Transit & logisticsBy Clever Tourists · Published
From Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), the FEX Airport Express is the fastest option: about 23 minutes to Berlin Hauptbahnhof, 19 to Potsdamer Platz and 14 to Südkreuz, on the same €5.00 (≈ $5.6) ABC ticket as the slower S-Bahn. Trains run from the station directly beneath the terminal, every 15 minutes through the day, and the S-Bahn S9 serves the east. A taxi to the centre costs about €60 to €70 (≈ $67–78). We spent 3 days in Berlin in July 2023. Fares and times come from the DB Regio airport express page and 2026 guides read in October 2026.
BER has one terminal complex and a single railway station directly beneath it. Follow signs for trains (Bahn) from arrivals; the walk is short, with no shuttle needed. The airport is in Berlin fare Zone C, which matters for tickets (see below).
Services at BER include the FEX Airport Express, regional trains (RE and RB lines) and the S-Bahn (S9 and S45). The FEX is not a premium service: it uses regular regional fares and runs on the same ticket as everything else.
The FEX runs between BER and Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz and Südkreuz. Journey times from the DB Regio page: about 23 minutes to the Hauptbahnhof, 19 to Potsdamer Platz and 14 to Südkreuz. The train runs every 15 minutes from about 04:30 to 00:30, and DB Regio says there are services 24 hours, with some night trains routed via the S-Bahn to Charlottenburg connecting to BVG night services.
The Hauptbahnhof is the main station for long-distance trains and a short ride from the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate; Potsdamer Platz is the business and museum area; Südkreuz serves the south. For Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain, the S-Bahn may be simpler.
The S9 runs through Ostkreuz and Friedrichstraße to Alexanderplatz in roughly 45 minutes, every 20 minutes. It is slower than the FEX but takes you directly to the east and Mitte without changes. Regional trains such as the RE7 and RE8 reach the centre in about 30 minutes and serve the same ticket zones; check the departure board, as which stations they call at varies.
All of these require the Berlin ABC ticket, since BER sits in zone C.
A single ABC ticket costs €5.00 (≈ $5.6) (reduced fare €3.50 (≈ $3.9)). A 24-hour ABC ticket costs €12.90 (≈ $14.4), and a small-group day ticket is €37.70 (≈ $42). A €2.40 (≈ $2.7) supplementary Zone C ticket exists for people who already hold a Berlin AB season ticket. Tickets must be bought and validated before boarding; you cannot buy or validate one on the train. Travelling without one risks a €60 (≈ $67) penalty.
The Germany-wide Deutschlandticket (€63 (≈ $70) per month) covers local and regional travel nationally, so a holder does not need extra tickets for the S-Bahn, but check the rules for the airport trains. For a short visit a single or a 24-hour ticket is simpler. See cash or card in Germany for how to pay at the machines.
Taxis wait outside arrivals. BER does not have an official flat rate, so fares are metered: about €60 to €70 (≈ $67–78) to the centre, in around 40 minutes, depending on traffic. Ride-hailing apps charge a similar amount. The train is faster in almost every case, since the road to BER is a motorway that can back up at peak times.
A taxi is worth it for a group of three or four with luggage, or if your hotel is far from any station. Tipping is by rounding up; see tipping in Germany.
Ticket machines at the station sell the ABC ticket; if the machine queue is long, the BVG and DB Navigator apps also sell tickets, so install one before you fly. Validate any paper ticket at the stamping machine before boarding, as the rules above require.
Many Berlin shops and cafes are cash-first, so carry some euros; see cash or card in Germany. The Berlin city tax guide explains the tax on hotel stays.
For Mitte and Museum Island, ride the FEX to the Hauptbahnhof and walk or change to the S-Bahn. For Kreuzberg, Neukölln and the south, the FEX to Südkreuz then a local connection is quickest. For Friedrichshain, Prenzlauer Berg and the east, the S9 stops at Ostkreuz and Alexanderplatz without changing. Our time in Berlin was 3 days in July 2023; we were not there long enough to recommend a single base, so choose by where you plan to spend the days.
The airport is outside the city, so build in 90 minutes from landing to hotel in total, including baggage and the ticket purchase. For a first-time visitor planning more days in Germany, best time to visit Germany is a good next read.
Hotel near Hauptbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz or Südkreuz: FEX. Hotel in Mitte, Friedrichshain or Alexanderplatz: S9 or the FEX plus a short transfer. Late night: FEX or taxi. Leave a few minutes to buy and validate the ticket before you head to the platform.
Add the Berlin city tax to your hotel budget, read the Germany eSIM guide before you land, and see is Germany safe to visit for pickpocket tips on the S-Bahn.
The FEX Airport Express reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 23 minutes, Potsdamer Platz in 19 and Südkreuz in 14. The S9 to Alexanderplatz takes about 45 minutes.
A single Berlin ABC ticket costs €5.00 (≈ $5.6) (€3.50 (≈ $3.9) reduced) and works on the FEX, S-Bahn and regional trains. A 24-hour ABC ticket costs €12.90 (≈ $14.4).
Yes. BER is in Berlin fare zone C, so you need an ABC ticket. Holders of an AB season ticket can add a €2.40 (≈ $2.7) Zone C supplement.
Roughly €60 to €70 (≈ $67–78) metered, in about 40 minutes. There is no official flat rate.
DB Regio says the FEX serves the airport 24 hours, with every 15 minutes from about 04:30 to 00:30 and some night trains via the S-Bahn.
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