Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport (BER) opened in 2020 and sits 25 km from the center. Options: FEX (Airport Express) — quickest, 30 min, $5; S9/S45 S-Bahn — 45 min, $5; Regional Express RE7/RE8 — fast, $5. One ticket type covers every public-transit option — easy choice.
🚇 Ways into the center
- FEX (Airport Express) → Berlin Hauptbahnhof: 30 min, $5 (€4.40)
- RE7 / RE8 (Regional Express) → Hauptbahnhof / Friedrichstraße: 30-40 min, $5
- S-Bahn S9 → Friedrichstraße / Alexanderplatz: 45-50 min, $5
- S-Bahn S45 → Südkreuz: 25 min, $5
- Bus X7 → U7 Rudow: 15 min, $5
- Taxi → center: 30-50 min, $55 (€50)
- FREE NOW / Uber: $44-55 (€40-50)
🚆 FEX — fastest
The FEX (Flughafen Express) is a Deutsche Bahn service linking Berlin Brandenburg Airport — Willy Brandt to Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Every 30 min; running 05:00-23:00.
Ticket: VBB ABC Single Trip $5 (€4.40) — also covers connecting S-Bahn/U-Bahn for up to 2 hours.
- FEX → Berlin Hauptbahnhof: 30 min
- Common stops: BER → Ostkreuz → Gesundbrunnen → Hauptbahnhof
Berlin WelcomeCard ABC (~$30 for 48 h) — covers BER ⇄ center + city transit + 200+ museum discounts.
🚆 RE7 / RE8 Regional Express
RE7 and RE8 are DB's Regional Express, similar speed to FEX with a few extra stops (Ostkreuz). Same price.
- RE7 → Hauptbahnhof: 30-35 min
- RE8 → Hauptbahnhof / Friedrichstraße: 30-40 min
- Frequency: every 30 min
🚌 S-Bahn S9 / S45 — budget alternative
S9 is slower but stops more often — Adlershof, Treptower Park, Ostkreuz, Alexanderplatz.
- S9 → Alexanderplatz: 45-50 min
- S9 → Friedrichstraße: 50-55 min
- S45 → Südkreuz: 25 min — for southern Berlin
🚖 Taxi
BER to Mitte by taxi takes 30-50 min — ~$55 (€50), up to 30% more in traffic. No fixed tariff — metered.
Unlicensed 'Schwarztaxi' touts at BER will overcharge. Use the official rank just outside Terminal 1 arrivals.
📱 FREE NOW / Uber / Bolt
FREE NOW is the leader in Berlin — $44-55 to the center. Uber Berlin operates with similar pricing. Bolt entered Berlin in 2024 — small driver base but often cheaper.
Pickup zone: Terminal 1 — arrivals exit, Section B.
💡 Tips
- BER's single VBB ABC ticket ($5) covers everything from arrivals to Mitte
- Wizz Air KUT-BER frequently arrives at night — FEX runs from 05:00; night Bus N7 is the alternative
- Berlin WelcomeCard 48-72 h — full city transit + discounts
- ETIAS launches H2 2026 — pre-flight online authorization required
Full Berlin guide on Travel365's Tbilisi → Berlin article.
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