U S Berlin Guide Sections
Tickets & Payment Methods
Berlin’s system covers Zones A, B, and C. Most tourists only need Zone AB.
Ticket Prices (Zone AB)
-
€4.00Single Ticket
Valid for 2 hours (one direction). Transfers included. -
€12.404-Trip Ticket BEST VALUE
Four single tickets. Drops price to €3.10/ride. Shareable. -
€2.80Short Trip (Kurzstrecke)
3 stops U/S-Bahn or 6 stops Bus/Tram. No transfers. -
€11.2024-Hour Ticket
Unlimited travel for 24h. Includes up to 3 children (6-14) for free. -
€44.607-Day Ticket
Unlimited travel for 7 consecutive days. Ends at midnight on 7th day.
Where to Buy
📱 Official Apps
- • BVG Fahrinfo: The main app for tickets & maps.
- • Jelbi App: Best for all-in-one (Transit + Scooters + Taxis).
📍 Machines & Buses
Stations: Yellow machines at every U/S-Bahn platform (Cash/Card).
Buses: Drivers accept Contactless Card Only (No Cash!).
⚠️ Validation is Mandatory
You MUST stamp paper tickets in the yellow/red boxes before boarding trains. Fine: €60. (Digital tickets activate immediately).
Transport Modes
Berlin’s network is huge but logical. U-Bahn is for the city center; S-Bahn is for longer distances.
U-Bahn (Subway)
The yellow trains are the fastest way to get around Mitte, Kreuzberg, and Charlottenburg.
Key Lines:
• U2 (Red): Alexanderplatz to Zoo (Scenic elevated sections).
• U5 (Brown): Brandenburg Gate to Museum Island.
S-Bahn (City Train)
Green-branded trains run by Deutsche Bahn. Faster than the U-Bahn for longer distances.
Key Lines:
• S41/S42 (Ringbahn): Circles the entire city center.
• S9: Direct line to the Airport (BER).
MetroBus & Bus
Berlin’s iconic yellow double-decker buses. “M” buses (MetroBus) run 24/7 every 10 mins.
Sightseeing Hack:
Take Bus 100 or 200 from Alexanderplatz to Zoo. It passes all major sights for the price of a normal ticket.
Tram (Streetcar)
Mostly found in East Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain). It is often faster than the bus.
Key Lines:
• M10 (Party Tram): Connects the nightlife spots of Warschauer Str. and Eberswalder Str.
Ferry (Fähre)
Public ferries crossing lakes like Wannsee are included in your AB ticket!
Best Route:
• F10: Wannsee S-Bahn to Alt-Kladow (20 min crossing).
Regional (Airport Exp)
Red double-decker trains. Essential for the airport or day trips to Potsdam.
Key Lines:
• FEX (Flughafen Express): Fastest link to BER Airport (30 mins from Hbf).
• RE1: The fast train to Potsdam.
Zone A is inside the Ringbahn. Zone C includes the Airport.
! Berlin Public Transport Quick Tips
🎟️ Ticket Validation
Crucial: You MUST stamp paper tickets in the yellow/red machines before boarding U/S-Bahns (or immediately on the bus). The fine is €60—and inspectors are strict!
💳 Prices & Payment
Bus drivers only accept contactless cards (no cash). 24-Hour tickets start at €11.20 (Zone AB). Groups of 3-5 should buy a “Small Group Ticket” (€33.40) to save money.
✈️ Airport = Zone C
Don’t get caught with an AB ticket at the airport! You need an ABC Ticket (€4.80). If you already have an AB day pass, just buy a “Connection Ticket A/C” supplement (€2.30).
🌙 Night Service
Weekends: U-Bahn & S-Bahn run 24 hours (Fri & Sat nights).
Weekdays: Trains stop ~1 AM and are replaced by Night Buses (N-lines).
🚲 Bikes on Trains
Allowed on U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and Trams (marked carriages only). You need a separate Bicycle Ticket (€2.40 for Zone AB).
🎟️ Best Tourist Card
Staying 3+ days? The Berlin WelcomeCard covers all transport + discounts at TV Tower & Museums.
View WelcomeCard PricesArriving in Berlin (BER)
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is located in Zone C. You need an ABC Ticket to get to the city.
FEX / RE7 (Express Train)
- 💰 €4.80 (ABC Ticket)
- ⏱ 30 mins to Hauptbahnhof
- 📍 Stops: Ostkreuz, Gesundbrunnen, Hbf
- 🔄 Runs every 30 minutes
S-Bahn (Line S9)
- 💰 €4.80 (ABC Ticket)
- ⏱ 45-50 mins to Alexanderplatz
- 📍 Stops: Warschauer Str, Alex, Zoo
- ℹ️ Good for hotels in East/West Berlin hubs
Taxi & Uber
- 💰 €60–€75 (Metered Estimate)
- ⏱ 45-60 mins (Traffic dependent)
- 📍 Taxi stands at T1/T2 arrivals
- ⚠️ Beware of “touts” inside terminal. Only use the official line.
