Tempelhof Field (Tempelhofer Feld)

Tempelhof Field occupies the former Tempelhof Airport in the Tempelhof district, a 386-hectare expanse of runways and grass that reopened to the public in 2010 after the airport closed in 2008, following its central role in the 1948-49 Berlin Airlift that supplied West Berlin during the Soviet blockade. Visitors enter through several gates around the perimeter to find Berliners cycling, rollerblading, and kite-surfing along the former runways, while community garden plots, a community-run brewery, and a dog-walking meadow occupy sections of the surrounding grass. The terminal building itself, commissioned by the Nazi government in 1936 and once the world's largest building by floor area, can only be seen on a guided tour, which covers underground bunkers, the historic departure hall, and the building's aviation and wartime history. A casual walk or bike ride across the open field takes 2 to 4 hours to appreciate the scale, while the terminal tour adds another 90 minutes. Summer afternoons and especially Sundays are the liveliest times, when the widest cross-section of the site's uses, from urban farming to impromptu barbecues, is on display; the openness also means there is little shade, so sun protection matters in summer. Renting a bike at one of the entrance gates is the most efficient way to cover the full runway circuit rather than attempting it on foot.