Semih
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-06-04
Berlin is around twenty-four kilometres from its airport, with a railway station directly beneath the main terminal. The best option mainly depends on which district your hotel is in.
Airport Express, regional train or S-Bahn
The express train reaches the Hauptbahnhof in about half an hour, while regional trains and the S-Bahn are cheaper and stop more often. The only thing that really matters is choosing the right fare zone. For Mitte, Kreuzberg or Prenzlauer Berg, the train is usually the best choice.
Private transfer: a fixed price and a driver who waits
A pre-booked private transfer means the driver knows your flight number, waits if you are delayed, the price is fixed before booking, and luggage is included. It is the best option for late arrivals, for families needing child seats, and for anywhere farther out than the city centre. If you are travelling light and want to stay spontaneous, you will not need it.
Uber in Germany: private hire vehicles with driver
In Germany, Uber is not a ride service platform with its own drivers, but arranges private hire vehicles with driver and, in some cities, taxis as well. These vehicles are not allowed to wait on the street for passengers, but must return to their operating base after each journey, which the Federal Court of Justice confirmed in 2026. In practice, that means slightly longer waiting times than in other countries. At the airport, use the pick-up zone shown in the app.
When a private transfer makes sense
If you are travelling with family, arriving after midnight, or staying at a hotel in Potsdam, Spandau or on the outskirts, a pre-booked driver is the most comfortable option because the price is fixed and no one has to count stairs with suitcases.
Car hire: for Brandenburg and the Baltic coast
Berlin has an environmental zone and plenty of roadworks, so you do not need a car in the city. For the Spreewald, the Mecklenburg Lake District or the Baltic coast, however, it is the best solution.
How Reisedrop handles the question after booking
After your hotel booking we do not ask whether you want to buy a transfer, we ask how you are getting to your accommodation in Berlin. You see two options side by side: a private transfer you lock in beforehand, and a direct link into the Uber app with your destination pre-filled if you would rather stay flexible. No flood of suppliers, no invented guide prices. Private transfers and rental cars are booked with external providers, and with Uber you are forwarded straight to Uber. Price, availability and booking sit with the respective provider. We are not a partner of Uber and deliberately show no Uber prices.
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