Terminals at BER Airport: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and what this means for parking

BER has an eventful history – and several changes to its terminals. If you were last in Schönefeld a few years ago, you may still remember the old terminal that was later called Terminal 5. Today, passenger operations run through Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. This is important for drivers, because both terminals have their own forecourts. This guide explains the layout and what it means for getting there and parking.

Terminal 1 – the main terminal

Terminal 1 is the central building of BER. Most of the check-in areas are located here, and BER Airport station is beneath the terminal. Many airlines handle their flights here. In front of the terminal there is a separate forecourt for cars.

Terminal 2 – north of Terminal 1

Terminal 2 lies north of Terminal 1. It is connected to the main building via Pier North. What matters for drivers: Terminal 2 has its own forecourt. If you drive to the wrong terminal, you can switch on foot, but you lose time – particularly annoying with luggage.

What about Terminal 5?

The former Terminal 5 was the former Schönefeld Airport. It is closed to passengers. Satnavs with old maps or old habits can send you in the wrong direction. So enter the specific address from your car park booking.

How to find your terminal

1. Look in your airline's booking confirmation or e-ticket.
2. Check the airline's app – the terminal is often shown directly with the flight.
3. Look at the day's departures on ber.berlin-airport.de.

For codeshare flights, the operating airline is decisive, not the one you booked with.

What the terminal means for parking

Valet

The meeting point may depend on the terminal. State your terminal when booking. More in the guide Valet parking at BER.

Shuttle

The shuttle drops you off at the terminal and picks you up there on your return. The stops are listed in the confirmation. More: Shuttle parking at BER.

Parking yourself

The airport's parking areas are located near the terminals. Choose the area that suits your terminal; location and rates are on the BER website.

Driving to the terminals

The A113 takes you directly to the airport. Shortly before the airport grounds, the signs split for Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Follow the correct lane in good time. The route in detail: Getting to BER by car.

To the terminal by train

If you are not coming by car: BER Airport station beneath Terminal 1 is served by the Airport Express (FEX), regional trains and the S9 and S45 suburban lines. From there, stairs and lifts lead directly into the terminal. If you are flying from Terminal 2, you walk a little further from the station – allow a few extra minutes for this. For people collecting a car who arrive by train and drive back, the station is a practical meeting point.

A look at the history of the terminals

BER opened at the end of October 2020, after many years of delay. Initially, operations ran through Terminal 1 and the former Schönefeld terminal, which continued as Terminal 5. Terminal 2 began operations in March 2022. The former Terminal 5 is now closed to passengers, and since the end of 2023 the station beneath the main terminal has simply been called “Flughafen BER”. If you know this development, you understand why older directions, satnav data or memories are sometimes no longer correct. Rely on current information from your booking and on the signs on site.

How Terminal 1 is laid out

Terminal 1 is the large main building of BER. It combines check-in areas, security checks, baggage reclaim and access to the station located beneath it. From here, the piers lead to the gates. What is important for drivers: the Terminal 1 forecourt is the central point of arrival for many flights, so it is correspondingly busy on holiday days. If you only stop briefly at the forecourt to drop someone off, you should know the stopping rules that apply.

How Terminal 2 is used

Terminal 2 was built as an addition to Terminal 1 to relieve passenger handling. It lies north of the main building and is connected via Pier North. Which airlines handle their flights here may change with flight schedules. That is why the rule always applies: the terminal is stated in your travel documents, and that is exactly the terminal you head for. On your return, you may arrive in a different area from the one you departed from – check this before your return flight.

Train travellers and drivers meet

Many travellers combine car and train: one drives, the other comes by train from the city. A practical meeting point is the access from the station into Terminal 1, because it is clearly signposted. If you arrange to meet here, you will find each other quickly, even if one of you is at BER for the first time.

Orientation for those collecting by car

Those picking someone up should ideally head for a parking area near the arrivals terminal and wait there until the flight has landed and the luggage has arrived. The arrival time can be tracked online. This way you avoid circling the forecourt for a long time and can calmly meet the arrivals at the agreed point.

Time planning in the terminal

For planning on the day of departure, it helps to put the steps in the terminal in order: after parking, you go to your airline's bag drop, then to the security check and finally to the gate. For flights outside the Schengen area, exit passport control is added. Waiting times vary greatly – experience shows that it is busier early in the morning and at the start of the holidays than on a Tuesday afternoon. Your airline's recommended check-in time takes this into account; stick to it and plan parking before it.

Routes with reduced mobility

If you travel in a wheelchair or have difficulty walking, you should register for assistance with your airline in good time. The terminals have lifts, and the airport provides information about its services on its website. When parking, a valet meeting point near the terminal shortens the distances; state any special needs in the notes field of the booking so that the provider can prepare for them.

Conclusion

BER is easier to navigate than its reputation suggests: Terminal 1 as the central building with the station, Terminal 2 to the north next to it, the old Terminal 5 out of service. If you check your terminal before setting off and enter the address of your car park booking in your satnav, you will reach your destination without detours.

A tip for first-time visitors

If you are at BER for the first time, you should allow ten minutes for orientation. The signage is good, but the site is large. A screenshot of the site map on your phone helps you know where the forecourt, parking areas and station are, even without a signal. On your second visit you will no longer need this time.

And once you know BER, you quickly notice: with the right terminal in mind and the car park address in your satnav, the way from the car to the gate is short and clear.

Have a good trip from Schönefeld – and a relaxed return when you arrive back at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 after your holiday and find your car again without detours.

In the terminal

After parking come check-in or bag drop, the security check and the walk to the gate. Your airline will tell you how early you should be there. Expect waiting times on holiday days. How to plan the time backwards is explained in the guide Reserving a car park at BER.

All parking options at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 – and whether offers can be booked via Friend-Park – can be found on the page Parking at Berlin Airport.