35-minute direct link between BER and Berlin Hbf
The FEX Flughafen-Express runs nonstop between Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 35 minutes, skipping the extra inner-city stops you get on the S-Bahn. It uses standard Deutsche Bahn regional-train stock, so think overhead luggage racks, 2nd/1st class sections, and level boarding at both BER Terminal 1-2 station and Berlin Hbf.
Trains usually run every 20–30 minutes for most of the day, with first departures from BER around 4:30–5:00 a.m. and late services close to midnight. The FEX stops at the underground "Flughafen BER – Terminal 1-2" station, which sits directly under Terminal 1; from the platform to check-in at T1 is roughly a 5–8 minute walk via escalators and lifts.
A standard Berlin ABC single ticket currently costs around €4.40 and covers the FEX plus local connections on S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses, and trams within the fare zone. You can buy tickets from red DB machines on the platform at BER, yellow BVG machines, or in the DB Navigator app before boarding. Paper tickets from machines need validation in the small yellow or red stamp boxes before you get on the train.
On board, FEX trains use double-decker regional coaches with air conditioning and a mix of table and airline-style seats. There’s space by the doors for suitcases and strollers, though it can feel tight at peak times when flights from hubs like FRA, MUC, and AMS land around 7–9 a.m. or 6–9 p.m.. There is usually at least one accessible carriage per train, marked on the exterior with wheelchair symbols.
From Berlin Hbf, the FEX normally leaves from the lower-level platforms like tief (deep) tracks 1–8; check the departure boards for “FEX Flughafen BER – Terminal 1-2” and the exact Gleis. Coming from Terminal 2 at BER, walk through the outdoor walkway to Terminal 1 and then down to the station, adding roughly 10 extra minutes to be safe.
Tip: If you land at BER with checked bags, add a 20-minute buffer for passport control and baggage claim before aiming for a specific FEX departure, instead of cutting it to the exact timetable.