The vast former airport runways with Berlin's skyline visible from elevated viewpoints; unique urban landscape
Tempelhofer Feld, the vast former airport in Neukölln and Tempelhof, opens onto flat, treeless runways stretching toward Berlin's distant skyline, with the terminal building's long curved facade visible from the field's northern edge. There is no elevated public viewpoint inside the park itself, so the classic wide shot is made low, at runway level, using the sweep of tarmac and painted markings as leading lines toward the terminal or the skyline beyond, best worked at sunrise or sunset when long shadows stretch across the empty concrete. Clear mornings after rain give the sharpest reflections on the wet tarmac, while the exposed, unshaded field turns unpleasant in strong midday summer sun both for comfort and for flat, contrast-less light. The park is popular with cyclists, kite-flyers, and picnickers on weekends, so weekday early mornings offer the emptiest runways for clean compositions without figures crossing the frame. There is no entrance fee, drones are not permitted without prior permission since the field sits within Berlin's controlled airspace close to the city center, and a tripod is unrestricted on the open field.
| Best time | morning |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | easy |
Shooting notes
- Equipment
- Wide-angle for the runway's leading lines; polarizer for wet tarmac reflections after rain.
Highlights
- Long, empty runway stretching toward the distant Berlin skyline
- Terminal building's curved 1930s facade seen across the open field
- Painted runway markings as graphic leading lines at ground level
- Wet tarmac reflections after rain at sunrise or sunset
Tips for visiting
- A wide-angle lens low to the tarmac exaggerates the runway's scale and leading lines
- Shoot into low sun at sunrise or sunset for long shadows across the flat concrete
- A polarizer helps cut glare off wet tarmac after rain
- Cycle or walk from the Tempelhofer Damm entrance; the nearest facilities are at the visitor kiosks near the gates
When to visit
Sunrise or sunset on a weekday morning for long shadows across the empty runway and the fewest people in frame.
Accessibility
The field is flat, paved former runway, fully step-free and reachable on foot or by bike from several gated entrances around its perimeter.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an elevated viewpoint over Tempelhofer Feld?
No, the park itself is flat with no built viewpoint; the classic wide shot is made from runway level using the tarmac's leading lines.
Are drones allowed over the field?
No, not without prior permission, since the site is within Berlin's controlled airspace close to the city center.
When is the field least crowded?
Weekday early mornings are quietest; weekends bring cyclists, kite-flyers, and picnickers across the open runways.