About ITB Berlin
ITB Berlin is one of the world's leading travel trade shows, held at the exhibition grounds under the Funkturm. Exhibitors from almost every country present destinations, hotels and travel technology in halls organised by world region.
When does ITB happen and who gets in?
ITB Berlin is usually held in early March, over three working days from Tuesday to Thursday. For several editions now it has been a trade-only show: tour operators, hotel groups, tourism boards and travel tech firms, with the ITB Berlin Convention running alongside. That shapes the traffic pattern. Most international exhibitors land at BER on the Sunday or Monday before, and the departure wave starts on Thursday afternoon.
Taxi rank or pre-booked: what changes on ITB Monday
On the Monday before opening, the arrivals level at BER fills with exhibitors from long-haul flights, and the queue at the terminal taxi rank grows accordingly. A cab from the rank runs on the meter, so the fare depends on traffic and on the taxi tariff that applies to rides from BER. With a pre-booked airport taxi your driver is already waiting at the meeting point named in your confirmation, and the price is fixed before you land.
How long is the taxi ride from BER to the ITB halls?
The grounds lie in Charlottenburg, around 35 km from the terminals. On a quiet Sunday evening your driver needs about 35 to 45 minutes via the A113 and A100. On Monday afternoon, when stand builders, exhibitors and commuters overlap, plan for an hour. Rebuilding work on the A100 near the Funkturm junction adds congestion on Messedamm, so a hotel drop-off the night before is often smarter than heading straight to the stand. Route background: BER to Messe Berlin.
Halls by world region: tell your driver the gate
ITB groups its halls by destination region, so your stand number tells you which side of the grounds you need. Ask the driver for the north entrance on Masurenallee, the east entrance on Messedamm or the south entrance on Jafféstraße, whichever is closest to your hall. Exhibitors with brochures, roll-ups or giveaway boxes should note them in the booking so there is boot space; for whole stand teams a minibus keeps everyone together. Other fairs on the same grounds are listed in the trade fair calendar.
Where to sleep when the City West is full
Rooms near the Messe sell out months ahead and rates jump. Two practical alternatives: stay in Potsdam and let the taxi run up the A115 past the old AVUS track, typically 25 to 40 minutes to the grounds, or book one of the BER airport hotels and take the taxi in each morning. The second option makes sense if your flight leaves on Thursday evening anyway.
Thursday afternoon: the rush back to BER
When the halls close on the last day, hundreds of exhibitors head for BER at once. The A100 southbound is slow from about 16:00, and the taxi rank on Masurenallee empties fast. Book your return in advance for a fixed time and gate, allow at least 75 minutes to the terminal and add your flight number. The total price for the vehicle is visible before you confirm, so expenses are easy to file. Departure tips: Berlin to BER.
Checklist for ITB travellers
- Flight number and arrival terminal in the booking
- Hotel address or hall number as destination
- Number of cases and display material
- Fixed return slot on Thursday
- Official hall plan on the ITB website ↗
