AB ticket, ABC ticket or Deutschlandticket: which fare to choose in Berlin?

Between zones, 2-hour tickets, 24-hour tickets and the Deutschlandticket, choosing a fare in Berlin quickly becomes confusing. The rule is simple: the AB ticket is enough for almost everything, the ABC is for Potsdam and BER airport, and the Deutschlandticket is only worthwhile for a long stay or excursions by regional train. This guide gives the prices checked in October 2026, a decision table and examples of stays. For the details of the network and validation, see our guide to transport in Berlin.

AB or ABC: the only zone question

S-Bahn train on the Ringbahn at Südkreuz station

AB: all of central Berlin and its suburbs, including Museum Island, Kreuzberg, Charlottenburg and the Olympic Stadium. This is the default ticket.
ABC: required for BER airport, Potsdam (Sanssouci Palace) and Oranienburg (Sachsenhausen memorial). If only one trip of your stay leaves zone AB, buy an ABC ticket for that day, not for the whole stay.

Zone BC no longer exists since 1 January 2026, and the 7-day ticket has been abolished: for a stay of several days, you have to choose between 24-hour tickets, the WelcomeCard and the Deutschlandticket.

Ticket prices side by side

Ticket	Validity	AB	ABC
Single ticket	2 hours, one direction only	€4.00 (reduced €2.50)	€5.00 (reduced €3.50)
Kurzstrecke	3 U/S stations or 6 tram/bus stops	€2.80 (reduced €2.10)	—
4-trip card	4 trips	€12.40	€16.80
24-hour ticket	24 hours	€11.20 (reduced €7.40)	€12.90 (reduced €8.00)
Small group 24-hour	24 hours, up to 5 people	€35.30	€37.70
Deutschlandticket	1 month, all of Germany	€63.00	included

Prices checked in October 2026. The VBB has announced an average increase of 3.72% on 1 January 2027: the AB single ticket stays at €4.00, but the ABC goes up to €5.20 and the Deutschlandticket to €66.80.

Which ticket for which plan

A day on foot, with one or two trips

Take two AB single tickets (€8) or a Kurzstrecke for a short trip. The 24-hour ticket (€11.20) only pays off from three trips, since a single ticket already costs €4.

A day of sightseeing in several districts

The 24-hour AB ticket, valid for 24 hours from validation and not until midnight, becomes the best choice from three or four trips. At the full fare, it includes up to three children aged 6 to 14 and a dog.

Three adults or more, or a family

The small group 24-hour ticket (€35.30 in AB, up to 5 people) is cheaper than three 24-hour tickets from three adults.

A stay of 2 to 3 days

Two or three 24-hour AB tickets (€22.40 or €33.60) are the simplest choice. The WelcomeCard costs a little more than transport alone and is only worthwhile if the discounts at partners interest you: see our comparison WelcomeCard or Museumspass.

A one-week stay

Without a 7-day ticket, the Deutschlandticket (€63 for a month) is the cheapest option once you count more than five or six 24-hour tickets. It also covers the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, bus, zone C, Potsdam, BER airport and Germany's regional trains, but not ICE or IC trains. It is a named, digital monthly subscription: remember to cancel it if you do not want it to renew.

An excursion to Potsdam or BER

If this is the only trip outside zone AB, buy an ABC ticket for that day, or a 24-hour ABC ticket (€12.90) if you travel a lot. See our guide Potsdam from Berlin.

Pitfalls to avoid

Validate your ticket: a paper ticket bought at a station machine must be validated before the first trip; a digital ticket is already valid from the time shown. The fine is €60 if you are inspected without a valid ticket.
A single ticket does not allow a return trip: it is valid for 2 hours in one direction.
On the bus, the driver sells single tickets, the Kurzstrecke and 24-hour tickets, cashless payment only.
Children under 6 travel free, children from 6 to 14 pay the reduced fare.