A man in a wheelchair holding a cane in his hand, next to him walks a woman in blue jeans and blue shoes.

Photo: Svklimkin, Pixabay

Barrier-free travel in and to Berlin

Berlin historically stands for the Berlin Wall, an insurmountable barrier that divided the city for years. Berliners successfully removed this barrier more than 30 years ago. Now the city is also working on removing everyday barriers. Below you will find facts on how to travel to and in Berlin without barriers. Which museum is our accessible recommendation and which park shows its best accessible side.

Getting to Berlin
public transportation in Berlin
barrier-free museum - Culture in Berlin
Accessible Attractions in Berlin
Park - Berlin is green
Useful Apps/Links for Accessible Travel

Arrival: Welcome to Berlin

Airport, people walking across the conveyor belt with suitcases in their hands, silhouettes, sun shining directly in, airplanes in the background — Airport

Berlin has 3 major gateways. The airport is on the outskirts of the city, the main railway station in the middle of the city and the ZOB (central bus station) at the exhibition grounds in City West.

All three are new, modern, and barrier-free. But be patient, especially at the airport and the main station. The number of elevators often does not correspond to the number of users, it is simply full.

It is important to get support from the right contacts:

BER: Berlin Brandenburg Airport
- Airport Info (24/7): +49 (0)30 - 6091 58438
- Free mobility service in the departure area, marketplace, level E1 from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Deutsche Bahn Mobility Centers
- The mobility centers of Deutsche Bahn offer, among other things, a free escort service. Register in good time at: Mobility Service Center: +49 (0)1806 - 512 512, msz@deutschebahn.com
ZOB
- The ZOB is barrier-free - only the routes from the S-Bahn or U-Bahn to the ZOB are very Berlin-like and, unfortunately, a bit bumpy. Here too, take your time and you'll be fine.

Public transportation in Berlin

Man in a wheelchair wants to get on the streetcar and presses the door button — Tram station

Public transportation in Berlin is like in all big cities - great. Modern trains run almost everywhere, and when an "old" train that is not barrier-free arrives, the frequency is so tight that it is almost unnoticeable.

Still need a ticket for public transportation? With the EasyCityPass Berlin, you’ll have a ticket for public transportation in Berlin and the surrounding area, and you can enjoy numerous discounts from our tourism partners. Buy your EasyCityPass Berlin right here in our online store!

VBB-BAV stands for “Accessible Alternative Transportation”

With the VBB-BAV, the Senate Department for Mobility, Transportation, Climate Protection, and the Environment, in collaboration with the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB), introduced a new service on January 1, 2026, for people with limited mobility in Berlin.

VBB-BAV stands for “Barrier-Free Alternative Transportation”. This free service helps people with disabilities continue their journey on Berlin’s local public transit system—reliably and safely. For more information, visit the VBB website.

How It Works - Getting Around Berlin Accessibly with the VBB-BAV

Is the elevator out of order or not available? Does this prevent you from starting or continuing your trip by bus or train due to your disability? If so, call the VBB-BAV Customer Service Center at 030 – 25 41 44 44
Your travel request will be reviewed. The staff at the VBB-BAV Customer Center will advise you on whether an accessible alternative route using local public transit is possible.
No accessible alternative? We’ll pick you up. If no alternative route is possible, the VBB-BAV will arrange for a suitable taxi—an accessible one if needed. This will take you directly to a suitable accessible station or stop. When making the reservation, care is taken to ensure that the VBB-BAV, bus, and train services complement each other well. If using the VBB-BAV results in changes to the lines you’ll be taking or your transfer points, you’ll of course be informed of the new route.

Culture in Berlin

Woman in a wheelchair in front of a green flower border with red flowering plants

Our tip for a barrier-free cultural experience is definitely the Humboldt Forum on Unter den Linden between Museum Island, Alexanderplatz, and the Nikolai Quarter. This historic site was once home to the City Palace and then the Palace of the Republic.

Now there is the Humboldt Forum, a building based on the former Berlin City Palace. It is new, unique, and also a little controversial. We would be delighted to hear your opinion on the Humboldt Forum.

The National Museums in Berlin present the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art here. You will also find a permanent Berlin exhibition here.

Important for you: Equal cultural participation is practiced here under the motto EIN FORUM FÜR ALLE (A FORUM FOR ALL).

Find out more here: https://www.humboldtforum.org/en/barrierefreiheit/

Accessible Attractions in Berlin

People with limited mobility can also easily explore Berlin's sights. Here are some highlights you shouldn't miss:

Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate is one of the city’s most important landmarks and is Berlin’s iconic symbol. The Brandenburg Gate and the surrounding Pariser Platz are fully accessible and have no steps. For wheelchair users, there are ramps that make it easier to get close to the gate.

