Overview
Berlin is one of Europe's most rewarding city breaks: rich in history, refreshingly affordable and full of world-class museums, parks and late-night culture. It is also easy to reach from the UK, with direct flights from airports around the country landing in under two hours. The fare charts on this page show how prices for cheap flights to Berlin move through the year, so you can see at a glance when it pays to travel.
Best time to fly to Berlin
Late spring and early autumn — roughly May, June and September — bring mild days, long daylight hours and lighter crowds, and midweek fares are often at their best. July and August are the warmest months, with temperatures usually in the low to mid-20s Celsius, but also the busiest. December is popular for the Christmas markets, while January and February are cold, quiet and often the cheapest time to fly. See the When to book chart above for the cheaper windows.
Airlines and routes
easyJet is the biggest operator at Berlin Brandenburg, with direct flights from Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast. British Airways flies non-stop from Heathrow, and Ryanair serves Berlin from Stansted, Manchester and Edinburgh among others. If your local airport has no direct service, Lufthansa and Eurowings offer one-stop connections via Frankfurt, Munich or Düsseldorf. A non-stop flight from London takes about 1 hour 50 minutes; reckon on around 2 hours from Manchester and just over 2 hours from Edinburgh. Connecting itineraries usually add two to four hours.
Things to do in Berlin
Berlin rewards walking, with most landmarks in the central Mitte district and linked by an excellent U-Bahn and S-Bahn network.
- Brandenburg Gate: the neoclassical arch that has become the symbol of a reunited Berlin.
- Reichstag Building: Germany's parliament, topped by a glass dome you can visit free of charge if you book ahead.
- East Side Gallery: the longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, covered in more than 100 murals.
- Museum Island: a UNESCO-listed cluster of five major museums on the River Spree.
- Fernsehturm: the 1960s TV Tower at Alexanderplatz, home to the city's highest viewing platform.
At Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
Berlin Brandenburg opened in 2020 and handles almost all scheduled flights through its main building, Terminal 1. It sits around 18 km (11 miles) south-east of the city centre. The quickest way in is the Airport Express (FEX) train, which reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 30 minutes and runs twice an hour; S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 and several regional trains also serve the airport. One public-transport ticket covering fare zones A, B and C works on all of them. Taxis and ride-hailing take 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Berlin
- For short-haul Europe, booking roughly four to eight weeks ahead tends to land the best fares — use the price charts on this page to confirm.
- Fly midweek: Tuesday and Wednesday departures are usually cheaper than Friday or Sunday.
- Avoid UK school holidays and the peak summer weeks if your dates are flexible.
- Compare budget carriers against British Airways with baggage added, as the fuller fare can end up closer than it first appears.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for Germany for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Make sure your passport meets the EU's validity rules, and check the latest guidance on the EU Entry/Exit System and the forthcoming ETIAS authorisation before you travel. The currency is the euro; cards are widely accepted, though it is wise to carry some cash as many Berlin bars, cafés and smaller shops remain cash-only. No special vaccinations are required — bring a GHIC for state-provided healthcare, and note the European emergency number is 112.
