Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), named after Willy Brandt, is the unified modern aviation gateway for the German capital. Located in the VBB Zone C area 24 km southeast of downtown, BER provides rapid 30-minute train connections to Berlin Hauptbahnhof via the Flughafen-Express (FEX) and regional trains, alongside 24-hour S-Bahn and express bus networks.
The fastest and best option is the Flughafen-Express (FEX) or regional trains (RE8, RB23), which reach Berlin Ostkreuz in 15 mins, Alexanderplatz in 25 mins, and Berlin Hauptbahnhof in 30–35 mins for only €5.00 (standard Berlin ABC transit ticket). S-Bahn trains (S9 and S45) cover the same route in 45–50 minutes. Taxis cost €55–€70.
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are connected in a single main complex. Terminal 1 features a six-track underground railway station directly on Level U2 beneath the check-in hall. Terminal 5 (the former Schönefeld terminal) is permanently closed to passenger flights.
Make sure you purchase a Berlin ABC 3-zone transit ticket (€5.00). BER Airport is located outside Berlin in Brandenburg (Zone C). Traveling with a standard AB ticket results in an immediate €60 penalty fare from ticket inspectors who frequently check trains leaving the airport.
S-Bahn line S9 operates throughout the night on weekends. On weekday nights, regional trains stop around 00:30, after which night express buses N7 and N7X depart every 30 minutes from the curbside bus terminal into central Berlin (linking with the U-Bahn network).
Traveling with heavy suitcases, young children, or landing after midnight? Pre-book a fixed-price private airport transfer or express rail pass on Klook with instant confirmation and no meter haggling.
Airport Wi-Fi often drops outside the terminal curb where Uber / Bolt / FreeNow pickup zones are located. Install a local eSIM before your flight so you can order a ride, translate station signs, and show digital train QR tickets immediately after landing.