Berlin transport zones: AB, ABC, BER and 2026 fares
Choose AB for trips within Berlin or ABC for BER Airport and Potsdam, then compare single, four-trip and 24-hour tickets using current 2026 fares.
Berlin's fare map has three zones, but most visitors choose between two ticket areas: AB for journeys within Berlin and ABC when a trip reaches zone C, including BER Airport or Potsdam. Choose the area from the stations in your route, then choose the ticket type from the number of journeys you will make.
What A, B and C cover
The BVG zone guide defines the areas this way:
| Zone | Area |
|---|---|
| A | Central Berlin up to and including the S-Bahn Ring |
| B | Outside the Ringbahn to the Berlin city boundary |
| C | The surrounding area, including Potsdam and BER Airport |
An AB ticket is enough when every stop is inside Berlin. Choose ABC when the journey starts or ends in C. Look up the actual station rather than judging from a district name.
Older explanations may still mention a Berlin BC product. VBB's 2026 fare announcement says the BC price category ended for Berlin on 1 January 2026. The ordinary combinations now shown by BVG are AB and ABC.
Compare the 2026 adult fares
These standard adult fares were checked on 21 September 2026:
| Ticket | AB | ABC | Main rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single ticket | €4.00 | €5.00 | One journey in one direction, valid for 120 minutes |
| Four-trip ticket | €12.40 | €16.80 | Four separate one-direction journeys |
| 24-hour ticket | €11.20 | €12.90 | Unlimited journeys for 24 hours after validation |
The official pages for the single ticket, four-trip ticket and 24-hour ticket give the current conditions.
A single ticket permits changes, but it is not a two-hour return or sightseeing pass. If you will make three or more separate adult journeys in one day, compare the 24-hour ticket with the singles you would otherwise buy. For a couple or family, calculate the full party and read the take-along rules rather than multiplying one person's answer automatically.
Two journeys or a day of sightseeing?
For one adult without an existing pass, compare the journeys inside the same 24-hour period. These calculations use the BVG prices above, rechecked on 15 October 2026:
| Planned journeys | AB singles | ABC singles | Compare with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two one-way journeys | €8.00 | €10.00 | Both totals are below the matching 24-hour ticket |
| Three one-way journeys | €12.00 | €15.00 | A matching 24-hour ticket costs €11.20 or €12.90 |
A four-trip pack changes the comparison: its journeys cost €3.10 each in AB or €4.20 in ABC, but you pay €12.40 or €16.80 for the pack. Count unused journeys only if you expect to use them later. A 24-hour ticket may suit a busy day; a pack may suit trips spread across several days.
For one adult travelling with children aged 6–14, the standard adult 24-hour ticket can include up to three children under BVG's published take-along rules. Compare the whole party before buying separate child tickets.
BER Airport needs zone C
BER Airport is in zone C. The airport's public-transport guide says an ABC ticket is required between BER and central Berlin. Its station is below Terminal 1; follow the signs onward if your flight uses Terminal 2.
Do not assume the main railway station is the best destination. The FEX, regional trains, S-Bahn and buses serve different parts of the city. Search from the airport to the stop nearest your accommodation and check live engineering information on the travel date.
Buy and validate the ticket correctly
Use a BVG, VBB or S-Bahn machine, sales point or official app. Read the activation time before buying a mobile ticket for immediate travel. The BER guide says paper tickets bought from machines must be validated before the journey.
Keep the ticket available for inspection until the journey is complete. A screenshot of a ticket offer or an unactivated mobile purchase is not the same as a valid ticket.
Use the Berlin neighbourhood guide to choose a base with a practical local journey. If Berlin is the start of a wider trip, the Berlin to Prague guide explains the direct cross-border train and the stations to check.
Fares and rules reviewed on 21 September 2026. Recheck BVG or VBB before travel because products, prices and engineering arrangements can change.