One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
BER6.8
DRS8.6+1.8
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
BER6.5
DRS6.8+0.3
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
BER6.2+1.0
DRS5.2
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
BER8.5
DRS9.0+0.5
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
BER6.5+0.1
DRS6.4
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
BER6.4+0.4
DRS6.0
Best for
BER
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
DRS
S2 under the terminal (21 min to Dresden Hbf)Compact single-terminal walksPriority Pass / LoungeKey The Lounge until 21:00LH FRA/MUC feeders plus summer leisure nonstops
Watch out for
BER
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
DRS
No free water refill stationsStill classic 100 ml liquid rules (no published CT waiver)Limited airside food outside peak departure banksThe Lounge closes at 21:00 — late charters miss it; do not count on DragonPass
Amenities and tips
BER
Free gate water dispensersFEX + S-Bahn under T1BER Lounge Tegel (PP)_Free Airport WiFinapcabs sleep cabinsKids play + family kit
Beat early-morning and late-afternoon security banks
Budget extra time for non-Schengen and US/Israel second screening; live wait boards beat folklore.
Use any security, then walk airside
You may clear security in T1 or T2—all departure gates are reachable from either checkpoint.
Eat landside or refill free water after security
The T1 Marktplatz has the real variety; free airside tap water beats buying bottles after screening.
DRS
S-Bahn S2 under the terminalThe Lounge (GLN)beDUTYfree + BERetail caféFree Wi-Fi (2 hours/day)Covered parking skywalkStep-free terminal + S-Bahn lifts
Ride S2 from under the terminal
Fastest cheap city link — 21 min to Hbf on a Dresden-zone ticket.
Pack for the classic 100 ml bag rule
No published CT liquids waiver — plan the old hand-luggage ritual.
The Lounge closes at 21:00 — live PP and LoungeKey only
Sole airside lounge; breakfast to 11:30, then hot/cold lunch.
BER · 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.
DRS · Excellent under-terminal S2 and a walkable single terminal make DRS easy, but thin dining, no free water, classic 100 ml security, and a leisure-skewed board keep the score just above 7.
