How to Get From Berlin Airport to City Center: Stress-Free Tips (2023)
Landing in a new city and trying to figure out how to get from the airport to the city center can be confusing, especially if you’ve traveled a long distance and you’re exhausted. Luckily getting from Berlin airport to city center is straightforward, and you have several options.
This blog post will explain how to get from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to city center.
Note: I recently noticed that even the airport’s website wasn’t accurate about some of the trains that do and do not go to Berlin Brandenburg terminals 1-2, so I check routes often and update this article as often as I can.
How many airports are in Berlin?
Up until late 2020, you would find directions for how to get from Berlin Tegel Airport to the city center or how to get from Berlin Schönefeld Airport to the city center.
But in late 2020, after more than a decade of delays and drama, the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) finally opened, and the other two airports closed. Berlin now has only one operating airport.
Luckily it’s pretty easy to get from the Berlin Airport to the city center so you can start experiencing all the fun things to do in Berlin.
Where to stay in Berlin
Berlin has lots of great neighborhoods for you to stay in and explore. If you’re visiting Berlin for the first time, it might be best for you stay somewhere central.
Many of the attractions are in Mitte or easily connected to Mitte by Berlin’s public transport, so you should stay somewhere in that region. Here are a few hotels we recommend.
For a more detailed look at the different neighborhoods and our hotel recommendations, check out our guide to where to stay in Berlin.
Or read my full review of the 25Hours Hotel in Charlottenburg with fantastic views of the Zoo and Tiergarten.
Berlin airport to city center
There are several options for how to get from the Berlin airport to the city centerThere are several different ways to get from the Berlin airport to city center. The one you choose depends on where exactly you’re going in the city.
If you’re nervous about using public transport, or if you’re traveling with a lot of luggage or a group of people, reserving a car might be a better option for you. Welcome Pickups is a great choice for airport transfers in Berlin.
Let’s take a look at the various options for getting from BER to Berlin’s city center.
How far is Berlin airport from Berlin city center?
The distance from Berlin Airport to city center is roughly 30 km/18.6 miles to the Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Central Train Station) or to Alexanderplatz. This can take about an hour by car, or 35 minutes to an hour by train depending on which train you use.
What zone is Berlin Brandenburg Airport?
I promise there are a lot more than just this one ticket machineBerlin Brandenburg Airport is located in zone C of Berlin’s transport system. And chances are you’re staying in zone A, though you should verify that.
This means you’ll need a ticket that’s valid for zones ABC in order to get from the Berlin airport to the city center.
If you happen to be staying in zone B (outside the Ringbahn route but still in Berlin city limits) you’ll only need a zone BC ticket. But most tourists stay in zone A because that’s where most of the attractions are.
There are plenty of ticket machines in the airport, and the machines have an English option, so you shouldn’t have a problem buying a ticket for your journey into the city.
How much is the train from Berlin airport to city center?
Since the airport is in zone C and you are most likely staying in zone A, you will need an ABC ticket. A single ABC ticket costs 3.80 euros.
If you happen to be staying in zone B, you will only need a BC ticket, as long as your route doesn’t take you into zone A. One single BC ticket costs 3.50 euros.
Here’s where it’s important to know where you’re staying in Berlin and where the train route goes from the airport to your destination. If you’re taking the FEX train into the city and then transferring to another train to get to your hotel in zone B, you will end up in zone A and need an ABC ticket.
The train route you’re on could likely end up running along the Ringbahn at some point, and that is the start of zone A. So even if you’re staying in Spandau, for example, which is in zone B, you have to go through zone A to get there.
When in doubt, just buy an ABC ticket. The extra 30 cents isn’t worth getting fined or dealing with the hassle of trying to figure out exactly where your train is running.
FEX airport train
The FEX train gets you from the Berlin airport to city center quicklyFEX stands for Flughafen Express, which is the airport express train. This is a red regional train that starts at the airport and makes stops at Ostkreuz, Gesundbrunnen, and Berlin Hauptbahnhof.
