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Once constructed as one of Europe's largest commercial airports, Tempelhof Airport today has been a site of tranquility and leisure since its close-down in 2008. The airfield has been turned into a vast inner-city park, and the listed airport building into a venue hosting large events, festivals and trade shows. Although the future use of Tempelhof Airport remains unclear, the historic site will remain the effective monument to the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949.

In June 1948 the Soviet Union made an attempt to take control of the whole of Berlin by cutting off surface rail and street access to and from the western part of the city. If successful this action would have resulted in effectively starving out over 2 million Berliners of food supplies. The US Truman administration's reaction to the Blockade was to provide a daily airlift by the Allies to ensure that food and supplies continued to reach Berliners living in the western Sector. More than 5,000 tons of supplies were delivered daily.

The so-called "Airbridge" lasted until September 1949 when the Soviet government finally lifted the blockade. Popular stories about "raisin bombers" and the "Chocolate Pilot" are still told to children today. For many Berliners, especially the older generation, Tempelhof Airport remains a symbol of freedom and belongs to Berlin as much as Brandenburg Gate.

Tempelhof also has a significant place in aviation history. Flights have been taking off from here since the early 20th century. Aviation pioneer Orville Wright gave a flight demonstration here in 1909. Its history as a commercial airport dates back to 1923, and the airline Deutsche Luft Hansa was in founded in Tempelhof in 1926.

Tempelhof Airport closed down to the public in 1975 when it was replaced by Tegel Airport, also known for its highly original design. The architects, Meinhard von Gerkan, Volkwin Marg and Klaus Nickels came up with a circular, hexagonal drive-in access structure, which takes passengers directly to their respective departure Gates.

The Luftbrückdenkmal (Airlift Memorial) is located right outside the airport to honour those who fought for freedom in the city by participating in the supplies action. The monument is dedicated to the 79 pilots and personnel who lost their lives during the Airlift.

As flight operations eventually ceased in 2008, the city of Berlin regained a vast inner-city open space and one of the largest central buildings in the world. The former runway is ideal for taking a stroll or riding a bike and enjoy the broad expanse of the airfield which stretches to the horizon and gradually develops into a park.

The airport's Visitor Centre invites anyone interested to take a closer look at the history of this architectural monument. In addition to current exhibitions, visitors can find out about future projects relating to the airport buildings. From 1 March 2020, various thematic tours of Tempelhof Airport will start from the Visitor Centre.