BER airport terminal guide: navigating arrivals, exits and pickup points

BER is not a complicated airport. It has two terminals, one train station, and a layout that mostly makes sense once you have walked through it once. The problem is that first time. Nobody explains what you actually see after you step off the plane, and the official airport maps are designed for architects, not for someone dragging a suitcase at midnight.

We pick people up at BER every day. Here is what you need to know before you land.

Terminal 1 vs Terminal 2: which one are you arriving at?

BER has two active terminals. Terminal 5 (the old Schonefeld building) closed permanently in 2022. Everything now goes through T1 or T2.

Terminal 1 is the main building. Most airlines use it, including Lufthansa, easyJet, and most full-service carriers. It is the bigger terminal, with more gates, more shops, and more infrastructure. The train station sits directly underneath it.

Terminal 2 is smaller and mostly handles low-cost carriers. Ryanair and Wizz Air fly out of T2. It opened in 2022 and feels newer but more bare-bones, fewer shops, fewer restaurants, and a simpler layout.

Check your airline’s terminal before you fly. It is printed on your boarding pass, and your airline’s website will confirm it. Getting this wrong is not a disaster since the terminals are connected, but it is an annoying 10-minute walk you did not need.

Terminal 1: floor by floor

T1 has five levels above ground and two below. You do not need to think about most of them. Here is what matters:

• Level E0 (ground floor) is where you end up after collecting your bags. This is the arrivals hall. Exits, taxis, buses, rental cars, and pickup points are all here.
• Level E1 is departures: check-in counters, security, shops, and Schengen gates. You only see this level if you are flying out.
• Level E2 has non-Schengen departure gates, lounges, and a food court. Again, only relevant when leaving.
• Level U2 (underground) is the train station. FEX, S-Bahn S9, S85, and regional trains all stop here. Two floors below the arrivals hall.

The two levels you care about when arriving: E0 (where you exit the building) and U2 (where you catch a train).

What happens after you land at Terminal 1

Here is the actual sequence, because nobody seems to write this out:

1. Your plane lands and you walk through the jet bridge into the terminal. Follow signs to “Baggage Claim.” The signage is in German and English.
2. If you arrived from outside the Schengen area (UK, US, Turkey, etc.), you go through passport control first. Lines vary. Early morning and late evening tend to be faster. Midday, when European and intercontinental flights cluster, can mean 20-40 minutes of waiting.
3. After passport control (or directly after leaving the gate for Schengen flights), you reach the baggage carousels. Screens above each carousel show flight numbers. Luggage carts are free, which is a nice change from some airports that charge for them.
4. Grab your bags, walk through customs. Green channel if you have nothing to declare. Almost everyone does.
5. You come out into the arrivals hall on level E0. This is where everything splits.

The arrivals hall: which way to go

Once you are through customs and into the E0 arrivals hall, you will see exit doors ahead of you. What you do next depends on how you are getting into Berlin.

If you are taking a train (FEX, S-Bahn, regional):

• Look for signs that say “Trains” or the red DB/S-Bahn symbols
• Head down two levels to U2
• Escalators and lifts are signed from the arrivals hall
• The walk from baggage claim to the platform takes about 5 minutes at a normal pace
• Buy your ticket from the yellow BVG machines on the platform or use the BVG app before boarding

If you are taking a taxi:

• Exit through the main doors on level E0
• The taxi ranks are directly in front of Terminal 1, both to the north and south sides of the building
• Just follow the “Taxi” signs. They are well-marked.
• During busy times (10am-2pm especially), expect a 15-20 minute queue

If you booked a ride-hailing app (Uber, Bolt, FREENOW):

• There is a designated “Ride App Pick Up” zone on the approach lane at level E0
• Request your ride on the app first, then walk to the pickup area
• Signs for the zone are posted, but they are easy to miss if you are not looking for them. Head outside and look for the designated lane to the right.

If you have a pre-booked private transfer:

• Your driver will typically be waiting inside the arrivals hall near the exit, holding a sign with your name
• At Berlin City Transfer, we track your flight in real-time. If it is delayed, the driver adjusts. You do not need to call or message.
• Once you meet your driver, they will carry your luggage and walk you to the vehicle, parked nearby on E0 level
• We include 60 minutes of free waiting time after landing, so take your time at baggage claim

If you are renting a car:

• Car rental desks are on level E0 in the arrivals hall
• The actual vehicles are in the P2 multi-storey car park, a short walk from the terminal
• You will get directions at the rental counter

What about Terminal 2?

T2 is simpler. It is a smaller building with fewer levels:

• Level E0 handles check-in, baggage claim, and arrivals
• Level E1 has security and gates

When you arrive at T2, you collect your bags and exit through the arrivals area on E0. Here is where it gets slightly inconvenient: T2 does not have its own taxi rank or train station.

To catch a train, take a taxi, or meet a private transfer driver, you need to get to Terminal 1. You have two options:

• Walk. A covered walkway connects T2 to T1 on the arrivals level. It takes about 10 minutes at a normal walking pace. It is flat, paved, and covered, so weather is not an issue. It is well-signed.
• Shuttle bus. A free shuttle runs between the terminals every 5-10 minutes. The stops are outside both terminals. This is worth using if you have heavy luggage or mobility issues.

If you booked a private transfer with us, let us know you are landing at T2. We can arrange to meet you at the T2 arrivals exit instead, so you do not need to walk to T1.

The spots that confuse people

A few things that trip up first-time arrivals at BER, based on what our drivers hear from passengers:

“I could not find the train station.” It is underground. You will not see tracks or platforms from the arrivals hall. Look for the red DB or S-Bahn signs pointing downward. Take the escalator or lift down two levels to U2.

“The taxi queue was empty / insanely long.” It varies by time of day. Mid-morning and early afternoon are worst. Early morning and late evening, you might walk straight to a car. There is no way to know in advance.

“My Uber could not find me.” The Ride App Pick Up zone is a specific lane, not the main taxi area. If you are standing at the taxi rank, your Uber driver cannot pull in there. Open the app, check the pin location, and walk to the marked lane.

“I went to the wrong terminal.” Happens more than you would think. If you end up at T1 but need T2 (or vice versa), follow signs for the walkway connection. Ten minutes and you are there.

“I did not validate my train ticket.” BVG tickets bought from machines need to be stamped in the small yellow or red validators before you board. The app-purchased tickets do not need stamping. Getting caught without a valid ticket means a €60 fine, and inspectors check regularly on the FEX.

Quick reference

What you need	Where to go	Level
Train (FEX, S-Bahn)	Below Terminal 1	U2
Taxi	Front of Terminal 1	E0
Uber/Bolt/FREENOW	Ride App Pick Up lane	E0
Private transfer pickup	Arrivals hall, T1 or T2	E0
Rental car desks	Arrivals hall, Terminal 1	E0
Rental car parking	P2 car park	E0
Bus (X7, X71)	Bus stops in front of Terminal 1	E0
Terminal 2 shuttle	Outside both terminals	E0

Frequently asked questions