Berlin Brandenburg Airport to the city: what you actually need to know

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is about 25 km south of Berlin city centre. The fastest way into the city is the FEX (Flughafen Express) train, which takes 30 minutes to Berlin Hauptbahnhof (main station). The airport sits in fare zone C, so you need a Berlin ABC ticket at 5.00 EUR (VBB/BVG, from 1 January 2026) — an AB ticket alone is not valid from the airport. Taxis are metered on the Berlin Senate tariff and work out at roughly 55-75 EUR to central Berlin, taking 30-50 minutes depending on traffic. The airport opened in 2020 and the transport connections are well-established.

BER has two terminals. Terminal 1 handles most airlines. Terminal 2 is a smaller building used primarily by low-cost carriers. Both terminals connect to the same train station, located directly below Terminal 1.

For Schengen flights, there is no immigration check. You walk off the plane and head to baggage claim. For non-Schengen arrivals, passport control is usually efficient, with e-gates available for EU, EEA, and Swiss passport holders. During busy periods with multiple long-haul arrivals, expect 15-30 minutes at immigration.

Baggage claim is in the lower level of each terminal. Trolleys are available. Once you collect your bags, follow signs for trains (look for the S-Bahn and FEX symbols) or taxis. The train station is well-signed from Terminal 1. From Terminal 2, there is a short covered walkway to Terminal 1 and the train station.

FEX (Flughafen Express) is the dedicated airport express train running non-stop to Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 30 minutes, via Berlin Südkreuz and Potsdamer Platz. It runs every 30 minutes during the day. The airport is in fare zone C, so you need an ABC ticket at 5.00 EUR (VBB/BVG, from 1 January 2026). No airport surcharge applies — it is the standard VBB fare. The train station is directly under Terminal 1.

S-Bahn S9 and S85 also connect the airport to the city, roughly every 10 minutes. The S9 runs to central Berlin (Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse) in about 50 minutes. They serve more stops but are slower. They are not cheaper than the FEX: because BER is in zone C, every journey from the airport into Berlin needs the same 5.00 EUR ABC ticket, whichever train you take. An AB ticket does not cover the airport, and travelling on one will get you fined.

Regional trains (RE7, RB14) stop at the airport and connect to Hauptbahnhof and other stations. These are also covered by the ABC ticket.

Taxis line up at the rank outside both terminals. They are metered on the tariff set by the Berlin Senate: 4.30 EUR base plus 2.80 EUR per km for the first 3 km, 2.60 EUR per km from 3 to 7 km, and 2.10 EUR per km beyond that, plus a 1.50 EUR surcharge on all journeys from BER (Berlin Senate tariff via berlin.de). Over the 22-30 km into central Berlin that comes to roughly 55-75 EUR depending on your destination, before waiting time in traffic. There is no flat rate to the city. The tariff is revised periodically — check the current one before you travel.

Uber and Bolt operate at BER. Pickup is from designated areas. They price dynamically rather than on the taxi tariff, so the fare depends on demand at the moment you book and surge pricing applies at peak times — check the app for a live quote rather than relying on a figure quoted anywhere else.

Pre-booked private transfers offer meet-and-greet in the arrivals hall. The price depends on the distance, the vehicle and the supplier, and is fixed when you book rather than running on a meter. Useful for groups, families, or travellers with lots of luggage.

Buses connect the airport to various parts of the city, but trains are faster and more convenient for most travellers.

Train fares are fixed and published. Because BER is in fare zone C, every rail journey from the airport into Berlin needs a Berlin ABC ticket at 5.00 EUR — FEX, S-Bahn and regional trains alike (VBB/BVG, from 1 January 2026). There is no cheaper airport ticket, and an AB ticket (4.00 EUR) is not valid from BER.

Taxi figures above are derived from the published Berlin tariff (4.30 EUR base plus 2.80 EUR per km for the first 3 km, 2.60 EUR per km from 3 to 7 km, and 2.10 EUR per km beyond that, plus a 1.50 EUR surcharge on all journeys from BER (Berlin Senate tariff via berlin.de)) and exclude waiting time, which the meter also charges. Treat them as the shape of the fare, not a quote.

Trains are dramatically cheaper. A family of four on the FEX pays 20.00 EUR total compared with roughly 60-75 EUR for a taxi. The trade-off is luggage handling and door-to-door convenience.

Uber, Bolt and pre-booked transfers are not covered by any tariff. Rideshare fares move with demand; transfer prices depend on distance, vehicle and supplier and are fixed at booking. Check a live quote rather than trusting a published range.

The FEX runs until approximately midnight and resumes around 4:30 AM. S-Bahn trains have similar hours but the S9 runs limited overnight service on weekends. Night buses (N7, N60) serve the airport but are slow. Taxis and rideshares operate 24 hours. If you arrive between midnight and 4:30 AM on a weekday, a taxi or pre-booked transfer is your practical option. The airport terminal stays open overnight with basic facilities.

Trains are manageable with luggage outside rush hours. The FEX has dedicated luggage areas. However, navigating platforms with a stroller, multiple bags, and tired children is never easy. Lifts are available at the station but you need to find them. A taxi or transfer gives you door-to-door service and eliminates the logistics. Child seats are not standard in Berlin taxis but can be requested. Pre-booked transfers can provide child seats with advance notice.

Taxis queue at the rank directly outside the terminal exits. Follow the taxi signs. Pre-booked transfer drivers meet you in the arrivals hall near the exit, holding a name sign. Confirm the exact meeting point when booking. Rideshare pickups are from designated zones near the terminal exits, marked with rideshare signage. The airport layout is logical and well-signed in German and English.

Choose the FEX train if you are comfortable with public transport, want the best price, and your accommodation is near a main station. At 5.00 EUR it is the cheapest way into the city.

Choose the S-Bahn if your destination is on the S9 or S85 line and you do not mind the extra 20 minutes. Note it costs the same 5.00 EUR ABC ticket as the FEX — it is not the cheaper option, just a different route.

Choose a taxi if you have moderate luggage, want door-to-door service, and prefer not to navigate the train system. Budget roughly 55-75 EUR on the metered tariff.

Choose Uber/Bolt if you are comfortable with the app and want to compare a live quote against the taxi meter. Prices move with demand, so check before you commit.

Choose a pre-booked transfer if you have a large group, lots of luggage, need child seats, or are arriving very late at night and want the price and the driver settled in advance.