Station Board
Hall of Berlin Friedrichstraße station
Photo: Flocci Nivis, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

First-time traveler guide

Berlin Friedrichstraße

Berlin, Germany

Through station
DirectionsGetting there

Quick answers

The facts people look for first, pulled from this guide.

From the airport

From BER Airport

  • S-Bahn: The S9 runs directly from the airport to Friedrichstraße every 20 minutes. Alternatively, take the FEX to Hauptbahnhof and the S-Bahn one stop from there.
  • Tickets: The airport is in fare zone C, so you need an ABC ticket.
Details

Tickets and apps

Download the BVG or DB Navigator app: Both show live departures and sell tickets.

Details

Luggage lockers

Yes. Deutsche Bahn lists luggage lockers at the station (Friedrichstraße 142): 124 lockers of 24 × 42 × 76 cm for €4.00; 45 lockers of 44 × 61 × 93 cm for €6.00. All are paid with coins only and can be used for up to 24 hours.

Details

Getting there

How to Get to Berlin Friedrichstraße

From BER Airport

  • S-Bahn: The S9 runs directly from the airport to Friedrichstraße every 20 minutes. Alternatively, take the FEX to Hauptbahnhof and the S-Bahn one stop from there.
  • Tickets: The airport is in fare zone C, so you need an ABC ticket.

From the City Centre

  • S-Bahn: The Stadtbahn lines S3, S5, S7 and S9 stop on the upper level. The north–south lines S1, S2, S25 and S26 stop underground.
  • U-Bahn: The U6 stops underneath the station.
  • On foot: Unter den Linden is about five minutes away; Museum Island and Brandenburg Gate are around 10–15 minutes' walk.

Platforms and station layout

Friedrichstraße has three levels, which is the main thing to understand before you arrive.

The upper level, under the arched hall, carries the east–west Stadtbahn: regional trains and the S3, S5, S7 and S9. The underground S-Bahn platform for the north–south lines S1, S2, S25 and S26 is below street level, and the U6 has its own underground platform beneath Friedrichstraße.

The street-level concourse in between has shops, ticket machines and the exits. Follow the S-Bahn and U-Bahn signs; the walk between levels takes a few minutes, longer at busy times.

Practical tips

Tips for First-Time Visitors

Before You Arrive

  • Download the BVG or DB Navigator app: Both show live departures and sell tickets.
  • Tickets: Berlin is split into fare zones A, B and C. Zones A and B cover the whole city; zone C covers the surroundings, including BER Airport. The Deutschlandticket is valid on all S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram, bus and regional trains, but not on ICE or IC trains.
  • Validate paper tickets: Single tickets bought from a BVG machine usually have to be stamped in the small validators at the platform entrance before you travel. Tickets bought in the BVG or DB Navigator app are valid straight away.

At the Station

  • Visit the Tränenpalast: If you have time, the free exhibition in the former border hall next to the station is one of the best short introductions to divided Berlin.
  • Regional trains are faster: On the upper level, regional trains run on the same route as the S-Bahn but stop less often, which helps for longer trips across the city.

Common Mistakes

  • Construction until 12 December 2026: no regional or long-distance trains stop on the upper level (tracks 1–4 are closed). The S-Bahn runs as usual.
  • Wrong level: The east–west and north–south S-Bahn lines leave from different levels. Check the line number before following the signs.

Frequently asked questions

Are there luggage lockers at Berlin Friedrichstraße?

Yes. Deutsche Bahn lists luggage lockers at the station (Friedrichstraße 142): 124 lockers of 24 × 42 × 76 cm for €4.00; 45 lockers of 44 × 61 × 93 cm for €6.00. All are paid with coins only and can be used for up to 24 hours. Prices are as listed by Deutsche Bahn in October 2026.

Are regional trains running at Friedrichstraße in 2026?

Not until 12 December 2026. Tracks 1–4 on the upper level are closed while the Stadtbahn is rebuilt, so only S-Bahn trains stop here. Use Hauptbahnhof, Gesundbrunnen or Ostkreuz for regional trains.

How do I get from Friedrichstraße to BER Airport?

The S9 runs directly to the airport every 20 minutes. You can also take the S-Bahn one stop to Hauptbahnhof and the FEX from there. You need an ABC ticket.

When is the DB Information desk open?

DB Information at Friedrichstraße is open 24 hours a day, every day, including public holidays.

What is the Tränenpalast?

The Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears) is the former border-crossing hall next to the station, where East Germans said goodbye to visitors from the West. It is now a free museum about the divided city.

Is there food and shopping at the station?

Yes. Deutsche Bahn lists around 17 places to eat and 17 shops at Friedrichstraße, plus toilets.

About this station

Through station in Mitte, in the middle of Berlin's historic centre, under a large arched hall on the Stadtbahn viaduct. It opened in 1882.

During the Cold War, Friedrichstraße was a border crossing between East and West Berlin. The former departure hall next to the station, known as the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears), is now a free museum about the divided city.

Today the station is a major interchange for regional trains, the east–west and north–south S-Bahn lines and the U6. Unter den Linden, Museum Island and the government quarter are all within walking distance.

Construction until 12 December 2026: no regional or long-distance trains stop on the upper level (tracks 1–4 are closed). The S-Bahn runs as usual.

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