Ryan Air and using train from Berlin airport to the city - newbie to both and have questions 😁

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz]

Evening all

so hoping to go to Berlin later this year and looks like Ryan Air will the carrier.

Decided to pay for x 1 checked in 20kg bag for DD and I to share and DH reckons his fancy new back pack will fit his kit and be ok as the free under seat bag.

First question - once through security if we decide to buy stuff in boots and the like (meal deals to eat on plane, forgotten toiletries etc) or duty free bits, do we have to pay extra?! Apologies if this is a stupid question.

Also we arrive in Berlin around 6pm. Will need to hang about to get case (please god don’t let it get lost) then were looking at train to hotel. Does anyone have experience of doing this direct to Hackescher Markt (staying at Adina Hotel) and how easy it will be after a long day and a big case in tow?

Thanks folks ☺️

Citymapper apps works for Berlin - we found it really useful. Just choose Berlin in settings

Berlin public transport is fabulous and very good value. Trains run frequently from the airport - every 15 minutes or so I seem to remember. Download the BVG app and you can use it to buy tourist tickets and plan journeys really easily. For example a 48 hour ‘Welcome card’ ticket costs about 35 euros for unlimited travel in zones ABC.

That’s very helpful both - thanks!

I found the BVG app wouldn't accept my bank card, so I bought a ticket at the airport station machine. A couple of days later I was at a station with no working machines, tried again with the app and discovered I could use it with paypal.

The public transport is amazing, and you will find generally find about 5 different, equally valid, ways to get from A to B quickly and easily (again using the app to tell you).

The train to the city takes about an hr.. i think.
The airport is in zone c. You will need a ticket to cover this ( a b c) can buy on the platform, i used card payment. Remember to validate before boarding. Time punch
Copy other people!

Once you get to the city you can buy a ticket for zones a and b combined. Toggle the machine to english.. you can choose one journey, 2 10 , 24 , 48hrs etc. Was easy enough.

The BVG app is excellent. - but moves fast. Bit mind boggling at first but sure you will work it out in no time.

Have literally just been therr! Download the app and use PayPal if you have it to pay for the 2 hour ticket. There is also a travel planner app you can get alongside the ticket app to workout your journey. Train takes 20 mins to the central station and then take the s7 to your stop. Really easy. Alternatively its about 40 euros to get a cab there if its later!

Thanks folks! Head is swimming a bit but I guess when you are in situ it makes more sense!

Think we will probably get train on arrival day but I’m considering a cab if not too £ on departure day as I’m a bit nervous about any line disruption and what various queues for various checks at airport could be.

Do you think I’m best to look at taxis ahead or ask hotel to book one?

On the good news front I’ve just got decent coverage travel insurance for three of us (granted just single trip) declaring every medical thing I can think of, including all excess waiver, for £35 😳 very pleasantly surprised!

I would just take the train or go to the taxi rank if you want a taxi. It’s not a dangerous country. It’s Germany! It will be easy to and safe to get from the airport no matter how you do it.

As for what you can bring onboard, I’ve never had an issue carrying on food purchased at the airport or duty free. It just needs to fit somewhere. If you only have an under the seat bag, then under the seat or keep it on your lap for take off, then eat it.

Citymapper and BVG map - lots of trains go to the hauptbahnhof - main huge train station and then you can get a taxi/ metro / bus from there - have a look at city mapper beforehand to figure out routes

rhe BVG app worked for us - we just did a 48 hour pass from the airport to Berlin it wasn't much

look on TikTok ahead of going - it will help you visualise where you're heading to

just ab FYI we queued for at least an hour to go through passport checks in Berlin - before EES - I'd pay to sit at the front of the plane to be ahead in the queue.