What do Berlin's fare zones A, B and C mean?
Berlin public transport is split into fare zones A, B and C, and a ticket is valid for the zones printed on it. Zone A covers the inner city, zone B extends to the city limits, and zone C reaches outer areas including BER airport.
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How it works
A journey within zones AB, BC or the full ABC area is priced differently, and the zone combination is chosen before travel, not adjusted afterwards. Tickets are sold by VBB, the transport association covering Berlin and Brandenburg, and validated at the start of a paper journey.
Commonly mixed up with
The zone letters are sometimes read as quality tiers rather than geography. They describe area only, and every zone uses the same trains, buses and trams.
What do Berlin's fare zones A, B and C mean?
| Knowledge, Berlin | Travel and visit |
|---|---|
| Short answer | Berlin public transport is split into fare zones A, B and C, and a ticket is valid for the zones printed on it. Zone A covers the inner city, zone B extends to the city limits, and zone C reaches outer areas including BER airport. |
| How it works | A journey within zones AB, BC or the full ABC area is priced differently, and the zone combination is chosen before travel, not adjusted afterwards. Tickets are sold by VBB, the transport association covering Berlin and Brandenburg, and validated at the start of a paper journey. |
| Commonly mixed up with | The zone letters are sometimes read as quality tiers rather than geography. They describe area only, and every zone uses the same trains, buses and trams. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-08 |
Short questions
- Which zone is the city centre in?
- Zone A covers the area inside the S-Bahn ring.
- Do I need zone C for the airport?
- Yes, BER sits in zone C, so an AB ticket alone does not cover it.
- Can one ticket cover all three zones?
- An ABC ticket covers zones A, B and C together.
- Are tickets checked?
- Random ticket inspections take place without barriers at stations.
- Where is the fare table published?
- VBB publishes the current fares for each zone combination.
Sources
More in this track
- How do you get from BER airport to central Berlin?
- What is the Deutschlandticket and does it work in Berlin?
- What is the difference between the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn in Berlin?
- Where do Berlin's trams run and how do you use them?
- What is the weather like in Berlin through the year?
- Is it practical to get around Berlin without a car?
- How do you buy a single public transport ticket in Berlin?
- How much time should you allow for a BER airport transfer?
- Can you combine cycling and public transport in Berlin?
These pages explain how the rules work and link the authority that owns them. They are not legal, tax or immigration advice, and amounts and thresholds change, so open the source before you act.
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