Trains in Berlin

Berlin Hauptbahnhof is the main station, with fast ICE trains to most German cities. The S-Bahn ring and regional RE trains serve the area.

S-Bahn runs from early morning until after midnight, and all night on weekends on several lines.

Tickets and prices

• Deutschlandticket: about 63 EUR per month, all local transport in Germany
• From 1 January 2027 the Deutschlandticket costs about 66.80 EUR per month
• Berlin single ticket zones AB: about 4.00 EUR (unchanged in 2027)
• Sparpreis tickets on DB Navigator for long distance
• Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket for regional day trips

Where to buy tickets

• DB ticket machines at every station take cash, cards and contactless
• DB travel centres (Reisezentrum), for example at Hauptbahnhof
• Apps: DB Navigator for all trains. BVG and VBB apps also sell S-Bahn and regional tickets
• Not possible on board. ICE and IC staff do not sell tickets, and S-Bahn and regional trains have no sales
• Without a valid ticket you pay a penalty of at least 60 EUR

Good to know: The Deutschlandticket is a monthly subscription. You can cancel it, but check the cancellation deadline when you buy.

Deutsche Bahn (official site)

Direct trains from Berlin

• Potsdam: about 25 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, RE1
• Lutherstadt Wittenberg: about 40 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Lübbenau (Spreewald): about 1 h from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, RE2, RE20
• Halle: about 1 h 10 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Leipzig: about 1 h 15 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Magdeburg: about 1 h 40 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, RE1, ICE
• Hamburg: about 1 h 45 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Erfurt: about 1 h 45 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Dresden: about 1 h 50 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, EC, IC
• Rostock: about 2 h from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, IC, RE5
• Bamberg: about 2 h 40 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Hannover: about 2 h 40 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Stralsund: about 2 h 45 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE, IC
• Nuremberg: about 2 h 55 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Wernigerode (Harz): about 3 h from Berlin Ostbahnhof or Hauptbahnhof, Harz-Berlin-Express (HBX)
• Binz (Rügen): about 3 h 45 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE, IC
• Frankfurt (Main): about 4 h from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Munich: about 4 h from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Stuttgart: about 4 h 45 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE Sprinter
• Westerland (Sylt): about 5 h from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Cologne: about 5 h 30 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Düsseldorf: about 5 h 30 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Freiburg: about 6 h 30 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Poznań (Poland): about 2 h 35 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, EuroCity
• Wrocław (Poland): about 3 h 55 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, EuroCity
• Prague (Czech Republic): about 4 h from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, EuroCity (ComfortJet)
• Warsaw (Poland): about 5 h 15 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, EuroCity
• Strasbourg (France): about 5 h 45 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Innsbruck (Austria): about 6 to 7 h from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Kraków (Poland): about 6 h 45 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, EuroCity
• Amsterdam (Netherlands): about 6 h 50 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Copenhagen (Denmark): about 7 h 15 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, EuroCity (ComfortJet)
• Basel (Switzerland): about 7 h 20 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Paris (France): about 7 h 45 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Vienna (Austria): about 8 h 20 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, EuroCity (ComfortJet), Railjet
• Bern (Switzerland): about 8 h 30 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Zurich (Switzerland): about 8 h 35 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, ICE
• Bratislava (Slovakia): about 8 h 35 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, EuroCity (ComfortJet) Hungaria
• Amsterdam (Netherlands): about 8 h 40 min from Berlin Gesundbrunnen, European Sleeper
• Copenhagen (Denmark): about 9 h from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Snälltåget
• Malmö (Sweden): about 9 h 20 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Snälltåget
• Budapest (Hungary): about 11 h from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, EuroCity (ComfortJet) Hungaria
• Vienna (Austria): about 9 h 30 min to 11 h 15 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Nightjet
• Basel (Switzerland): about 11 h 30 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Nightjet
• Brussels (Belgium): about 11 h 35 min from Berlin Gesundbrunnen, European Sleeper
• Zurich (Switzerland): about 13 h 15 min from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Nightjet
• Stockholm (Sweden): about 15 h from Berlin-Lichtenberg (EuroNight) or Hauptbahnhof (Snälltåget), EuroNight (RDC), Snälltåget
• Paris (France): about 17 h 30 min from Berlin-Spandau, European Sleeper

Trams and metro in Berlin

Berlin has the largest tram network in Germany, mostly in the east, plus U-Bahn lines U1 to U9.

U-Bahn and trams run from early morning until after midnight. The U-Bahn runs all night on weekends.

Tickets and prices

• Short trip ticket (3 U-Bahn or S-Bahn stops, or 6 tram or bus stops): about 2.80 EUR, about 2.90 EUR from 2027
• 24-hour ticket AB: about 11.20 EUR
• 24-hour small group ticket AB (up to 5 people): about 35.30 EUR
• Berlin WelcomeCard with attraction discounts

Where to buy tickets

• BVG and S-Bahn ticket machines at U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations take cash, cards and contactless
• Many trams have a ticket machine on board. Older ones take coins only, newer ones also take cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay
• No ticket sales on U-Bahn trains. Buy before you go to the platform
• Apps: BVG Tickets, BVG Fahrinfo and BVG Jelbi. Activate the ticket before you board
• BVG customer centres, sales points, kiosks and Spätis also sell tickets

Good to know: Paper tickets must be validated at the yellow or red machines. App tickets must be activated before you board.

