Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB/BER)
Berlin, Germany
Berlin Airline Crew Layover Guide
Reviewed by Captain AL
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The BER crew card
| Fastest into town | Airport Express (FEX) from the station under Terminal 1 to Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 23 min, every 15 min between 04:00 and 01:00 |
|---|---|
| First / last run | The FEX runs almost around the clock. That 15 minutes frequency holds roughly between 04:00 and 01:00, and at night the line is routed over the Berlin Stadtbahn |
| Payments | Berlin ABC single ticket EUR 5,00 at the regular rate, valid 120 minutes for one journey in one direction, changes included; buy it at a ticket machine, at a customer centre, on the bus, or in the BVG apps |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Emergency | 112 (Polizei Berlin states that the 110 police emergency line is free of charge; 116117 runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is free on a German phone contract) · non-emergency (030) 4664-4664 |
| Solo & at night | Take nothing that is not marked as a taxi, and take it from the north and south ranks in front of Terminal 1 on level E0; the airport operator warns that fraudulent suppliers turn up outside those areas |
| Crew knows | You are EUR 5,80 into a BER taxi before one kilometre is counted: EUR 4,30 initial charge plus the EUR 1,50 surcharge on every journey out of the airport. That is already more than the EUR 5,00 ABC ticket that carries you the whole way to Hauptbahnhof, and the EUR 6 short-distance rate is no help, because it never applies at a rank. |
| Crew deals | Verified car rental and hotel rates for airline staff: on this page, right below this guide. |
airlinecrewdiscount.net · BER crew card · Checked Aug 2026 · Next check Nov 2026 · Screenshot this card for offline
Getting from BER Airport to Central Berlin: FEX, S-Bahn, X7, or taxi?
Every rail option leaves from the one station directly under Terminal 1, and a single Berlin ABC ticket is good on the regional trains, on the S-Bahn and on the buses. Fastest to Hauptbahnhof is the Airport Express. For the eastern half of the city the S-Bahn saves you a change, and from midnight into the early morning the night buses carry the load.
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| Mode | Time | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Express (FEX) | about 23 min to Berlin Hauptbahnhof, about 19 min to Potsdamer Platz, about 14 min to Südkreuz | Berlin ABC ticket, EUR 5,00 single at the regular rate | Route: Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz, Südkreuz, BER Airport. The station Flughafen BER sits directly under Terminal 1 on level U2, a few minutes from the T1 check-in hall. Coming out of Terminal 2, go to arrivals level E0 and follow the signs. RE20 covers the same stations hourly between 04:00 and 21:00, and RB22, RB24 and RB32 serve the airport hourly too, with RB22 running until 00:30. VBB, the regional transport authority, states that the FEX runs almost around the clock and is routed over the Berlin Stadtbahn at night. |
| S-Bahn S9 and S85 | every 20 min on each line | Berlin ABC ticket, EUR 5,00 single at the regular rate | S9 runs from BER via Adlershof, Schöneweide, Treptower Park, Warschauer Straße, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten and Charlottenburg to Spandau. S85 runs via Schöneweide and Ostkreuz, then on to Frohnau. Both use the same station under Terminal 1 on level U2. Slower than the FEX, yes. It also reaches far more of the city without a change, which is what you want when the hotel is nowhere near Hauptbahnhof. |
| Express bus X7 and X71 | X7 every 5 to 10 min, X71 every 20 min | Berlin ABC ticket, EUR 5,00 single at the regular rate | Both leave from stops A 6-7 on the arrivals level E0 of Terminal 1, directly in front of the building. X7 runs to U Rudow on the U7 underground line, and X71 carries on past U Rudow to U Alt-Mariendorf. Treat this as the backup rather than the first choice. It earns its keep when the rail station is on a replacement service, and those replacement buses stop in Airport City at Willy-Brandt-Platz. |
| Night buses N7, N7X, and N60 | N7 every 30 min, N7X every 15 min, N60 every 30 min | Berlin ABC ticket, EUR 5,00 single at the regular rate | N7 runs from BER via U Rudow and U Hermannplatz to U Rathaus Spandau. At weekends it covers only U Rudow to BER, and the U7 then runs all night from there. N60 goes from BER via S Schönefeld and S Treptower Park to S+U Alexanderplatz. N7X is a weekday extra from S+U Zoologischer Garten to BER, in that direction only, so it is no help on the way back out. Stops for N7, N7X, and N60 are all at A 6-7 on the arrivals level E0 of Terminal 1, directly in front of the building. |
| Taxi | metered: initial charge EUR 4,30, then EUR 2,80 per km for the first three km, EUR 2,60 per km from three to seven km, EUR 2,10 per km from the seventh km, plus a EUR 1,50 surcharge on all journeys from BER Airport | berlin.de lists indicative fares to BER Airport at about EUR 58 from the eastern city centre (Alexanderplatz) and about EUR 63 from the western city centre (Kurfürstendamm and Zoologischer Garten station). The rates are compulsory, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Inside the city what the taximeter says is what you pay, and price agreements are only permitted beyond the city limits. Waiting time runs at EUR 39 per hour. Drivers may take cash or debit and credit cards, though no driver is obliged to accept every card type, and the fixed-price option stops at the edge of the Berlin city area. Ranks are in front of Terminal 1 on level E0. |
Best Areas for Crew Stays in Berlin, from Mitte and Kreuzberg out to Charlottenburg
Mitte: The historic core. Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, and the government quarter sit close enough to walk between, and Hauptbahnhof puts you back on the FEX in one move.
