Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket guide — the regional day ticket explained for 2026
Berlin: TV Tower Fast View Ticket
What is the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket and what does it cost?
The Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket is a regional rail day ticket valid on all RE, RB, S-Bahn, and local public transport in Berlin and Brandenburg. It costs €36.50 for up to five people travelling together (machine or online price; €38.50 at staffed counters, €40.20 on the train), and up to three children aged 6–14 travel free. Valid Monday–Friday after 9am; all day on weekends and public holidays.
Quick answer: The Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket costs €36.50 for up to five people, plus up to three children aged 6–14 free. Valid on all RE/RB/S-Bahn/BVG services in Berlin and Brandenburg. Weekdays from 9am; all day weekends. Buy at DB ticket machines or the DB Navigator app.
| Where | Valid across Berlin and the state of Brandenburg |
| Cost | €36.50 per ticket for up to 5 people (online/machine; €38.50 at counters, €40.20 on the train) |
| Time needed | One calendar day per ticket |
| Getting there | Buy at any DB ticket machine or in the DB Navigator app |
| Best time | Weekends (valid from midnight) or weekdays after 9am |
The Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket is one of the best-value travel options for day trips from Berlin — but it’s only worth buying if you understand exactly when it applies and when it doesn’t. This guide covers pricing, valid times, which trains it covers, which destinations you can reach, where to buy it, and how it compares to the Deutschlandticket.
What the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket covers
The Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket is a Länderticket — one of a series of regional day tickets that each cover one German federal state and Berlin. It is operated jointly by Deutsche Bahn and the regional transport authorities of Berlin (BVG) and Brandenburg.
What’s included:
- All DB regional trains (RE, RB) throughout the state of Brandenburg
- All S-Bahn lines within Berlin and extending into Brandenburg
- All BVG services in Berlin (U-Bahn, trams, buses)
- Certain third-party regional bus services connecting to train stations in Brandenburg
What’s not included:
- ICE, IC, and EC (long-distance express trains) — these require a separate ticket regardless of distance
- NachtExpress (night bus) services with a separate tariff
- Seat reservations (these are optional and purchased separately even with the ticket)
The key practical implication: If you plan to travel from Berlin to Magdeburg on the fast ICE (1h40), you need a separate DB ticket. If you’re happy to take the RE regional train (about 2 hours), the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket covers it. For most Brandenburg day trip destinations — Potsdam, Spreewald, Rheinsberg, Bad Saarow, Tropical Islands — there is no faster ICE option and the regional train is the only way.
How this compares to other German Länder-Tickets. The Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket follows the same structure as regional day tickets in other German states (the Bayern-Ticket, the Sachsen-Ticket, and so on) — a day ticket valid only within that state’s regional network plus the adjoining capital where relevant. If you’re combining a Berlin trip with travel into another German state, check whether that state’s own Länder-Ticket makes more sense for the day you cross the border, since the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket stops being valid once you leave Brandenburg and Berlin.
Pricing for 2026
The Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket has a flat group price: one ticket covers up to five people travelling together, and up to three children aged 6–14 travel free.
Prices (2026, 2nd class):
- Ticket machines and online: €36.50
- Staffed ticket counters: €38.50
- On the train: €40.20
All travellers on the ticket must travel together. Passengers must register their names and the date of validity on the ticket before travelling (children under 6 do not need to be registered), and the ticket cannot be transferred after use.
Comparison per person for a Potsdam day trip:
- Individual ABC day ticket: €12.90 per person
- Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket, 1 person: €36.50 (significantly more expensive for solo travel to Potsdam)
- Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket, 4 persons: €36.50 = about €9.13 per person (cheaper than the ABC day ticket, and covers the full Brandenburg network all day)
When the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket beats individual tickets:
- For groups of 3 or more going to Potsdam or any Brandenburg destination, the maths usually work in its favour
- For solo travellers going to destinations well beyond the ABC zone (Spreewald, Magdeburg by RE, Rheinsberg), it can be cheaper than an individual regional ticket
- For full-day mobility across Berlin and Brandenburg — multiple stops, spontaneous route changes — the unlimited travel aspect adds value
Valid times
Weekdays (Monday–Friday): Valid from 9:00am until 3:00am the following morning. The 9am start time is a deliberate off-peak restriction to avoid competition with commuter traffic.
Weekends and public holidays: Valid from midnight (start of day) until 3:00am the following morning — effectively the full 24 hours of the day.
The 9am restriction matters: If you want to depart Berlin on an early RE train before 9am on a weekday — for example, a 7:30am departure to Potsdam or an 8am RE1 to Fürstenwalde — the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket is not valid until 9am. You would need a separate ticket for travel before that time, then the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket becomes valid for the rest of the day. In practice, many day trip visitors avoid the 9am restriction entirely by departing after 9am, which also tends to avoid peak commuter trains.
Where to buy the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket
DB ticket machines: Available at all major S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and main station ticket machines in Berlin and Brandenburg. On the machine interface, navigate to “Streckentickets” or “Ländertickets” section. Select “Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket” and choose the number of travellers.
