Tempelhofer Feld

Overview

Tempelhofer Feld is the decommissioned Tempelhof Airport — now a vast, car-free public park where Berliners cycle the runways, fly kites on the taxiways, and tend community gardens in the grass margins.

Highlights

• Runway cycling: Wide-open tarmac runways make for extraordinary urban cycling.
• Kite-flying: The unobstructed wind and flat terrain make this Berlin's premier kite spot.
• Urban gardens: Community allotment plots in the western section, open to visitors.

History

Templehof Airport (opened 1923, current building 1941) was the site of the 1948–49 Berlin Airlift. Closed in 2008, a 2014 referendum decisively rejected development plans, and the field became a protected public park.

Visitor Tips

• Bring supplies: There are no cafés inside — pack water and snacks.
• Sunset: The open horizon creates dramatic sunsets.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.