Everything You Need to Know About the Berlin WelcomeCard, Discounts & Transport

Are you planning to visit Berlin and looking for the best way to get around the city with its complex transport system and make the most of your stay without spending too much? The Berlin WelcomeCard might be the right ticket for you!

The Berlin WelcomeCard (also BWC) is a tariff system issued by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, the city’s public transportation company, which includes discounts on tours, attractions and activities and free or reduced fares on Berlin’s AB zone public transport network. With this card, you can save time, money and hassle on your travels around Berlin and make the most of your stay.

In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions about the BWC and give you information on how to use it, discounts included in various packages, and the AB zones system in Berlin. Read on to find out more!

What is the Berlin WelcomeCard?

The Berlin WelcomeCard is a convenient all-in-one ticket that provides affordable travel around Berlin for a specific number of days and allows discounts and offers on activities, museums and restaurants.

There are two types of BWC: a regular paper ticket for one person or a contactless smart card for multiple users. The paper ticket looks like a travel card, with your information on it like name, birthday, etc., and it’s valid for a period of time specified on the ticket. The contactless smart card is a plastic card that can be used by multiple people at a time. Both ticket types have to be purchased at any BVG (Berlin Transit Station) office or online.

What Types of Berlin WelcomeCards Are Available?

The Berlin WelcomeCard is available in multiple different packages, depending on the number of days of travel, areas included, and discounts included.

The most basic package includes free travel on public transport in the AB zones in Berlin and discounts of up to 50% off selected tours, museums, restaurants and shops. This package is valid for 48 hours or 72 hours.

The other packages extend the validity up to 5 or 6 days and include discounts up to 70% on selected attractions. All packages cover all of the AB zones in Berlin, as well as Potsdam and Schönefeld Airport.

What Are AB Zones & How Does this Affect Your Travel in Berlin?

The AB zones in Berlin refers to the tariff area boundaries in the city and its suburbs. The capital city of Germany is divided into three tariff areas (A, B and C), with each covering a certain area of Berlin and its surroundings.

Zone A includes the inner districts of Berlin’s city center – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Mitte – comprised of areas such as Museum Island, Kurfürstendamm, Gendarmenmarkt, Alexanderplatz and more popular tourist sites.

Zone B surrounds zone A and includes further districts such as Neukölln, Lichtenberg, Treptow-Köpenick, Marzahn-Hellersdorf and Steglitz-Zehlendorf. Zone C consists of 12 further districts outside the inner city circle. All of these zones are covered with the Berlin WelcomeCard.

It’s important to note that some train lines are covered by different zones from those mentioned above; Schönefeld Airport (SF) is in zone E or F, for instance. To check if your destination is covered by one of the three tariff areas or another zone listed below, consult this map on VBB’s website.

How Much Does the Berlin WelcomeCard Cost?

The cost of the card varies depending on the package you choose. The most basic package – with 48 or 72 hours validity – costs 26€ or 28€ respectively. Other packages cost from 39€ for a 5-day package up to 59€ for the 6-day package. You can also purchase a group package for up to 5 people starting at 49€.

What Discounts Are Included in the Berlin WelcomeCard?

The Berlin WelcomeCard includes multiple discounts on attractions, tours, restaurants and shopping in Berlin’s AB zones and beyond. Depending on the package you choose, you can get up to 50% off some attractions or up to 70% off others. Note that some discounts cannot be combined with other offers or promotions.

Here is a list of some of the discounts available with the Berlin WelcomeCard:

• 50% discount on tours with Bus About
• 25% off Bus Tours in Brandenburg
• 50% off at Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Museum
• 15% off at Mauerpark fleamarket
• Up to 25% off food and drinks at selected restaurants
• 15% off select city tours in Berlin

And there are many more! To view all available discounts included in your chosen package, check VisitBerlin’s official website.

Which Areas Does the Berlin WelcomeCard Cover?

The BWC covers public transport in all three tariff zones (AB) in Berlin, as well as Potsdam and Schönefeld Airport (F). It includes free transport on all buses, trams, metro trains (U-Bahn), regional trains (S-Bahn) within lower fares than paying individual tickets every time. All six fare zones covering greater Berlin are included on packages lasting five days or more – so if you don’t plan on leaving the city center for long trips, then 48 hours or 72 hours might be enough time for you.

How Can I Use the Berlin WelcomeCard?

Using the BWC is very easy! Once you purchase your ticket – whether it’s a digital version or a paper one – all you have to do is validate it once before using it by swiping it at any Metro station or tram station. Once you’ve validated it, you don’t need to do it again for four hours with paper tickets or 24 hours with digital tickets!

When using your card for public transport – remember that every time you check in for a bus or tram trip or when entering an U-Bahn station, you need to hold it up so that it senses it when approaching the entrance or swiping it over a sensor if using a digital card. Then you’ll see a green light indicating it was validated correctly. When leaving a metro station you’ll need to hold up your card again until the Siemens sign turns green – same procedure when exiting any other method of public transportatioswiping your card on sensors when leaving public trams and buses).

For discounts at attractions listed on VisitBerlin’s website, simply present your BWC at the reception before entering or when buying tickets inside an attraction or tour operator’s office.

Is the Berlin WelcomeCard Worth It?

If you plan on traveling around AB zones in Berlin extensively and make use of discounts available for attractions in them then yes – without a doubt! Even 48 hours can be enough depending on how much ground you want to cover with your travels around the different districts in Berlin. It’s by far one of the most convenient ways to get around Berlin without having to worry about individual tickets or fares every time. However, if you plan on traveling outside those areas or taking longer trips from one point to another that might require travel through multiple different zones then it might not be worth it since each extra zone will cost more than if you had purchased separate tickets for each one – though this depends on how many trips you plan on taking during your time in Germany’s capital city.

So if your priority is sightseeing within AB zone boundaries in Berlin then definitely go for it! And if you decide to take that plunge, make sure you maximize your savings by checking out these amazing activities GetYourGuide offers in various parts of Berlin with extra discount for BWC holders. Enjoy exploring!