Berlin WelcomeCard: when the card pays off and when it doesn't

Berlin WelcomeCard costs 39.50 € for 72 hours in zone AB (as of 09/2026, official Berlin WelcomeCard website). This is the best-selling card option. The official tourist ticket of Berlin is issued by visitBerlin, and transit is already included in the price.

The real question is whether the card pays off for your specific itinerary. It comes down to two numbers: how many attractions offer discounts and how many transit trips you take. We ran both scenarios using 2026 prices and put together what you need to know before buying.

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What the Berlin WelcomeCard is

💡 In short:

• The card is valid from 48 hours to 6 days and includes transit in zone AB or ABC.
• Partners offer discounts of at least 25% and up to 50% at more than 170 attractions.
• Up to three children under 14 ride free with their parents.
• Prices and card details: 09/2026, verified on the BVG transit page.

The Berlin WelcomeCard combines a transit pass and a discount card in one ticket. Starting at 48 hours, it covers buses, trams, the U-Bahn, and the S-Bahn in the selected zone. Zone AB covers the city within the ring, while zone ABC adds BER Airport and Potsdam.

We verified the card details on 12.09.2026 on the official website, which also lists the minimum discount at partner venues. Discounts apply to museums, observation decks, theaters, and restaurants. The list includes Museum Island, the Berlin TV Tower, the DDR Museum, and Madame Tussauds.

Families get a separate bonus. Up to three children under 14 ride free with one adult. Free transit does not mean free museum entry. For a family, this changes the entire calculation.

The lineup includes three products: the classic card, Museumsinsel, and all inclusive. The table below shows prices for the classic card.

Where to buy the card before your trip

You can buy the Berlin WelcomeCard in advance from home or once you arrive. Online there are two options, and both let you use the card from day one.

The first option: an online ticket. After paying, you print the card at home and take it with you right away. The second option: delivery by mail, where the ticket arrives at your address along with a small guide and a folding city map.

The difference between the options is small but useful. The guide and city map are included in both. With the online ticket, you pick them up at a Berlin Tourist Info location once you arrive, while the mail option saves you that step.

The third option: buying on site. The card is sold at Berlin Tourist Info locations, many hotels, and through the transit operators S-Bahn Berlin and BVG. This option is convenient if you decide on the card once you are already in Berlin.

How much the Berlin WelcomeCard costs

The price depends on the duration and zone. We compiled the options in a table based on seller data (as of 09/2026, official Berlin WelcomeCard website).

Zone ABC is for those flying into BER Airport or heading to Potsdam. The version without transit works if you already have a monthly Deutschlandticket.

Does the card pay off financially

This is where the math starts. A 72-hour card for one adult costs 39.50 € and includes all transit in zone AB. Without the card, you pay for each trip separately.

Let's do the transit math. A single trip in zone AB costs 4.00 €, a four-trip AB ticket costs 12.40 €, and a short trip within the city costs 2.80 € (as of 09/2026, VBB and Berliner Morgenpost).

Over three days, you will almost certainly take more than four trips per day. In that case, the included transit pays for itself. A car in the center is rarely cheaper: parking costs catch up to and exceed the transit ticket. Count your trips and attractions in advance so you don't overpay.

What discounts the card offers

Discounts make up the other half of the value, and the amount depends on the venue. Museums, observation decks, and theaters have different terms.

The Berlin TV Tower offers a discount only when buying at the day ticket counter. Tickets purchased in advance with a time slot do not get the discount, and the slot is exactly what lets you skip the line. Here you choose: save a little or skip the queue.

Staatsoper Unter den Linden reduces the price by 25% for one adult ticket (as of 09/2026, Staatsoper Berlin). The discount applies only at the box office and no later than three days before the performance. The offer does not apply to online purchases, so a ticket bought in advance will cost more.

If your itinerary consists of free activities, the card will save you little. In December that means markets and walks; in summer it is more likely museums and observation decks. Mark in advance which partners from the list you will definitely visit.

Pros and cons of the card

The pros include convenience. You don't deal with fare zones or buy a ticket for every trip. Discounts are a secondary bonus, and children under 14 ride free.

The catch is also specific. Discounts at the Staatsoper and the TV Tower apply only at the box office.

Another catch: the price for one person. On a short trip with one paid attraction, the card may not pay off. Calculate your own itinerary, not the general promises.

Who it's for

The card pays off for those who move around the city a lot and visit several paid attractions per day. For a family, it is almost always a better deal because children under 14 ride free.

Don't buy the card if your trip consists of free walks and markets. In that case, single transit tickets will cost less. With a Deutschlandticket, the version without transit is enough, and it costs less.

If you are going for two or three days and plan three museums, the TV Tower, and an evening at the theater, the 72-hour card will almost certainly justify itself.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does the Berlin WelcomeCard cost?

The price depends on the duration and zone. For 48 hours it is 28.50 €, for 72 hours 39.50 € for zone AB, 45.50 € for ABC, and the version without transit for 72 hours costs 10 €. All figures are in the table above, current as of September 2026.

Does the card include transit within Berlin?

Yes, the classic card includes transit in the selected zone. Zone AB covers the city within the ring, while zone ABC adds BER Airport and Potsdam. If you are flying into BER, get ABC right away, otherwise you won't reach the city on this card.

Does the card offer discounts at the Staatsoper and the TV Tower?

Yes, but the terms differ. At the Staatsoper, the 25% discount is available only at the box office and no later than three days before the performance (as of 09/2026, Staatsoper Berlin). At the TV Tower, the discount is also only available at the day ticket counter, without an online time slot.

Where can I buy the card?

You can print the online ticket at home, or order delivery by mail with a guide and city map. On site, the card is sold at Berlin Tourist Info locations, many hotels, and through S-Bahn Berlin and BVG. You can also buy it on the first day of your trip.

Does the card pay off if I only want to walk around?

In that case, probably not. Walks, markets, and streets are free, and transit can be covered with single tickets. The card is worth it when you add paid museums, observation decks, and the theater.

In short: what to book

The card is worth it when your itinerary is packed and you use transit a lot. For a family with children under 14, it pays off almost immediately. For a solo trip with one attraction, calculate carefully.

• If you have three days and three museums: get the 72-hour card, zone AB.
• If you are a family with children: the 72-hour card plus attraction discounts.
• If you are only going for the markets: single transit tickets are enough.

Want to start with attractions and decide on the card later? Check out Berlin museum tickets on Tiqets.