Public Transportation in Berlin : The right ticket for you

Berlin's public transport system is renowned for its efficiency, offering late-night train and 24-hour weekend operations. Night buses also complement these services.

A unified ticket system allows passengers to access all forms of public transport, eliminating the need for multiple tickets when switching between them.

Which ticket to buy?

Arriving from the Berlin Airport (BER)

Arriving from the Airport BER in Berlin you will need an ABC ticket. The most common options are either buying a single trip ABC ticket or if you are two people traveling together and you have to fly out of BER again, buying the 4-trip ABC ticket is an economical option.

If you are planning to use the train another two times or more within the next 24 hours after arriving at the airport, then buying a 24 hour ABC ticket is a great option.

To avoid cuing after a long flight and having to figure out the ticket machines at the airport, you can purchase a 24 hour ABC ticket online*.

Other options are buying

• a 24 hour small group ticket, which makes sense if you are traveling with 4 or more people and won't be splitting up.
• a 7 day ticket
• or the Berlin Welcome Card ABC

The Berlin fare zones

First of all you have to check which zones you will be traveling in:

• AB: Berlin
• ABC: Berlin and surroundsings including the Airport and Potsdam
• BC: Berlin outer areas and surroundsings

You can find a map of the zones here

How far do you want to travel?

• The AB ticket grants two-hour travel access throughout Berlin, excluding return journeys.
• Shorter trips can benefit from the cost-effective short trip ticket or Kurzstrecke ticket, suitable for up to three stops on the S-Bahn or U-Bahn, or six stops on buses or trams.
• Traveling to the airport or Potsdam requires an ABC ticket, with an option to upgrade from an AB ticket if travel plans extend beyond the initial ticket's coverage.

How often do you want to travel?

Economically, a 4-trip ticket is advisable over single tickets for infrequent travel.

If you are planning on using the train 4 times per day (2 return trips) or more, a 24-hour pass works out cheaper than the 4-trip tickets.

Another option for frequent travel is the Berlin WelcomeCard which offers discounts on various attractions and is available for different durations, ranging from 48 hours to 6 days This is a great option for tourists planning to visit museums and attractions.