Overview
Berlin's public transport is a single integrated network: one valid ticket covers the U-Bahn (subway), S-Bahn (suburban rail), buses, trams and ferries. The U-Bahn is the electric rapid transit system at its core, opened in 1902 and today serving 175 stations across nine lines, with about 80% of its 155.64 km of track running underground. It is the most extensive underground network in Germany and, together with the S-Bahn, buses and trams, forms the main way to get around the capital.
Riding it end to end as a visitor is straightforward. Buy a ticket for the zones you need, stamp it before you travel, then ride. Trains run every two to five minutes at peak times, every five minutes for the rest of the day and every ten minutes in the evening, so you rarely wait long. The whole system is maintained and operated by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, commonly known as the BVG.
The network
Berlin's network is made up of several modes, all covered by the same ticket:
- U-Bahn (short for Untergrundbahn, "underground railway") — the metro, with nine lines and 175 stations. The U-Bahn is operated by the BVG.
- S-Bahn — a network of suburban train lines that, with the U-Bahn, buses and trams, forms the backbone of city transport. Named lines you may encounter include S3, S5, S7, S9, S41, S42, S46, S85 and S9, plus the S21 under construction as a new north–south spine through Hauptbahnhof.
- Tram — a tram network that operates mostly in the eastern parts of the city. Named lines include M5, M8 and M10; the M10 is particularly known as a "party tram" because its route serves several nightlife hotspots.
- Bus — a city bus network. Named lines include X7, which connects the airport with the U7 station Rudow.
- Ferries — ferries are part of the network and are covered by a valid ticket.
Several U-Bahn lines are worth knowing by name for orientation: U2, U5, U6, U7 and U8. U5 connects Hauptbahnhof to Alexanderplatz and destinations further east (older guides may say U55, which was merged into the lengthened U5 in 2020). U6 and U8 historically ran through East Berlin as the lines that passed beneath the divided city. The U-Bahn was built in three major phases: the Kleinprofil (small profile) network up to 1913, the Großprofil (large profile) network up to 1930, and further development after World War II from 1953 on.
Tickets & fares
Berlin is divided into fare zones A, B and C. Zone A covers central Berlin, B the surrounding city, and C the outskirts including BER airport. Tickets are sold as AB, BC or ABC combinations, and the fare depends on the zone and the validity period. All prices below are approximate, are given as standard fares "from", and change over time — always check current fares before you travel.
Single and short trips
- Single ticket (Einzelfahrschein): one person, one-way, valid for a 2-hour journey; round trips require a new ticket. AB: €4.00 regular / €2.50 reduced. ABC: €5.00 regular / €3.50 reduced.
- Short trip ticket (Kurzstrecke): €2.80 regular / €2.10 reduced. Valid for 3 stops on S-Bahn or U-Bahn (train changes permitted) or 6 stops on buses/trams (vehicle change not permitted).
- Extension ticket: one trip in zone A or C, complementary to an AB or BC ticket; from €2.40.
Multiple-ride tickets
- 4-trip ticket: four single trips, saving up to €3.60; from €12.40.
- 4-short-trip ticket: from €7.80.
Day tickets
- 24-hour ticket: unlimited journeys for one passenger over 24 hours from validation, and includes fares for up to three children aged 6–14. AB: €11.20 regular / €7.40 reduced. ABC: €12.90 regular / €8.00 reduced.
- 24-hour small group ticket: up to 5 people, unlimited travel for 24 hours, and one dog may be brought along. AB: €35.30; ABC: €37.70.
- 24-hour ticket extension: extends an AB or BC ticket, 24 hours from validation; from €5.60.
Monthly tickets (no subscription) include a monthly ticket from €113.00, a trainee monthly ticket from €74.10, a school student monthly ticket for zones Berlin BC/ABC from €95.70, and the Berlin-Ticket S, a personal monthly ticket for social welfare recipients, from €27.50.
Tourist passes
- Berlin WelcomeCard: the official tourist ticket, offering free public transport plus up to 50% discount at over 170 partners. 48h from €28.50; 72h from €39.50; 4 days from €49.50; 5 days from €53.50; 6 days from €58.50; a Museum Island version including free admission to Museum Island museums from €62.00.
