Car Hire Berlin Tegel Airport

Driving into the city centre from Berlin Tegel Airport takes around 25 minutes, depending on traffic. Join the Saatwinkler Damm route, head over Westhafen Canal and continue onBeusselstraße road. Driving in Germany is on the right-hand side of the road, with overtaking on the left.

In Berlin, the roads are modern and well-maintained, leading out in almost every direction from the heart of the city. Central speed limits tend to be 50km/h or lower. Major routes are prefixed with ‘A’ for autobahn, and these are the nation’s motorways. The A115, for example, will take you to the neighbouring city of Potsdam – where Frederick the Great of Prussia used to holiday during the summer.

On the autobahn, the maximum speed limit is 130km/h. There are famously some unlimited sections – but 130km/h is still the recommended top speed, and you are encouraged to be mindful of road and weather conditions.

In Berlin itself, it can be congested during commuter hours. If you drive in and around the city outside of these times, it can help keep your journey time to a minimum.

There’s a low emission zone in the centre of Berlin, indicated by signs saying ‘Umwelt’. You’ll find this in a number of other German cities too, including Cologne. Our hire cars and vans come with green permit stickers as standard, so you can drive in these areas during your time here. If you have any questions about driving in this restricted area, our local team can help when you’re collecting your car.

You can leave your hire car in one of Berlin’s multi-storey car parks in the centre. These spacious garages offer parking from around €1 to €4 per hour. There’s also on-street parking, including convenient spaces for sightseeing around Alexanderplatz square and Gendarmenmarkt close to Tiergarten park – although they are often in high demand.

Germany’s capital city is a pleasure to experience for many reasons.

From historical landmarks to palatial buildings and trendy neighbourhoods, there’s so much to explore in this diverse part of the world.

Historical landmarks

Walking around Berlin takes you on a journey through some of the most momentous periods of global history, from the rise and fall of the Prussian Empire to the devastation of the World Wars and the quite literal divide of the Iron Curtain.

Brandenburg Gate is one of the city’s most iconic features – a towering neoclassical monument originally built under the Prussian Empire. It’s a grand entrance into central Berlin, with 12 towering columns topped with a victorious statue of a goddess in a horse-drawn chariot. The gate has been damaged over the years, but in 2003 was restored to its former glory.

On the cusp of the leafy Tiergaten park, just moments away from the gate, the horrors of the Holocaust are quietly remembered at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a collection of grey columns which you can walk among and reflect. There are other museums around Berlin exploring this dark period of world history, including the Topography of Terror.

See where the Berlin Wall used to stand at Checkpoint Charlie, a landmark guard building in the midst of the modern city. While downstream along the River Spree, meanwhile, the East Side Gallery showcases original sections of the wall decorated with street art murals – celebrating its fall.

Reach new heights

When the weather is fine and the sky is clear, there are three superb viewing points in and around the city which are an absolute must.

Berlin Cathedral Church is simply majestic from the outside, with striking domes covered in distinctive copper, and golden crosses and statues gleaming in the sunshine. Head inside and take the steps up to the top of the dome to gaze over the old town.

Elsewhere, on the sprawling lawns of the Tiergarten, you can climb up the spiral staircase to the top of Victory Column, where there’s a public viewing platform. Enjoy beautiful panoramic views over the city’s skyline tucked behind the verdant treetops. It’s a much-loved spot for photographers, and once you reach the top, it’s easy to see why.

From medieval to modern, the Berliner Fernsehturm needle skyscraper is the tallest building in the city. Shoot up in the lift to the viewing gallery or, for a more relaxed experience, book a table in the revolving restaurant.

Riverside splendour

The River Spree meanders through the bustle of Berlin, carrying boats and sightseers along the water. Many of Berlin’s most beautiful buildings are built on the banks of this river.

Follow the curve of the water, admiring the Baroque masterpiece that is Charlottenburg Palace, as well as Berlin Cathedral and Bode Museum, which can be found on the aptly named Museum Island.

The Oberbaum bridge stands approximately 10 minutes’ drive south-east from the centre. Once marking a divide between two neighbourhoods split by the Berlin Wall, this distinctive red-brick structure is now an iconic part of the cityscape, and a representation of this united community.

Whether you’re staying in the centre or venturing out into the wider Berlin-Brandenburg region, car hire at Berlin Tegel Airport offers you invigorating freedom and exciting possibilities during your trip to the German capital. Book now and start planning your trip.