Compare: Berlin→Vienna (524 km) vs Berlin→Warsaw (517 km). Berlin → Warsaw wins by 7 km (1%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
524 km
326 miles · Flight: ~1h 9min · Drive: ~8h 31min
517 km
321 miles · Flight: ~1h 9min · Drive: ~8h 24min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 7 km (1%) · Flight time difference: ~0 min
Verdict
Berlin → Warsaw is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 7 km (1%) shorter, saves about 0 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 2 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Berlin → Vienna only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Berlin → Warsaw is the shorter route at 517 km, which is 7 km (1%) shorter than Berlin → Vienna. You would save approximately 0 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Berlin → Vienna | Berlin → Warsaw |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 524 | 517 |
| Distance (miles) | 326 | 321 |
| Flight time | ~1h 9min | ~1h 9min |
| Driving time | ~8h 31min | ~8h 24min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~681 km | ~672 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 155° (SSE) | 91° (E) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~134 kg | ~132 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~116 kg | ~115 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$68 USD | ~$67 USD |
Flying from Berlin to Vienna produces roughly 134 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Berlin → Warsaw flight emits about 132 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 2 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 0 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 116 kg and 115 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Berlin to Vienna route covers 524 km (326 miles), staying within Europe. Berlin (population: 3,644,826) is located in Brandenburg, Germany, while Vienna (population: 1,911,191) is in Vienna, Austria.
The Berlin to Warsaw route covers 517 km (321 miles), remaining within Europe. Berlin (population: 3,644,826) is in Brandenburg, Germany, and Warsaw (population: 1,793,579) is in Masovia, Poland.
Flying from Berlin to Vienna takes approximately 1h 9min, while Berlin to Warsaw takes 1h 9min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 8h 31min for the first route and 8h 24min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Berlin, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Vienna and Warsaw as a destination.
The 7 km difference between these routes is relatively modest, so other factors like ticket prices and schedules may matter more.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 681 km and 672 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 9 km of driving.
Vienna (Austria) has a population of 1,911,191 and is located in the Vienna region of Europe. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Warsaw (Poland) has a population of 1,793,579 and is situated in Masovia, Europe. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Vienna (Austria) — a city of 1,911,191 in the Vienna region of Europe. Despite being the longer of the two at 524 km, it makes sense when Vienna itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 681 km of road and a fuel cost band around $68 USD. The initial bearing is 155° (SSE), so a great-circle flight leaves Berlin heading roughly SSE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Warsaw (Poland) — a city of 1,793,579 in the Masovia region of Europe. It is also the shorter of the two at 517 km, saving about 0 min of flying and around 2 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 672 km of road and a fuel cost in the $67 USD range. Departing Berlin, the great-circle bearing toward Warsaw is 91° (E).
Berlin (52.52°, 13.40°) and Vienna (48.21°, 16.37°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Berlin (52.52°, 13.40°) and Warsaw (52.23°, 21.01°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Warsaw is closer at 517 km, which is 7 km (1%) shorter.
524 km (326 miles). Flight: ~1h 9min.
517 km (321 miles). Flight: ~1h 9min.
Flying to Warsaw is faster at ~1h 9min, saving about 0 min compared to Vienna.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.