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If you’re visiting Berlin and want to know how to get from Schönefeld airport, into the heart of Berlin, it’s quick and easy by train. The train station is only 5-10 minutes walk from the Arrivals terminal and from there, you’re straight on the train into the city in around 45 minutes.

As you come from the baggage pick-up, into the arrivals hall, you can turn to your right to find a tourist information counter, where they can help you with train and city maps and sell you train travel cards too. There are a few different ticket options to consider. You can buy a ticket for a single journey with different price bands depending on how many different fare zones you cross. It will cost around €2.60 for a single ticket into the city. But it’s far better value if you’re in Berlin for a few days to buy a railcard. We bought the Berlin Welcome card, which is a travel card that also gives you discounted entrance to a wide range of Berlin sites. You can use the Berlin Welcome card on trains, buses and trams, so it takes any hastle out of getting around the city. When we visited in April 09 the prices were as follows;

Single Person Berlin Welcome Card (A & B fare zones)
48 hrs €16.50
72 hrs €22
5 days €9.50

Group Ticket for 1 adult & up to 3 children up to age 14 (ABC fare zones)
48 hrs €8.50
72 hrs €25
5 days €34.50

Once you come out of the arrivals hall, you turn left and see a walkway which leads to the train station. There’s a shuttle bus, but it’s pretty painless to follow the walkway directly to the station. Before you go onto the platforms, you need to buy your ticket at one of the machines if you haven’t already bought a travel card in the airport - they take credit cards. Once you have your ticket, you need to validate it in the machine at the entrance to the platform.

Head for the S-Bahn platform which has a White “S” on a green background. Take any S-Bahn in the direction “Spandau” which will take you through the station at “Alexanderplatz”, in the heart of Berlin. Check the train map and you can make a change to any other part of the city you need to go. You’ll probably find good directions on the website of your hotel or hostel.

Have fun in Berlin - it’s an easy city to enjoy.

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