During the 1948 Berlin Airlift, planes landed or took off from the airport every 90 seconds.
The terminal building was designed to resemble an eagle in flight with its expansive, curved hangars.
At the time of its completion, the terminal was one of the twenty largest buildings on Earth.
The site contains a complex network of underground bunkers and tunnels constructed for civilian protection and industrial use.
Tempelhofer Feld is home to a unique microclimate and specific species of bees and rare birds due to its lack of chemical fertilizer use.
The airport was used by the US Air Force from 1945 until 1993, long after the civilian airport had shifted focus elsewhere.
The airfield's grass areas are managed via a conservation plan that prohibits mowing during bird nesting seasons.
Parts of the facility served as a Nazi-era production site for Junkers aircraft, employing forced labor in the subterranean levels.
Tempelhof Airport is one of the world's largest listed buildings, serving as a former Nazi-era airport and a pivotal site during the 1948 Berlin Airlift. Following its closure as an active airport in 2008, the site was transformed into a 355-hectare public park known as Tempelhofer Feld. The massive terminal building remains, housing historical exhibitions and offering guided tours of its bunkers, underground tunnels, and control towers. Visitors can walk, cycle, or skate directly on the former runways and taxiways. The site features extensive meadows designated as a protected habitat for ground-nesting birds, such as the skylark. The architectural design is characteristic of the monumental National Socialist style intended to project state power. It is currently the largest open space in central Berlin, utilized for major public events, urban gardening projects, and kite flying. Ongoing interior renovations allow for partial access to its vast, labyrinthine structural interior.
The central intersection of the two main runways provides an unobstructed 360-degree view of the vast space.
Bring a bicycle or rent one nearby to navigate the vast runways efficiently.
Wear sunscreen and head protection as the open airfield offers almost no natural shade.
Check the official website for guided tour slots, as interior areas are not accessible without a guide.
Do not attempt to explore the interior building without a booked tour, as most doors remain locked and strictly monitored.
The park is generally open from sunrise to sunset daily; terminal building interior tours are subject to seasonal availability.
Cyclists must stay on designated paths; do not stray into restricted wildlife nesting zones.
