Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) Guide
Quick summary
Berlin Brandenburg (BER) is the German capital's single main airport, about 18km southeast of central Berlin. Terminals 1 and 2 sit side by side with a rail station directly beneath Terminal 1, and the FEX Airport Express reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof in around 23-30 minutes.
The bottom line on BER
Berlin Brandenburg is refreshingly simple β two adjacent terminals a few minutes' walk apart β but the classic trap is the ticket: trains and S-Bahn into the city run on Berlin's ABC zone system, and you need a valid ticket before you board, not after you arrive. Low-cost flyers should also note easyJet and Ryanair use Terminal 2.
The FEX Airport Express or a regional train reaches central Berlin on a single ABC ticket costing about β¬5, far less than a β¬50 to β¬60 taxi. If you are driving, book economy or long-term parking online for roughly β¬5 to β¬9 a day rather than paying the β¬70 walk-up rate at premium P1.
AirportScore
Our own 1β5 rating of the BER traveler experience, scored from the verified data on this page. See airport rankings β Β· How we score β
Traps most travelers fall for at BER
- Trains and S-Bahn into the city run on Berlin's ABC zone system β you must have a valid ticket before you board, not buy one on arrival.
- Walk-up premium P1 parking runs about β¬70/day; book economy or long-term (P3/P7/P8) online instead for roughly β¬5-9/day.
- Low-cost flyers on easyJet and Ryanair use Terminal 2, a few minutes' walk from T1 β check your terminal before you arrive.
Terminals at BER
BER has two terminals, T1 and T2, located immediately next to each other between the runways. Terminal 1 is the main building housing most airlines and the underground railway station; Terminal 2, used largely for low-cost carriers such as easyJet and Ryanair, is a short few-minute walk away and connected on foot. Both handle European and international flights. The Flughafen BER railway station is on level U2 directly beneath Terminal 1, so trains, S-Bahn and buses are all reached from there β check which terminal your airline uses, as the walk between them takes only a few minutes.
BER parking rates & options
| Premium P1 (short-term, closest to T1) β per day | Walk-up max about β¬70 per day (up to β¬280 per week) |
| Short-term β per hour | About β¬4-β¬5 for the first hour |
| Economy / long-term (P3, P7, P8) β per 24h | Walk-up about β¬56 per day (up to β¬199 per week) |
| Economy / long-term β per day (booked online) | From about β¬5-β¬9 per day when reserved ahead |
| Kiss & Fly (drop-off) | 3 x 10 min free every 8h, then about β¬17-β¬23 (β¬17 if paid within first 10 min, otherwise β¬23/hour) |
Where the money actually goes at BER
The gap between the cheapest and dearest parking here is β¬271 a day β β¬9 at the economy / long-term β per day (booked online) versus β¬280 at the premium p1 (short-term, closest to t1) β per day. Over a week that is β¬1,897, for the same trip.
Calculated from the published rates in the table above β not an estimate. Rates change, so confirm before you book.
π Getting to & from the airport
Trains run from the Flughafen BER station beneath Terminal 1 several times an hour. The FEX Airport Express links the airport to Berlin Hauptbahnhof (via Sudkreuz and Potsdamer Platz) every 15 minutes in about 23-30 minutes, and regional trains RE20, RB22, RB24 and RB32 also serve the airport. S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 connect to the wider Berlin network. All of these use the standard Berlin ABC transport ticket β a single ABC ticket costs about β¬5 (2026 fare), far cheaper than a taxi. Taxis and rideshare (Uber, Bolt, FreeNow) use designated ranks β a taxi into central Berlin costs roughly β¬50-β¬60 and takes 35-45 minutes. For the city centre the FEX or regional train is fastest and best value.
BER vs MUC vs FRA: which airport is easier?
How the traveler experience compares, side by side.
ποΈ Lounges
BER has paid lounges open to all passengers, including the Lufthansa lounges and independent lounges accessible via Priority Pass, LoungeKey and pay-on-arrival booking. They are concentrated in Terminal 1; booking online in advance is generally cheaper than walking up.
πΆ Wi-Fi
Free unlimited Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminals β connect to the "BER-Airport-Free-WiFi" network and follow the short sign-in.
π΄ Layovers & overnight
BER is reasonable for a layover, though it is not a full 24-hour airport and landside areas quieten overnight, with the rail service into Berlin pausing in the small hours. The best food and seating are airside after security in Terminal 1's main hall. For overnight stays, a Steigenberger Airport Hotel is directly connected to the terminal by a short covered walk, the most convenient onsite option, with other hotels a short shuttle away. As T1 and T2 are only a few minutes apart on foot, moving between them for a connection is easy.
Insider tips
- Take the FEX Airport Express or a regional train to central Berlin β both use the standard ABC transport ticket and are far cheaper than a taxi.
- Book economy or long-term parking online in advance; drive-up premium P1 parking is much more expensive at around β¬70 per day.
- From 1 December 2026, BER car park payment is digital only, so bring a card or phone rather than cash.
- For Terminal 2 (low-cost airlines), the P7 and P8 car parks are the closest.
- Buy your transport ticket before boarding β Berlin trains and S-Bahn use the ABC zone system and require a valid ticket to reach the airport.
BER airport β FAQ
οΌ β How much is parking at Berlin Brandenburg (BER)?
Premium P1 short-term parking closest to Terminal 1 has a walk-up maximum of about β¬70 per day (up to β¬280 per week), with short-term hourly rates around β¬4-β¬5 for the first hour. Economy and long-term car parks (P3, P7, P8) are about β¬56 per 24 hours at the barrier, but drop to roughly β¬5-β¬9 per day when booked online in advance. From December 2026 payment is digital only.
οΌ β How do I get to central Berlin from BER?
The FEX Airport Express runs from the station beneath Terminal 1 to Berlin Hauptbahnhof every 15 minutes in about 23-30 minutes. Regional trains (RE20, RB22, RB24, RB32) and S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 also serve the airport, all on the standard ABC ticket. A taxi into central Berlin costs roughly β¬50-β¬60 and takes 35-45 minutes.
οΌ β Is Wi-Fi free at BER?
Yes. Free unlimited Wi-Fi is available across the terminals. Connect to "BER-Airport-Free-WiFi" and complete the short sign-in.
οΌ β How do I get between terminals at BER?
Terminals 1 and 2 sit immediately next to each other and are connected on foot, with only a few minutes' walk between them. The railway station is on level U2 beneath Terminal 1, so all trains and buses are reached from there.
οΌ β Is there a drop-off fee at BER?
BER's Kiss & Fly set-down area near the terminals gives you three free 10-minute stops within every 8-hour window. Beyond that it is about β¬17 if you pay within the first 10 minutes, otherwise roughly β¬23 per hour, and longer waits are charged at the short-term parking rate.
Sources & official links
This guide is independent and not affiliated with Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Parking rates, terminal layouts, and transit options change often β always confirm on the airport's official website before you travel.