Note that the FEX train leaves from terminal 1-2 and does not stop at terminal 5. Terminal 5 is now closed permanently, so this won’t affect you.
The FEX train runs twice an hour and takes a little over 30 minutes from the airport to Hauptbahnhof. You can get out at Ostkreuz or Gesundbrunnen, both of which are major transport interchanges, and switch to a different line.
There’s plenty of space for luggage on the FEX train. It’s a double decker train, and the lower level has big sections designated for luggage, plus there are luggage racks for smaller items above the seats on both levels.
Regional trains
There are a few regional train routes that run from the Berlin airport to the city center, and this could be a good option if you’re staying closer to one of the stops on those routes, or if there’s a long wait for the next FEX train.
The RE8 takes about 35 minutes to get from the airport to Hauptbahnhof. It makes stops at Ostkreuz, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstr, Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, and Spandau before leaving the city.
The RB23 runs a similar route, so it’s a good alternative. It makes stops at Ostkreuz, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstr, Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, Charlottenburg, and Wannsee before leaving the city towards the city of Potsdam.
The RB22 also leave from the airport, but it does not go to Berlin city center. This is a good option if you’re actually going to Potsdam or a few other locations outside of Berlin.
>>Read: How to Get From Berlin to Potsdam
Check the train departure signs to see when the next train leaves the airportSbahn
The Sbahns are the (mostly) above ground trains which are helpful for getting around in Berlin. Two lines, the S9 and the S45, leave from the airport and travel into Berlin’s city center.
The S9 takes 50 minutes to reach Hauptbahnhof from the airport, and it also stops at places like Warschauer Str, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Hackescher Markt, and several others. It continues beyond Hauptbahnhof, ending the Spandau station in the northwest corner of Berlin.
The S45 takes 41 minutes to reach Südkreuz (its end station) from the airport. Before reaching Südkreuz, it also stops at S&U Neukölln, Hermannstr, and Tempelhof.
Since the Sbahns take longer than the FEX train or the regional train, they’re not ideal options. However, they do travel to other parts of the city, and if those stations are your actual destination, it could be easier and less stressful to use the Sbahn to avoid having to switch somewhere.
Also, if you just missed an FEX train, and the next one isn’t for another 30 minutes, it’s probably worth hopping on an Sbahn rather than sit around waiting.
Bus plus Ubahn
If you fly into BER during a rail strike, the bus + U7 route is a good optionIf you’re truly trying to get from the airport to Berlin city center, the bus is probably not an efficient option. But there might be situations where you need the bus, like if there’s a rail strike.
Bus lines X7, X71, and N7 (night bus) have departures from the BER airport, and you can use the bus to reach the U7 Ubahn line. Take any of these buses to the U Rudow station, switch to the U7, and from there you can switch at many other stations such as S&U Neukölln or Hermannplatz.
It doesn’t happen often, but if there is a Deutsche Bahn rail strike, none of the train options will run, or they will have fewer departures. The Sbahns are technically part of the Berlin transport system, but they’re actually operated by Deutsche Bahn.
This is when the bus to U7 route is a good option to have. Luckily strikes don’t happen often.
How to get to Berlin Brandenburg Airport terminal 5
Terminal 5 was supposed to be used for low cost airlines, but it turns out the cost to keep it running is too high. They have recently made the decision official – terminal 5 is closed, and there are no plans to reopen it or use it in the future.
If you’re taking the X7 bus from U Rudow or one of the Sbahn lines (not the FEX train) you’ll notice they’re still stopping at terminal 5. Don’t get out there though, you’ll still be quite a ways from terminal 1-2 in the BER Airport.
The FEX train does not stop at terminal 5, so no confusion there.
Taking a taxi from Berlin airport to city center
If you’d rather not deal with the trains, there’s always the option to get a taxi. However, it’s worth noting that there is a short supply of taxis that are licensed to travel from the airport to the city center since the airport is located in Brandenburg, which is a different state.
How much is a taxi from Berlin Airport to city centre? Well, a taxi from the airport to Berlin city center can cost anywhere from 50 to 80 euros depending on exactly where you’re going. Expect a similar price for Uber.
