Purchasing tickets on the subway, buses, and trams is straightforward. Children 5 and younger ride for free. Passes are cheaper than single tickets.
If you plan to use the transit system a few times a day, buy a travel pass. These offer substantial savings versus purchasing individual tickets. They also include discounts at tourist highlights.
Getting Around Berlin
Public transportation in Berlin Tickets is safe, fast, convenient and reasonably priced. The system is well-connected, allowing visitors to explore the city and its districts quickly and easily.
You can purchase tickets for subway, tram, bus and regional trains in advance online or on your smartphone via the BVG Tickets app or at ticket machines at U-Bahn stations, tram stops (coins only) or from the driver of a bus. Using the mobile app is highly recommended since it allows you to plan your trip and save time by buying tickets ahead of time.
When purchasing a ticket, remember that it must be validated before you board the train or subway. Without validation, you risk being pulled off the train by a ticket inspector and fined on the spot (60 euros). Validate your tickets with small devices that click or beep once inserted and describe the direction you’re traveling in. There are also a number of controllers on trains in plain clothes that regularly check for valid tickets. If you are unsure whether you have a valid ticket, always ask a member of the train staff for help.
Metrobuses
One of the best ways to see Berlin on a budget is by taking the bus. A normal single ticket allows you 2 hours of travel, which is enough to hop out and sightsee, and then get back on for another ride. The bus 100 is a good option as it stops near many of the top sights, including Alexanderplatz, TV Tower, Museum Island, Berliner Dom, Brandenburg Gate, Tiergarten and KaDeWe.
You can buy tickets for the Metrobuses on a mobile phone from the BVG app, or at the ticket machines in stations. A Metrobus is a little slower than the subway, but it still gets you to all corners of Berlin in a short amount of time.
On weekdays, the subway (S-Bahn) and buses run every 10 – 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night. Make sure you validate your ticket with the machine before getting on. Without a ticket, you’ll be fined! BVG’s official ticketing app is called “Berlin Tickets.” It makes buying and downloading tickets to the train, subway, tram and bus super easy. It works with Apple Pay, credit card, SEPA direct debit and prepaid cards.
Metrotrams
Berlin’s Metro tram lines, whose routes are indicated by the letter M, run 24 hours a day and are more frequent than regular trams (every 10 minutes during the day and 30 minutes at night). They can be used with all city bus and train tickets as well as the various tourist passes.
Remember to validate your ticket or passes before using them on the U-Bahn or S-Bahn – and immediately when getting on a tram or bus. There are small devices on the platform which will click or beep as soon as you insert your ticket into them – it’s a quick process, but if you forget to do this, you may get a fine.
For the other forms of public transport, you can simply buy a ticket from a ticket machine on the platform or with a mobile phone in one of the many app-based ticketing apps like BVG Tickets, JELBI and more. The cheapest option is a single trip or a short trip (Kurzstrecke) ticket, and these can be purchased from either machines at metro stations or from bus drivers if they have change to give you.
Strassenbahn
The Strassenbahn (street railways) operate 20 hours a day, and are also part of the public transit system. They have no turnstiles and work on an honor system – it’s fine to ride without a ticket (“schwarzfahren” — literally, “to travel black,” but if caught by an inspector you could be fined).
As with the subway and trams, tickets are validated either at the metro station or by getting on a bus or tram. Single tickets are valid for two hours, and daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly passes let you bring other people on board for free. The Deutschland Ticket is a monthly subscription (49EUR per month) that allows you to use all of Germany’s public transportation, including trains.
The BVG App lets you purchase and download subway, tram, and bus tickets from the official source. It’s also available at many stations and tourist information centers, as well as in the Apple and Google Stores.
Trains
There are plenty of options to take when travelling around Berlin by train. The main provider is Deutsche Bahn AG, with its high-speed Intercity Express (ICE) trains connecting Germany and some routes into France, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Locally, the Regional-Express (RE) and Regionalbahn (R) trains offer a convenient and affordable way to get around the city.
Regardless of which service you use, tickets must be validated when entering the platform. This is done by inserting your ticket into a small device that clicks or beeps when the right direction is entered. This can be found in various places on the platforms, and is usually described on a sign near the device.
If you’re looking for an easy, cost-effective way to travel by train in Berlin, check out the BVG Tickets app. It lets you purchase bus, tram, and metro tickets on the go and offers multiple payment methods including Apple Pay, credit card, PayPal, prepaid, and SEPA direct debit. Plus, it’s free to download and use. Use it to avoid the queues at ticket machines in busy stations!