Breathe in fresh air and enjoy open space at Tempelhofer Park, one of the largest urban parks in Berlin. A famous airport up until 2008, Tempelhof was later reclaimed by the city and repurposed for public use. Today, this vast park, which covers an area larger than Monaco, contains long paths for jogging, rollerblading and cycling, as well as spacious swaths of grass for playing sports and lazing about on.
Berlin Tempelhof Airport was most well-known for being the main hub of the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, when vital supplies were delivered to the city by Western Allies during a Soviet blockade. What is less widely known is that prior to the airport’s construction in the 1920s, this site was occasionally used as a leisure space as well as parade ground for the military.
Leave the bustle of Berlin’s urban streets behind as you enter the gigantic 890-acre (360-hectare) park. With plenty of green fields and wide lawns, there is enough room for all the adventures and activities you have energy for. Bring a kite to fly if it’s windy, a picnic to eat in the sun or simply sit and watch pets run loose in the special, fenced-off dog areas.
Look for the enormous and severe limestone terminal building, a Third Reich landmark where the Nazis, during World War II, used forced labour to produce weapons. This old airport infrastructure now hosts a variety of events, including fashions shows, concerts and fairs. Pay a fee to join a guided tour of the terminal and discover more. Tours take place on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday and last for approximately 2 hours.
To get to Tempelhofer Park, ride the U-Bahn to Paradestrasse station on the western border of the park or take the S-Bahn to Hermannstrasse station in the south. The three park entrances are found at Columbiadamm, Tempelhofer Damm and Oderstrasse. Print out a map beforehand to help you find your way around.
