Berlin-Tegel Airport

IMPORTANT: Berlin-Tegel Airport (TXL) permanently closed on November 8, 2020. All commercial flights now operate from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). This guide is preserved for historical reference. For current travel to Berlin, please see our BER airport guide.

Berlin-Tegel "Otto Lilienthal" Airport (TXL) was the primary international airport serving Berlin, Germany's capital, located 8 km northwest of the city center in the Reinickendorf district. Named after German aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal, the airport served West Berlin during the Cold War and became Berlin's main commercial airport until its closure.

The airport was famous for its distinctive hexagonal terminal design, which minimized walking distances to as little as 30 meters from aircraft to terminal exit. Before closure, TXL handled approximately 24 million passengers annually (2019), making it Germany's fourth-busiest airport.

Historical Terminal Layout

TXL had five terminal areas (A through E), though these were essentially sections of one main terminal complex:

• Terminal A: The iconic hexagonal main terminal with 14 jet bridges. Handled major carriers including Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, and intercontinental flights. Each gate had its own security checkpoint.
• Terminal B: Adjacent to Terminal A, primarily for regional flights and smaller aircraft. Also handled some long-haul flights including Qatar Airways Boeing 777 operations.
• Terminal C: Opened in 2007 as overflow capacity. Featured 26 check-in counters and was the only terminal with a transit zone for connecting passengers. Previously served as Air Berlin's base.
• Terminal D: Converted from a car park in 2001. Had 22 check-in counters with bus-boarding to remote stands.
• Terminal E: Located on the lower level of Terminal D with just two gates.

Airlines That Operated from TXL (Historical)

The airport served as a base for Eurowings, Ryanair, and easyJet, along with major legacy carriers:

• Star Alliance: Lufthansa, United Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, SAS, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, TAP Portugal
• SkyTeam: Air France, KLM, Alitalia, Delta Air Lines
• oneworld: British Airways, Iberia Express, Finnair
• Others: Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Icelandair, Hainan Airlines, Aer Lingus

Final Flights

The last scheduled commercial flights departed on November 7, 2020. On November 8, 2020, Air France operated the ceremonial final flight (AF1235 to Paris CDG), exactly 60 years after Air France became TXL's first civilian operator in 1960. Lufthansa bid farewell with an Airbus A350 flight to Munich.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)

All Berlin air traffic now operates from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), located 18 km southeast of the city center. BER finally opened on October 31, 2020, after a notorious nine-year delay. The airport is accessible via S-Bahn (S9, S45), regional trains, and the Airport Express (FEX) to Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

Note: TXL is permanently closed. For current Berlin airport transportation, see Berlin Brandenburg (BER).

Berlin-Tegel was located 8 km (5 miles) northwest of Berlin city center, in the Reinickendorf district.

Historical travel times:

• JetExpressBus TXL to Alexanderplatz: 35-40 minutes
• X9 Express to Zoo Station: 20-25 minutes
• Taxi to city center: 20-30 minutes

Unlike most major airports, TXL had no direct rail connection. All ground transportation was by bus or car.

Historical information - TXL closed November 2020

Taxi (Historical Fares)

Taxi ranks were located outside Terminals A, C, and E. Berlin taxis were cream/beige colored.

Destination	Fare (EUR)	Fare (USD)	Time
Alexanderplatz	€25-30	$27-33	25-35 min
Berlin Hauptbahnhof	€20-25	$22-27	15-25 min
Kurfürstendamm	€18-22	$20-24	15-20 min
Potsdamer Platz	€25-30	$27-33	20-30 min
Friedrichshain	€30-35	$33-38	30-40 min

Fares were metered. Night surcharges (23:00-06:00) and luggage fees did not apply in Berlin.

Rideshare

• Uber: Available but limited in Berlin due to German regulations. UberX operated through licensed taxi partners.
• FREE NOW (formerly mytaxi): Popular taxi-hailing app in Germany.
• BlaBlaCar: For intercity ridesharing.

Historical information - TXL closed November 2020

TXL was served exclusively by bus connections. There was no S-Bahn or U-Bahn station at the airport.

