Why fly from Berlin?
Berlin Brandenburg (BER) replaced the legendary Tegel and Schönefeld airports in 2020 (after years of delays — very on-brand for Berlin). The single modern terminal concentrates all airlines under one roof: easyJet (their biggest German base), Ryanair, Wizz Air, Eurowings, and Lufthansa.BER is 25km south of the city centre. The Airport Express trains (FEX, RE7, RB14) connect to Hauptbahnhof in about 30 minutes for €3.80 with an ABC zone ticket. The S-Bahn (S9, S45) is slower but included in a standard Berlin public transport ticket.
Berlin's advantage is its position in central-eastern Europe. You're equidistant to London and Warsaw, Athens and Stockholm. That geography means short flight times to almost everywhere — 1 hour to Prague, 1.5 hours to Amsterdam, 2 hours to Barcelona. Combined with easyJet's aggressive pricing, Berlin is one of Europe's cheapest departure cities.
Best weekend routes from Berlin
easyJet's biggest German base + Ryanair + Wizz Air = insane competition. €19 flights to Milan, Lisbon, Barcelona are real
Warsaw (1h), Prague (1h), Budapest (1h30) — dirt cheap and impossibly short flights
Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Split — 2–3 hour flights with easyJet and Ryanair from €25 one-way
London (5+ daily flights), Manchester, Edinburgh — easyJet and Ryanair compete hard
When to fly from Berlin
Summer (Jun–Aug): German school holidays vary by state — Berlin's are usually mid-July to late August. Prices spike to Mediterranean destinations during this window. Book early or fly to cities (London, Amsterdam) instead of beaches.
Autumn (Sep–Nov): Absolute bargain season. Post-holiday, pre-Christmas. easyJet drops prices to fill planes — €30 return to Barcelona is realistic in October.
Winter (Dec–Feb): Christmas markets elsewhere (Prague, Vienna, Budapest) are popular — book early for those. Otherwise, Europe is cheap. London weekends from €25 return in January.
Spring (Mar–May): Prices slowly climb. Easter bumps things up for a week. Late March and early May are excellent value — warm enough in southern Europe, cold enough in Berlin that everyone wants to leave.
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Airport insider tip
BER's Terminal 1 has a viewing terrace on the roof — free to access. Good spot to kill time if your flight is delayed. The airport WiFi is free and fast. Skip the overpriced Terminal restaurants and grab a Döner at the S-Bahn station instead.
Frequently asked questions
Which airlines fly from Berlin Brandenburg?
easyJet is the dominant carrier (biggest German base), followed by Ryanair, Eurowings (Lufthansa's budget arm), Wizz Air, and various legacy carriers. Turkish Airlines, SAS, and LOT also operate from BER.
How do I get to Berlin airport?
Airport Express (FEX) from Hauptbahnhof takes 30 minutes, €3.80 with ABC ticket. S-Bahn S9 from Alexanderplatz is slower (45 min) but runs more frequently. Taxis cost €40–50 from central Berlin — not worth it unless you're in a group.
Is Berlin a good base for weekend trips?
One of the best in Europe. Central location means 1–2 hour flights to almost anywhere. easyJet's massive presence keeps prices low. And Berlin's relatively cheap cost of living means you can afford the flights AND the trip.
What day are Berlin flights cheapest?
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday departures are usually cheapest. Friday evening departures command a premium. For returns, Sunday midday beats Sunday evening by 20–30% on most routes.