Welcome Pickups from the Berlin Airport
Maybe taking public transport is a little intimidating to you, especially if you’ve just gotten off a long flight. And maybe you’re worried about the uncertainty of getting a taxi.
Having a ride already secured specifically coming to pick you up can save you a lot of stress. Welcome Pickups is a great option for getting from the Berlin Airport to the city center, wherever you’re staying.
Check them out and book your Berlin Airport transfer here.
Traveling beyond Berlin
Flixbus at Berlin airportAre you flying into Berlin but going somewhere else? You have options too.
A few long distance trains (train numbers starting with IC) stop at the Berlin airport and travel on to destinations such as Dresden or Rostock. Local transport tickets are not valid on these trains.
If you’re traveling further by train, check out Deutsche Bahn for train tickets and routes.
FlixBus also has several bus routes that stop at the airport. The long distance buses are in a parking lot outside the front of the airport, and from here you can reach other parts of Germany, Poland, and many other destinations.
If you’re traveling from Berlin to Dresden or from Berlin to Leipzig, Flixbus could be a good option, especially for budget travelers.
It’s always a good idea to compare FlixBus with Deutsche Bahn to see which one works best for you based on both time and price.
Example routes from Berlin Airport to the city center
I can’t give directions for every possible hotel or transit station, so it’s best that you download the BVG app to check for the exact route you need. But I have provided a few examples of how to get from Berlin Airport to Mitte to help get you oriented.
How to get from Berlin airport to Alexanderplatz
TV Tower behind Alexanderplatz stationOption 1: From the Flughafen BER Terminal 1-2 station, hop on the FEX train and get out at Ostkreuz. This is the first stop on the route.
From here, look for S5 going towards Westkreuz OR S3 going towards Spandau OR S7 going towards Griebnitzsee. All of these Sbahns go through Alexanderplatz, and you’ll get there in just a few stops.
Option 2: If changing trains feels stressful, there are options that have no switches. These take roughly the same amount of time from the airport to Alexanderplatz.
Take regional train RB23 or RE8 from the airport, and a few stops later you’ll arrive at Alexanderplatz.
There is another option using the S9, but it takes 15 minutes longer than the regional trains or the FEX option with the change, so I wouldn’t recommend it unless there was a long wait for either of the other options.
How to get from Berlin airport to Potsdamer Platz
Fun fact: The first traffic light was used in Berlin. Here’s a replica at Potsdamer Platz.There are quite a few options to get from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to S&U Potsdamer Platz, and unfortunately none of them are direct routes, so you’ll have to make at least one change.
Option 1: From the airport, take the FEX train to Hauptbahnhof, and then switch to the RE5 going south. It could have Südkreuz as the end destination, but occasionally regional trains have slightly different routes even with the same number.
Potsdamer Platz is the next stop after Hauptbahnhof, so just make sure the RE5 you get on lists Potsdamer Platz (NOT Gesundbrunnen or Rostock) on its route.
Option 2: Another good option is to take the S45 from the airport to Südkreuz. From there, change to the RB10 going north towards Nauen, and Potsdamer Platz is the next stop after Südkreuz.
Book a tour for your trip to Berlin
Berlin Travel Resources
I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this information about how to get from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to the city center is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!
- 101 Best Things to do in Berlin
- 23 Impressive Castles in Berlin (And Nearby)
- 27 Best World War II & Cold War Sights in Berlin
- 29 Fun Day Trips From Berlin
- 75 Things to Know Before Visiting Berlin: Essential Berlin Travel Tips
- What to Wear & What to Pack for Berlin, Germany: Your Ultimate Berlin Packing List
- How to Get Around in Berlin: An Easy Guide to Berlin Public Transportation
Ali is originally from the US, but she’s been living in Germany since 2011. In 2015, she and her husband moved to Berlin where they now live with their small dog. They even bought an apartment in Berlin in 2021 – Berlin is definitely home now! Ali’s goal is to show you everything you need to know for enjoying a trip to Berlin.
