Berlin Airports: Which One Gets You To The City Centre?

which airport for berlin city centre

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is the closest airport to Berlin city centre, located just 11.6 miles away. The airport is well-connected to the city by public transport, car, and taxi. Travellers can take the train, bus, or taxi to reach the city centre in around 26 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Alternatively, the now-closed Tegel and Schönefeld airports are also nearby, with Schönefeld being connected to the city centre by train and Tegel by bus.

Characteristics Values
Nearest airport Berlin Brandenburg (BER) Airport
Distance from Berlin city centre 11 miles (18km) or 16.8 miles (27km) according to different sources
Travel time by car 45 minutes
Transport options Bus, train, taxi
Travel time by train 26 minutes to 40 minutes
Train lines S9, S45, RE8, RB23, RB22, U-Bahn
Travel time by bus 40 minutes
Bus lines X7, X71, 163, 164, 171
Taxi fare €60 to €75

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Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)

The airport has two parallel runways, with a spacing of 1,900 metres, allowing for simultaneous instrument approaches. The northern runway has been in use since the 1960s and was renovated and lengthened for the new airport. The southern runway is newly built and was officially commissioned in 2012. BER covers 1,470 hectares of land.

The U-shaped Terminal 1, designed by gmp architects, sits between the two runways, creating a midfield airport above the underground train station. The terminal has four public levels, with the check-in area located on Level 1, housing 118 counters organised in eight clusters. There are also more than 100 self-check-in machines available. Two extensions have been added to the main check-in area to avoid overcrowding, each containing 12 more check-in counters and eight security lanes.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport is well-connected to the city centre by public transport, car, and taxi. The journey by taxi or private transfer takes around 40 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic. There is also a reliable network of trains and buses, with more than eight public transport options directly into the city centre. All train services take roughly 30 to 40 minutes and cost the same, although not all trains depart from each terminal. Buses are the cheapest option, providing an express service with a 40-minute journey in light traffic.

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Tegel Airport (TXL)

The airport was named after aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal and was the fourth busiest airport in Germany, handling over 24 million passengers in 2019. Tegel served as a base for several major European airlines, including British Airways, Air France, Eurowings, Ryanair, and easyJet. It offered flights to various European metropolitan and leisure destinations, as well as some intercontinental routes.

Tegel Airport was known for its unique hexagonal main terminal building, which allowed for short walking distances of up to 30 metres (100 feet) from the aircraft to the terminal exit. The airport was well-connected to the city centre, with direct access to motorway A111 and links to several other motorways. It was also served by multiple BVG bus lines, providing connections to the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and train services.

TXL ceased operations in November 2020, with all traffic being transferred to the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The grounds of the former airport are planned to be redeveloped into a new city quarter focused on scientific and industrial research, retaining the airport's main building and tower as a landmark.

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Schönefeld Airport (SXF)

Schönefeld Airport was the major civil airport of East Germany (GDR) and the only airport of the former East Berlin. From 1945 until the fall of the Berlin Wall, Schönefeld Airport was the German Democratic Republic's central airport, connecting the country to the Eastern Bloc. In the two decades after the fall of the Iron Curtain, it became a popular destination for budget airlines. In 2018 alone, the airport handled a passenger volume of 12.7 million.

Following German reunification in 1990, operating three separate airports became increasingly costly, leading the Berlin legislature to pursue plans for a single airport that would be more efficient and decrease aircraft noise. Therefore, it was decided to build Berlin Brandenburg Airport at the current site of Schönefeld Airport, originally scheduled to open in late 2012. However, due to issues with the fire alarm/safety system, the opening was postponed to November 2020.

On 25 October 2020, Schönefeld Airport became Terminal 5 of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, and the IATA code SXF was discontinued. Schönefeld's terminal buildings were intended to be used until the inauguration of a planned Terminal 3 by 2030, with Ryanair as the primary tenant. However, due to low passenger numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, all flights were relocated to Terminal 1, and Terminal 5 was permanently closed in November 2022.

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Leipzig Airport (LEJ)

Leipzig/Halle Airport (IATA: LEJ, ICAO: EDDP) is located in Schkeuditz, Saxony, Germany, and serves the cities of Leipzig, Saxony, and Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. The airport is approximately 92.1 miles away from Berlin's city centre.

The airport was built from scratch between 1926 and 1927, and during the early years of the German Democratic Republic, it was rebuilt and used exclusively as an industrial airport. In 1957, a new 2500-metre runway was added to accommodate commercial air traffic, but Leipzig saw little air traffic. It wasn't until 1968 that a modern terminal was built, and in 1972, the airport operated for the full year for the first time.

Leipzig Airport is Germany's 14th largest airport by passenger numbers, handling over 2.61 million passengers in 2019, primarily with flights to European leisure destinations. The airport is also a significant cargo hub, ranking as the second-busiest in Germany and fifth-busiest in Europe for cargo traffic in 2019. It serves as the main European base for DHL Aviation and AeroLogic, with military installations for NATO and EU aircraft.

The airport is accessible by train, as it has a railway and Autobahn connection. It is described as quite small, with limited dining options, but reviewers praise the friendly staff and efficient security control.

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Transport options to the city centre

Berlin's newest international airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), is well-connected to the city centre by public transport, car, and taxi. The airport is 11.6 miles away from the city centre. Here are some transport options to get from the airport to the city centre:

Train

The S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains will get you all around the city to sites like the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Building, the Tiergarten, and the Natural History Museum. The airport features a train station in Terminal 1 that connects you directly to Berlin city centre. The FEX Airport Express or the regional line RE 8 will take about 25 minutes to get to Alexanderplatz and 30 to 45 minutes to reach Hauptbahnhof. All train services cost the same and take around 30 to 40 minutes.

Bus

Buses are less popular but provide an express service with a 40-minute journey in light traffic and are the cheapest option.

Taxi

Taxis are available throughout the day at designated ranks outside the airport. The cost of a taxi ride from the airport to the city centre ranges from €45 to €75, depending on traffic and the exact location of your destination. You can also book a taxi with Uber or FreeNow.

Airport Transfer Service

The airport transfer service offers a comfortable and convenient ride to your destination. You can book a transfer service with companies like SIXT ride, which offers fixed prices and English-speaking drivers.

Frequently asked questions

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is the closest airport to Berlin city centre, located 11.6 miles or 18km away.

There are several transport options to get from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to the city centre, including bus, train, taxi, or private transfer. The most convenient option is a taxi or private transfer, which offers a door-to-door service and can get you to your destination in under 40 minutes.

A taxi from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to the city centre should cost between €60 and €75, depending on your destination. There is also a €1.50 surcharge for all rides from the airport.

Yes, Berlin Brandenburg Airport has its own railway station, Flughafen BER Terminal 1-2 Bahnhof, located a 5-minute walk from Terminal 1 and 2 Arrivals. Regional trains FEX Flughafenexpresszug, RE8, and RB23 offer the most frequent connections, with a train departing every 15 minutes. You can also take the S-Bahn train S9 or the U-Bahn.

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