Berlin-Tickets for U Bahn/S Bahn

Cannot answer directly to that specific question. Suggest to contact BVG by e-mail; maybe they can help answering.

Be aware: S-Bahn and U-Bahn have different providers. BVG cares for U-Bahn, trams, buses and ferries. More info on public transport in Berlin.

Just two picture serieses how to use the ticket machines in Berlin.

Important: do not forget to validate your ticket(s) before starting the trip - day tickets only once before first trip of the day.

In Berlin (and most other places in Germany) you can save yourself the trouble of dealing with ticket machines and buy local transit tickets right inside the Deutsche Bahn app (DB Navigator). Set up your account and payment method (American credit cards work fine) on the DB Web site, then buy local transit tickets inside the app. Active tickets will appear as large QR codes, which you simply flash if there is a ticket check.

The relevant part of the app is "Verbundtickets" in German, but DB offers an English interface if you need it. Some of the translations, especially as they relate to local transit, are missing or sound stilted. If a particular English message doesn't make sense at first, try to place it in context.

In Berlin, the entire range of local transit-only fares, from single trip tickets valid for a limited period time after purchase, to day passes, to the 7-day Umweltkarte, is available for purchase inside the DB app. (In some other parts of Germany, some local fares are missing from the DB app, or you have to use an entirely different app, such as HandyTicketDeutschland or the local transit agency's own app.)

In Berlin (and elsewhere), offers that combine transit with discounts on museums, tours, food and drink, etc. are not sold inside the DB app. Berlin's City Tour Card and Welcome Card aren't very generous, anyway.

I've used my Charles Schwab Visa debit card without trouble in the machines. I wasn't able to use my US credit card in the machine, but it's a card that defaults to signature for purchases. If you have a "true" chip & pin credit card (one that defaults to pin entry for purchases -- not one that has PIN capability for ATMs but defaults to signature for purchases), I would think you would be fine. I've encountered some machines that don't take cash/euro -- only a card (e.g., Wittenbergplatz U station).

Cognac taught me something. I use the DB Navigator app exclusively for buying regional/IC/ICE train tickets in Germany. I didn't realize I could use it for local travel within Berlin. I played with the app, and it looks like it does indeed work for local travel. I may never use a ticket machine in Berlin again.

There is also the BVG app. It sells the Welcome Card and the City Tour Card. BUT... I've never found enough value in them to buy them. And... the BVG app does not accept a US address to create an account (though I guess you could use the address where you are staying in Berlin?).

Dave - Bonus tip: LänderTickets can also be bought inside the DB app (see "Regionale Angebote"). It works beautifully, even when multiple names have to be listed. Perhaps the only drawback is that there is no paper ticket to serve as a souvenir.

The second-class variant of the Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket isn't priced competitively with the VBB-tarif (plus the odd Anschlussfahrausweis, or Einzelfahrausweis for a trip wholly outside the area of one's VBB-tarif pass), so I didn't mention it as a local fare alternative before.

I was able to get the BVG Tickets app to work with my US credit card. I don't remember whether I used my hotel's address or was able to enter my US address. I'd have to add another card to go back through the address prompts. I know I did use a +49 German phone number, though, as I keep an O2 SIM card for my trips in Europe.

For folks who like to explore many different cities and towns or who intend to return to Germany, I highly recommend setting up a DB account, adding a US card as the payment method, and making a small test purchase. I also recommend setting up the HandyTicketDeutschland app, which serves areas where local transit tickets are not available for sale in the DB app. Unfortunately, HandyTicketDeutschland requires a German cell phone number, to which the (one-time per device) authentication code is sent. The area where I've found HandyTicketDeutschland useful is Lake Constance (bodo, VHB, and the Katamaran).

cognac... Thanks for the additional tips.