BER · Berlin, Germany · International Hub
Berlin Brandenburg Airport Guide
Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), every figure cited to the airport's own data.
Quick answer
- Terminals: 2 terminals, not airside-connected (re-security between some)
- Minimum connection time: 30 min domestic, 1 hr 30 min international to domestic
- Arrive: 1 hr 15 min before domestic, 2 hr 30 min before international
- To Berlin: about 23 min one-way
- Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes
Map
Terminals & connections
Berlin Brandenburg Airport has 2 terminals. Not all terminals are airside-connected; transfers between some terminals require exiting security and re-clearing TSA. Floors run 30 domestic, 60 domestic-intl, 90 off any international arrival, but Berlin was built as a point-to-point airport and is genuinely awkward for connections. Only a Schengen-to-Schengen, carry-on connection inside Terminal 1 stays airside. Any Schengen/non-Schengen change, or a Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 move, is effectively a landside self-transfer: reclaim bags, change zones or buildings, re-check, and re-clear security. The published MCT applies to single bookings only; treat most connections here as self-transfers. easyJet and Ryanair use the airport standard; Eurowings files about 40 min same-airline domestic.
Terminal 1
4 airlines: easyJet, Ryanair, Eurowings, Lufthansa
The main terminal, with the train station directly below. Schengen departures on level E1 and non-Schengen departures on level E2; passport control applies to non-Schengen travel. Pier sections A through D.
Terminal 2
A separate, smaller check-in building a few minutes' walk from Terminal 1, used mainly for low-cost and Schengen traffic at peak. The Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 connection is a landside walkway on the arrivals level (E0), not an airside link.
Minimum connection times
- Domestic to domestic
- 30 min
- Domestic to international
- 1 hr
- International to domestic
- 1 hr 30 min
- International to international
- 1 hr 30 min
- Transfer system
- Schengen connections stay airside within Terminal 1; a Schengen/non-Schengen change or a Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 move is landside, requiring bag reclaim, re-check and a second security screening
- Airside connected
- No
Layover helper
Check whether your layover at BER is tight, comfortable, or long enough to leave the airport. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.
Security & TSA
Typical TSA wait at BER is 30 minutes at peak and 10 minutes off-peak. Arrive at least 1 hr 15 min before a domestic flight and 2 hr 30 min before international.
- TSA PreCheck
- Not available
- CLEAR
- Not available
- Global Entry
- Not available
Schengen airport; no US TSA programs. EU Entry/Exit System (EES) fully operational since 10 April 2026 for non-EU nationals; a non-Schengen change requires an additional passport control.
Lounges
2 notable lounges at BER, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.
Lufthansa Lounge (Senator and Business)
Terminal 1, near Gate B20 (airside)Lufthansa / Star Alliance
Access: Business class, Star Alliance Gold, paid access
Amenities: Buffet, Bar, Wi-Fi
Tegel Lounge
Terminal 1, near Gate B17 (airside)Airport contract lounge
Access: Priority Pass, eligible cards, paid day pass
Amenities: Buffet, Bar, Wi-Fi
Amenities
6 of 7 core amenities available at BER: showers, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pharmacy, pet relief. Free WiFi quality is rated good. Dining options span 1 terminal.
Showers
Available
Premium lounges
Sleep pods
Not available
WiFi
Free (good)
Free wifi
Nursing rooms
Available
Terminal 1
Chapel
Available
Airport chapel / prayer room
Pet relief areas
Available
Pet relief areas
Dining highlights
Terminal 1: Market Place behind security, gallery-level Food Court
Ground transport to Berlin
BER is about 23 min from downtown Berlin by the fastest transit option.
| Option | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Airport Express FEX Train Express to Berlin Hauptbahnhof in ~23 min (via Südkreuz and Potsdamer Platz); VBB ABC single ticket 5.00 EUR (~USD 5). | $5 | 23 min |
| Regional RE20 / S-Bahn S9 and S85 Train RE20 matches the FEX route; S-Bahn S9 and S85 (S45 was discontinued in December 2025) run all-stops to Alexanderplatz and beyond. Same ABC ticket. | $5 | 23-50 min |
| Taxi Taxi Approximate; ~18 km southeast of central Berlin. | $50-$65 | 35-50 min |
Parking
BER does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; on-airport parking is priced dynamically by date and lot. Foreign airport; parking rates not independently verified. Germany prices in EUR via berlin-airport.de.
