EXPLORE Berlin

Berlin arrival: one airport finally survived the paperwork

HOLY SHIT. You landed at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, the capital’s long-awaited aviation solution and a monument to the radical idea that an airport should eventually open. BER sits southeast of central Berlin, with Terminal 1 connected directly to the airport railway station and Terminal 2 reached by a short signed walk. Check your terminal before following the crowd, because Berlin considers obvious wayfinding a character-building exercise. The city offers museums, neighborhoods, nightlife and enough twentieth-century history to make a casual weekend itinerary collapse under its own ambition.

BER transfer: the train is downstairs, but validate the ticket

The Flughafen BER station is below Terminal 1 on level U2. The FEX Airport Express and regional trains connect the airport with Südkreuz, Potsdamer Platz and Hauptbahnhof, while S-Bahn lines S9 and S85 and express buses provide additional routes. BER is in fare zone C, so trips into central Berlin require an ABC ticket. Validate a paper ticket before travel, because possessing an unvalidated rectangle is not the same as having a valid fare. Rail construction can alter FEX and regional services through December 2026, so check live VBB information rather than memorizing an old route map. Berlin’s U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses make a car unnecessary for most city visits.

Berlin safety: protect the phone and avoid protest tourism

Berlin is generally safe for a major capital, but pickpockets specifically target tourists in busy squares, public transport, shopping areas and events. Berlin Police advises carrying valuables close to the body, keeping bags closed and watching for distraction tactics involving jostling or unsolicited attention. Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Kurfürstendamm, major visitor areas and busy S-Bahn corridors require extra awareness. Demonstrations can disrupt central streets and transport with little warning, so follow local instructions and take another route if a gathering becomes tense. At night, use well-lit routes and keep track of the correct platform after discovering that several stations share emotionally similar names.

Sources

• BER Airport official public transport guide
• BER Airport current rail disruption information
• Berlin-Brandenburg transport authority journey planner
• Berlin Police and city pickpocket prevention guidance
• United Kingdom government Germany safety guidance

Last verified: September 7, 2026