- CityTourCard: a public transport ticket with up to 40% savings at more than 30 partners. 48h from €23.80; 72h from €35.60; 4 days from €47.50; 5 days from €49.80; 6 days from €51.00.
Bicycles can generally be brought along but special rules apply and an additional ticket may be required: a bicycle single ticket from €2.70, a bicycle short trip ticket from €1.90, a bicycle 24h ticket from €5.90 and a bicycle monthly ticket from €14.60. E-scooters are prohibited on the U-Bahn, trams and buses. Dogs are generally permitted with special rules and possibly an additional ticket.
Where and how to buy
- Multilingual ticket machines on S-Bahn and U-Bahn platforms.
- On buses, pay the driver — no cash is accepted; girocard, major credit cards, Apple/Google Pay and the rechargeable BVG card are accepted.
- On trams, use the on-board ticket machines.
- Ticket counters at larger S-Bahn and BVG stations.
- The free BVG app is available for buying tickets.
Validity and validation
- You must stamp your ticket before travel at the yellow or red boxes on S-Bahn/U-Bahn platforms and inside buses and trams. Unstamped tickets are invalid during inspection.
- Day and 24-hour tickets are validated on first use and run for 24 hours from validation.
- Children under 5 travel free when accompanied; ages 6–14 pay a reduced fare.
- Holders of a Schwerbehindertenausweis with supplement and a valid token ride all VBB public transport free; one accompanying person and a service dog also travel free.
Fare evasion carries a €60 penalty fare, including for unstamped tickets. Inspectors wear plain clothes and may require valid ID, or police are called.
From the airport
Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER) opened in October 2020 on the grounds of the former Schönefeld Airport. The train station is in the basement of Terminal 1, with Terminal 2 a short walk away. It sits in fare zone C, so you need an ABC ticket (€5.00 in 2026) — an AB ticket is not valid and you risk a €60 fine. You cannot buy your ticket on board, but there are ample ticket machines throughout the airport; if there's a queue, look for another. There are 6 platforms: 2 for the S-Bahn and 4 for regional trains.
- By regional train: to reach the city centre quickly, take any of the regional trains FEX or RE20. At peak periods trains depart about every 15 minutes and the journey takes about 23 minutes. The lines RB24 and RB32 serve Ostkreuz but avoid the centre. There are also periodic IC trains on the Dresden–Berlin–Rostock route.
- By S-Bahn: the S9 and S85 are slower options, but useful in case of disruption.
- By bus: local buses don't directly serve the city centre. The line X7 connects the airport with the U7 station Rudow; unless your destination is in the far south of the city (or there's a DB strike), you're not likely to use this. Flixbus offers long-distance bus service to Dresden and Szczecin.
- By taxi: a taxi should cost €60–70, and there is a well-served taxi stand.
Etiquette & customs
- Escalators: stand on the right so that people in a hurry can pass on the left — this is the standard convention on Berlin's escalators.
- Queuing: board in an orderly way and let passengers off before you get on. Berliners are generally direct but orderly about this.
- Quiet and priority seating: keep noise down in the quiet areas and give up priority seats to those who need them.
- Eating and drinking: eating and drinking on the network is generally tolerated, but keep it tidy and avoid strong-smelling food at busy times.
- Rush hour: trains run every two to five minutes at peak times, but they are crowded — move right down the carriage, keep your bag off the seat and have your ticket ready for inspection.
- Tickets: inspectors wear plain clothes, so always travel with a validated ticket and valid ID.
Official links
Survival terms
- Subway/metro: U-Bahn (oo-bahn) — short for Untergrundbahn, "underground railway"
- Suburban rail: S-Bahn (ess-bahn)
- Ticket: Fahrkarte (fahr-kar-teh)
- Single fare: Einzelfahrschein (ine-tsel-far-shine)
- Short trip: Kurzstrecke (koorts-shtrek-keh)
- Day pass: Tageskarte (tah-ges-kar-teh)
- Line: Linie (lee-nee-eh)
- Entrance: Eingang (ine-gang)
- Exit: Ausgang (ows-gang)
- Transfer: Umsteigen (oom-shty-gen)
Before you travel, stamp your ticket at the yellow or red validation box — an unstamped ticket counts as fare evasion and can cost you a €60 penalty fare.