Berlin Brandenburg Airport Terminal 5 (previously Flughafen Schönefeld SXF) closed permanently, but some trains still stop at the nearby station, now known as S Schönefeld (bei Berlin). All passengers departing and arriving at Berlin Airport (BER) use Terminal 1 or 2. Walking to these terminals from Terminal 5 or Schönefeld station is NOT an option — use the S-Bahn trains, as explained in Transportation to Berlin Airport Terminal 1 + 2.
Regional trains to Schönefeld station are rarely the best choice for traveling to Berlin Airport (BER). The public transportation options below are mostly for how to recover when arriving at S Schönefeld station (previously Berlin Airport Terminal 5) by mistake. All passengers departing from Berlin Airport should use transportation information for Terminal 1-2.
→ From S Schönefeld station, use S-Bahn trains S9 or S85 to transfer to Terminal 1-2. (Buses X7 and X71 no longer stop at Schönefeld.)
The official name for the train station in the basement of Berlin Airport is now only Flughafen BER — Terminal 1-2 was dropped from the name in 2024.
If You Arrive at S Schönefeld by Mistake
- do NOT walk to BER Terminal 1-2
- use S-Bahn S9 or S85
- transfer takes only a few minutes
- buy a Kurzstrecke ticket (but no extra tickets needed if you already have an ABC ticket)
Berlin Airport Transportation: Quick Guide
All downtown Berlin ↔ Berlin Airport public transportation options cost the same — a standard ABC ticket. Select whatever service is best for your destination:
- Airport Express Trains (FEX): fastest to Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz & Südkreuz. Trains every 15 minutes.
- S-Bahn: best to East Berlin, slower but direct to Alexanderplatz, Hackescher Markt & Friedrichstraße. S-Bahn S9 runs every 20 minutes.
- U-Bahn: easy access to Berlin’s extensive metro network, but requires a short bus ride (X7) between Berlin Airport and Rudow U7. Very high frequency (every 5 to 10 minutes). Also works late at night.
Start your transfer from Berlin Airport to central Berlin only by FEX, S9, or bus X7, unless you have a very good reason not to. Any other train may add unnecessary complications.
→ Plan journeys at BVG — avoid multi-transfer suggestions whenever possible!
A private transfer directly to your destination is comfortable, especially late at night and when traveling with luggage, but it will never be cheaper than the train.
The Berlin Welcome Card is a good tourist option that includes transportation and discounts to major sights.
Berlin public transportation ticket prices in 2026: €4 for AB and €5 for ABC tickets.
Regional Trains to Schönefeld (Previously Terminal 5)
Two regional trains arrive at S Schönefeld Bhf (previously Terminal 5) and do not continue to Berlin Flughafen BER (Terminals 1 & 2). However, note that for many passengers it would be more sensible to change trains at Berlin Ostkreuz or Lichtenberg than to travel via S Schönefeld Bhf:
- RB24: Eberswalde Hauptbahnhof – Melchow – Biesenthal – Rüdnitz – Bernau – Berlin-Hohenschönhausen – Berlin (Lichtenberg – Ostkreuz – Schöneweide) – S Schönefeld (previously BER T5) (Transfer to Flughafen BER Terminals 1 and 2 by S-Bahn S9 or S85).
- RB32: Oranienburg – Berlin (Hohenschönhausen – Lichtenberg – Ostkreuz – Schöneweide) – S Schönefeld (previously BER T5) (Transfer to Flughafen BER Terminals 1 and 2 by S-Bahn S9 or S85).
Check train timetables at Deutsche Bahn’s English website – (to S Schönefeld / from S Schönefeld). Online tickets are not available for short journeys inside cities, such as the journey from Schönefeld to downtown Berlin, but station vending machines work in English and are easy enough to use.
S-Bahn Trains from Schönefeld to Berlin Airport (BER)
Except for the two regional trains mentioned above, the S-Bahn trains stopping at Schönefeld (old Terminal 5) also stop at Flughafen BER (Terminal 1–2). Buses are no longer available. Walking between Terminal 5 and Terminal 1-2 is not an option.
