Planning to Explore More of Germany?
Planning to explore more of Germany? Compare all destinations and airports in our guide to
cheap flights to Germany.
About Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (IATA: BER) is the sole commercial international gateway
to Germany's capital, located in Schönefeld approximately 18 km southeast of central Berlin.
Opened in November 2020, BER replaced the city's former Tegel and Schönefeld airports under one
modern facility and now serves more than 160 destinations worldwide.
BER has rapidly become one of Germany's most important aviation hubs, welcoming over 70 airlines
and millions of passengers every year.
Airport Terminals
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Terminals 1 & 2 (T1/T2): The primary passenger terminals serving Lufthansa,
United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, British Airways, Air France-KLM, Qatar Airways, Emirates,
easyJet, Eurowings and many other major carriers.
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Terminal 5 (T5): Formerly Schönefeld Airport, serving selected low-cost
airlines including Ryanair. A complimentary shuttle bus connects T5 with T1/T2.
Getting from BER to Berlin City Centre
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Airport Express (FEX): The fastest transfer option, reaching Berlin
Hauptbahnhof in approximately 23 minutes.
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Regional Trains (RE/RB): Convenient rail connections to Berlin and
surrounding regions throughout the day.
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S-Bahn Line S9: Direct connections to Alexanderplatz, Ostbahnhof and
eastern districts of Berlin.
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Taxi & Rideshare: Available 24/7 outside Terminal 1 with travel times of
approximately 30–45 minutes to central Berlin.
What to Expect in Berlin
Berlin combines centuries of history with one of Europe's most dynamic cultural scenes. Visitors
can explore iconic landmarks including the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Building, Berlin Wall
Memorial, East Side Gallery and Checkpoint Charlie.
Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, houses five world-class museums including the
Pergamon Museum and Neues Museum, home to the famous Bust of Nefertiti.
The city's diverse neighbourhoods offer something for every traveller. Kreuzberg and Neukölln
are known for nightlife and street culture, Prenzlauer Berg for cafés and markets, and
Charlottenburg for elegant architecture and shopping.
Best Time to Visit Berlin
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January – March: Lowest airfare period and ideal for museums, galleries and
the Berlinale Film Festival.
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April – June: Pleasant weather, outdoor markets and excellent overall value.
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July – August: Peak tourist season with long evenings and numerous outdoor
events.
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September – November: Lower fares return and the Festival of Lights adds a
unique atmosphere to the city.
Tips for Finding Cheap Flights to Berlin
- Set fare alerts as early as possible.
- Monday and Tuesday departures often offer the lowest fares.
- Compare direct and connecting flights via Frankfurt or Munich.
- Check multiple departure airports when available.
- Book 6–10 weeks ahead for the best prices.
FAQs
From New York JFK, nonstop flights to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) take approximately 8.5-9 hours. United Airlines and Delta both operate direct transatlantic services on this corridor. From Los Angeles, expect approximately 11-12 hours on a nonstop service or 12-14 hours with a single European connection. From Boston, approximately 7.5-8 hours direct. Most transatlantic services to Berlin are overnight flights departing the US in the evening and arriving in Berlin in the morning, giving you a full first day in the city. Connecting itineraries via Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, or London typically add 2-4 hours to total travel time but frequently produce lower fares.
United Airlines and Delta Air Lines both operate nonstop services from the US to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). United flies from Newark (EWR) and Delta from Atlanta (ATL) and New York JFK seasonally check current schedules as transatlantic Berlin services vary by season and year. For US travellers without a convenient direct option, the most common connections into Berlin are via Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Munich (Lufthansa), London Heathrow (British Airways), Amsterdam Schiphol (KLM), or Paris CDG (Air France). Within Europe, easyJet and Ryanair operate the most extensive networks into BER from UK and European cities.
The Airport Express FEX train is both the fastest and one of the most affordable transfer options, reaching Berlin Hauptbahnhof in just 23 minutes for approximately 4.40 EUR — a single ABC-zone ticket that also covers all onward U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and bus travel within Berlin. Trains run every 30 minutes. The S-Bahn Line S9 is slightly slower but more frequent and serves additional central Berlin stops including Ostbahnhof and Alexanderplatz, also covered by the standard 4.40 EUR ticket. Taxis are available 24/7 but significantly more expensive at approximately 40-60 EUR to central Berlin.
January and February consistently offer the lowest average annual fares to Berlin on transatlantic routes, as post-holiday demand drops and airlines clear remaining inventory. March is the next most affordable month, with prices beginning to rise from mid-March as spring travel builds. For European routes, October and November also offer excellent value particularly after the Festival of Lights crowds clear. Avoid September and early October if Munich's Oktoberfest is not your goal, as it significantly inflates Germany-wide fares. The cheapest specific date identified by Skyscanner's 2026 analysis was Tuesday, 11 August 2026 to Frankfurt worth using as a benchmark when setting Berlin price alerts.
Yes! despite its troubled history, BER is a modern and relatively straightforward airport to navigate once you understand the T1/T2 versus T5 terminal split. The vast majority of passengers use Terminals 1 and 2, which share a single connected building and the underground FEX/S-Bahn station directly beneath Terminal 1. Ryanair passengers use Terminal 5 (the former Schonefeld terminal), which has its own separate station and requires a 10-minute free shuttle connection to T1/T2. Signage throughout the airport is clear in both German and English. Security queues at BER are generally shorter than at Frankfurt or Munich, though peak morning departures (05:00-08:00) can cause delays arrive at least 90 minutes before European departures and 2.5 hours before long-haul.