JetExpressBus TXL (Historical)

The primary airport bus route connecting TXL to central Berlin:

Route: Airport TXL → Turmstraße → Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) → Unter den Linden → Alexanderplatz

Detail	Information
Journey time	23 min to Hauptbahnhof, 35-40 min to Alexanderplatz
Frequency	Every 6-10 minutes
Operating hours	05:00-23:00
Fare	€2.90 (AB zone ticket)

X9 JetExpressBus (Historical)

Express connection to western Berlin:

Route: Airport TXL → Jakob-Kaiser-Platz → Zoologischer Garten (Zoo Station)

Detail	Information
Journey time	20-25 minutes
Frequency	Every 10 minutes
Operating hours	05:00-23:00
Fare	€2.90 (AB zone ticket)

Bus 109 (Historical)

Slower alternative to X9, with stops along Kurfürstendamm:

Route: Airport TXL → Kurfürstendamm → Charlottenburg → Zoologischer Garten

Detail	Information
Journey time	30-40 minutes
Frequency	Every 10-20 minutes
Fare	€2.90 (AB zone ticket)

Tickets

• AB zone ticket: €2.90 (single journey, 2-hour validity)
• Day ticket: €8.60 (AB zones)
• Group day ticket (up to 5 people): €23.50

Tickets could be purchased from BVG machines at the bus stop, on the bus (coins only from driver), or via the BVG app.

Historical information - TXL closed November 2020

TXL had several parking areas within walking distance of terminals.

Parking Rates (Historical, as of 2019)

Parking Lot	Hourly	Daily	Weekly	Notes
Terminal A inner ring	€3/15 min (€12/hr)	—	—	Premium short-term
Short-term (Pk)	€0.50 first 15 min, €2.50/15 min after	€140 max	—	Kiss & fly
P1/P2 (Medium-stay)	€4 first hr, €2.50/hr after	€29	€109	Multi-story garages
P5 (Long-stay)	€4 first hr, €2.50/hr after	€26	€75	Best for trips

The first 20 minutes in P5 were free. All parking lots had disabled bays and wheelchair access.

Historical information - TXL closed November 2020

Terminal A had the most dining options. Notable establishments included:

Sit-Down Restaurants

• Red Baron (Terminal A): Grilled meats, poultry, fish, salads, and pasta with runway views
• Ess Bahn (Terminal A): Dine inside a historic 1920s S-Bahn railway car. Famous for currywurst
• Nu (Terminal A): High-concept Asian cuisine with panoramic views
• Trattoria Philippo (near Terminal A): Italian cuisine

Quick Service

• Augustiner Bierbar: Bavarian and Austrian beers with sausages and pastries
• Cindy's Diner: 1950s American-style diner with burgers and fries
• Coffee Fellows: Coffee, espresso, and bagels
• Berlin Coffee: Specialty coffee from Tres Cabezas roasters
• McDonald's, Starbucks, Burger King: Multiple locations

Terminal C

• Cindy's Diner, NU Coffee Shop, Dubrovnik Restaurants

Historical information - TXL closed November 2020

Detail	Information
Network name	Free Airport WiFi Telekom
Cost	Free
Time limit	60 minutes
Registration	Required (email)

The complimentary WiFi service was provided by Telekom. After connecting, a registration page appeared in the browser. Additional free WiFi was available inside Starbucks locations and near airline lounges.

For current Berlin airport WiFi, BER offers unlimited free WiFi via "_BER Airport Free Airport Wi-Fi".

Historical information - TXL closed November 2020

Where to Buy (Historical)

• Capi Electronics (Terminal A): Open 06:00-21:00, sold Blau, Telekom, and Vodafone prepaid SIMs. Staff spoke English.

Prices (Historical, circa 2019)

Provider	Price (EUR)	Price (USD)	Included
Blau Internet Flat	€20	$22	1 GB data, 20 min calls
Telekom MagentaMobil	€10-25	$11-27	Varies by plan
Vodafone CallYa	€10-20	$11-22	Varies by plan

Important: German law requires passport/ID registration for all SIM cards. Activation could take up to 24 hours for video verification.

Tip: Prices at the airport were higher than city shops. Vodafone stores on Friedrichstraße offered immediate activation.

Historical information - TXL closed November 2020

ATM Locations (Historical)

ATMs were available 24/7 throughout Terminal A:

• Berliner Bank ATM: Terminal A departure area (Gates 4, 11, 12, 15)
• Berliner Sparkasse ATM: Terminal A, near Gate 12
• Berliner Volksbank ATM: Terminal A (Gate 9) and Terminal C (Gates 38-57)
• Deutsche Postbank ATM: Terminal A departure area
• Travelex ATM: Terminal A (Gates 0, 3, 6, 12) - EUR, USD, GBP withdrawal

Currency Exchange (Historical)

Location	Hours	Services
Reisebank (Terminal A)	07:00-21:00 (weekdays), 08:00-20:00 (weekends)	Foreign exchange, traveler's cheques, tax refund
Travelex (Terminal A, Gate 0)	18:00-21:30	Foreign exchange, traveler's cheques
International Currency Exchange (Terminal A)	05:00-21:30	Currency exchange
Euro Change (Boulevard Tegel)	07:00-21:00	Currency exchange

Tip: ATM withdrawal typically offered better rates than currency exchange counters.

