Parking options at Berlin Brandenburg Airport at a glance

If you drive to BER, you can choose between several ways of accommodating your vehicle during your trip – or not leaving it there at all. Each option has its own strengths. Which suits you best depends on how long you are away, how much you have to carry and how much time you want to allow on the day of departure. Here are all the options at Berlin Brandenburg Airport at a glance.

The airport's parking areas

BER operates its own multi-storey car parks and car parks near the terminals. Their big advantage is the location: from the parking deck to the terminal is often only a few minutes' walk. For short stays – picking someone up, a day trip – this is ideal. For several days or weeks, however, the costs rise with every day. You will find current rates and site plans on ber.berlin-airport.de.

Valet parking

With valet you drive to the meeting point, a driver takes over your car and you go straight to check-in. On your return the vehicle is waiting at the meeting point again. This is convenient and fast, but usually more expensive than a shuttle car park. More in the guide Valet parking at BER.

Shuttle parking

Shuttle car parks of private providers are located outside the terminal area, mostly in business parks around Schönefeld. You park yourself and take the shuttle to the terminal. On longer trips this is often the most economical solution. More in the guide Shuttle parking at BER.

Being dropped off and picked up

Berliners in particular like to be driven to the airport. This saves the parking fee but means two round trips for the person driving – and possibly waiting when picking you up if the flight is delayed. The airport's rules apply to stopping at the drop-off areas.

And the train?

The Flughafen BER station is beneath Terminal 1 and is served by the Airport Express (FEX), regional trains and the S-Bahn lines S9 and S45. For many Berliners this is a good alternative to the car – especially with little luggage and during the day. If you are travelling from Brandenburg, with family or at off-peak times, on the other hand, you often take the car.

Special cases: electric car, van, motorhome

With an electric car it is worth checking whether a provider offers charging as an additional service – then you start with a full battery after your trip. If you arrive with a van, roof box or motorhome, you should clarify before booking whether the provider has space and whether multi-storey car parks have height restrictions. More in the frequently asked questions about large vehicles.

Decision guide

Your trip	Obvious option
Pick-up, a few hours	Car park at the terminal or drop-off area
Short trip, little time	Valet or multi-storey car park
Two weeks' holiday	Shuttle parking
Family with lots of luggage	Valet
Little luggage, starting in Berlin	Train as an alternative

Parking for people picking up at BER

If you are picking up friends or family at BER, you only need a parking space for a short time. The airport's parking areas near the terminals are suitable for this. Follow the flight status online so that you do not arrive too early, and agree on a meeting point on the arrivals level of the right terminal. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have separate areas – ask beforehand where the arriving passengers will land. The airport's rules, published on its website, apply to brief stops at the drop-off area.

Parking with a large vehicle

With a van, motorhome or roof box, you quickly reach height limits in multi-storey car parks. Private providers with open-air areas are more likely to be able to accommodate larger vehicles, but not always. State the vehicle type and dimensions when booking and, if in doubt, clarify beforehand whether your vehicle fits. More in the frequently asked questions about large vehicles.

Why the choice depends on your starting point

For travellers from central Berlin, the car competes with the train, which stops directly beneath Terminal 1. For people from rural Brandenburg this competition often does not exist – the car is simply the most practical solution. For travellers from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, BER is a destination airport that they reach via long motorway routes. The further the journey, the more important a car park booked in advance with a clear address.

Common mistakes when choosing

• Only looking at the daily rate instead of the final price for the period
• Not taking the terminal into account – Terminal 1 and 2 have their own drop-off areas
• Overlooking operating hours for early or late flights
• Booking too late during the holidays
• Underestimating Berlin traffic on the way

The right solution for every trip

There is no single best parking option at BER. For a short pick-up, the car park at the terminal is ideal; for a family holiday, often valet; for a long-haul trip, the shuttle car park; and for a light city break, perhaps the train. If you look honestly at your own trip – duration, luggage, times – you will quickly find the right option.

Parking at night and at off-peak times

Many holiday flights from BER depart very early or land late. Not every private provider can be reached around the clock. If you are flying at off-peak times, check the operating hours before deciding on a parking option. The airport's parking areas are independent of such times but more expensive on longer trips. With private providers there may be a service outside the opening hours, often for a surcharge. More on this in the guides Early flight from BER and Late arrival at BER.

Security of the parking location

Where your car stands during your trip is a legitimate question. With the airport's parking areas this is clear. With private providers, reputable providers describe whether their site is fenced, lit or under video surveillance and whether staff are on site. This information should feed into your decision, especially on longer trips or with valuable vehicles.

Summary

At BER you can choose between the airport's parking areas, valet, shuttle parking, being dropped off and the train. Which option suits you depends on the length of the trip, luggage, times and starting point. If you look honestly at these factors, you will quickly find the right solution.

Planning for the way back

Many travellers choose their parking option only with the departure in mind. But the return is at least as important. If you land late, a car park at the terminal or a valet service that brings the car is more pleasant than a shuttle you have to wait for. If you land at midday, it hardly matters. So think of both directions when choosing – and check whether the provider can still be reached when you land.

The drive home is part of it too: if you have to drive far into Brandenburg or neighbouring states after a long flight, you should factor in your own tiredness and plan a break if necessary.

Our tip: first decide on a type of parking based on the length of the trip and the times, and then compare the offers within that category. That way you compare like with like and keep an overview.

And if you are unsure: the guides on valet parking and shuttle parking at BER explain the procedures in detail.

If you plan early, you have the greatest choice – especially at the start of the holidays in Berlin and Brandenburg, when many people fly from BER at the same time and popular car parks are quickly taken.

With this overview you will quickly find the parking option at BER that suits your trip, your luggage and your flight times.

What to look out for with every option

• Know the right terminal – see Terminals at BER.
• Compare final prices for the entire period – see Parking costs at BER.
• Reserve early during holiday periods – see Reserving a car park at BER.

Whether valet or shuttle offers can already be booked at Berlin Brandenburg Airport through Friend-Park is shown on the page Parking at Berlin Airport.