Berlin Brandenburg Airport is about 25 km south of the city centre. The good news is that Berlin has excellent public transport, making this one of the cheapest airport-to-city journeys in Europe.
Price comparison by destination
| Destination | Train | Taxi | Uber/Bolt | Pre-booked transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hauptbahnhof | EUR 4.00 (FEX, 30 min) | EUR 50-60 | EUR 40-50 | EUR 55-75 |
| Alexanderplatz | EUR 3.50-4.00 (S9, 50 min) | EUR 45-55 | EUR 35-50 | EUR 50-70 |
| Potsdamer Platz | EUR 3.50-4.00 | EUR 45-55 | EUR 35-50 | EUR 50-70 |
| Kurfurstendamm | EUR 4.00 | EUR 50-65 | EUR 40-55 | EUR 55-80 |
| Friedrichshain | EUR 3.50-4.00 | EUR 40-55 | EUR 35-45 | EUR 50-70 |
| Kreuzberg | EUR 3.50-4.00 | EUR 40-50 | EUR 30-45 | EUR 45-65 |
| Potsdam | EUR 4.00 | EUR 55-75 | EUR 45-60 | EUR 60-90 |
Understanding Berlin transport tickets
Berlin's public transport is divided into zones. The airport is in zone C. Most of central Berlin is in zones A and B.
- AB ticket: EUR 3.50 — covers most of Berlin. Works for S-Bahn from BER if your destination is within the AB zone, but technically the journey starts in C.
- ABC ticket: EUR 4.00 — covers the airport zone and all of Berlin. Required for the FEX and technically correct for any journey starting at BER.
The price difference is only EUR 0.50, so buying the ABC ticket avoids any risk of a fine. Tickets are available from machines at the station (cards accepted, English available) or via the BVG app.
How traffic affects taxi prices
Berlin taxis are metered. The base fare is EUR 3.90, plus EUR 2.00 per km for the first 7 km, then EUR 1.65 per km after that. Waiting time in traffic adds about EUR 0.50 per minute. During rush hours (7-9 AM, 4-7 PM), the taxi fare can be EUR 10-15 higher than off-peak due to slower traffic on the A113 motorway and city streets.
The budget option
The train is the clear budget winner. At EUR 4.00 per person, a solo traveller saves EUR 40+ compared to a taxi. Even for groups, trains are cheaper. A family of four pays EUR 16 total on the FEX versus EUR 50+ for a taxi. Children under 6 ride free on Berlin public transport.
Tipping
Tipping taxi drivers in Germany is customary but modest. Rounding up to the nearest euro or adding 5-10% is standard. A EUR 50 taxi fare might warrant a EUR 3-5 tip. There is no tipping culture for pre-booked transfers, though it is appreciated.