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BER

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (Willy Brandt)

Berlin, Germany

Where to start
FEX (Airport Express) / S-Bahn

BER's train station sits directly below Terminal 1, and the FEX (Airport Express) reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof in ~23 minutes (every 15 min); the S-Bahn S9 is slower but better for Alexanderplatz/east Berlin. Buy an ABC ticket (BER is in zone C — an AB ticket won't cover it and is fined) and validate paper tickets before boarding. Taxis are metered (not flat) from the T1 rank; Uber, Bolt, and FreeNow use the marked “Ride App Pick Up” zone but can surge at peak. All Berlin flights use BER (Tegel closed in 2020).

Ride Options

FEX (Airport Express) Train

transit

Fastest cheap ride to Berlin Hauptbahnhof

AvailabilityEvery 15 min, ~04:00–01:00
Pickup NoteStation “Flughafen BER” on Level U2, directly below Terminal 1 (from T2, walk to T1 then down). To Hauptbahnhof ~23 min via Südkreuz/Potsdamer Platz. Buy an ABC ticket at DB/BVG machines or the app; validate paper tickets before boarding.
Convenience
Relative costLower cost
Visit Website

S-Bahn (S9 / S45 / S85)

transit

Best for east/central Berlin (Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße)

AvailabilityEvery ~20 min; slower than the FEX
Pickup NoteSame U2 station below Terminal 1. S9 to Alexanderplatz/Friedrichstraße/Hauptbahnhof/Zoo (~45–55 min). Same ABC ticket; validate paper tickets.
Convenience
Relative costLower cost
Visit Website

Licensed Taxi

taxi

Door-to-door, no-app option

AvailabilityAvailable 24/7 at the T1 ranks
Pickup NoteRanks outside Terminal 1 arrivals (ground level E0). Metered — not flat — to central Berlin (~35–50 min). Confirm card acceptance before you set off.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
Visit Website

Uber

rideshare

Door-to-door with app pricing

AvailabilityOperates in Berlin; surges hard at peak
Pickup NoteDesignated “Ride App Pick Up” zone near Terminal 1 ground level (the app shows the exact spot). Usually a bit below taxi fares, but surge at peak can jump 1.5–2×.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
Visit Website

Bolt

rideshare

Often cheaper app alternative

AvailabilityOperates in Berlin; surge at peak
Pickup NoteSame “Ride App Pick Up” zone as Uber near T1 ground level. Verify the car in-app.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
Visit Website

FreeNow

rideshare

App that dispatches licensed Berlin taxis

AvailabilityOperates in Berlin
Pickup NoteBook in the app for a licensed taxi; meet your driver at the marked “Ride App Pick Up” zone near T1 ground level.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
Visit Website

SIXT Ride — Pre-booked Airport Transfer

Private Transfer

Fixed-rate pre-booked door-to-door transfer

AvailabilityAvailable at Berlin — book via SIXT app or website
Pickup NoteDriver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Fixed price, flight tracking, up to 60 min free waiting.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
Book Transfer

Pickup Guidance

Rideshare

Uber, Bolt, and FreeNow use a designated “Ride App Pick Up” zone near Terminal 1 ground level (the app shows the exact spot). FreeNow dispatches licensed Berlin taxis. Usually a bit below taxi fares, but surge at peak (evenings, when many flights land) can jump 1.5–2×.

Taxi

Ranks outside Terminal 1 arrivals (ground level E0, North and South ranks). Metered — not a flat rate — to central Berlin (~35–50 min). Confirm the driver takes cards (some prefer cash). Ask the APCOA rep for accessible/minivan taxis.

Shuttle

Express and local buses depart from stops A1–A8 on the T1 arrivals level; pre-booked transfer drivers meet you in arrivals with a name sign.

Transit

The station is on Level U2, directly below Terminal 1 (from T2, walk to T1 then down). FEX to Berlin Hauptbahnhof ~23 min (every 15 min); S-Bahn S9/S45/S85 reach more districts but slower (~45–55 min); RE/RB regional trains also serve the same station. Buy an ABC ticket and validate paper tickets before boarding.

Private Transfer

Pre-booked transfer drivers meet you in arrivals with a name sign; the car-rental centre and pickup are in car park P2.

Travel Extras

Need a SIM?Need a lounge?Need a hotel?Need bag storage?

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Local Tips

  • Buy an ABC ticket, not AB — BER is in zone C, so an AB ticket won't cover the trip and you'll be fined for fare evasion. One ABC ticket works on the FEX, S-Bahn, regional trains, and buses into the city.
  • Validate paper tickets before boarding (the small platform boxes) — an unvalidated ticket also counts as fare evasion.
  • FEX for Hauptbahnhof; S9 for east/central Berlin — if your hotel is near Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, or Ostkreuz, the S9 avoids backtracking from Hauptbahnhof.
  • Berlin airport taxis are metered, not flat (unlike some cities) — confirm the driver takes cards before you set off.
  • Watch rideshare surge — Uber/Bolt/FreeNow are usually a bit cheaper than taxis, but when many flights land at once, prices can spike well above the taxi fare; the train sidesteps that entirely.
  • All Berlin flights use BER — Tegel closed in 2020. Make sure hotel directions and pickups say BER.

Tarmyq local tip

The train station's right under Terminal 1, so hop on the FEX for a 23-minute run to Hauptbahnhof — or the S9 if you're headed to Alexanderplatz or east Berlin. One thing that trips people up: BER is in fare zone C, so you must buy an ABC ticket (not AB), and validate it before boarding — otherwise it's a fine. If you'd rather a cab, Berlin taxis are metered (no flat rate), and Uber/Bolt/FreeNow work too, though they surge when lots of flights land at once.