Getting around Berlin: the Deutschlandticket, fare zones, bikes and flights home
Berlin is one of the easiest big cities in the world to live in without a car. You just need to understand the ticket, because nobody checks it at a gate.
The short version
- If you live in Berlin, get the Deutschlandticket: €63 a month in 2026 for unlimited local and regional transport across Germany. It rises to €66.80 from January 2027 [1][2].
- Berlin is split into fare zones A, B and C. The city itself is AB; BER airport is in zone C [3].
- There are no ticket barriers. Plain-clothes inspectors fine anyone without a valid, stamped ticket €60 on the spot [3].
- Bikes ride on the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and regional trains with a bike ticket, not on buses [4][5].
- There are no direct flights to Australia from BER. You'll connect through a hub such as Doha [6].
Berlin's network in one table
The BVG runs the U-Bahn, trams and buses. The S-Bahn is run by Deutsche Bahn's Berlin subsidiary. Regional trains (RE and RB) also run within the city. One ticket covers them all within its zones.
| Mode | What it's good for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| U-Bahn | Fast trips across the centre | Yellow trains; some lines run all night on weekends |
| S-Bahn | The Ring, east–west and north–south lines, BER | Green and red trains; the Ring circles the inner city |
| Tram | Eastern districts like Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain, Mitte | The old East Berlin network |
| Bus | Gaps in between, and night buses | Board at the front |
| Regional trains | Long cross-city hops, BER, Potsdam | Covered by the Deutschlandticket |
The Deutschlandticket: the one most Australians need
The Deutschlandticket is a monthly subscription that covers all local and regional public transport in Germany. That means buses, trams, U-Bahn, S-Bahn and regional trains in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and everywhere in between. It doesn't cover long-distance trains like the ICE or IC.
- Price: €63 a month in 2026, up from €58 in 2025 [1]. From 1 January 2027 it costs €66.80 [2]. Prices are now set by an index, so expect regular rises [2].
- Subscription: you sign up for a rolling monthly subscription and can cancel. Read the cancellation deadline in your provider's terms.
- Where to buy: the BVG app, the S-Bahn Berlin app, Deutsche Bahn, or any transport association. It's personal and usually lives on your phone.
- Through work: employers can offer it as a heavily subsidised Deutschlandticket Job [1]. Ask HR before you buy your own.
Is it worth it?
Compare it with Berlin's single fares in 2026 [3]:
| Ticket | Price (2026) |
|---|---|
| Single AB (valid two hours, one direction) | €4.00 |
| Single ABC (includes BER) | €5.00 |
| Short trip (three train stops or six bus/tram stops) | €2.80 |
| 24-hour AB | €11.20 |
| Deutschlandticket (monthly) | €63.00 |
At €4 a ride, sixteen single trips a month already cost more than the Deutschlandticket. For anyone commuting, it's an easy call. The AB single fare stays at €4 in 2027, but other VBB fares rise by about 3.7% on average [7].
Zones, stamping and the €60 fine
Zones
- A: inside the S-Bahn Ring.
- B: the rest of Berlin, out to the city limits.
- C: the surrounding area of Brandenburg, including Potsdam and BER airport [3].
Most residents only ever need AB. The Deutschlandticket covers all three.
Stamping paper tickets
If you buy a paper ticket from a machine, you must stamp it in the small yellow or red box on the platform or inside the bus or tram before you travel. An unstamped ticket isn't valid [3]. Tickets bought in an app are already valid from the time you choose.
Inspectors
Berlin runs on the honour system, so inspectors (Kontrolleure) ride the trains. Some wear uniforms, many don't. They'll show an ID badge and ask for Fahrkarten, bitte.
If you don't have a valid ticket, including if you forgot to stamp it, you pay a €60 fee [3]. You must show ID; if you can't, police can be called [3]. Arguing that you're a tourist, or that you didn't know, won't help. If you hold a personal subscription but couldn't show it, ask the inspector or BVG straight away how to prove it afterwards; don't just ignore the notice.
Cycling in Berlin
Berlin is flat, compact and has a lot of bike lanes. In good weather, a bike is often faster than the U-Bahn for trips across the inner districts.
The rules
- Ride on the right, in the bike lane where there is one, and signal turns by hand.
- Lights are compulsory after dark.
- Helmets aren't legally required in Germany, unlike in Australia. Wear one anyway.
- Turning cars have to give way to cyclists going straight ahead [8]. That doesn't mean they always see you. Watch trucks and cars turning right.
- Don't ride on footpaths unless a sign allows it, and never drunk. Police do fine cyclists.
Bikes on public transport
You can take a bike on the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and regional trains in carriages marked for bikes, but not on buses [4]. You need a bike ticket on top of your own ticket. In 2026, a single AB bike ticket costs €2.70, rising to €2.80 in 2027 [5]. Folded bikes and small children's bikes ride free [4]. Prams and wheelchairs have priority, so you may be asked to get off and wait for the next train [4].
Bike theft
Berlin has a serious bike theft problem. A few habits help:
- Buy a solid lock, and lock the frame to something fixed, not just the wheel.
- Bring your bike inside at night if your building has a cellar or courtyard bike room.
- Note your frame number, and photograph the bike.
- Check your contents insurance. Many German household policies only cover bike theft if you add it. Our guide to Haftpflicht and house rules explains the insurance most Berliners carry.
Buying second-hand? Be wary of cheap bikes with no receipt. Stolen bikes do get resold.
Car sharing and scooters
If you need a car now and then, Berlin has large free-floating car sharing fleets you open with an app and leave anywhere inside the operator's home zone. You'll need a valid driving licence the operator accepts, so check whether yours is still valid in Germany. Our guide to driving on an Australian licence covers the six-month rule. E-scooters and e-bikes from sharing apps are everywhere too; park them properly or the app will keep charging.
BER airport and getting home to Australia
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is south-east of the city, in fare zone C [3]. The FEX Airport Express and regional trains run from Hauptbahnhof, and the S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 run from the city. With an AB ticket you'll need an extension for zone C; the Deutschlandticket covers the whole trip.
Flights home
There are no direct flights between Berlin and Australia. Common options are:
- Via the Gulf. Qatar Airways flies from Berlin via Doha with connections to Australian cities, including Brisbane and Adelaide [6]. Emirates was cleared in September 2026 to add flights between Germany and the UAE, capped at seven extra a week, and Berlin has been named as a likely destination [9].
- Via a European hub. Flying to Frankfurt, Munich, London, Paris or Amsterdam first opens up more one-stop connections through Asia.
- Via Asia. Connections through Singapore, Hong Kong and other Asian hubs are common for the long leg home.
Expect a total trip of well over 20 hours. Book early for December and January, when every Australian in Europe heads home for summer.
Want company for the airport run or tips on cheap flights home? Join Cooee Germany, our Facebook group for Australians in Germany.
Sources
- Deutschlandticket wird teurer – 63 Euro monatlich ab 2026 – ZDFheute
- Preisanpassung beim Deutschlandticket – Bavarian State Ministry of Housing, Building and Transport (30 September 2026)
- Tickets, fares and route maps – berlin.de (updated October 2026)
- Bicycles on public transport: costs and conditions – berlin.de
- Single fare ticket bicycle – VBB
- Flights from Berlin to Singapore – Qatar Airways
- VBB to increase ticket prices from 2027 – berlin.de (September 2026)
- Germany travel advice – Smartraveller (Australian Government)
- Emirates darf künftig auch den Flughafen BER ansteuern – Der Aktionär / dpa-AFX (10 September 2026)