutes to reach the city centre. A single ABC ticket costs €4.70 (valid for 2 hours, one-way).

Note that if you have a pass for the AB zones, you can buy a C zone extension for the trip. So for example, if you get a 24-hour ticket, also buy an extension ticket (€2.30) so you're covered coming from the airport.

There’s no direct U-Bahn connection from the airport, but express buses run frequently to Rudow U-Bahn station, from where you can continue into the city. The journey takes 45–55 minutes in total, depending on your destination.

READ ALSO: LISTED - All the new flights to and from Germany in 2026

Taxis offer door-to-door comfort but are much pricier (€50–65 to the centre) and subject to traffic. The pick-up zone is outside Terminal 1.

Another popular option is to drive yourself into the city using a carshare service such as Miles or Free2move. The carshare carpark is about a five-minute walk from the terminal, or ten minutes if you’re weighed down with luggage.

Cars can be unlocked in the carpark and then left – legally parked! – at your destination in Berlin. Expect to pay around €30–60 for a trip to the centre (with fuel and insurance included).

Alternative ways to get around

There are very few hills in Berlin, which makes it a pleasant city for a walk. Many tourist attractions - such as the sights around Unter den Linden - are grouped within just a few minutes of each other.

But others are at opposite ends of the city and there are times when Berlin feels as if it goes on forever. With a respectable number of bicycle lanes - and depending on the weather - many people argue that the city is best enjoyed on two wheels. 

Most hotels offer bike rental and e-scooters and e-bikes can be rented via apps like Dott and Lime, as well as Jelbi. 

READ ALSO: Travel in Germany - 10 must-see places within reach of Berlin

Helmets are recommended in Berlin but not required. Parking rules apply; they're explained in the relevant apps but generally include prohibitions on parking in parks, cemeteries or blocking pavements or cycle paths.

If you have a valid driving licence (and the app will let you know if you don’t) Emmy also offers electric mopeds for hire, which can be another fun way to zip around town.