Airport Guide to Schoenefeld (SXF)

Airport Overview

Terminal Transfer | Getting into Town | Car Parking | Information Desks | Airport Facilities

Berlin Schonefeld Airport (SXF) is situated in what was previously East Berlin and is 18km (11 miles) southeast of the city centre.

Berlin Schonefeld Airport is a popular gateway into Berlin and the eastern side of Germany. Although currently the smaller Berlin’s two airports, it is undergoing a major upgrade. From mid-2012 it will be known as Berlin Brandenburg Airport and will accept all air traffic to and from Berlin.

Schonefeld Airport is used by a lot of low-cost carriers offering passengers a cheap and easy option for a weekend break in Berlin. It is a hub for Germanwings and easyJet. Many other airlines offer flights to Berlin Schonefeld Airport and it is connected to a range of cities across Europe and North Africa.

Although the airport is in the midst of an upgrade, German efficiency ensures that it is still a great airport to use when flying into Berlin.

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Terminal Transfer

Although the airport has four terminals (A, B, C and D) the airside part of the concourse is all joined so the terminals are only important when checking in. Terminal C is only used on special occasions and the rest of the terminals are within easy walking distance of one another.

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Getting into Town

Train: The airport express train station is a short (400 metre) walk, along a covered footpath, from Terminal A. The Airport Express train takes just half an hour to reach the main railway station in Berlin, known as Hauptbahnhof. The train tickets use the same ticketing system as the buses in Berlin. Passengers need to pick how many zones they will be travelling through and the ticket price is adjusted accordingly. A trip from Schonefeld Airport to central Berlin will cost €2.10. The Airport Express Train is the fastest train from the airport into the city. It runs every 30 minutes, from 5am until 11pm. S-bahn trains are also available from the airport station, but they are slightly slower than the express train.

Taxis: Taxis can be found on both the lower and upper levels, but mainly on the lower level outside Terminal A. The trip into central Berlin takes between 20 and 30 minutes and generally costs about €40.

Bus: Taking a bus from Schonefeld Airport into Berlin is the best way to get into town. Fares are determined according to the number of zones you pass through in order to arrive at your destination. There are two zones (A and B) between Schonefeld and central Berlin. Tickets into town cost about €6 and they can either be bought at the ticket vending machine inside the terminal or on the bus. The express airport buses (BCG) run the most frequently and are generally the best buses to catch between the airport and central Berlin. BCG Jet Express Bus No. X9 as well as BVG Jet Express TXL Bus and BVG buses No. 109 and No. 128 all make the trip from the airport into Berlin. During the week buses tend to run between 4:30am and 12:30am at 30-minute intervals with more buses during the peak hours of the day. Buses run less frequently at the weekend.

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Car Parking

Passengers driving to Schonefeld Airport will easily find parking in one of the parking lots available. The cheapest parking garage is P6, which is for long-term parking. The first hour costs €8, but it is only €19 for 24 hours, €79 for the first week and €99 for two weeks. For people going to the airport who aren’t sure if they want long- or short-term parking, P4 is a multi-parking garage. You can expect to pay €4 for the first hour, €8 for the second hour and €3.50 for each hour after that up to €25 for 24 hours. A week’s worth of parking in P4 will cost €109, while parking for two weeks costs €129. The short-term parking at Schonefeld Airport costs €3 per 20 minutes up to a maximum charge of €60 per day. However, the first ten minutes in P2 are free. All the parking garages have disabled bays and facilities, and disabled persons receive a 50 per cent discount on long-term parking if they have a disabled person’s card.

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Information Desks

The airport’s information desk is located in Terminal A on the ground floor. The staff are friendly and speak German and English. There is also a tourist information desk located on the same floor with multilingual staff and pamphlets outlining major tourist attractions and events in Berlin. The information desk is also great when it comes to dispensing information about the best routes to and from the airport into central Berlin.

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Airport Facilities

Money and communications: Schonefeld Airport is well equipped with ATMs, a post office, Global Blue Tax Refund offices and currency exchange.

Luggage: The lost and found desk is easy to find and is located in Terminal A on the ground floor. A baggage storage facility is available in parking garage P4 at a cost of €2 per day for small bags and €4 per day for larger bags.

Conference and business: The airport lounges, particularly the Hugo-Junkers Lounge, have fax, Internet, photocopying and printing services. For business people wishing to make use of conference facilities, head to the Airport Conference Centre Berlin Schonefeld, which is located 1km (0.6 miles) from the terminal. The conference centre can also be booked via the airport’s website.

Other facilities: The tourist information office is a great place to start your trip to Berlin. The Schonefeld Airport also has VIP services and lounges as well as baby changing room facilities and wheelchair access.

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport. Costs vary depending upon which service provider you prefer. Simply open your browser and the airport’s wireless webpage will load and give you the service provider options. Many of the airline lounges offer free Wi-Fi access.

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