Schönefeld Airport: how to get to, scheme and traveler reviews

The capital of the Federal Republic of Germany has several airports. The main one, serving the lion's share of passengers, is called Tegel. It has been working since the GDR. True, he was located in the territory of West Germany, in West Berlin. Despite the reconstruction and expansion, he gradually ceases to cope with the growing passenger traffic. To help him, Berlin Brandenburg International is being built. This giant aviation complex will replace Tegel in the future. But Berlin has one more airport - Schönefeld. He will be devoted to our article.

Schönefeld now takes mostly low-costers. But if you fly out of Russia aboard the Aeroflot liner, then, most likely, the first steps on German soil are carried out in this hub. Where is Schoenefeld in relation to Berlin, how to get from it to the capital of Germany and how not to get lost in its terminals, read in this article.

Airport History

In 1934, on this site, near the town of Schönefeld ("Beautiful Field"), the Henschel Aviation Plant was built. Up to the end of the Second World War, fourteen thousand aircraft were built on it. To launch them into the sky, laid three runways 800 meters long. When in 1945 the Soviet troops occupied this base, the equipment of the plant was stolen and transported to Russia, and what could not be carried away, it was blown up. But already in 1946 the command had come to its senses and decided to make Schönefeld Airport the main one in the occupied GDR. On the orders of the Soviet military administration in Germany No. 93, from the year one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven, the construction of a civilian hub began. According to the plan, this airport was supposed to serve up to eighteen million passengers annually. Indeed, from 1960 to 1990 it was the main airport of the GDR.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall , Schoenefeld's importance declined. Many airlines have moved to the more developed and equipped Tegel. The second life of Schönefeld was given by charter flights and low-cost. And now the airport mainly serves them. According to the old Soviet tradition, the hub remains an air gateway to Germany for Aeroflot planes departing from Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Schönefeld Airport Scheme

Although this hub is inferior in size and passenger flow to Tegel, but it is also a mini-town. Unprepared traveler here just right to get lost. But, if you think about it, Schönefeld does not represent an intricate labyrinth. You do not need to bother from one terminal to another - unless you have a connecting flight of different airlines. About where to follow in this case, the placard of Schönefeld Airport will be available. In it - four terminals, called uncomplicated, in the first letters of the Latin alphabet. A and B are located in the main building of the hub. If you travel with Aeroflot, then upon arrival you will be met by the first terminal. It also serves the airline Ryanair and some others. Authoritative low-cost fire EasyJet completely occupied the terminal B. Under its circumstances C serves special flights. D - the newest. It opened in the year two thousand five to relieve the main three terminals. It is used by the airlines "Norwegian Air Shuttle" and "Condor".

Where is the airport

The former main air gate of the GDR is located eighteen kilometers to the south-east of the center of Berlin. Nearby is the place Schönefeld, which gave the name of the airport. Since earlier this hub was of great importance, it is connected with the center of the capital of Germany by a motorway and a railway. Below we will look at how to get from Schönefeld airport to the key places in Berlin. The easiest way is by taxi. This is the most expensive way, but not the fastest, because in the streets of a metropolis there can be congestion. But the driver will take you to the place of your destination - just say the address or call the hotel. The taxi stand is located before the exit from the terminal A. All cars work on the meter. A trip from the airport to the central district of Berlin (Mitte) or Charlottenburg will cost you around forty-five euros (at a daily rate).

Schönefeld Airport (Berlin): how to get to the city by rail

If your goal is the main station in the capital of Germany, then Airport Express will be the best solution. This train leaves every half hour. But with the trains of the German Railways you need to be careful. A five-minute walk from the main airport building is the station. But from it depart both regional trains RE, and the express train "Airport Schönefeld - the Main railway station of Berlin", and the S-Bahn train. To get to the city as quickly as possible, you need to stand on platforms 3 and 4.

You should get a ticket in advance. It costs 3.20 € and is sold in vending machines. If you can not establish a relationship with a soulless machine, you can purchase a ticket from an English-speaking cashier who works near the information desk in the arrivals area. The machines are located both in the main building of the airport, and at the railway station and at the bus stop. You need a ticket covering the zones A-C. It is universal and operates on all types of public transport. But the ticket should be composted before boarding the train. Directly on the station platform there are special red bars. If you want to use regional trains (RE7, RB14, 19, 22), then you need not get confused with the direction. You need those trains that follow to the main railway station of Berlin.

By train

In Berlin there are two types of railway transport - U-Bahn and S-Bahn. And if the first is a subway, then the second is a suburban train. Schönefeld Airport connects two branches with the center of Berlin. Trains on both walk with an interval of ten to twenty minutes. S9 will take you to the Pankow area, making stops in Adlershof, Schöneveide, Ostkreuiz, Schonhauser Allee. S45 goes to the south of the city, in Sydkreuz. The ticket is the same as for the train. He also needs composting. Penalty for illegal travel is forty euros.

By bus

What if you arrive in Berlin late at night? How do I get to the city center from Schönefeld Airport? Really have to fork out a taxi (at night rate, such a trip can cost about sixty euros)? For this, there is a bus service. The stops are located both at the railway station and at the terminals exits. For the hurrying passengers express X7 is provided, the next to the station. M. "Rudov". Closer to the center is the route No. 171 (the final stop is to Hermann Platz). From midnight to early morning passengers are served by two night buses. N7 follows the whole city to Spandau, and makes stops at Rudow, Hermann Platz and Jakob Kaiser Platz. N60 - express. He follows without stopping at Adlershof.

The services

Berlin Airport Schönefeld, although inferior to the capital Tegel in glamor and splendor, is nevertheless equipped with everything necessary to ensure that passengers who are waiting for their flight feel comfortable. Numerous scoreboards, visible pointers everywhere will help even those who do not understand a word in German. Passengers board on the sleeves, so there is no need to expose themselves to adversity weather conditions. So if you follow the beaches of the tropical countries through Schönefeld, you can change your dress appropriately at the airport.

In all four terminals there are pharmacies, a first-aid post, bank branches and vending machines for issuing currency, exchange offices, post office, mother and child rooms. There are many restaurants and cafes in the arrivals and departures halls. In the neutral zone, duty-free work. There are many souvenir shops and boutiques in the free access halls.

VAT refund

What needs to be done to return the tax on the value added from the purchases? Schönefeld is the airport in which the "Tax Free" service operates. In order to return the amount of VAT (and it often accumulates in avaricious shopaholics), it is necessary to show purchases with checks when passing customs control. You will be given a form. He needs to fill out and contact him on the counter with the inscription Global Blue. It is located in Terminal A on the second floor. If you want to convert VAT to your bank card, then this service is free of charge. When refunding the tax on value added in cash, a fee of three euros is charged.

Traveler Reviews about Schönefeld Airport

Those passengers who visited Tegel are called Schönefeld small. But nevertheless there is also German neatness. Everything is decorated without unnecessary chic, but with maximum functionality. In the peak of the tourist season, there are queues, as with a small interval arrives charter flights. But if you are registered and have entered the international zone, you can relax.

Schönefeld - the airport is very convenient for shopping. Prices here - as in the city, without over-pricing. Duty free shops have a rich selection of perfumes, watches, children's toys, sweets, tobacco and alcohol. The cafes offer coffee and delicious cakes. There is also an observation deck in the airport, from where it is interesting to observe the take-offs and landings of airliners. Despite the fast and accurate operation of all services, tourists are advised to arrive at the airport in advance. Since the hub is small, queues can arise. Especially for a long time you can podzaderzhatsya to the security checkpoint.