Berlin airport to Prague: the BER transfer, step by step

Berlin Brandenburg Airport has a reputation older than its terminals. The project was famously late and finally opened in 2020. Today it is Berlin's main airport, fairly compact and calm, and a reasonable way into Prague if the fares favour it. The catch is that Prague is not next door, and you have to cross Berlin to catch the train there.

The plan that usually works

Take the airport train into the city, then a direct train to Prague. BER's railway station is in the basement under the main terminals, with regional trains, an airport express and the S-Bahn. The ride to central Berlin takes about half an hour on the faster services (check bahn.de and the airport's site for current options), and those trains stop at Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

From there long-distance trains run south to Prague through Dresden and the Elbe valley, roughly four hours and one of the prettiest rail lines in the region. Our Berlin by train guide is written from the Prague end but works in reverse. You arrive at Praha hlavní nádraží, a short walk or metro hop from the centre.

That is two trains and one change, both easy. Hauptbahnhof has several levels, so read the board for your platform. Leave at least half an hour between the airport train arriving and the Prague train leaving, more with checked bags or a late flight.

Terminal 5

A detail that trips people up. BER's old Schönefeld terminal is now Terminal 5, a separate building from the main terminals. Check which terminal your flight uses and which station name to pick on the booking page. At the main terminals the station is directly underneath; at Terminal 5, follow the signs and allow time to walk.

By coach

Some coach services serve the airport, and where they do you can board near the terminal and ride to Prague without a change; check the stop name on the booking page. Allow roughly four to five hours or more, depending on traffic. Our guide to Prague to Berlin by bus explains the city stops. If no airport service fits your arrival, take a train to a city stop and join the coach there.

The coach is a budget option, and it works best when your flight lands at a sociable hour.

Private transfer or taxi

A private car from BER to Prague is the most direct option and the dearest. It suits a group, a family with luggage or a late arrival. Book ahead with a company that quotes a fixed price including tolls and waiting time, and get it in writing. Never agree a long-distance fare at the rank without knowing the price. For the Czech end, see taxis in Prague.

Landing late

BER is quiet at night, and the long-distance trains south stop too. If you land in the evening, check the last Prague train and coach for your date before booking the flight, and work backwards. Sleeping in Berlin and taking a morning train is calmer and usually cheaper than chasing a connection. There are hotels near Hauptbahnhof.

Why land in Berlin at all

Fares into Berlin are sometimes better than into Prague, and the train south lets you see Berlin first. You can also break the trip in Dresden, where the Prague train calls anyway: a night costs nothing extra in transport and adds a baroque old town (see Dresden from Prague by train). For the full door-to-door comparison, read Prague to Berlin: train, bus or flight compared.

Border and arrival

Germany and Czechia are both in the Schengen Area, so there are normally no passport checks, but carry your passport or ID card. Germany uses the euro and Czechia the koruna. On arrival, our guide to paying in Prague explains cards and cash.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Prague?

Usually by airport train to Berlin Hauptbahnhof, then a direct train to Prague. Coaches and private transfers are alternatives.

How long does it take?

About half an hour from the airport to central Berlin, then roughly four hours to Prague, plus the change.

Is there a direct train from the airport to Prague?

Not as a regular service. Plan on a change at Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

What is Terminal 5?

The former Schönefeld terminal, a separate building from the main terminals. Check which one your flight uses.

Know your terminal and your last train, and the rest is a pleasant ride.