By Plane

Due to the history of Berlin being divided into East Berlin and West Berlin, the city has two airports. Berlin Tegel Airport is located in the north west of the city, about 11km from the city centre, and acts as the main international airport. Berlin Schönefeld Airport is located south east of the city, about 21km from the city centre, and acts as the main hub for low cost airlines. A new airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, is under construction and after many delays is set to open in October 2020.

Berlin Tegel Airport

Get to the city centre by train:

There is no train line connecting Berlin Tegel Airport to the S-Bahn or U-Bahn. It is not possible to get a train to or from Berlin Tegel Airport.

Get to the city centre by public bus:

The bus terminal is located outside Terminals A and B where you will find plenty of ticket machines. From 4:30am–12:00am buses depart every 5-10 minutes to Berlin’s central train station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof), Alexanderplatz and to Zoologischer Garten. From any of these stations you can swap to the U-Bahn or S-Bahn and travel on to anywhere in the city. The yellow and black, double length buses are comfortable and have plenty of space to store your luggage. From the airport you will need to buy a ticket valid for Zone AB. Remember to validate the ticket in the stamp machine on the bus before your journey.

To Berlin Hauptbahnhof (or Alexanderplatz) take the TXL JetExpressBus. The journey to the Hauptbahnhof takes about 22 minutes, then continues on to Alexanderplatz, about 37 minutes. A one way ticket will cost €2.80.

To get to Zoologischer Garten (in the heart of old West Berlin) take the X9 JetExpressBus. The journey to Zoologischer takes about 20 minutes. A one way ticket will cost €2.80.

For quick transport directly to the U-Bahn or S-Bahn you can take the X9 Bus to Jungfernheide (8 minutes U-bahn + S-bahn) or TXL Bus to Beusselstraße (8 minutes U-bahn).

Get to the city centre by taxi:

Taxi stands can be found outside Terminal A (at Gates 6-9) as well as outside Terminal C and E from where you can catch a metered taxi to your destination. Taxi drivers must accept credit cards, cannot refuse a trip and will issue you with a printed receipt upon request. For each journey, a taxi will charge €3.90 base rate, €2 for the first 7 kilometres and €1.50 for each additional kilometre. From Berlin Tegel Airport to the centre of Berlin will cost approximately €20-30 depending on traffic and your final destination.

Berlin Schönefeld Airport

Get to the city centre by train:

The airport train station, Berlin Schönefeld Flughafen Station, is located 5 minutes walk from Terminal A via a covered walkway. From here you can catch the Regional Railway or S-Bahn into the centre of Berlin. Ticket machines can be found in Terminal A, at the railway station and on the platform. You will need to purchase a Zone ABC ticket to take you into central Berlin, costing €3.40, valid on both the regional and S-Bahn trains. Remember to validate the ticket in the machine as you hop on the train.

The Regional railway (Airport Express) trains run twice every hour from the airport to central Berlin taking 25 minutes to Alexanderplatz, 30 minutes to Hauphbahnhof and 35 minutes to Zoologischer Garten. Look for the RE7 and RB14 trains which run from 4:30am-11:00pm.

Alternatively, you can catch the S-Bahn. Two S-Bahn lines run from the airport: the S9, towards the east of the city and city centre (including the Hauptbahnhof in 42 minutes) and the S45, towards the west of the city. Running every 20 minutes, the S9 runs from 4:10am-12:50am and the S45 from (5:00am-11:00pm).

Get to the city centre by public bus:

Bus stations are located outside Terminal A and B. There are several public buses that connect Berlin Schönefeld with other destinations in Berlin, however, we do not recommend the bus as a method for travelling into the city centre. Nevertheless, for quick access to the U-Bahn you can catch the Express Bus X7. Departing every 10 minutes, the X7 will take you to the Rudow U-Bahn station in approximately 9 minutes from where you can continue your journey.

Get to the city centre by taxi:

Taxi stands can be found outside Terminal A from where you can catch a metered taxi to your destination. Taxi drivers must accept credit cards, cannot refuse a trip and will issue you with a printed receipt upon request. For each journey, a taxi will charge €3.90 base rate, €2 for the first 7 kilometres and €1.50 for each additional kilometre. From Berlin Schönefeld Airport to the centre of Berlin will cost approximately €40-50 depending on traffic and your final destination.

By Train

Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) is located in the heart of the city, within easy walking to many attractions and hotels. Opening in 2006, Berlin Hauptbahnhof is the main entry point for those arriving into Berlin by train. From Berlin Hauptbahnhof, you can travel by train to many cities and towns in Germany as well as by direct routes to many European cities. Berlin Hauptbahnhof is also well connected to the city S-Bahn, U-Bahn, Bus and Tram networks.

