Berlin Airport to Alexanderplatz: The Easy Way
Updated: Oct 29
For a direct train from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to Alexanderplatz, take the S9 towards Spandau. It normally runs every 20 minutes. You need a Berlin ABC ticket; a regular adult single costs €5. If the journey planner shows a quicker connection, compare the FEX plus a transfer in the centre.
Some are fast. Some are cheap. Some are a waste of money.
My advice: check the live connection after collecting your bags, then choose between a direct ride and a faster transfer. Route and fare information checked on 24 October 2026 against BER and BVG. Construction and waiting time can change the best option.
Check the BER public-transport routes and BVG single-ticket details before travelling.
Option 1: FEX Airport Express (Fastest)
The FEX (Flughafen Express) is the airport express train. It runs directly from BER Terminal 1-2 to Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) in just 23 minutes. Trains depart every 15 minutes from 4:00 AM to 1:00 AM.
From Hauptbahnhof, you have two quick connections to Alexanderplatz:
At Hauptbahnhof, follow the departure boards for a city-bound S-Bahn stopping at Alexanderplatz, or use the U5 towards Hönow. Include the walk between platforms and the wait for your connection when comparing the FEX with the direct S9.
Cost: €5 (ABC zone single ticket). This single ticket covers the FEX plus your connection to Alexanderplatz. A standard ABC single ticket is valid for 120 minutes after validation. Tickets issued for immediate travel may use the printed start time; check what is printed or shown in the app.
The FEX stops only at Südkreuz (14 min) and Potsdamer Platz (19 min) before reaching Hauptbahnhof. It's fast, comfortable, and has dedicated luggage areas.
Useful to know: the current BER Airport page describes the FEX route as Hauptbahnhof - Potsdamer Platz - Südkreuz - BER, with Hauptbahnhof to BER in about 23 minutes, Potsdamer Platz in about 19 minutes and Südkreuz in about 14 minutes. Until December 2026, BER notes that the airport express pattern is strengthened on this corridor, so check the live route and do not rely on old Ostkreuz or Friedrichstraße screenshots.
Option 2: S-Bahn S9 (Direct to Alexanderplatz, No Transfer)
This is the option I recommend for most visitors heading to Alexanderplatz.
The S9 runs directly from Berlin Airport to Alexanderplatz with no changing trains. The ride takes about 43 minutes, which is slower than the FEX, but you sit down once and get off at your destination. No transfers, no stress, no trying to figure out which platform to change at Hauptbahnhof.
Trains depart every 20 minutes. Same €5 ABC ticket. Same validity.
The S9 continues past Alexanderplatz through Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, Charlottenburg, and all the way to Spandau. So if your hotel is anywhere along that route, you can stay on the same train.
Bonus: On Friday and Saturday nights, the S9 runs all night (every 30 minutes). If you're arriving on a weekend late at night, this is your cheapest option.
Option 3: Taxi or Uber (Most Expensive)
A taxi from BER to Alexanderplatz costs roughly €60–80 depending on traffic. Uber and Bolt are similar. The ride takes 25–45 minutes.
It's comfortable and door-to-door. But for a solo traveler, it's impossible to justify when a €5 train ticket gets you there in a similar time.
A taxi can be useful for a group splitting the fare, a door-to-door trip with luggage, or an arrival when the next useful train is a long wait away. Compare the total fare with public transport for your actual arrival time.
The taxi rank is on the ground level of Terminal 1, directly outside arrivals. Only use the official taxi rank, and don't accept rides from people approaching you inside the terminal.
Option 4: Express Bus X7 + U-Bahn (South Berlin Alternative)
This option isn't the most obvious, but it's worth knowing about.
The Express Bus X7 runs from BER Terminal 1 to U-Bahn station Rudow in about 10 minutes, departing every 5–10 minutes during the day. From Rudow, take the U7 to Hermannplatz (18 min), then switch to the U8 to Alexanderplatz (11 min). Total time: about 45–55 minutes.
This route is particularly useful if your hotel is in Neukölln, Kreuzberg, or Schöneberg, neighborhoods that are on the U7 line but not on the FEX or S9 routes. Same €5 ticket.
Quick Comparison
FEX + transfer: ~35 min | €5 | every 15 min | fastest
S9 direct: ~43 min | €5 | every 20 min | no transfer, easiest
Bus X7 + U-Bahn: ~50 min | €5 | every 5–10 min | best for south Berlin hotels
Taxi: 25–45 min | €60–80 | on demand | only for groups or late-night
How to Buy Your Ticket
You need an ABC zone ticket because BER airport is in Zone C.
