Berlin’s public transportation runs on one shared fare across five different modes, set by the regional authority VBB — but there’s a catch first-timers miss: there are no ticket gates anywhere. You buy or validate your ticket before you get on, and plainclothes inspectors check for it at random.
The basics
Two big networks carry most trips, and they’re run by different companies but share the same VBB fare:
- U-Bahn — Berlin’s subway, run by BVG: 9 lines, 175 stations, and about 155 km of track, mostly underground.
- S-Bahn — the commuter rail network, run by S-Bahn Berlin, connecting the city core with Brandenburg on wider-spaced lines that surface above ground.
Around those two, BVG also runs the city’s trams (22 lines, about 320 km — the fourth-largest tram network in the world), a large bus network (roughly 1,630 buses over 1,800 km of routes), and a handful of ferry lines across the Spree and Wannsee. DB Regio runs the regional trains (RE/RB) that reach farther out into Brandenburg, plus the airport express. Between all of them, BVG alone carries over a billion passenger trips a year.
How to pay
Berlin has no fare gates on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, bus, or ferry — it’s an honor system backed by spot checks, so the rules are different from a tap-card city:
- Buy a paper ticket from a machine at any station, then validate it before you board: on the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, that means stamping it at one of the small validator boxes on the platform — before you go through to the train, since there’s no gate to do it for you. On buses, trams, and ferries, you can buy and validate on board.
- Use an app — the BVG Ticket-App, BVG Fahrinfo-App, or Jelbi. Buy the ticket, then activate it right before you travel; an unactivated digital ticket doesn’t count as valid.
- Tap a contactless card or phone at the driver — but only on buses, and only for single, day, or short-trip tickets. Buses no longer take cash at all.
There’s no citywide tap-in/tap-out reader system yet — automatic fare charging from your phone isn’t available in Berlin.
Fares
VBB’s fare zones are A (the city center out to the S-Bahn ring), B (the ring out to the city limits), and C (the surrounding area, including Potsdam and BER airport). You buy a ticket for AB (just the city) or ABC (city plus the outer ring and the airport).
| Zone AB | Zone ABC | |
|---|---|---|
| Single ticket (120 min, one direction) | €4.00 | €5.00 |
| Short-trip ticket (≤3 U/S-Bahn stops or ≤6 bus/tram stops) | €2.80 | — |
| 24-hour ticket | €11.20 | €12.90 |
| Single ticket, reduced (children 6–14) | €2.50 | €3.50 |
For longer stays, the Deutschlandticket is €63 a month and covers every local and regional service across all of Germany (it doesn’t cover long-distance IC/EC/ICE trains). For short visits, the official Berlin WelcomeCard bundles transit with sightseeing discounts — €28.50 for 48 hours up to €58.50 for 6 days.
Getting from the airport
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) sits in zone C, so you need an ABC ticket (€5.00) — the regular fare, no airport surcharge.
- FEX (Flughafen-Express) is the fastest link: a direct train from Berlin Hauptbahnhof via Potsdamer Platz and Südkreuz to BER. It runs about every 15 minutes, roughly 4am to 1am, taking around 23 minutes from Hauptbahnhof, 19 minutes from Potsdamer Platz, or 14 minutes from Südkreuz.
- S9 is the alternative: an S-Bahn line running every 20 minutes between BER and Alexanderplatz, Hauptbahnhof, and on to Spandau — including weekend night service.
- Express buses X7 and X71 run at least every 10 minutes between BER and U-Rudow (U7), useful if you’re headed to southern Berlin.
- Overnight, night buses N7, N7X, and N36 cover BER when the trains thin out.
Apps to download
- BVG Ticket-App — the fastest way to buy and activate a ticket.
- BVG Fahrinfo-App — journey planning with live vehicle tracking, plus ticket purchase in the same app.
- Jelbi — BVG’s multimodal app, folding in bike-share, e-scooters, car-share, and taxis alongside public transport tickets.
When it runs
The U-Bahn runs 24 hours on weekends (Friday and Saturday nights through Sunday). On weeknights, when the subway stops, a network of night buses (marked with an “N”) takes over the same routes. Core U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, and bus lines run frequently through the day.
Accessibility
86% of U-Bahn stations are step-free and equipped with a guidance system for blind riders. All BVG buses have been accessible since 2009 and all trams since 2021, with ramps for wheelchair boarding; about 73% of tram stops are barrier-free. If an elevator outage or other barrier blocks your route, call VBB-BAV at (030) 25 41 44 44: they’ll first work out an accessible route by bus and train, and arrange a free barrier-free taxi if that isn’t possible. There’s also a free companion/guide service for riders who’d rather not travel alone.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Always carry proof of payment. Inspectors (often plainclothes) check tickets on every mode, with no warning. Get caught without one and you’ll receive a receipt for a €60 fine, payable online — including in installments if needed.
- Let people off before you get on, and clear the doors quickly — Berliners move fast and don’t appreciate being blocked.
- Folding bikes ride free as hand luggage. Full-size bikes need their own bicycle ticket and aren’t allowed on regular buses (though they can go on the “N” night buses that replace U-Bahn lines, space permitting).
- Dogs ride free with a 24-hour, monthly, or Deutschlandticket, but need a discounted ticket of their own if you’re using single or 4-trip tickets.
- Don’t stand in the yellow zone by the bus driver — it has to stay clear for the doors.
Good to know
- No cash on buses. Drivers only take contactless card or phone payment now.
- The standalone 7-day ticket was discontinued as of January 1, 2026 — for a week-long stay, compare the Deutschlandticket against a Berlin WelcomeCard or stacking day tickets.
- If you forget a personalized subscription card but can prove ownership within 7 days, the fine drops from €60 to a €7 processing fee.