Historical information - TXL closed November 2020

TXL had approximately 44 shops, concentrated in Terminal A.

Duty-Free (Heinemann)

Located throughout departure areas in Terminal A. Products included perfumes, cosmetics, spirits, tobacco, chocolates, and electronics.

Fashion & Accessories

• Hugo Boss: Men's fashion
• Marc O'Polo (Men's and Women's)
• Esprit: Casual clothing
• Wolford: Women's luxury hosiery

VAT Refunds

• Global Blue: Terminals A and C
• Tax Free Germany / Planet Payment: Terminals A and C

Non-EU residents could claim VAT refunds on purchases over €50.

Historical information - TXL closed November 2020

TXL had limited lounge options compared to major hub airports.

Berlin Airport Club (Terminal A)

The only third-party lounge accessible via Priority Pass and Diners Club.

Detail	Information
Location	Terminal A
Access	Priority Pass, Diners Club, day pass (€30/~$33)
Capacity	~30 seats
Amenities	Snacks, drinks, WiFi, limited runway views

Note: This lounge was often crowded as the only pay-in option at Berlin's main airport.

Air France Lounge (Terminal A)

Detail	Information
Location	Terminal A, near Gate A15 (via spiral staircase or lift)
Access	Air France/KLM/Alitalia Business Class, SkyTeam Elite Plus
Amenities	Pre-made sandwiches, snacks, drinks, WiFi

Standard Air France lounge with wood interiors and red/grey seating. No hot food. Previously used by Air Berlin passengers.

British Airways Lounge (Terminal A)

Detail	Information
Location	Terminal A
Access	BA First/Business Class, oneworld Sapphire/Emerald

Airline Lounges

Lufthansa did not operate a dedicated lounge at TXL, though Lufthansa Business Class passengers could access partner facilities.

Historical information - TXL closed November 2020. Hotels near the former airport remain operational but are no longer convenient for air travelers.

There were no hotels directly connected to TXL's terminal. The closest option required a short taxi or bus ride.

Mercure Airport Hotel Berlin Tegel

• Distance: 800 m from terminal (10-minute walk or free shuttle)
• Price: From €70/night (~$77)
• Amenities: Indoor pool, restaurant, free WiFi, airport shuttle

This 4-star hotel was the most convenient option for early departures or late arrivals. The hotel remains open but is no longer practical for air travel.

Other Options (Historical)

Hotels in western Berlin (Charlottenburg, Zoo area) were 15-20 minutes by taxi and offered better value and city access.

Note: While TXL is closed, Berlin remains one of Europe's most vibrant capitals. Travelers now arrive via Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).

Getting to Central Berlin (from BER)

• Airport Express (FEX): 30 minutes to Hauptbahnhof, €3.80
• S-Bahn S9/S45: 45-50 minutes to city center, €3.80
• Taxi: 35-45 minutes, €50-65

Top Attractions

Attraction	Travel Time from BER	Highlights
Brandenburg Gate	35 min	Iconic city symbol, Pariser Platz
Reichstag	35 min	German parliament, glass dome tours (free, book ahead)
East Side Gallery	40 min	1.3 km of Berlin Wall murals
Museum Island	40 min	Five world-class museums, UNESCO site
Checkpoint Charlie	35 min	Cold War history museum
Memorial to the Murdered Jews	35 min	Powerful Holocaust memorial

Berlin Specialties

• Currywurst: Sliced sausage with curry ketchup (try at Konnopke's Imbiss)
• Döner Kebab: Berlin's beloved street food (Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap)
• Berliner Weisse: Sour wheat beer with raspberry or woodruff syrup
• Eisbein: Pickled ham hock, a traditional Berlin dish

Day Trips from Berlin

• Potsdam (25 min by S-Bahn): Sanssouci Palace, UNESCO gardens
• Sachsenhausen Memorial (45 min): Former concentration camp
• Spreewald (1.5 hours): Scenic canals and traditional Sorbian culture

The Future of Tegel

The former airport site is being transformed into the Berlin TXL - Urban Tech Republic, a technology and research park. The Beuth University of Applied Sciences will occupy the historic terminal building. The northern runway will become a public leisure space. The airport's distinctive architecture has been preserved as a protected monument.