BVG (official site)

Berlin network

U-Bahn lines U1 to U9, the S-Bahn ring and trams all appear on the official network maps.

• Line U1: Uhlandstraße to Warschauer Straße. Stops: Wittenbergplatz (KaDeWe), Kottbusser Tor (Kreuzberg), Schlesisches Tor (Oberbaum Bridge), Warschauer Straße (East Side Gallery).
• Line U2: Pankow to Ruhleben. Stops: Alexanderplatz (TV tower), Potsdamer Platz (Centre), Zoologischer Garten (Trains, west), Olympia-Stadion (Stadium).
• Line U3: Krumme Lanke to Warschauer Straße. Stops: Dahlem-Dorf (Museums), Wittenbergplatz (KaDeWe), Nollendorfplatz (Schöneberg).
• Line U4: Nollendorfplatz to Innsbrucker Platz. Stops: Viktoria-Luise-Platz (Schöneberg), Bayerischer Platz (Schöneberg), Rathaus Schöneberg (Town hall).
• Line U5: Hauptbahnhof to Hönow. Stops: Hauptbahnhof (Main station), Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), Museumsinsel (Museums), Alexanderplatz (TV tower).
• Line U6: Alt-Tegel to Alt-Mariendorf. Stops: Friedrichstraße (Trains), Stadtmitte (Gendarmenmarkt), Kochstraße / Checkpoint Charlie (Wall museum), Naturkundemuseum (Natural history).
• Line U7: Rudow to Spandau Rathaus. Stops: Hermannplatz (Neukölln), Mehringdamm (Kreuzberg), Fehrbelliner Platz (Offices), Bismarckstraße (Charlottenburg).
• Line U8: Wittenau to Hermannstraße. Stops: Alexanderplatz (TV tower), Moritzplatz (Kreuzberg), Kottbusser Tor (Kreuzberg), Hermannplatz (Neukölln).
• Line U9: Osloer Straße to Rathaus Steglitz. Stops: Zoologischer Garten (Trains, west), Kurfürstendamm (Shopping), Turmstraße (Moabit).

Where lines meet: Alexanderplatz (U2 + U5 + U8); Kottbusser Tor (U1 + U8); Nollendorfplatz (U1 + U3 + U4); Wittenbergplatz (U1 + U2 + U3); Zoologischer Garten (U2 + U9).

Buses in Berlin

The BVG bus network includes the MetroBus lines with frequent service and night buses (N lines).

Night buses (N lines) replace the U-Bahn on weekday nights. Some MetroBus lines run all night.

Tickets and prices

• Same fare system as U-Bahn and S-Bahn
• Single ticket AB: about 4.00 EUR
• Long-distance: FlixBus from the ZOB
• Bicycle single ticket: about 2.70 EUR

Where to buy tickets

• You can buy single, day and short-trip tickets from the driver, at no extra cost
• Cashless only on the bus: bank or credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or the BVG Guthabenkarte
• Apps: BVG Tickets, BVG Fahrinfo and BVG Jelbi
• Ticket machines at U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations, plus kiosks and BVG sales points
• Buy before you board if you can. It saves time at the front door

Good to know: Let passengers off first, then board quickly and keep the door area clear.

BVG (official site)

Airport links in Berlin

Berlin Brandenburg (BER) is the only airport, south-east of the city and about 25 km from Hauptbahnhof.

The FEX airport express takes about 25 minutes to Hauptbahnhof. S9 and S85 also stop at the airport, every 20 minutes.

Tickets and prices

• ABC single ticket to BER: about 5.00 EUR, about 5.20 EUR from 2027
• Deutschlandticket works on the S-Bahn and regional trains
• Taxi to the centre: about 55 to 60 EUR
• Express buses X7, X71 and BER2 (BER2 costs extra)

Where to buy tickets

• Ticket machines in Terminal 1 on level E0 (baggage claim and bus stops), U1 and the U2 platforms
• DB travel centre on level U1, about 07:00 to 22:00. Staffed ticket shops on levels E0 and U1
• Apps: DB Navigator, BVG or VBB Bus & Bahn. Buy a zone ABC ticket
• FEX, S-Bahn and regional trains: Not possible on board
• X7 and X71 buses: tickets from the driver, cashless only
• BER2 bus to Potsdam: ticket only on the bus, with a surcharge

Good to know: BER is in zone C. Use a zone ABC ticket for the airport, not just AB.

BER Airport (official site)

Airport to city centre: full guide

Tips for Berlin

• Validate paper tickets before your first ride.
• The U-Bahn and many S-Bahn lines run all night on weekends.
• Let passengers off first. Announcements are usually in German and English.

Apps to download

• BVG Jelbi: Public transport, bikes and scooters in one app
• BVG Fahrinfo: Route planning and live departures
• DB Navigator: Train routes and tickets
• FlixBus: Long-distance coaches
• FREENOW: Taxis

Route guides

• Berlin to Prague by Train: The Ultimate Travel Guide (2026)