Parking at BER Airport for the first time: what beginners should know
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Many Berliners still remember the old Tegel Airport or the terminal in Schönefeld. BER works differently – and if you drive there in your own car for the first time, you often have questions. Where do I stop? What is a valet meeting point? How do I get back to my car after landing? This beginner's guide answers the most important questions in the order in which they come up.
Key facts at a glance
- Passengers are handled in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 – the old Terminal 5 is closed.
- Parking: airport car parks, valet or shuttle – depending on the trip.
- The address from the booking belongs in the sat nav.
- Take photos at the handover, and give the car a quick check on return.
BER in three sentences
Berlin Brandenburg Airport is located in Schönefeld, south-east of Berlin. By car you reach it via the A113, which connects to the Berlin ring road (A10) and the urban motorway. Passengers are handled in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 to the north, each of which has its own drop-off area. More in the guide Terminals at BER.
Which parking option is the right one?
There are three basic models: the airport's parking areas right at the terminals, valet parking with a handover to a driver, and shuttle parking on a provider's site with a transfer. For beginners, a simple question helps: is time or price more important to me? If you want to save time, choose valet or the multi-storey car park; if you want to save money and have some time, choose the shuttle. In detail: Valet or shuttle at BER.
The booking
When booking, you enter when you will hand over the car and when you want it back. Then add the number plate, vehicle model, number of people and ideally the flight numbers. Through Friend-Park this is also possible without a customer account. What this looks like in practice is shown in the frequently asked questions about booking.
The day of departure
- Open the confirmation and enter the address or meeting point in the sat nav.
- Set off in good time – traffic often backs up on the A100 and around the city.
- Call the provider shortly before arrival if the confirmation says so.
- Hand over or park the car, take photos, take the receipt with you.
- On to the terminal – on foot with valet, by shuttle with shuttle parking.
How to document the handover is explained in the guide Vehicle handover at BER.
The return
After landing: collect your luggage, go through passport control if applicable, then contact the provider. With valet your car is brought to you; with shuttle parking you ride to the car park. Briefly check the car and drive off. More in the guide Returning: collecting your car at BER.
Typical beginner mistakes
- Driving to the old terminal in Schönefeld, which no longer exists.
- Entering “BER Airport” in the sat nav instead of the specific parking address.
- Booking flight times instead of handover and return times.
- Underestimating Berlin traffic.
- Taking no photos at the handover.
Help if something goes wrong
If you are stuck in traffic, inform the provider – see the frequently asked questions about arriving late. If your plans change, the guide Cancelling or changing a car park booking at BER will help.
The confirmation as your compass
For beginners, the booking confirmation is the most important document. It contains the address of the car park or the valet meeting point, the booked times, the provider's phone number, notes on the procedure and your booking number. Read it through completely once before setting off and save it offline on your phone. Also write the phone number down on paper in case your battery runs out. If the confirmation is missing, the frequently asked questions about a missing confirmation will help.
What comes with you, what stays in the car
Take everything valuable and important with you: ID documents, wallet, phone, laptop, charging cables, medication and house keys. Things of little value that you need for the drive home may stay in the car, such as child seats or a jacket for the winter. Vehicle documents should not be left openly in the car.
Working through the schedule once
Before you drive to BER for the first time, work through the schedule backwards: departure minus the airline's lead time minus time for parking minus driving time with a buffer gives your departure time. Do the same for the return: landing plus time until you have your luggage plus the way to the car. Check whether the provider can be reached at both times. Once you have done this calculation, you immediately notice whether the plan is realistic.
Accessibility
If you travel in a wheelchair or have reduced mobility, you usually register assistance with the airline. The airport provides information about its services on its website. When parking, valet shortens the distances considerably. State any special needs in the notes field of the booking.
After the first time
After your trip, note how long the drive actually took, how easy the meeting point was to find and how long you waited on your return. With these experiences you will plan your next trip from BER even more calmly.
Frequently asked questions from beginners at BER
Can I hand over the car earlier than booked? A little earlier is usually no problem; much earlier should be agreed. What if I am late? Call the provider. Do I need cash? If you paid online, usually not. Do I have to print out the confirmation? Your phone is usually enough. What if I mixed up the terminal? Terminals 1 and 2 are connected via Pier North; switching on foot is possible but takes time with luggage.
What is different at BER compared with Berlin's old airports
If you used to fly from Tegel or the old Schönefeld terminal, you have to rethink. Tegel is closed, and so is the former Terminal 5 in Schönefeld. Passenger operations run via Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of BER. Sat navs with outdated maps can lead you astray. So always enter the address from your parking booking and follow the current signs on site.
Plan B for the day of departure
Also write down the parking provider's phone number on paper. Think beforehand about what you will do if you are stuck in traffic: call the provider, check online check-in, contact the airline if necessary. If you have a plan, you stay calm even the first time.
Security and check-in for the first time
After parking, in the terminal comes check-in or baggage drop-off with your airline. Many airlines offer online check-in and self-service machines; with checked baggage you go to the appropriate counter or baggage drop-off. Then you go to security. Liquids in hand luggage must comply with the applicable rules, and electronic devices are checked separately depending on the checkpoint. Have your boarding pass and ID ready. The airport publishes current information on its website.
If you know these steps, you can plan your time at the airport more realistically – and you know why the airline's lead time is not overly generous.
What you should do after landing
For beginners, the return is also new. After landing, switch on your phone and check whether the provider has sent you a message. Then collect your luggage and get in touch as stated in the confirmation. With valet you go to the meeting point, with shuttle parking to the pick-up point. If you land in a different terminal from the one you departed from, tell the provider.
Once at the car, briefly check it with an eye on your handover photos, check the mileage and fuel gauge and adjust the seat and mirrors. Then you head home via the A113.
With these steps, parking at BER for the first time is no longer complicated – and next time you will know exactly what to expect.
And the most important thing at the end: take your time. If you plan generously the first time, you will experience your departure from BER not as stress but as a relaxed start to your trip.
And then: travel relaxed
After the first time, the procedure is familiar: check the terminal, open the confirmation, take photos. Whether you can already book a car park at BER through Friend-Park is shown on the page Parking at Berlin Airport.
