Pictured: S5 (S-Bahn) and U5 (U-Bahn) trains by Standardizer – CC BY-SA 4.0
The S-Bahn is Berlin’s above ground train system (rapid transit) and has a daily ridership of 1,300,00 people. It is comprised of 166 stations over 15 separate lines. The S-Bahn loop around the city is called the Ringbahn and runs frequently. The S-Bahn is very reliable and is one of the main methods Berliners use to navigate the city.
Important to know
- S-Bahn station signs in Berlin are indicated by a green circle with a white “S” in the middle.
- If you have a normal or short trip ticket, validate your ticket before entering the train.
- Once your train arrives, do not stand in front of the doors. Stand to the side until everyone that wants to get off the train does so, then you may enter.
- Although stations don’t have barriers (gates), you must have a valid ticket to ride the train.
- Trains stop running at 1am (some busses still operate at night).
The S-Bahn is a great way to navigate around Berlin at a reasonable cost. Because the S-Bahn is included in the VBB (Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg) tariff system, tickets purchased at a station are also valid for other types of public transportation in Berlin. For more information, see our public transportation guide.