BERModerate14°C

Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt

Berlin, Germany · Europe

BER is a clean, single-campus airport with excellent rail access, undercut by mixed security technology, thin airside food, and lounges that crowd at peak banks.

Airportist Score

6.9/ 10

Passengers

26M

Security

18 min

8 photos

The glass-fronted facade of Berlin Brandenburg Airport Terminal 1 stretches across the frame under daylight, with entrance areas and landscaping in front. — Photo: Arne Müseler
CC BY-SA 3.0 de Source

Inside Berlin Brandenburg Airport in 2023, a bright departures hall shows seating areas, signage, and travelers moving through the terminal. — Photo: Igor123121
CC BY-SA 4.0 Source

The boarding area at Berlin Brandenburg Airport has rows of gate seating, overhead flight displays, and large windows facing the apron. — Photo: Chinmayee Mishra
CC BY 4.0 Source

Gate A04 at Berlin Brandenburg Airport Terminal 1 shows a numbered gate sign, waiting seats, and boarding-bridge access in the gate lounge. — Photo: Arne Müseler
CC BY-SA 3.0 de Source

The BER Airport Terminal 1-2 station platform sits beneath the airport, with tracks, platform signage, and the station structure visible. — Photo: Kurmanbek
CC BY-SA 4.0 Source

The public observation deck at Berlin Brandenburg Airport has safety railings and overlooks the airfield, taxiways, and terminal rooftops. — Photo: NutzerAusBerlin
CC0 Source

Berlin Brandenburg Airport Terminal 1 is lit up at night, with warm light glowing through the terminal's glass and concrete exterior. — Photo: Arne Müseler
CC BY-SA 3.0 de Source

On a sunny afternoon, Berlin Brandenburg Airport's terminal buildings and airfield are seen together with open sky and surrounding landscape. — Photo: Roy Zuo
CC BY-SA 4.0 Source

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Beat the 06:00–08:00 security wave

Arrive ~2 hours before Schengen and 2–2.5 hours before non-Schengen; lean toward 2.5 hours for US/Israel gates.

Early-morning bank departures stack queues; check live T1/T2 wait times in the BER app or on terminal monitors before you join a line.

Terminal

Use any security, then walk airside

You may clear security in T1 or T2—all departure gates are reachable from either checkpoint.

T2 is only a few minutes’ walk via T1 arrivals (E0); when T1 security shows ~20 minutes, experienced locals detour to T2 and walk back airside.

Food

Eat landside before you clear security

The T1 Marktplatz/food court has the real variety; airside options thin out fast after the checkpoint.

Stock cheap drinks and snacks at REWE on station level U1, then empty liquids before security and refill free at gate-area dispensers.

Status

Pick the lounge that matches your gate zone

Tegel (B17) is the Priority Pass / pay-at-door workhorse; Tempelhof (A20) is the better paid upgrade with apron views and a private passport desk.

Lufthansa Business/Senator at B20 are solid for Star Alliance elites but fill hard in morning/afternoon peaks—food is thinner than Frankfurt.

Live airport status

Current operations

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for BER.

Updated Jul 21, 2026

Two connected terminals (T1 main, T2 peak/low-cost); former Schönefeld T5 is permanently closed
~26 million passengers in 2025; Germany’s third-largest airport location
Station Flughafen BER sits under T1 on level U2—FEX to Hauptbahnhof ~23 minutes on a €5 ABC ticket
Lounges sit airside on the main pier: Tempelhof (A20), Tegel (B17), Lufthansa (B20)
Security is mixed: CT scanners on T1 areas 1 & 5 plus T2; conventional 100 ml rules still apply on T1 areas 2 & 4
Major carriers include easyJet, Ryanair, Lufthansa/Eurowings, and a growing long-haul mix

11 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.5

Navigation6.8

Food6.2

Transport8.5

Disruption resilience6.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

26M

Terminals

2 active terminals (T1, T2)

On-time departures

67%

Avg security

18 min

Best For

Fast, cheap rail into the city on one ABC ticketSchengen short-haul with hand luggage onlyStatus flyers who can use LH Senator or paid TempelhofRefilling free water after security without buying bottles

Watch Out For

Unpredictable CT vs 100 ml security lanesMorning security banks and T1 queue collapsesAirside food that shuts early overnightNon-Schengen second checks for US/Israel and long walks back from Schengen lounges

Nearby airports

Other airports within about 150 km.

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Beat the 06:00–08:00 security wave

Arrive ~2 hours before Schengen and 2–2.5 hours before non-Schengen; lean toward 2.5 hours for US/Israel gates.

Early-morning bank departures stack queues; check live T1/T2 wait times in the BER app or on terminal monitors before you join a line.

Terminal

Use any security, then walk airside

You may clear security in T1 or T2—all departure gates are reachable from either checkpoint.

T2 is only a few minutes’ walk via T1 arrivals (E0); when T1 security shows ~20 minutes, experienced locals detour to T2 and walk back airside.

Food

Eat landside before you clear security

The T1 Marktplatz/food court has the real variety; airside options thin out fast after the checkpoint.

Stock cheap drinks and snacks at REWE on station level U1, then empty liquids before security and refill free at gate-area dispensers.

Status

Pick the lounge that matches your gate zone

Tegel (B17) is the Priority Pass / pay-at-door workhorse; Tempelhof (A20) is the better paid upgrade with apron views and a private passport desk.

Lufthansa Business/Senator at B20 are solid for Star Alliance elites but fill hard in morning/afternoon peaks—food is thinner than Frankfurt.

Live airport status

Current operations

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for BER.

Updated Jul 21, 2026

Two connected terminals (T1 main, T2 peak/low-cost); former Schönefeld T5 is permanently closed
~26 million passengers in 2025; Germany’s third-largest airport location
Station Flughafen BER sits under T1 on level U2—FEX to Hauptbahnhof ~23 minutes on a €5 ABC ticket
Lounges sit airside on the main pier: Tempelhof (A20), Tegel (B17), Lufthansa (B20)
Security is mixed: CT scanners on T1 areas 1 & 5 plus T2; conventional 100 ml rules still apply on T1 areas 2 & 4
Major carriers include easyJet, Ryanair, Lufthansa/Eurowings, and a growing long-haul mix

11 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.5

Navigation6.8

Food6.2

Transport8.5

Disruption resilience6.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

26M

Terminals

2 active terminals (T1, T2)

On-time departures

67%

Avg security

18 min

Best For

Watch Out For