Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport

Berlin Brandenburg Airport "Willy Brandt" (BER) is Germany's capital city airport, serving Berlin. Located 18 km south of Berlin city center, it finally opened in 2020 after years of delays and replaced both Tegel (TXL) and Schönefeld airports.

The airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 (main) and Terminal 2. A modern facility with direct rail connections to the city.

Note: The old Schönefeld terminal (Terminal 5) is no longer in regular use.

Key airlines: Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, and most major carriers.

BER is southeast of Berlin:

• To Berlin Hauptbahnhof: 30 km, 30 minutes by train
• To Alexanderplatz: 25 km, 25 minutes by train
• To Potsdamer Platz: 22 km, 25 minutes by train
• To Kreuzberg: 20 km, 30-40 minutes
• To Potsdam: 40 km, 50 minutes by train

Uber operates in Berlin.

• To city center (Mitte): €50-70 (~$55-77 USD)
• To Kreuzberg: €40-55

Taxis from the rank:

• Similar rates to Uber
• Metered, reliable

Berlin traffic can add significantly to journey times.

Airport Express (FEX)

FEX is the fastest option:

• Route: BER → Berlin Hauptbahnhof
• Journey time: 30 minutes
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes
• Cost: €3.80 (AB zone)

S-Bahn

S-Bahn S9 and S45 connect to the city:

• S9 to Alexanderplatz: 45 minutes
• S45 (ring line connection)
• Frequency: Every 20 minutes
• Cost: €3.80

Regional Trains (RE/RB)

Regional trains also stop at BER:

• Connections to Brandenburg and beyond
• RE7 to central Berlin

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
P1/P2 (Terminal)	€49/day	Covered, adjacent
P3-P8 (Long-term)	€29/day	Shuttle available
Holiday parking	€19/day	Budget option

Book online for significant discounts.

BER has extensive dining:

Terminal 1:

• German restaurants
• International options
• Fast food chains
• Cafés and bars
• Currywurst (Berlin specialty)

Terminal 2:

• Limited options
• Basic cafés

Network: BER Airport WiFi

• Cost: Free
• Speed: Good
• Easy connection

SIM cards from:

• Shops in arrivals
• Carriers: Telekom, Vodafone, O2
• Prices: €10-25 for prepaid with data

ATMs throughout terminals.

Currency: Euro (€)

Berlin is increasingly card-friendly, but cash still useful.

Terminal 1:

• Duty-free (good selection)
• German brands
• Fashion and accessories
• Souvenir shops

Terminal 2:

• Basic retail

Lufthansa Lounge

• Access: Lufthansa Business, Star Alliance Gold
• Amenities: Full German buffet, drinks, WiFi

Berlin Capitol Club

• Access: Priority Pass, business class, or €45 walk-in
• Amenities: Food, drinks, quiet space

Airport Lounge World

• Access: Various access programs
• Multiple locations in T1

Hotels near the airport or in central Berlin. The airport area is not particularly interesting—proceed to the city.

Berlin is Europe's most exciting capital—a city of history, creativity, nightlife, and constant reinvention:

Must-see Berlin (with travel time from airport):

• Brandenburg Gate: 35 min—symbol of reunification
• Reichstag: 35 min—parliament building, glass dome (book ahead!)
• East Side Gallery: 30 min—longest remaining Berlin Wall section
• Checkpoint Charlie: 35 min—Cold War crossing point
• Memorial to Murdered Jews: 35 min—powerful Holocaust memorial
• Museum Island: 40 min—five world-class museums, UNESCO site

Neighborhoods:

• Mitte: Historic center, museums, Unter den Linden
• Kreuzberg: Multicultural, nightlife, street art
• Prenzlauer Berg: Cafés, families, brunch culture
• Friedrichshain: Alternative, clubs, East Berlin vibe
• Charlottenburg: West Berlin, elegant, KaDeWe shopping

History sites:

• Topography of Terror: SS and Gestapo headquarters site
• DDR Museum: East German daily life (interactive)
• Stasi Museum: Secret police headquarters
• Sachsenhausen: Concentration camp memorial (40 min north)

Culture & nightlife:

• Berghain: World's most famous techno club (if you get in)
• Berliner Philharmonie: World-class orchestra
• Pergamon Museum: Ancient treasures (note: partially closed for renovation)
• Street art: Berlin is a living gallery

Food & drink:

• Currywurst: Berlin's street food icon
• Döner kebab: Arguably invented here in its modern form
• Spätis: Late-night corner shops, Berlin institution
• Craft beer scene: Excellent local breweries
• Turkish food: Kreuzberg has incredible Turkish cuisine

Day trips from Berlin:

• Potsdam: 50 min—Sanssouci Palace, Prussian grandeur
• Sachsenhausen: 1 hour—sobering concentration camp memorial
• Spreewald: 1.5 hours—scenic canals, pickles, nature

Local tips:

• BVG day tickets: Unlimited public transport, great value
• Sunday Mauerpark: Flea market and karaoke
• Museum pass: Multi-day tickets for Museum Island
• Cash culture: Many bars and restaurants are cash-only
• Late city: Berliners stay out late; clubs often open at midnight
• History layers: Every corner has Cold War, WWII, or Prussian history
• Reunification ongoing: East-West differences still visible
• Affordable (relatively): Cheaper than Paris, London, or Munich
• The Wall fell in 1989—many memorials mark the anniversary
• "Arm aber sexy" (poor but sexy) was a former mayor's slogan