What is the cheapest way from BER to central Berlin?

A single Berlin ABC ticket (about €4.70) on any regional train or S-Bahn — FEX, RE7, RB14, RB23, S9 or S45. The trip takes 30–45 minutes.

Do I need a special airport ticket at BER?

No. There is no special airport fare. You just need a normal VBB 'Berlin ABC' ticket, because the airport sits in fare zone C.

How long does the train from BER to Berlin take?

The FEX express reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 30 minutes; the S9/S45 S-Bahn lines take 45–60 minutes with more stops.

What is the best way from BER to downtown Berlin?

For budget travellers the best way is the cheapest one: any regional train or S-Bahn into the city centre on a €4.70 Berlin ABC ticket, taking 30–45 minutes.

How much is a taxi from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to the city?

Around €45–60 — versus about €4.70 for the train or S-Bahn on a Berlin ABC ticket, with no real time saving.

How to get from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to downtown Berlin — the cheapest way

The cheapest way from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) into central Berlin is any regional train or S-Bahn with a single VBB 'Berlin ABC' ticket — about €4.70, taking 30–45 minutes. The FEX airport express, RE7, RB14, RB23, S9 and S45 all use this same ticket; there is no special, pricier 'airport ticket'. Skip the ~€50 taxi and branded shuttles.

How to find it

AIRPORTBerlin Brandenburg Airport
01From Terminal 1, follow the signs down to the train station 'Flughafen BER – Terminal 1-2', one level below the main hall (about a 5-minute walk).
02Buy a single 'Berlin ABC' ticket from a BVG or DB machine or the app. The airport is in zone C and the city in zones A/B, so you need ABC.
03Take any city-bound train: FEX, RE7, RB14, RB23, S9 or S45. The FEX reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 30 minutes; S9/S45 stop more often.
04Ride to your stop (Ostkreuz, Hauptbahnhof, Alexanderplatz…). One ABC ticket covers the whole trip, including transfers, for 2 hours in one direction.
CITY CENTREBerlin

Ticket

VBB single ticket, Berlin ABC (Einzelfahrschein Berlin ABC)

Where to buy: Ticket machines (BVG & Deutsche Bahn) in the 'Flughafen BER – Terminal 1-2' station beneath the terminal, or the BVG/VBB app.

How to pay: Machines take cash and cards; the app takes cards. Validate a paper ticket in the stamp box on the platform if it is not already time-printed.

Local's trick: Don't buy anything labelled 'airport ticket' — the standard €4.70 Berlin ABC single is all you need, and it also covers your onward U-Bahn, tram or bus transfer for up to 2 hours.

Trap to avoid: Taxis cost around €45–60, and branded 'airport transfer' shuttles are far pricier than the train for no real time saving.

Frequently asked

What is the cheapest way from BER to central Berlin?: A single Berlin ABC ticket (about €4.70) on any regional train or S-Bahn — FEX, RE7, RB14, RB23, S9 or S45. The trip takes 30–45 minutes.
Do I need a special airport ticket at BER?: No. There is no special airport fare. You just need a normal VBB 'Berlin ABC' ticket, because the airport sits in fare zone C.
How long does the train from BER to Berlin take?: The FEX express reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 30 minutes; the S9/S45 S-Bahn lines take 45–60 minutes with more stops.
Where do I buy the ticket at BER?: At BVG or Deutsche Bahn machines in the 'Flughafen BER – Terminal 1-2' station beneath the terminal, or in the BVG/VBB app.
What is the best way from BER to downtown Berlin?: For budget travellers the best way is the cheapest one: any regional train or S-Bahn into the city centre on a €4.70 Berlin ABC ticket, taking 30–45 minutes.
How much is a taxi from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to the city?: Around €45–60 — versus about €4.70 for the train or S-Bahn on a Berlin ABC ticket, with no real time saving.

Last verified: Jun 30, 2026. Prices and timetables change — confirm at the official transport source.