- Short-term
- Varies
- Long-term
- Varies
- Economy
- Not available
- Valet
- Not available
Can I leave BER during a layover?
With a 3-hour layover, stay inside BER. With 6+ hours, you have time to see part of Berlin. Round-trip to the city center is about 46 min plus re-screening on return.
Berlin Hauptbahnhof is ~23 min on the Airport Express FEX (via Südkreuz and Potsdamer Platz). A 4+ hour layover can reach the center and back; under 3 hours stay airside. Non-EU nationals leaving Schengen face passport control and EES biometrics.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive at BER?
Arrive at least 75 minutes before a domestic flight from BER, and 150 minutes before an international flight. Peak-time TSA waits at BER can hit 30+ minutes, so add buffer.
What is the minimum connection time at BER?
BER requires at least 30 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 90 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. BER terminals are not all airside-connected; expect to re-clear security between some terminals. Transfer system: Schengen connections stay airside within Terminal 1; a Schengen/non-Schengen change or a Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 move is landside, requiring bag reclaim, re-check and a second security screening.
How long does it take to get between terminals at BER?
Budget 20 min for same-terminal transfers and 40 min for different-terminal transfers at BER via Schengen connections stay airside within Terminal 1; a Schengen/non-Schengen change or a Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 move is landside, requiring bag reclaim, re-check and a second security screening. Floors run 30 domestic, 60 domestic-intl, 90 off any international arrival, but Berlin was built as a point-to-point airport and is genuinely awkward for connections. Only a Schengen-to-Schengen, carry-on connection inside Terminal 1 stays airside. Any Schengen/non-Schengen change, or a Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 move, is effectively a landside self-transfer: reclaim bags, change zones or buildings, re-check, and re-clear security. The published MCT applies to single bookings only; treat most connections here as self-transfers. easyJet and Ryanair use the airport standard; Eurowings files about 40 min same-airline domestic.
Can I leave BER during a 6-hour layover?
With 3 hours you should stay inside BER. A 6-hour layover is enough to leave the airport briefly. Round-trip to the city center is about 46 minutes plus re-screening. Berlin Hauptbahnhof is ~23 min on the Airport Express FEX (via Südkreuz and Potsdamer Platz). A 4+ hour layover can reach the center and back; under 3 hours stay airside. Non-EU nationals leaving Schengen face passport control and EES biometrics.
Does BER have showers?
Yes, BER has showers at Premium lounges.
Does BER have sleep pods?
BER does not have dedicated sleep pods. Check premium airline lounges for quiet rooms.
Is WiFi free at BER?
Yes. BER offers free WiFi throughout the airport. Free wifi
What is the cheapest way to get from BER to Berlin?
The cheapest option is typically Airport Express FEX at $5, taking about 23 minutes. Express to Berlin Hauptbahnhof in ~23 min (via Südkreuz and Potsdamer Platz); VBB ABC single ticket 5.00 EUR (~USD 5).
Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at BER?
BER does not support TSA PreCheck and does not have CLEAR. Typical peak-hour wait is 30 minutes. Schengen airport; no US TSA programs. EU Entry/Exit System (EES) fully operational since 10 April 2026 for non-EU nationals; a non-Schengen change requires an additional passport control.
Where should I eat at BER during a layover?
Notable dining at BER includes Market Place behind security (Terminal 1), gallery-level Food Court (Terminal 1).
How much does parking cost at BER?
BER does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; rates are set dynamically by date and lot. Foreign airport; parking rates not independently verified. Germany prices in EUR via berlin-airport.de.
Which terminal does my airline use at BER?
BER has 2 terminals. Major airline assignments: Terminal 1: easyJet, Ryanair, Eurowings. Confirm with your boarding pass before arrival since a few airlines operate from multiple terminals depending on route.
Are there pet relief areas at BER?
Yes. Pet relief areas.
Is there a chapel or prayer room at BER?
Yes. Airport chapel / prayer room.
Compare BER to other airports
See how BER ranks against the other 97 airports in our dataset.
Airlines operating at BER
Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of BER.
Compare other airports
Sources & verification
- overview: https://ber.berlin-airport.de/en/orientation/terminals.html
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Brandenburg_Airport
Verified Jun 2026. Airport operations, parking rates, and amenities change; always confirm with Berlin Brandenburg Airport before flying.