© Morgana Bartolomei・Unsplash License

Germany

Berlin

A capital that wears its divided history openly. The S-Bahn and U-Bahn stitch together what the Wall once split.

U-Bahn

No gates, nothing to tap - a bank card only buys the ticket. Punch paper tickets yourself at a platform validator before boarding; unpunched, a paid ticket costs 60 euros. The 7-day ticket was withdrawn in January 2026.

Updated on August 5, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Buy a ticket for the right zone at a station machine
    Buy at a machine in the U-Bahn station. All of them take coins, only some take notes, and cards work by tap or PIN.
  2. 2
    Punch a paper ticket on the platform
    Slide a paper ticket into the validator on the platform before you board, then check that it actually stamped.
  3. 3
    Show an app ticket before you board
    App tickets need no stamp, but the whole ticket must be showing on your screen before you step on - screenshots are invalid.
  4. 4
    Keep your ticket until you leave
    There are no gates - just walk down to the platform. Plain-clothes inspectors check at random, so show your ticket when asked.

Fares

Single fares3

Single ticket, Berlin AB
120 minutes with unlimited transfers, one direction only - no return or round trips.
4 EUR ≈ $5
Short-trip ticket (Kurzstrecke), Berlin AB
Up to three S-Bahn or U-Bahn stops; you may change only between S- and U-Bahn, and not onto regional trains.
2.8 EUR ≈ $3
Single ticket, Berlin ABC
Zone C is the surrounding area including Potsdam; AB is enough for trips inside the city.
5 EUR ≈ $6

Passes & multi-ride5

4-trip card (4-Fahrten-Karte), Berlin AB
3.10 euros a ride; punch one section per person per journey.
12.4 EUR ≈ $14
24-hour ticket, Berlin AB
24 hours from validation; one adult may bring up to three children aged 6-14 free.
11.2 EUR ≈ $13
24-hour small-group ticket, Berlin AB
One ticket for up to five people travelling together - not for splitting up.
35.3 EUR ≈ $41
Berlin WelcomeCard, 48h / 72h (AB)
Valid on U-Bahn, S-Bahn, regional trains, tram, ferry and bus; 4-6 day versions exist too.
28.5〜39.5 EUR ≈ $33–46
Berlin CityTourCard, 48h / 72h (AB)
Covers the same transport as the WelcomeCard; the partner discounts are different.
23.8〜35.6 EUR ≈ $28–41

Add-ons & fees1

Add-on ticket (Anschlussfahrausweis) for zone C
If your main ticket only covers AB, buy this before you leave zone B.
2.4 EUR ≈ $3

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
Works to pay at ticket machines; there are no gates, so you cannot tap to ride.
IC card
No transit IC card; BVG's prepaid card only pays for tickets.
App tickets
App tickets need no stamp; show the whole ticket on screen before boarding.
Paper tickets
The main option - punch it yourself at a platform validator before boarding.
Cash
Station machines all take coins, only some take notes; ticket offices take cash.

Tap for where to get the app

Quick facts

Fares from
4 EUR+

Heads-up

  • E-scooters banned on board

    You cannot take your own e-scooter into any BVG vehicle or station - banned since 1 May 2024 over fire-safety findings on lithium-ion batteries. The only exemptions are e-bikes, electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Timetable

Typical duration Nine lines, U1 to U9, cover most of the city and stay inside zones A and B
Check the official site for the latest times and service status