Tickets for public transport can be purchased at the multilingual ticket machines located on the platforms of S-Bahn and subway stations. On buses, fares are paid to the bus driver, on trams at the ticket machines inside the trains. In larger stations, the S-Bahn and the BVG also provide ticket counters.

Paying for public transit in Germany has become significantly more streamlined with the introduction of the Deutschland-Ticket, a €49-per-month subscription that offers unlimited travel on all local and regional transport nationwide. For short-term visitors, the most common way to pay is through regional apps like DB Navigator (Deutsche Bahn), BVG (Berlin), or MVV (Munich), which allow you to buy digital tickets using a credit card, PayPal, or Apple Pay. Physical ticket machines are still widely available at stations and accept cash or cards, but you must remember to "validate" (stamp) paper tickets in a small machine on the platform or bus if they don't have a specific start time. Contactless "tap-to-pay" (EMV) directly at the gate is not yet as universal as in London or NYC, so having a digital ticket on your phone is the most reliable method. Always ensure your phone is charged, as "Schwarzfahren" (riding without a valid ticket) carries a heavy fine of at least €60, and ticket inspectors are common on both trains and buses.