DB Navigator app: The official DB app allows purchase and storage of the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket as a digital ticket. This is the most convenient option — no machine queues, ticket stored on your phone, and easily shared as a PDF if travelling with others who have separate phones.
DB Reisezentrum counters: Staff-attended ticket counters at major stations (Hauptbahnhof, Ostbahnhof, Spandau, Gesundbrunnen) can sell Brandenburg-Berlin-Tickets. Lines can be long at peak times.
Not available on BVG channels: The Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket is a DB product and cannot be purchased through the BVG app, BVG ticket machines, or BVG counters. Only DB channels stock it.
No pre-booking required: The ticket is valid for the calendar day you purchase it. You do not need to book in advance; buy it on the morning of your day trip.
Which day trip destinations it covers
The following Berlin-area day trip destinations are fully covered by the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket on regional trains:
Under 60 minutes from Berlin:
- Potsdam — RE1 (30 min) or S7 (45 min). Sanssouci, Cecilienhof, Dutch Quarter. See Berlin to Potsdam guide
- Sachsenhausen / Oranienburg — S1 (30 min from Gesundbrunnen). Memorial site. See Berlin to Sachsenhausen guide
- Spreewald (Lübbenau) — RE2 (60 min). Canal tours, biosphere reserve. See Berlin to Spreewald guide
- Tropical Islands (Brand) — RE7 (60 min from Ostbahnhof). Waterpark in Cargolifter hangar. See Tropical Islands guide
- Bad Saarow — RE1 to Fürstenwalde, then RB36 (total 60–70 min). Thermal baths. See Bad Saarow guide
60–100 minutes:
- Rheinsberg — RE6 from Gesundbrunnen (85–95 min). Baroque palace, Ruppiner Seenland. See Rheinsberg guide
- Chorin — RE3 to Chorin station (70 min). Cistercian monastery. See Chorin destination
- Ravensbrück (Fürstenberg/Havel) — RE5 (80 min). Memorial site. See Ravensbrück guide
- Wittenberg — RE3 from Hauptbahnhof (55–65 min by RE). Luther sites, UNESCO. See Berlin to Wittenberg guide
90 minutes–2 hours:
- Magdeburg — RE trains (approx. 2 hours). Cathedral, Grüne Zitadelle. See Magdeburg guide
- Cottbus — RE2 (80 min). Branitzer Park, Sorbian culture
- Frankfurt (Oder) — RE1 (60 min). Oder river border city
Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket vs Deutschlandticket
These are the two main options for regional travel from Berlin. Understanding the difference prevents paying unnecessarily.
Choose the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket if:
- You’re visiting Berlin for a few days and want one or two day trips by regional train
- You’re travelling as a group of 3–5 people on a specific travel day
- You don’t hold a Deutschlandticket subscription and don’t need one
- You want to start travel after 9am on a weekday (or are travelling on a weekend)
Choose the Deutschlandticket if:
- You’re spending a week or more in Berlin and using transit daily
- You plan multiple day trips over several days
- You want to use transit before 9am on weekdays
- You want coverage extending beyond Brandenburg (Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich reachable by regional trains, though this takes many hours)
The break-even: At €63/month for the Deutschlandticket versus €36.50/day for the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket, the Deutschlandticket is cheaper if you’d use it on two or more separate travel days within a month. For a single day trip from Berlin as part of a longer Europe trip, the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket is the more sensible purchase.
Tips for getting the most from the ticket
Start after 9am on weekdays, all day on weekends. Weekday morning regional trains before 9am are packed with commuters; starting at or after 9am is actually more comfortable anyway.
Use it for combined Berlin transport too. The ticket covers BVG all day — U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, buses. If you’re doing a day trip that also involves getting around Berlin in the morning and evening, the ticket is effectively doing double duty.
Check for Brandenburg public holidays. Some German public holidays are observed in Brandenburg but not Bavaria, or vice versa. Brandenburg has specific state holidays where the Deutschlandticket is valid all day (the 9am restriction doesn’t apply on public holidays). Know your dates.
Don’t forget the return journey. The ticket is valid until 3am the following morning. As long as you’ve started your journey before midnight (on weekends) or after 9am and the return crosses midnight, the ticket covers it. Long day trips that run until the last train back are fully valid.
Seat reservations: On busy RE trains on summer weekends (especially the RE1 Potsdam direction), trains can be crowded. The Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket does not include a seat reservation; these are optional but seldom necessary on regional trains. Arrive early for a seat.
Planning the rest of your day around the ticket
The regional ticket only solves the transport half of a day trip. The other half is deciding what to do before you leave Berlin or after you return, and a few choices fit particularly well with it.
Build a Berlin-only day around the same ticket. Because it also covers the BVG network, a weekend or a post-9am weekday can be spent entirely inside the city. The Berlin public transport guide, the BVG U-Bahn and S-Bahn guide and the broader getting around Berlin page explain how the lines connect, so you can hop between neighbourhoods without thinking about fares.
