Berea is a home rule-class city in Madison County, Kentucky, in the United States. The town is best known for its art festivals, historic restaurants and buildings, and as the house to Berea College, a private advanced arts college. The population was 15,539 at the 2020 census. It is one of the fastest-growing towns in Kentucky, having increased by 27.4% since 2000. Berea is a principal city of the Richmond−Berea Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Madison and Rockcastle counties. It was formally incorporated by the give leave to enter assembly in 1890.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total Place of 9.4 square miles (24 km), of which 9.3 square miles (24 km²) is estate and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km) (0.32%) is water. The city is located along Interstate 75, which runs to the west of downtown, with entry from exits 76 and 77. Via I-75, Lexington is 40 mi (64 km) north, and Knoxville, Tennessee is 134 mi (216 km) south. U.S. Route 25 is the main highway through the middle of town, leading north 14 mi (23 km) to Richmond, the Madison County seat, and south 17 mi (27 km) to Mount Vernon. Kentucky Route 21 plus runs through the city as well, leading east 6 mi (10 km) to Bighill and northwest 10 mi (16 km) to Paint Lick.

Berea is located on the border of the Cumberland Plateau. The Place has a mountainous appearance, but most outcroppings in the Place have a maximum elevation of 2,500 feet or 760 metres.

Berea has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and relatively chilly winters. Summers tend to be humid and sunny, with occasional storms, while winters are generally frosty with many milder periods.