eSIM for Berlin
For a Berlin visit, a Germany eSIM covers the city and every day trip inside the country. Most trips last about four days, so choose a plan valid for at least that long. Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).
Plans for Germany cover the whole country, including Berlin.
For a 4-day visit
How much data for 4 days in Berlin
- Light (maps and messages): about 1 GB
- Normal (plus social media and browsing): about 2.5 GB
- Heavy (video and video calls): about 6 GB
An estimate from typical use, not a measurement.
Arriving in Berlin
Berlin has one airport for passengers, Berlin Brandenburg (BER), south of the city. Its station sits under the terminals, with the Airport Express regional trains and the S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 running into the centre. Long-distance and regional trains arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the central station, and some also stop at Berlin Ostbahnhof and Gesundbrunnen. Buses and taxis wait outside the terminals as well.
Having data when you step off the plane means you can check which platform your train leaves from, look up the right ticket zone and open the map before you reach the barriers. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi by scanning the QR code, then keep it dormant until the trip. At the airport, switch the eSIM line on, turn on data roaming for that line, and leave your home line's data off.
Getting around
Public transport uses one VBB fare system: the BVG runs the U-Bahn underground, trams and buses, and S-Bahn Berlin runs the S-Bahn trains. The BVG's own apps cover journey planning and tickets, and the Jelbi app puts rental bikes, scooters and car sharing next to the timetable. Tickets are also sold at machines on station platforms, so you do not need data just to buy one, though live departures help when a line is disrupted.
For a ride you can book on your phone, Uber, Bolt and FREE NOW all operate in Berlin, alongside ordinary taxis. Many visitors also hire a bicycle, since the central districts are flat and have plenty of cycle lanes. Keep a map app open for cycle routes, and download an offline map for the moments you want to save battery.
Where you'll use data
Visitors usually split their days between Mitte (Museum Island, the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag), Kreuzberg and Neukoelln for food and nightlife, Prenzlauer Berg for cafes and weekend markets, and Charlottenburg around the palace. The East Side Gallery and the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse are the usual stops for the city's divided past. Timed entry slots for the Reichstag dome and many museums are booked online, so confirmations and QR tickets are worth having ready on your phone.
Day trips inside Germany stay on your country plan: Potsdam and Sanssouci Park by S-Bahn, the Sachsenhausen memorial in Oranienburg, the Spreewald canals, and Dresden or Leipzig by train. Trains also run from Berlin towards Poland, such as to Szczecin or on to Warsaw, and that is a different country. A Germany plan does not cover Poland. A Europe plan can cover several countries, but check its country list on our Europe page, since regional plans can leave countries out.
For a longer stay
Common questions
- Will the eSIM work as soon as I land at BER?
- Yes, if you installed it before the flight. Switch the eSIM line on, turn on data roaming for it, and it should connect once you are off the plane. If it does not, turn airplane mode on and off once.
- How much data do I need for four days in Berlin?
- About 2.5 GB for normal use: maps, the transit apps, messages, photos and some social media. Lots of video calls or streaming push it towards 6 GB. The plan list on this page shows the estimate beside each plan.
- Can I buy a Berlin transit ticket on my phone?
- Yes. The BVG apps sell tickets for the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses, and you can download them while you have a connection. Machines at stations are the other option. Check the BVG site for the fare zones that cover your airport trip.
- Does a Berlin eSIM give me a German phone number?
- No. These plans are data only. Calls and messages work through apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime. If your bank sends codes by SMS, keep your home line on for texts with its data switched off.
- Does the plan work if I take the train to Poland or the Czech Republic?
- No. A Germany plan covers Germany only, so Potsdam and Dresden are fine, but Szczecin, Warsaw and Prague are not. A Europe plan may cover them, so check its country list on our Europe page before you buy.