Pair a late start with a museum morning. Since weekday travel starts at 9am anyway, there is no rush to catch an early train. That makes the first part of the day a good slot for an indoor stop on Museum Island, where a multiple-entry ticket for the Museum Island museums lets you pick the buildings that interest you. If you are weighing options while the Pergamon is closed, the Pergamon closure alternatives page lists what to see instead.
Use the evening return for city sights. Because the ticket stays valid until 3am the next morning, you can come back from Potsdam or Spreewald and still do something in the city. The TV Tower guide covers the view over the city, and a fast-entry ticket for the TV Tower is one way to avoid a long wait there.
Save a rainy or very hot day for a museum. If the forecast turns against your planned outing, nothing forces you to use the ticket that day — it is bought on the morning of travel. A visit to the DDR Museum with a skip-the-line entry or the Stasi Museum is a good fallback, and the rainy-day ideas collect more indoor options.
Combine history themes across the day. A Sachsenhausen visit pairs naturally with the city’s other Cold War and Third Reich sites; the Cold War Berlin itinerary and the Third Reich history trail show how to sequence them across several days. If you are still deciding how long to stay, how many days in Berlin and the 3-day itinerary help you fit regional trips around the city highlights.
Compare with the city pass options. If most of your time is spent in Berlin itself rather than in Brandenburg, check whether the Berlin WelcomeCard suits you better than a regional day ticket, and the Berlin budget guide puts all of these transport costs in context.
Which ticket for which trip — a quick comparison
| Travel pattern | Best ticket | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo or two people, one Potsdam day trip | Berlin ABC day ticket (€12.90 each) | Cheaper than the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket for one or two people within the ABC zone |
| Solo, Spreewald or Magdeburg by RE | Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket (€36.50) | Beyond ABC zone coverage; still cheaper than a standalone RE fare in some cases |
| Group of 3–5, any Brandenburg destination | Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket | One flat price for up to five people makes it the clear winner |
| Multiple day trips over a week+ | Deutschlandticket (€63/month) | Break-even after roughly two Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket days |
| Berlin–Dresden by ICE | Separate DB ticket | Neither ticket covers ICE/IC/EC services |
For the fuller destination-by-destination breakdown of what’s reachable and how, see the best day trips from Berlin guide and the day trips by train guide.
Frequently asked questions about Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket guide
What trains does the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket cover?
It covers all regional trains (RE, RB), S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, and buses within the Berlin and Brandenburg networks for one travel day. It does not cover ICE, IC, or EC long-distance trains. It is valid on the BVG network within Berlin and all DB regional services throughout the state of Brandenburg.How much does the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket cost in 2026?
The ticket costs €36.50 (2nd class, bought at a machine or online), and one ticket covers up to five people travelling together, plus up to three children aged 6–14 free of charge. The price does not change with the number of adults, so it is €36.50 whether one or five people travel. Staffed counters charge €38.50 and buying on the train costs €40.20. From three people upwards it works out cheaper per person than individual ABC day tickets (€12.90); for one or two people it does not.What time can I start using the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket?
On weekdays (Monday–Friday), the ticket is valid from 9:00am until 3:00am the following morning. On weekends and public holidays, it is valid all day from midnight to 3:00am the following morning. The 9am restriction on weekdays makes it unsuitable for early morning departures — for those, the Deutschlandticket or individual tickets are required.Is the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket the same as the Deutschlandticket?
No. The Deutschlandticket (€63/month in 2026) is a monthly subscription that covers all regional trains and public transport across all of Germany. The Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket is a single-day ticket valid only within Berlin and Brandenburg. For regular travellers or anyone spending more than a few days in Berlin using transit, the Deutschlandticket is usually better value. For occasional day trips or for groups, the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket can be cheaper.Where can I buy the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket?
At any DB ticket machine at S-Bahn or main stations (select "Länder-Tickets" or "Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket"). In the DB Navigator app. At DB Reisezentrum counters at major stations. The ticket is not available on BVG machines or the BVG app — buy it only through DB channels.Which day trip destinations from Berlin does the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket cover?
Potsdam, Sachsenhausen (Oranienburg), Spreewald (Lübbenau), Tropical Islands (Brand Niederlausitz), Rheinsberg, Bad Saarow, Magdeburg (RE trains only), Wittenberg (RE trains only), Fürstenberg/Havel (Ravensbrück), Chorin, Frankfurt (Oder), Cottbus, and essentially any destination in Brandenburg reachable by regional train or S-Bahn.Can I use the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket to travel to Potsdam?
Yes. Potsdam is within the state of Brandenburg and fully covered by the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket on the RE1, S7, and all regional connections. For one or two people an ABC day ticket (€12.90) is cheaper; for groups of three or more the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket costs less per person.Does the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket include Berlin's U-Bahn and buses?
Yes. The Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket covers all BVG public transport within Berlin — U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses — in addition to DB regional trains throughout Brandenburg. It is a combined ticket for the full day.
