Abandoned airport turned into Berlin's biggest park

The former Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, carries a long history since it was first built in 1927. It’s been through World War I, then the Second World War and continued being used between 1950 and 1970 as one of the most important airports in the world. It was abandoned after being shut down in 2008, but gained new life as a green public paradise, which became the city’s largest park.



In a 300 hectares area, up to 52 foreign and 40 domestic flights arrived and departed daily from the airport in it’s pre-war days during 1938–1939. Tempelhof was one of the most iconic pre-World War II airports and was the centre of the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949. The airport’s main building was once among the top 20 largest buildings on earth.



After closing all operations, Tempelhof opened as a city park in May 2010. Newly reformed, the area now counts with many public recreational activities such as a 6km bike path, a running track, skate park, a barbecuing area, a four-acre dog walking field, plus a huge space for picnics, yoga enthusiasts, and layabouts. The airport is also adapted to host large events and music festivals. Entrance is free and park hours are from 6 a.m. until sunset.