About BER to Magdeburg
Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt on the Elbe, is known for its cathedral, the first Gothic cathedral built on German soil, and for the Green Citadel designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Wide parks line the river on both banks.
How does the taxi drive from BER to Magdeburg?
From the airport the car follows the southern Berlin ring westwards to the Werder junction, where the A2 begins. From there it is a long straight run past Brandenburg an der Havel, Ziesar and Burg, before the motorway crosses the Elbe just short of Magdeburg. The A2 skirts the city to the north; the last few kilometres lead through the northern districts into the centre. In total you cover about 160 to 180 kilometres, usually in one and three-quarter to two and a quarter hours.
Why the A2 can make the trip longer
The A2 is the main lorry corridor between Poland and the Ruhr. On weekdays the right lane is a continuous convoy, and an accident can block both lanes for a long time. On Friday afternoons and at the end of holidays it is often slower than on a Tuesday night. Your driver may switch to country roads if traffic reports advise it; for an appointment, plan half an hour in reserve.
Train with a change, or straight to the door?
There is no direct train from BER to Magdeburg. You take a train into Berlin first and continue on a regional or long-distance service, then a tram in Magdeburg. Each change means lifting cases onto a platform and watching the clock in case the first train is late. With two or three people, a stroller or a heavy suitcase, a single ride is far more relaxed. Families can book child seats with the car.
Common destinations in the city
- Cathedral and Green Citadel – the Gothic cathedral and Hundertwasser's pink building are side by side on Domplatz; the car stops on the surrounding streets.
- Hasselbachplatz – the bar district south of the centre, with hotels and apartments in Gründerzeit buildings.
- University hospital – on Leipziger Straße; name the clinic or building when visiting patients.
- Elbauenpark and trade fair – on the east bank of the Elbe, with the Jahrtausendturm as a landmark.
- Hauptbahnhof – for onward travel towards Hannover or the Harz.
Match days, markets and other busy evenings
Home games of 1. FC Magdeburg and the handball club SC Magdeburg draw large crowds, and streets near the venues fill an hour before the start. In Advent the Christmas market occupies the Alter Markt next to the town hall, with barriers and closed side streets around it. If your hotel is in the old town during this period, give the driver a second, nearby street as a fallback drop-off point. Late evenings outside these dates are quiet, and the drive from the A2 into the centre takes only a few minutes.
Magdeburg as a starting point
Some travellers use Magdeburg as a base for the Harz, Halberstadt or the waterway junction near Hohenwarthe, where the Mittelland Canal crosses the Elbe on a trough bridge. If your final address is outside the city, enter it directly. Brandenburg an der Havel lies on the same motorway, see our page BER to Brandenburg an der Havel.
Before you travel: a short list
- Visiting the university hospital? Note the ward or clinic building so you are not dropped at the wrong end of the campus.
- Business travellers: note the company name and gate, especially for industrial sites near the port.
- More than four people? Use a six-seater.
- See all long-distance routes from BER.
