SXF - Schönefeld Airport and other Berlin, Germany Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: We went to Berlin by Germanwings from Zagreb - bought our tickets few months in advance and paid something like 50 Eur for the return trip. Again, Germanwings showed as the great airline - cheap prices and great service.

They use Berlin Schönefeld airport which is located quite far from the city centre and was once the main airport for East Berlin. There is only one terminal and it's rather small and still has old charm when airports were more about efficient boarding and not about efficient shopping.

The S-bahn station is located approx. 200 metres from the terminal building and if you don't like walking under the covered walkway there is a shuttle bus. S-bahn #9 takes you to the center in little more than half an hour, and there is also an Airport Express that's even faster and costs the same - only 2,20 Eur (Aug 2005) which is a regular price for Berlin public transport.

There are very ambitious plans for the new terminals south of the existing airport when this will become BBI - Berlin Brandenburg International Airport - and will serve as Berlin's main airport from 2011 onwards when Tegel will close.

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Website: http://www.berlin-airport.de

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Berlin is a real showcase of a large city with efficient transport based mainly on rail public transport systems. There are two independent rail systems - U-bahn that runs mainly underground and within the city limits and the S-bahn that runs mainly above ground and its 330 kilometres of tracks efficiently connect far outskirts with the city centre.

The history of Berlin's S-bahn system dates back to 1830s and today it is still fast, frequent, efficient and well integrated with all other transport systems in the city. The ring S-bahn railroad around the wide central area of Berlin marks the transition between fare zones A and B. Red-yellow trains run every 10-20 minutes and reach both the distant suburbs and almost all main spots in central Berlin.

Although operated by a separate company S-bahn is integrated into the unique system of Berlin's public transport system and same tickets are valid on S-bahn, U-bahn, trams and buses. Single-ride ticket costs 2,20 Eur. As soon as we arrived to the airport we bought a 7-day ticket for zones AB that costed 25 Eur (Aug 2005) and it was a great deal even though we stayed in Berlin only for 5 days - Berlin sights are spread on a wide area and we used public transport a lot.

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Website: http://www.s-bahn-berlin.de

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: While S-bahn is fast and efficient the other system - U-bahn is charming and its yellow trainsets are one of Berlin's landmarks. In 2002 the system celebrated its 100th birthday and it was Europe's fifth metro system.

The best thing about the Berlin metro is that its tunnels are very shallow and fare system is based on trust so usually there are only relatively small steps and no barriers between the street sidewalk and the train. Trains run frequently and untill late in the evening. Remember to push the red button on the doors if you want them to open at the station - the driver will only "unblock" them when it arrives to the platform.

On lines U1, U2 and U4 old narrow-body trains still operate and make the ride a charming experience. Some stations are worth visiting - especially low-ceiling ones with nice steel columns on U6 and some nicely decorated and colorful stations on U7.

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Website: http://www.bvg.de

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: In former East Berlin tram system was upgraded and constantly developed in the years after the WWII and these noisy, sometimes slow but always charming vehicles can be spotted in most of the eastern part of the city. Old Czech trams are being changed with new vehicles and there are even plans for some network extensions in the western part of the city.

In the meanwhile some tram and bus lines have been upgraded into "MetroTram" / "MetroBus" service with more environmentaly friendly, user friendly and driver friendly vehicles. (One of the features are sensors that slow down the bus as it approaches the bus station and automatically lower its floor to allow easier boarding. I guess soon drivers will just read newspapers untill they totally dissapear and become replaced by autopilots).

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Website: http://www.bvg.de

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Efficient public transport stretches beyond the tracks with hundreds of bus lines that make a dense network above ground. Most bus stops in central area have displays showing when will the next bus arrive and stops are announced inside the bus so there's no worry of getting lost. Plus, unlike S-bahn and U-bahn buses always offer the view outside so you get the idea of the area.

Many lines are operated by double decker buses and this is a great chance to rest and do some sightseeing, enjoying some nice views from the upper deck. You have to validate your ticket in front of the driver or show him the ticket by entering at the front door only, and when you see a plate saying "Aus-something Hinten" it means that the exit is at the rear ;)

Bus lines #100 and 200 are made for tourists as they connect all sights in central Berlin between the Zoo station and Alexanderplatz, making it a perfect hop-off hop-on opportunity for the low price of the regular ticket. The only thing that differs them from the numerous tourist sightseeing buses is the fact that passengers in sightseeing buses look like they are watching a tennis match as they are trying to follow all "On your left hand side there is a...." directions.

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Website: http://www.bvg.de

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bicycle
Getting TO/AROUND: Berlin is very bicycle-friendly city and although the use of bicycles cannot be compared with Amsterdam or Copenhagen there are bicycle tracks everywhere making the driving easy and safe. Sometimes you need some special zig-zag driving skills but there is always a red driving lane that is left free for bicycles. Well, almost always - I've noticed that mostly American tourists are not very used to these lanes and often wander this colorful part of the pavement annoying busy Berliners on two wheels.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Although I didn't use trains to reach Berlin of course I did spend almost an hour trainspotting all kinds of DB trains in new Berlin Hauptbahnhof. For the first time Berlin is getting its central train station situated just north from the Reichstag and government building complex. The old signs "Lerther Bahnhof are already changed with "Berlin Hauptbahnhof" and the large glass structure is almost finished while the two office towers are still under construction.

Untill Hauptbahnhof is opened (now it serves only for S-bahn trains - Aug.2005) trains for various destinations use different train stations in Berlin and it's always wise to check where to go to reach your train.

Fast ICE service connects Berlin with Hamburg in only 1,5 hours while it takes 4 hours to Frankfurt and Cologne and 6,5 hours to Munich. It takes 4,5 hours to reach Prague and 6,5 hours to Warsaw.

Note that I haven't seen any ticket booths in the new Hauptbahnhof building so you better start learning FahrkarteAutomatSprache ASAP ;)

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Website: www.bahn.de