Bus X7 + U-Bahn U7
- 💰 €4.80 (ABC Ticket)
- ⏱ 40 mins to Neukölln/Kreuzberg
- 📍 Take Bus X7 to “Rudow”, then transfer to U7
- ℹ️ Best if staying in South Berlin (Neukölln)
Tourist Travel Passes
Compare the best options for unlimited travel and museum access in Berlin.
Berlin WelcomeCard
- ✅ Unlimited Travel: Bus, Train, Tram (AB or ABC).
- ✅ Discounts: Up to 50% off 200+ attractions.
- 👨👩👧 Family Friendly: 3 children (6-14) travel free per card!
- ⏱ Flexible: 48h to 6 Days.
CityTourCard
- ✅ Transport: Same unlimited travel as WelcomeCard.
- 📉 Fewer Discounts: Saves money at ~20 attractions (mostly nightlife/alternative).
- 💰 Cheaper: Saves you ~€4-€5 compared to WelcomeCard.
Deutschland-Ticket
- 🇩🇪 All of Germany: Unlimited local transport nationwide.
- ⚠️ Subscription Trap: It is a monthly subscription. You must cancel by the 10th of the month or you pay for the next month too.
- ❌ No ICE/IC Trains: Local/Regional trains only.
| Feature | WelcomeCard | CityTourCard | D-Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | ✅ Unlimited (Berlin) | ✅ Unlimited (Berlin) | ✅ All Germany |
| Airport (BER) | ✅ (If ABC bought) | ✅ (If ABC bought) | ✅ Included |
| Kids Free? | ✅ Yes (3 kids <15) | ✅ Yes (3 kids <15) | ❌ No (Adult Only) |
| Best For | First-Time Tourists | Budget / Nightlife | Stays > 1 Month |
Bikes & Boats
Experience Berlin from the saddle or the water.
Nextbike (Berlin)
- 💰 Cost: ~€1 per 15 mins (Max €15/day).
- 📱 App: Use the Jelbi App or Nextbike app to rent.
- 📍 Availability: Thousands of silver/blue bikes citywide.
- 🔓 Return: Park at designated stations or “Flex Zones” (small fee may apply).
Ferries & River Cruises
- 🎫 BVG Ferries (F Lines): Included in your AB ticket! Best route: F10 (Wannsee).
- 🏙️ Spree Cruises: Sightseeing boats in the center are Private (Not included in BVG ticket).
- ⚓ Popular: 1-hour tour past Museum Island & Reichstag.
Scenic Routes
Sightseeing for the price of a standard ticket (€3.50).
The “Budget” Tour Bus
Created after reunification to connect East & West. Passes the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and Victory Column.
The Elevated Viaduct
Instead of going underground, the U1 glides above the streets of Kreuzberg. The crossing of the Oberbaum Bridge is iconic.
Lake Wannsee Crossing
One of Berlin’s longest ferry routes. It feels like a mini-vacation across the lake. Included in the regular AB ticket!
The “Dog’s Head” Circle
Ride the full circle (60 mins) to see the transition from industrial zones to leafy suburbs. S41 goes clockwise.
Accessible Travel in Berlin
Berlin has one of the most accessible transport networks in Europe.
Public Transport Accessibility
U-Bahn (Subway)
86% of stations are step-free (elevators/ramps).
⚠️ Warning: Some older stations (e.g., U2 line) still lack elevators. Always check the map for the wheelchair symbol.
Bus & Tram
100% Accessible. Every bus and tram is a low-floor vehicle with a fold-out ramp. Press the blue wheelchair button outside specifically to alert the driver.
S-Bahn (Trains)
All S-Bahn trains have a dedicated wheelchair compartment (usually directly behind the driver). Staff will deploy a ramp if needed.
Free Assistance Service
BVG offers a free “Begleitservice” (Guide Service) for travelers who need help navigating.
📞 Call +49 30 256 34 256 (Book 1 week ahead recommended).
Essential Planning Tools
🔗 BVG Official Accessibility Guide
Broken elevators & station maps.
🔗 Wheelmap.org
Crowdsourced map of wheelchair-friendly places (Made in Berlin!).
🔗 VisitBerlin: Accessible Tourism
Hotels, tours & museums info.
🟢 Last Verified: Jan 2026 – Prices and transport details are checked regularly.
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