Kreuzberg: Canal-side streets, Turkish markets, and food that is still being served late. The loudest, least formal end of the city.
Prenzlauer Berg: Quiet nineteenth-century blocks with courtyards and cafes. If the duty was long, this is the low-effort choice.
Charlottenburg: The old West. Department stores along Kurfürstendamm, palace gardens, and an S9 station that takes you straight back.
Friedrichshain: East Side Gallery, riverside bars, and cheap food, all of it clustered around Warschauer Straße. The S9 already stops there on the way in.
What to Do on a Layover in Berlin: how much city fits in a 5 hour window?
Under 5 hours: Stay at the airport. The free Wi-Fi runs around the clock in every terminal section, and if you want your hands free, paid baggage storage sits in the Terminal 1 train station.
5 to 9 hours: Enough for a central loop. Hauptbahnhof is about 23 minutes away on the FEX, which puts Mitte and Potsdamer Platz within reach and still leaves the return buffer alone.
9 hours plus: A full Berlin day works. The S9 runs straight into Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, and Charlottenburg without a change, and between the FEX and the night buses the airport stays reachable late.
Crew Tips for Berlin and BER Airport: ABC tickets, taxi fares, and baggage storage in Terminal 1
Which ticket you need: BER Airport sits in tariff zone C, so the ticket you want for the city centre is a Berlin ABC. That one ticket is good on regional trains, on the S-Bahn and U-Bahn, on the tram and on the bus inside that zone. Buy it at the machines in the terminals and stations, or in the VBB, BVG or S-Bahn app. One catch with paper: a ticket from a machine has to be validated before you start your journey.
Day ticket maths: Planning more than two rides? The 24-hour ticket for zones ABC costs EUR 12,90 at the regular rate against EUR 5,00 for a single, and the 24 hours run from the moment you validate it. It also covers one adult plus up to three children aged 6 to 14.
Cash and cards: Carry some cash. A Berlin taxi driver may be paid in cash or by debit and credit card, but no driver is obliged to accept every card type, and pay cashless and you may be asked to show identification. Two fares are worth knowing before you join the queue: the EUR 1,50 surcharge on every taxi journey from BER Airport, and the short-distance rate of EUR 6 up to two km, which is only for a taxi you flag down on the street and never for one at a rank.
Connectivity: Free Wi-Fi runs around the clock at BER. The network is called _Free Airport WiFi, and the airport lists it as available in all sections of the terminal and on all levels on request. Flight information and interactive terminal maps sit on the same portal.
Luggage storage: Baggage storage runs EUR 10,50 for up to four hours and EUR 18,50 for up to 24 hours, per the airport operator’s price list dated 30 October 2025. Strollers and bicycles cost EUR 15,00 for up to four hours, EUR 20,00 for up to 24 hours, and a wardrobe service is EUR 8,50 for up to 24 hours. You find the counter in the Terminal 1 train station on level U1, and the company running baggage storage and lost property lists a 24/7 hotline on +49 30 6091 6091 0.
Pickpockets: Polizei Berlin states that pickpockets find their opportunities in crowded places, and it names public transport, shopping and events among the targets, usually worked in teams: one distracts, a second lifts. Its own advice is plain. Take only the cash and valuables you need, keep bags closed and never unattended, carry a handbag with the zipper side against your body, and wear a backpack on your front in a crowd.
Emergency Numbers for Berlin and Germany
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| Emergency: Berlin fire brigade and emergency medical service | 112 |
| Police emergency (Germany) | 110 |
| Polizei Berlin service number (non-emergency) | (030) 4664-4664 |
| Medical help outside practice hours (on-call doctor service, Germany) | 116117 |
| Germany country code (calling from abroad) | +49 |
Save these before you fly; numbers work from any phone.
How do I get from BER Airport to central Berlin?
By train, from the station directly under Terminal 1 on level U2. The Airport Express (FEX) reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 23 minutes, Potsdamer Platz in about 19 minutes, and Südkreuz in about 14 minutes, every 15 minutes between 04:00 and 01:00. For the stops the FEX skips, the S9 and S85 run every 20 minutes and reach Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, and Charlottenburg without a change. Express bus X7 leaves every 5 to 10 minutes for U Rudow on the U7 line, and the taxi ranks sit in front of Terminal 1 on level E0.
How long does the train take from BER Airport to Berlin Hauptbahnhof?
About 23 minutes on the Airport Express (FEX). Trains go every 15 minutes roughly between 04:00 and 01:00, and the line runs almost around the clock, routed over the Berlin Stadtbahn once it is late. The RE20 covers the same route hourly between 04:00 and 21:00.
What ticket do I need from BER Airport into Berlin?
A Berlin ABC ticket, because BER Airport sits in tariff zone C. The single costs EUR 5,00 at the regular rate and stays valid for 120 minutes, one journey in one direction, changes included, and it is good on regional trains, on the S-Bahn and U-Bahn, on the tram and on the bus. Going in and back out again? The 24-hour ABC ticket is EUR 12,90. Buy at the machines in the terminals and stations or in the VBB, BVG, or S-Bahn app, and validate a paper ticket before you start.
Spotted a change? Tell us and we fix it for the next crew.
Crew Discounts in Berlin: verified car rental and hotel rates for airline staff sit right below this guide. Save the link before you head down to the platform under Terminal 1. Next BER rotation, you start on the rates instead of a search box.
