Rediscover Berlin Anew – Now
By BER – Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Berlin is a pulsating, cosmopolitan city. The cultural landscape of Berlin is as multi-faceted as the city itself. In more than 180 Berlin museums and 440 galleries, the thing to do is to discover both important works of art from all eras and the art of tomorrow. The cultural heart of the city is the Berlin Museum Island—the largest ensemble of museums in the world, and part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Exhibits such as the famed bust of Nefertiti, the Pergamon Altar of Antiquity or the Ischtar Gate of Babylon establish the world renown of the collections.
The latest highlight of Berlin’s cultural landscape is the Humboldt Forum in the reconstructed palace in the centre of the city. This new universal museum, the most expensive and largest museum and cultural centre in the history of the Federal Republic, is now a place of culture and science, exchange and debate.
City in Action
But Berlin is more than that: the city offers space for active experiences on the water and for discoveries in the countryside. Berlin furthermore combines lifestyle, shopping and international gastronomy. The city is a playground for creative persons and unconventional thinkers, who try out new ideas in our capital—a city full of surprises and contrasts.
On top of this, there are also festivals such as the Festival of Lights or the Berlin Beer Week, fairs such as the travel fair ITB or the Green Week and events such as Rave The Planet, intended as a successor for the legendary Love Parade. Annual sporting events such as the Berlin Marathon or the International Stadium Festival (ISTAF) or highlights such as the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 round off this wide range.
Opportunities in Tourism due to Corona
Because of the consequences of the pandemic, the tourism figures for Berlin have indeed plummeted dramatically. Only two and a half million overnight stays were registered in the first half of the year—61 per cent less than in the same period of the previous year. The head of the Berlin Tourism Agency visitBerlin, Burkhard Kieker, is convinced, however: “There will be a recovery next year.” The almost 14 million visitors who came in 2019 are unlikely to be equalled before 2024. However, this offers an enormous opportunity for travellers: hotels and tour operators entice with attractive offers, the sights are more easily accessible and Berlin remains an affordable destination when compared with other European cities.
Strong Region, Strong Airport
But Berlin is not just a popular destination for travellers. The city is home and workplace for 3.7 million people from 190 nations. Germany’s largest city is a centre for politics, the economy and culture and located at the heart of one of the most dynamic regions of Europe. Such a region deserves a strong airport. The new airport Berlin-Brandenburg Willy Brandt (BER) opened in winter 2020 and since then has offered new facilities that significantly improve the offers for passengers. Thanks not least to a railway station directly underneath the terminal building, ca. eleven million people are able to reach the new airport within two hours.
New Routes, e.g. to Singapore
Traffic volume is indeed currently only ca. 60 percent of what it had been prior to the pandemic, but the tendency is significantly increasing. Airlines are returning to Berlin; newcomers such as Sky Alps and Play already started their operation to BER. Scoot, a subsidiary of the Singapore Airlines Group, again offers direct flights between Singapore and Berlin and also flights from Singapore via Athens to Berlin. Passengers have the option of disembarking in Athens or continuing their journey under the same flight number. From the hub of Singapore they may reach other destinations in Asia.
Self-Transfer at BER made simple
It is not only possible to travel quickly from A to B above the clouds; this also applies to the new airport. The new service viaBER offers extensive information, offers and cooperations relating to self-transfer at BER. In order to make independent changing of planes at BER as comfortable as possible, all procedural steps have been coordinated.
If travellers with checked luggage are underway, they should collect it after leaving their machine. Afterwards, they simply hand over their luggage again at the check-in-counters of the airline operating their connecting flight. Finally, they go through the security check once more. Anyone travelling with hand luggage only can change within T1 without leaving the aviation security area. Those arriving from the non-Schengen area or departing for the non-Schengen area will in all cases have to go through passport control again.
Berlin—When, if not Now?
The reasons for travellers to visit Germany’s capital city are many, but right now is the best time and opportunity to (re-)discover Berlin. A range of services, value-for-money offers and the proverbial hospitality of its inhabitants make this metropolis an attractive destination. Berlin—when, if not now?
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