Three ways to buy:
BVG Fahrinfo or the BVG Ticket app. Buy the appropriate ABC ticket and check its activation and start time before boarding. Do not assume that every digital ticket starts automatically when you buy it.
Ticket machines on the platform. Yellow machines at the BER train station. They accept cards and cash. Select "ABC" single ticket (€5). But, and this is crucial, you must validate (stamp) your paper ticket before boarding. Look for the small yellow or red validation boxes on the platform. An unvalidated ticket is treated the same as no ticket, and the fine is €60. For a full explanation of how this works, read my post on ticket validation on Berlin trains.
Berlin WelcomeCard. If you're planning to use public transport heavily during your stay, the Berlin WelcomeCard (ABC zone) includes airport transfer and unlimited travel for 48h, 72h, or longer. Available online or at the airport tourist info desk.
What NOT to Do
Don't take a random bus. The regular bus connections from BER to the city center are slow and require multiple transfers. The only bus worth considering is the Express Bus X7 to Rudow (mentioned above).
Don't buy tickets from strangers. If someone approaches you in the terminal or on the platform offering tickets, ignore them. Use the official BVG machines or the app.
Don't forget to validate. If you buy a paper ticket from a machine, you must stamp it before boarding. An unvalidated ticket = no ticket. The fine is €60. No exceptions for tourists.
Don't assume the platform will be obvious. BER's train station is on level U2 beneath Terminal 1. Follow the signs to "Bahnhof" or the train symbol. The FEX and S9 depart from the same station, so check the departure board for the correct platform.
For a complete breakdown of Berlin's transport system, zones, tickets and the honor system, check my guide on how to use Berlin public transport like a local.
What About Getting Back to the Airport?
The same options work in reverse. But timing matters more on the way back, and you don't want to miss a flight.
The rule of thumb: Take your expected train travel time, add 15 minutes for reaching the platform at BER and finding your terminal, and add another 15-minute buffer.
For an early flight, work backwards from the terminal arrival time your airline recommends and check the exact dated connection. BER lists the FEX as a round-the-clock service, with a more frequent daytime pattern; overnight gaps and changes still need a live check.
A very early flight does not automatically mean a taxi. BER also lists the N60 night bus between Alexanderplatz and the airport. Compare its actual departure and journey time with the overnight train options before deciding.
You can check current departure times on the BER airport public transport page.
Saving Money on Your First Day
A 24-hour ABC ticket costs €12.90 and is valid for 24 hours from validation.
For a longer stay, compare 24-hour tickets with the tourist passes currently sold by BVG. Choose the zones and validity that match your journeys; do not buy a pass just because it includes discounts you will not use.
If your first decision is bigger than the train route, my Berlin First-Day Rescue Plan puts transport, bags, food and a first stop into one arrival plan based on your landing time and where you are staying. Use the free route advice above, then decide whether you need that extra help.
And don't forget: staying hydrated after a flight is important, especially in summer. Berlin has over 240 free drinking fountains, so check my guide on where to find free drinking water in Berlin.
My Recommendation
For most visitors heading to Alexanderplatz: take the S9.
One train. No transfers. €5. You'll be at Alexanderplatz in 43 minutes. Sit down, watch the city unfold through the window, and arrive relaxed.
If you're in a rush, take the FEX to Hauptbahnhof and connect from there. You'll save about 10 minutes.
The train ride is only part of your arrival. Passport control, baggage reclaim, walking to the station and waiting for a departure all come before you reach Alexanderplatz.
For the next step, my practical Berlin guides to Berlin plug adapters and charging, lost property in Berlin, and the BER airport departure checklist can help with the next practical detail.
You're at Alexanderplatz. Now What?
Once you arrive at Alexanderplatz, the meeting point for my walking tour is right at the World Clock. You can't miss it. It's the large rotating clock in the center of the square. Once you have left your bags at your accommodation, my guide to sights within walking distance of Alexanderplatz shows what you can reach on foot from the square.
My walking tour, Berlin Then and Now, covers 11 stops and 16 places from Alexanderplatz to Hackescher Markt. 800 years of Berlin history. At every stop I show you an archive photo of the same place. Just get yourself to Alexanderplatz and I will take care of the rest.
📍 Starts at Alexanderplatz, World Clock
⏱ ~2.5 hours | 🚶 ~3 km | 💰 €15 per person
Follow me on Instagram: @walkofberlin
