Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is a manageable airport for a long layover or an early start, and you have several ways to get some rest. You can book a private NapCabs sleep cabin by the hour, check into one of two full hotels on the airport grounds, use a quiet rest room or a pay lounge, or simply find a bench. This guide covers every Berlin Brandenburg airport sleeping option, what each costs, and which one fits your wait.
NapCabs sleep cabins
The most practical option for a few hours of real sleep is NapCabs. BER has four soundproof cabins, each with a proper single bed, a small work desk and free internet, located down at the train station on Level U1. You book by the hour with a two hour minimum, and the rate depends on the time of day: about 17 euros per hour from 06:00 to 22:00, and about 12 euros per hour overnight from 22:00 to 06:00. Because they are at the station level, the cabins sit landside, before security.
Hotels on the airport grounds
For a full night with a shower and amenities, BER has two hotels right outside Terminal 1: the Steigenberger Airport Hotel and the InterCityHotel Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Both are a short walk from the terminal and offer restaurants, bars, fitness rooms and meeting space, which the cabins do not have. They are the better choice if you want a real bed for the night or you need to freshen up between long flights.
Quiet rest areas and the lounge
If you only want somewhere calm to sit, BER has a Room of Silence in the check-in area on the gallery level (E2), open to everyone for quiet rest. Note that it closes overnight and reopens at 04:00, so it does not help for a middle of the night wait. There is also a lounge you can enter by paying at the door, around 36 euros for three hours, which includes a quieter rest zone along with food and drinks and is handy if you are already through security.
Sleeping in the terminal for free
If you would rather not pay, you can rest in the public seating. Travelers point to the benches outside the chapel and in front of gate A2, and some restaurants in Terminal 1 have cushioned seating. Two things to keep in mind: most seating has armrests, so lying flat is awkward, and the terminal stays brightly lit, so bring an eye mask and earplugs. The airport is also quieter overnight and some areas and facilities close, which is why a NapCab or a hotel is more reliable if you need proper sleep.
Airside or landside
Where you can sleep depends on whether you have passed security. The NapCabs cabins at Level U1, the two hotels and the Room of Silence are all landside, before or outside security. If you are connecting and stay airside, your realistic choices are the pay lounge and the gate seating. So if you know you want a cabin or a hotel, plan to use it before you go through to your gate.
Tips for an overnight at BER
- For affordable real sleep, book a NapCab in advance, since there are only four cabins and they fill up.
- For a full night or a shower, the Steigenberger or InterCityHotel are steps from Terminal 1.
- Bring an eye mask and earplugs if you plan to use the benches, because the lights stay on.
- Keep your bag against you while you sleep, and set an alarm for your flight.
- Check whether your gate is a long walk from where you are resting, and leave time to get there.
For more on staying near the airport, see our guide to Berlin airport hotels, and for connection planning read our Berlin Brandenburg layover guide.
At a glance: where to sleep at BER
| Option | Location | Airside / Landside | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| NapCabs sleep cabins | Train station, Level U1 | Landside | About 12 to 17 euros per hour (2-hour minimum) |
| Steigenberger and InterCityHotel | Outside Terminal 1 | Landside | Full hotel, per night |
| Room of Silence | Check-in area, level E2 | Landside | Free (closed overnight, reopens 04:00) |
| Pay lounge | Past security | Airside | About 36 euros for 3 hours |
| Public benches | Terminal 1 (near the chapel and gate A2) | Both | Free |
Frequently asked questions
Can you sleep at Berlin Brandenburg Airport overnight?
Does BER have sleeping pods?
Is there a hotel at Berlin Brandenburg Airport?
Is there a quiet area to rest at BER?
How much do the NapCabs at BER cost?
Sources: Berlin Brandenburg Airport (ber.berlin-airport.de) and NapCabs published information; Sleeping in Airports and other airport guides. Image: "BER Terminal 1" by Fridolin freudenfett (Peter Kuley), licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Disclaimer: facilities, prices and opening hours can change. Verify current details before you travel.
