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Germany

Berlin

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

Taxi (Taxe) and ride-hailing apps

Berlin taxis have no night, weekend or holiday surcharge - one binding tariff, around the clock. Only pre-booked rides may quote a fixed price; from BER airport it is meter only. A card cannot be refused if you ask.

Updated on August 5, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Use a rank, or stop a moving cab
    At a rank you may pick any cab, and a moving taxi will stop if you raise your hand. App private-hire cars cannot be hailed.
  2. 2
    For a short hop, say so as you get in
    The short-distance fare for up to 2 km applies only when you stop a moving cab - not from a rank, and not on a booked ride.
  3. 3
    Want a fixed price? Book ahead
    Only rides pre-booked with the destination named can go at a fixed price. Rides starting at BER are excluded.
  4. 4
    At BER, use the marked ranks
    Take a car only from the north or south rank in front of Terminal 1 on level E0. Never go with a driver who approaches you.
  5. 5
    Take a receipt as you get out
    You are entitled to one. It carries the operator's details for lost property and settles any dispute about the fare.

Typical costs

Fixed-price routes1

City to BER airport, approximate
The city's estimate, and only for the run out to the airport. Not fixed-price - the meter decides
58〜63 EUR ≈ $65–71

How the meter adds up7

Initial charge (Grundpreis)
What the meter shows before you move. There is no time-of-day or day-of-week surcharge
4.3 EUR ≈ $5
Per kilometre (rides starting in the city)
2.80 for the first three kilometres, 2.60 from three to seven, 2.10 from the seventh. BER differs
2.1〜2.8 EUR ≈ $2–3
Per kilometre (airport tariff, rides starting at BER)
Rides from BER run on their own tariff - 2.60 per km to five kilometres, then 2.00. Initial charge unchanged
2〜2.6 EUR ≈ $2–3
Short-distance fare (up to 2 km)
Only when you flag a moving cab - not from a rank, by phone or by app - and a stop on the way voids it
6 EUR ≈ $7
Waiting time (per hour)
For rides starting in the city. Time stuck in traffic counts too, and the meter adds it automatically
39 EUR ≈ $44
Large-vehicle surcharge (five or more)
A flat charge when a large cab is used for five or more people or bulky luggage; under-tens count as half
6 EUR ≈ $7
Surcharge on rides from BER airport
Added to every ride that starts at the airport; rides heading to the airport do not carry it
1.5 EUR ≈ $2

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026

A taxi can be taken from a rank, hailed on the street, phoned or booked by app. Only the private-hire cars behind the ride-hailing apps are pre-booking-only and may never be flagged down.

Payment

Tap to ride
Cards cannot be refused if you ask; whether you can tap depends on the car
App tickets
Book in an app and it charges in the app; a fixed price is settled at booking
Cash
Cash still works - your fallback if you cannot show ID to pay by card

Quick facts

Fares from
58 EUR+

Heads-up

  • At BER use only the marked taxi ranks

    At BER, get in only at the marked north and south taxi ranks in front of Terminal 1, and only into a car identified as a taxi. The airport company itself warns that outside those areas you risk falling for fraudulent operators. Do not follow a driver who approaches you in the arrivals hall.

Timetable

Typical duration The option that earns its keep late at night or with heavy bags; across the inner city the U-Bahn or a tram is often quicker
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka