Getting to Berlin from the Airport Without Paying Taxi Prices
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) opened in 2020, replacing the old Tegel. It is well-connected to the city by public transport, and there is no reason to pay taxi or rideshare prices unless you have a lot of luggage and no patience at midnight.
From BER to the centre
The Airport Express trains — the FEX and the RE7/RE8 — connect BER to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Berlin Ostbahnhof in about 30 minutes. An AB+C zone ticket costs €3.80 and covers the full journey. Trains run every 30 minutes through the day, hourly at night. From Hauptbahnhof or Ostbahnhof you can connect to the U-Bahn or S-Bahn to reach any district. This is the correct way to arrive in Berlin.
The S9 and S45 also connect BER to the city via a longer route through the southern suburbs. Takes longer (45–60 minutes to the centre) but works on the same €3.80 ticket and runs more frequently.
Getting to the airport
Same in reverse. Allow 45 minutes from central Berlin to the airport on the FEX, 60 minutes to be safe. The BVG app will give you exact times and platforms. Buy your ticket before you board — ticket inspectors work the airport trains consistently.
The taxi and rideshare trap
Taxis from BER to central Berlin cost €40–65. Uber runs at similar prices during normal hours, more during surge. There is no scenario where this is better value than the €3.80 public transport option for a single traveller. With four people sharing a taxi it becomes more reasonable, but even then the train is faster and avoids traffic.
