Get from A to B

Berlin's U-Bahn (BVG), S-Bahn (Deutsche Bahn), trams (mostly in the former East), buses and regional trains share one VBB fare system. Zone AB covers the whole city; zone C adds BER airport and Potsdam. Fares rose about 6% in 2026, the BC zone and the 7-day ticket were abolished, so visitors now choose between singles, 4-trip tickets, 24-hour tickets, the WelcomeCard or the Deutschlandticket. On Friday and Saturday nights and before holidays the U-Bahn and S-Bahn run all night.

Lines and services

• MetroU-Bahn (U1-U9)

  Nine lines run by BVG. U2 (Potsdamer Platz - Alexanderplatz - Eberswalder Strasse), U5 (Hauptbahnhof - Unter den Linden - Museum Island - Alexanderplatz - east), U6 (north-south via Friedrichstrasse), U8 (Alexanderplatz - Kottbusser Tor - Hermannplatz - Neukölln) and U1 (the elevated line through Kreuzberg to Warschauer Strasse) are the most useful for visitors.

  Until about 01:00 on weekdays, then N night buses; all night on Fri/Sat nights and before holidays (every 15 min)

• TrainS-Bahn

  The east-west Stadtbahn (Zoo - Hauptbahnhof - Friedrichstrasse - Alexanderplatz - Ostbahnhof - Warschauer Strasse) and the Ringbahn circle line; S9 and S45 serve BER airport.

  Until about 01:00-01:30 on weekdays; all night on weekends (every 30 min at night)

• TramTram and Metrotram (M lines)

  Mostly in the former East: M1 (Mitte - Prenzlauer Berg), M10 (Hauptbahnhof - Nordbahnhof/Wall Memorial - Prenzlauer Berg - Warschauer Strasse, the 'party tram').

  Metrotram lines run 24 hours; at night every 30 minutes from about 00:30

• BusBVG buses including 100 and 200

  Lines 100 and 200 link Zoo, Tiergarten, the government quarter, Unter den Linden and Alexanderplatz on an ordinary ticket, a cheap sightseeing ride. Bus 218 runs a scenic route through the Grunewald to the Grunewaldturm.

  Day lines until about midnight; N lines at night

• BusNight buses (N lines)

  On weeknights N1-N9 roughly follow the U-Bahn routes after the trains stop.

  Weeknights after the U-Bahn stops

• TaxiLicensed taxis (cream-coloured)

  Meter: EUR 4.30 flag fall, EUR 2.80/km for the first 3 km, EUR 2.60/km to 7 km, EUR 2.10/km after. Street-hailed 'Kurzstrecke' up to 2 km is EUR 6 (not from ranks or by app). Drivers need not accept every card: carry cash. BER to the centre is roughly EUR 58-63.

  24h

• Ride-hailingApps (FreeNow and others)

  FreeNow books licensed taxis; the Kurzstrecke flat fare does not apply to app bookings.

  24h

• BikeCycling

  Bikes can go on U-Bahn, S-Bahn and trams with a bicycle ticket (single EUR 2.70, 24h EUR 5.90). E-scooters are banned from U-Bahn, trams and buses.

  24h

Common trips

• HauptbahnhofBrandenburg Gate / Reichstag8 min

  U5 one stop to Bundestag or two to Brandenburger Tor

  • Bus 100 towards Alexanderplatz
  • Walk 15-20 min across the Spree

• HauptbahnhofMuseum Island10 min

  U5 to Museumsinsel

  • S-Bahn to Hackescher Markt, walk 5 min

• AlexanderplatzEast Side Gallery10 min

  S-Bahn to Ostbahnhof (2 stops), walk to the gallery

  • S-Bahn to Warschauer Strasse and walk the gallery backwards

• AlexanderplatzBerlin Wall Memorial (Bernauer Strasse)12 min

  Tram M10 from Hauptbahnhof or U8 to Bernauer Strasse

  • S-Bahn to Nordbahnhof

• AlexanderplatzMauerpark / Prenzlauer Berg10 min

  U2 to Eberswalder Strasse

  • Tram M1 or 12

• AlexanderplatzKottbusser Tor / Neukölln10 min

  U8 to Kottbusser Tor, Schönleinstrasse or Hermannplatz

  • Bus M29 from Potsdamer Platz

• FriedrichstrasseCharlottenburg Palace30 min

  S-Bahn to Westend or U2/U7 then bus

  • Bus M45 from Zoologischer Garten

• Zoologischer GartenKantstrasse Asian restaurants10 min

  Walk west along Kantstrasse or bus M49

  • S-Bahn to Savignyplatz

• HermannplatzTempelhofer Feld12 min

  Walk 10 min down Hermannstrasse/Oderstrasse or U8 to Boddinstrasse

  • U6 to Paradestrasse or Tempelhof for the west entrances

• Warschauer StrasseBerghain15 min

  Walk 15 min north-west, or S-Bahn to Ostbahnhof and walk 10 min

  • Tram M10 to Wriezener Bahnhof area

• City centreSchlachtensee / Grunewald lakes35 min

  S-Bahn S1 to Schlachtensee

  • S-Bahn to Grunewald for Teufelsberg (30-min forest walk)

• City centrePotsdam40 min

  S-Bahn S7 or regional train RE1 to Potsdam Hbf (zone C ticket)

  • 24-hour ABC ticket if making several trips

To and from the airport

BER

• Train · 30 minABC single EUR 5.00 (2026)

  Airport Express FEX and regional trains from the airport station to Hauptbahnhof and other central stations; journey time approximate. An AB ticket is not enough: the EUR 60 fine applies.

• Train · 45 minABC single EUR 5.00 (2026)

  S-Bahn S9 (towards the city centre via Ostkreuz) and S45 (to the Ringbahn); slower but frequent. Journey time approximate.

• Taxi · 40 minAbout EUR 58-63 to the city centre, plus EUR 1.50 airport supplement

  Take a licensed taxi from the rank; time depends on traffic.

Good to know

• Stamp paper tickets in the red or yellow validator before boarding: an unstamped ticket counts as no ticket (EUR 60 fine), and inspectors can be in plain clothes.
• Going to or from BER you need an ABC ticket, not AB.
• For a few rides a day, the 4-trip ticket (EUR 12.40) beats singles; for heavy days, the 24-hour AB ticket (EUR 11.20).
• Weekend nights the U-Bahn and S-Bahn run all night, so there is no need for a taxi home after clubbing.
• Durations in common trips and airport transfers are approximate planning figures; check the BVG app for live times.

Useful apps

• BVG Tickets / BVG Fahrinfo
• Jelbi (BVG mobility app)
• DB Navigator (S-Bahn, regional trains, Deutschlandticket)
• FreeNow (taxis)