Getting to BER Airport from the region: routes via the Berlin ring road

Berlin Brandenburg Airport is the main airport of an entire region. Travellers come from Potsdam and the Havelland, from Lusatia and the Spreewald, from Frankfurt (Oder), but also from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. For all of them, BER has one big advantage: it lies on the southern Berlin ring road, so most do not have to drive through the capital. This guide shows the typical routes – your satnav will give you the up-to-date route for the day.

The principle: ring road, interchange, A113

BER lies south-east of Berlin. The Berlin ring road (A10) encircles the city, and at the Schönefeld interchange the ring road, the A13 and the A113 meet. From there it is only a few kilometres to the airport. The last stage is described in the guide Getting to BER by car.

From the south: Dresden, Lusatia, Spreewald

The A13 runs from Dresden via the Spreewald directly to the Schönefeld interchange. If you are coming from Cottbus, you reach the A13 via the A15. BER is therefore easily accessible for travellers from Saxony – depending on the destination and flights available, however, an airport in Saxony may also be an alternative.

From the south-west: Potsdam, Leipzig, Magdeburg

From Potsdam, you drive onto the southern Berlin ring road and stay on it until the Schönefeld interchange. Coming from Leipzig and Halle, you take the A9 towards Berlin and switch to the ring road at the Potsdam junction. From Magdeburg, the A2 leads to the ring road.

From the east: Frankfurt (Oder)

The A12 runs from Frankfurt (Oder) towards Berlin and meets the eastern Berlin ring road. From there you head south to the Schönefeld interchange.

From the north: Rostock, Stralsund, Hamburg

From Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the A19 or the A11 and A20 lead towards Berlin, from Hamburg the A24. Coming from the north, you drive halfway around the city on the Berlin ring road – either via the west or the east, depending on the traffic situation. Here a look at your satnav is particularly worthwhile.

How much buffer for a long journey?

The longer the route, the greater the risk of roadworks and traffic jams. Some sections of the Berlin ring road are heavily congested, especially on Friday afternoons and at the start of the school holidays. Plan your buffer in proportion to the distance. If you fly early, you benefit from empty roads – but you should allow for night-time roadworks. More in the guide Early flight from BER.

Parking for travellers from the surrounding region

If you come from far away, you don't want to search for long at BER. A car park booked in advance gives you a fixed address. Many shuttle car parks are located in the business parks around Schönefeld and are therefore often directly on your way. With valet parking you drive to the meeting point at the terminal. For long holidays, it is worth looking at Long-term parking at BER.

Travelling from Poland

BER is not far from the Polish border, and travellers from western Poland also use it when the right connection departs from there. From the direction of Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice, the A12 leads to Berlin and meets the eastern Berlin ring road. From the direction of Szczecin, the A11 runs south and also joins the ring road. From there you continue to the Schönefeld interchange and onto the A113 to the airport. At border crossings there may be checks and delays at times – when travelling across the border, plan a corresponding buffer and check the current situation before setting off.

Plan a break along the way

If you are travelling from Dresden, Rostock or Leipzig, you will be on the road for two hours or more. Then plan a break – not at the airport, but on the way at a rest area. That way you arrive in Schönefeld focused. With children, breaks are necessary anyway; factor them straight into your schedule so that they do not become a source of stress.

Which time for which direction?

The best departure time depends on where you are coming from. From the south via the A13, the journey is often easy to plan because the motorway ends directly at the Schönefeld interchange. From the north, the route takes you along a longer section of the Berlin ring road, which can be heavily congested during rush hour and on Friday afternoons. If you are coming from this direction, it pays to avoid peak times or to allow a generous reserve. At weekends during the holidays, Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons are often dominated by holiday traffic.

Park and ride instead of an airport car park?

Some travellers from the surrounding region consider leaving their car at a station in Brandenburg and continuing to BER by train. This can work if there is a direct connection to BER Airport station and the luggage is manageable. For early flights, with family or a lot of luggage, driving directly to the airport with a car park booked in advance is usually the less stressful solution.

Returning to the region

After landing, the journey home is often long for travellers from the surrounding region. If you still have to drive two hours to Saxony or Mecklenburg after a long-haul flight, you should take this into account when choosing your car park: a valet service where the car is ready directly at the terminal shortens the way. And a break after landing, before you get behind the wheel, always makes sense after a long flight.

Quick overview by direction

• South (Dresden, Lusatia): A13 to the Schönefeld interchange, then A113.
• South-west (Potsdam, Leipzig, Magdeburg): A115, A9 or A2 to the Berlin ring road, then the Schönefeld interchange.
• East (Frankfurt (Oder)): A12 to the eastern ring road, then south.
• North (Rostock, Szczecin, Hamburg): A19/A24, A11 or A24 to the ring road, then halfway around Berlin.

With a motorhome or trailer from the region

If you travel from Brandenburg or Mecklenburg with a large vehicle, for example because the motorhome is used before or after the flight, you need to plan your parking particularly carefully. Multi-storey car parks are usually ruled out because of the height, and not every private provider has space for large vehicles. Clarify with the provider in advance whether it accepts your vehicle, and state the vehicle type and dimensions when booking. More on this in the frequently asked questions about large vehicles.

When BER is the right choice

For travellers from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, BER is not always the nearest airport. However, it often offers more connections and destinations. Whether the longer journey is worthwhile depends on the destination, the flight times and the prices. If you decide on BER, you should plan the journey particularly carefully and book your car park in advance – then the longer route will not put your departure at risk.

Tips for the long drive

Check the entire route with the current traffic situation shortly before setting off, not just the last section. Keep your parking provider's telephone number to hand and let them know early if you are running late. Refuel or charge on the way so that you arrive at BER with a sufficient reserve and can drive home without a detour after your return. And allow enough rest for the drive home after a long flight – the route back to Saxony or Mecklenburg is more tiring after a night on the plane than on the day of departure.

Tips for the journey

• Before setting off, check the entire route in your satnav with the traffic situation.
• Keep the parking provider's telephone number to hand.
• If you are delayed, inform the provider early.
• After your return, set off on the long drive home well rested.

Which parking offers at BER can be booked via Friend-Park is shown on the page Parking at Berlin Airport. You will find short answers to further questions in the guide Frequently asked questions about parking at BER.