Reichstag Building

The Reichstag building is the seat of the German Bundestag. The Reichstag building and the dome are largely accessible. For wheelchair users, the West C entrance on Platz der Republik, with its ramps, offers particularly convenient access. The spiral path inside the glass dome is step-free and sloped; however, it is recommended that visitors be accompanied by an assistant. To avoid waiting times, advance registration via the Bundestag’s online form is mandatory. Admission is free.

Wheelchair Rental: Free wheelchairs are available on the visitor level for guests with mobility impairments.
For people with visual impairments: Special guided tours of the building and the plenary hall are available, as well as audio guides and tactile models in the dome.
For people with hearing impairments: The plenary hall visitor gallery is equipped with induction loops, and the audio guides offer videos in sign language.
Assistance: Guide dogs are, of course, permitted inside the building.

Museum Island, Berlin

Since December 4, 1999, Berlin’s Museum Island has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to some of Germany’s most important museums. Most of the museums on the island are accessible to people in wheelchairs and are equipped with elevators and ramps to facilitate access.

The central hub is the modern James-Simon-Galerie, which features step-free entrances, ramps, and elevators. From here, nearly all museums (Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Bode Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie) are accessible to wheelchair users. Service dogs are permitted.
Tickets and Companions: Admission for a necessary companion (as indicated by a “B” mark on a severe disability ID card) is generally free. Tickets should be booked in advance through the online ticket shop.
Altes Museum: The accessible entrance is located at the main entrance (Am Lustgarten); however, it is advisable to check in with the doorman or at the ticket counter beforehand.
Pergamon Museum: Due to extensive renovations, the main building is closed until its reopening on July 4, 2027.
Visually and hearing-impaired visitors: Many museums offer special tactile models, tactile guidance systems, induction loops for hearing aids, and accessible audio guides.

Holocaust Memorial

The Holocaust Memorial is a memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe. The memorial is largely accessible. The underground “Information Center” can be reached via an elevator without having to climb any steps. Special, flat paths through the field of stelae are marked for wheelchair users.

Wheelchair Rental: Wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge on site for your visit to the exhibition.
Additional Services: Guided tours and information in easy-to-read language are available. Guide dogs are permitted in the exhibition.

Berlin Wall Memorial - Bernauer Straße

Most of the outdoor exhibitions are accessible to people with disabilities. Parking spaces for people with disabilities are also available at many locations.

The outdoor exhibition: stretches 1.4 kilometers along Bernauer Straße and is partially accessible. The core area covers the section between Gartenstraße and Strelitzer Straße (approx. 500 m). The Visitor Center (Bernauer Straße 119) and the Documentation Center (Bernauer Straße 111) are accessible. Accessible elevators are available for people with disabilities and visitors with small children. A key is required for the elevator in the Visitor Center; this can be obtained at the information desk. In the Documentation Center, the elevator can be operated with a Euro key. You are welcome to use your own Euro key or borrow one from the information desk for a deposit.
Visitor Center: Wheelchairs, portable seating, and walking canes can be borrowed free of charge at the information desk.
Documentation Center: Portable seating is available for borrowing to visit the permanent exhibition.
For the hearing impaired: Guided tours of the outdoor exhibition can be conducted using hearing aid-compatible group tour systems. Induction loops are available for this purpose. You can obtain the induction loops at the information desk in the Visitor Center.

Berlin is green

Woman sits in a wheelchair a woman with a hat squats in front of her, they both laugh

Berlin is big, Berlin is green. Which of the many parks do we think is particularly suitable for a barrier-free visit?

Our tip is the "Park am Gleisdreieck", an urban area in Kreuzberg, near Potsdamer Platz. The park is certified by "Travel for All".

On a former railroad site, you will find large lawns, play and sports areas, wild vegetation and - also very important - one of the most beautiful beer gardens in the city with BRLO (our EasyCityPass partner).

Useful Apps/Links for Accessible Travel

A person is holding a cell phone and looking at the screen. The surroundings are dark, and only the screen is glowing brightly. — Cell phone

To help you get around Berlin as comfortably as possible, we've put together a few more useful apps that can help you navigate Berlin if you have limited mobility:

Wheelmap: https://wheelmap.orgWith this app, you can find wheelchair-accessible locations worldwide. Simply enter the desired address in the search field, and the results will be displayed on the map.
Brokenlifts: https://www.brokenlifts.org/On this website, you can find out which elevators in the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association are working and which are currently out of service.
Berlin for the Blind: https://www.bfuerb.de/Berlin for the Blind is a nonprofit travel guide specifically designed for blind and visually impaired visitors and residents of Berlin. It is researched by people who experience the city firsthand every day.
VBB Bus & Train Escort Service: https://www.vbb.de/barrierefrei-unterwegs/begleitservice/The VBB Bus & Train Escort Service is designed for people who feel uncertain about using buses and trains due to mobility limitations. These are primarily customers who use a wheelchair, walker, or walking aid; people who are visually impaired or blind; people who are deaf; as well as people who feel particularly anxious.

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