Domestic and IC Train tickets can be purchased from ticket machines found throughout the station. These machines can be accessed in English and accept cash and credit cards. Alternatively, you can purchase tickets from the ticket counter found on level 1. International tickets are best to be purchased online and in advance to save on booking fees and guarantee a seat (with the additional purchase of a seat reservation).

From the station, travellers can walk into the heart of the city, take a bus, tram, U-Bahn, S-Bahn train or catch a taxi to wherever they need to go.

By Car

Berlin is an easier city to navigate than many European cities, with wide lanes and decent parking options, however we still recommend using public transport while you are exploring the city.

The city of Berlin (among many in Germany) has a Low-Emission Zone where only vehicles that meet certain environmental standards are allowed to enter. Each vehicle needs to have a sticker on their windscreen (Umweltplakette) that signifies their vehicle’s environmental status – green, yellow or red. Only vehicles with green stickers can enter the Berlin city centre. Signs will indicate when you are entering the low-emissions zone and what colour sticker you need to display to enter. This rule applies to all German and foreign registered cars. If you have rented a car in Germany it should already have a sticker attached, if it doesn’t or if you are bringing a car from another country, you will need to obtain one from the motor vehicle licencing authority. You can do this in advance through the following website: https://www.berlin.de/labo/mobilitaet/kfz-zulassung/feinstaubplakette/shop.86595.en.php. If you do not attach a sticker to your vehicle you will be liable for an €80 fine.

Moving Around the City

Owing to its divided history, Berlin is a large and spread out city. Even though many of the major sights are quite close together, depending on where you are staying and what you would like to see, you will probably need to use public transport. Never fear though, the Berlin public transport network, consisting of the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram and bus, is comprehensive and easy to use. Follow the guide below to learn all you need to know about using the public transport network.

Public Transport Tickets

The Berlin public transport network is divided into three zones, Zone A, Zone B & Zone C. Zone AB tickets will get you to virtually all the sights to see in Berlin, you will only need a Zone ABC ticket if you are travelling to/from Potsdam or Schönefeld Airport. All tickets include access to the entire public transport network (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, Bus & Tram).

Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines found at every U-Bahn and S-Bahn station. These machines can be accessed in English and accept cash and credit cards. Single Tickets and Day Tickets can be purchased on buses from the driver, make sure you have cash. Tram tickets can be purchased on board the tram and in S & U-Bahn stations.

Normaltarif (Single Ticket): €2.90 for Zone AB, €3.60 for Zone ABC. A Single Ticket is valid for two hours of travel, travelling in one direction with unlimited changes.

Tageskarte (Day Ticket): €8.60 for Zone AB, €9.60 for Zone ABC. A Day Ticket entitles you to unlimited travel from the time you validate until 3am the next morning.

Sieben-Tage-Karte (Seven Day Ticket): €34 for Zone AB, €41 for Zone ABC. A Seven Day Ticket entitles you to unlimited travel for seven days after you have validated your ticket.

The following tourist cards also include public transport.

Berlin Welcome Card: Includes access to public transport and discounts to many attractions. Can be purchased for 48 hours (€23), 72 hours (€33), 72 hours + entry to all museums on Museum Island (€51), 4 days (€40), 5 days (€46) or 6 days (€49).

Berlin Welcome Card All Inclusive: Includes access to public transport and entry to 30 attractions. Can be purchased for 48 hours (€89), 72 hours (€109), 4 days (€129), 5 days (€149) or 6 days (€169).

Validating your Public Transport Ticket

You need to validate your ticket before your first journey by using the machines found at all stations. For U-Bahn and bus, look for the yellow and white machine. For the S-Bahn look for the red machine. These machines will stamp the time and date on to your ticket. You only need to validate it once, before your first journey.

The U-Bahn

The U-Bahn is the underground train network in Berlin. There are 10 train lines and over 170 stations covering the Berlin city area. Maps of the U-Bahn network can be found at each station and electronic boards will display how long until the next train and where it is going. The U-Bahn operates between 4:00am and 1:00am on weekdays and 24 hours a day on the weekend.

The S-Bahn

The S-Bahn is the above ground train network in Berlin and covers greater distances than the U-Bahn. There are 15 train lines and almost 170 stations, including the Ringbahn which circles central Berlin. Maps of the S-Bahn network can be found at each station and electronic boards will display how long until the next train and where it is going. The S-Bahn operates between 4:30am and 1:30am on weekdays and 24 hours a day on the weekend.

Tram

Found mostly in former East Berlin (as tram lines were removed in West Berlin), there are 21 tram lines operating throughout the city. MetroNetz trams operate 24 hours a day.

Bus

Berlin has a large bus network, covering all of the city including destinations not covered by other public transport options. The yellow double decker buses are a great way to see more of the city as you travel from A to B and some bus lines operate 24 hours a day.