Tips on Berlin's Airports

Tegel: the travel hub of Berlin

The largest and most popular airport serving Berlin is Tegel. The home of the local Germanwings airline is said to be the fourth busiest airport in Germany, with over 20 million passengers passing through it each year. Located roughly 8 km outside of the bustling city centre, Tegel is recognisable by its main terminal's distinctive, hexagonal shape. Although not as large as its counterparts in Frankfurt and other cities, this small airport can still claim five terminals (even if the layout sees most residing under one roof). The first of our Berlin airport tips is therefore not to get overly panicked if you find yourself in the incorrect terminal with the clock ticking – due to the airport's compact size, one can move between terminals with relative ease and speed.
Whether planning your arrival into or departure from Tegel, the airport can be accessed easily thanks to excellent public transport links. Bus stops are located directly outside terminals A and B and the airport's website provides a comprehensive list of travel routes with maps. As always, one of our most important Berlin airport tips is to check bus and train schedules at least 24 hours prior to travelling in case of any unforeseen delays or deviations from standard operating schedules. The hexagonal layout of the airport makes it relatively easy to find your gate, but for those feeling a little concerned about getting lost, a downloadable airport map is available on the website.
With its relatively small size in comparison to other airports, Tegel still does well to offer passengers plenty of variety in terms of shopping and dining. Indulge in one last infamous German beer and some hearty local food prior to departure, or grab a latte and a panini upon landing to stave off a grumbling stomach.

South to Schönefeld

Situated on Berlin's southern border, Schönefeld airport was originally the main civil airport serving East Germany. Nowadays it acts as the base for Easyjet and numerous other major airlines, holding a steadfast reputation as the smaller but by no means lesser airport in the capital. The airport consists of four terminals. Terminals A, B and D are the most commonly used, with Terminal C generally reserved for specialised flights and prearranged sightseeing tours.
As with Tegel, Schönefeld airport is easy to access due to Berlin's excellent public transport network. An S-Bahn station is a mere five minute walk from the main terminal, while buses heading in every direction depart regularly from directly outside the terminal building. Full information regarding train and bus timetables and routes is available on the Schönefeld website. Another of our Berlin airport tips is to keep in mind that Germany has experienced sporadic strikes by its train drivers on certain routes in recent years, so if you are advised of any warnings then it is probably better to opt for a bus.
Schönefeld airport does offer a small selection of shops and restaurants for last minute purchases or hunger pangs. However, please do be aware that the selection is rather slim due to this being a small airport predominantly catering for short-haul routes. The final of our Berlin airport tips is to compare fares between these two airports, as each can offer the most competitive deals depending on your destination and airline preferences.

Planning your trip to Berlin? Check out our favorite downtown hotels in Berlin.

Author: David Rickerson-Seidel

Guest Relations Manager at NH Collection Berlin Mitte Friedrichstrasse

My name is David Rickerson-Seidel and I have been part of the NH Hotel Group since September 2015 when the first NH Collection Hotel opened in Germany. After 16 years of hotel experience, I was offered a great chance to meet people from all over the world and each time I was able to learn from them – this is one of the reason why I love my position as a Guest Relation Manager. My daily task is to fulfil our guest’s needs before they actually asking for it. With my passion for my job it is always a great pleasure to see our guests happy and smiling before they leave the hotel and I know that we have done the job right. I always say that the only thing that a guest can’t buy and book in advance is our smiling receptionist with a warm welcoming, the friendly breakfast host who would like to know if you slept well, and our elusive room maid, who is preparing the room so that it feels like home – our employees make the difference – this is why you are not checking into your room at a terminal. Whatever you need – we are always there for you.