The S-Bahn train is the simplest way to travel between S Schönefeld (previously Berlin Airport Terminal 5) and Berlin Airport Terminal 1 and 2. Both S9 and S85 connect Schönefeld and Flughafen BER every 20 minutes. (Note that the S-Bahn station Waßmannsdorf is between the two terminal stations and not linked to the airport at all.)
In the direction of Berlin, S9 follows the traditional (slow) route through Berlin via, amongst others, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Zoologischer Garten, and Charlottenburg. It is a good direct option to destinations to the east of Berlin Hauptbahnhof, but using the Airport Express trains (FEX) with transfer is often faster, even to Alexanderplatz.
Berlin Brandenburg International Willy Brandt Airport (BER / BBI) replaced Berlin Tegel (TXL) and Berlin Schönefeld (SXF) airports as the only airport serving the capital of Germany. The name of Schönefeld Airport terminal (SXF) changed to Berlin Airport Terminal 5 (BER T5), but the terminal was permanently closed in 2022 and will not be reopened. All flights to Berlin Airport arrive and depart from Terminal 1-2.
2026: Berlin Public Transportation Bus and Trains Ticket Prices
Berlin public transportation prices in 2026 are as follows:
| Berlin Transport Ticket Prices in € | AB (2026) | ABC (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Prices in € | AB (2026) | ABC (2026) |
| Single: | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| 24-Hours | 11.20 | 12.90 |
| 24-Hours (Group of 5) | 35.30 | 37.70 |
| Berlin Welcome Card 72h | 37.50 | 42.90 |
| Deutschland Ticket Monthly Subscription | 64.00 | 64.00 |
Note: Single tickets are valid for 120 minutes, transfers are allowed, but no return or circular journeys. A Kurzstrecke (€2.80) is valid for 3 train or 6 bus stops — no transfers or journey interruptions. AB is central Berlin, while ABC covers the larger Berlin area, including travel to the Airport, Potsdam, and Oranienburg.
Transportation from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) in 2026
All public transportation options from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to downtown Berlin require an ABC ticket — €5 in 2026. Many further deals and passes offer savings.
- The Airport Express (FEX) trains or S-Bahn S9 trains are the best option for most travelers.
- The U-Bahn train plus bus X7 is worth considering for destinations not close to an S-Bahn station.
- Use direct trains or buses to Potsdam (City) from Berlin Airport.
- 🚖 Check private transfer prices — direct and convenient when traveling late night or with luggage.
Note: Berlin Airport train routes and schedules changed drastically from mid-December 2025 — some guide still have outdated information.
[BER Terminal 5 (previously Schönefeld SXF) closed permanently — all airport transportation stop only at Terminal 1; short walk to Terminal 2.]
For more on Berlin Transportation Passes, see also:
- Top Cheap Berlin Public Transportation Tickets
- Tips on Public Transportation Tickets in Berlin
- Save with the Berlin Welcome or City Tour Card
- Cheap Public Transportation Bus Tours in Berlin
- Deutschland Ticket — €63 for a month of travel in Germany on a subscription ticket (read fine print!)
- Welcome gives online quotations for private airport transfers without first requiring personal details or flight numbers.
- Transportation to Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER).
FAQ: Berlin Schönefeld SXF and BER Terminal 5 Transportation
Is Berlin Schönefeld Airport SXF still operating?
No. Berlin Schönefeld Airport SXF and BER Terminal 5 closed permanently. All flights now use Berlin Brandenburg Airport BER Terminal 1-2.
Can I walk from S Schönefeld station to BER Terminal 1-2?
No. Walking between the former Terminal 5 area and BER Terminal 1-2 is not practical. Use S-Bahn trains S9 or S85 instead.
How do I transfer from S Schönefeld to BER Terminal 1-2?
Use S-Bahn trains S9 or S85 from S Schönefeld to Flughafen BER station. The transfer only takes a few minutes.
Do regional trains still stop at Schönefeld station?
Yes. Regional trains RB24 and RB32 still terminate at S Schönefeld station, where passengers can transfer to S-Bahn trains for BER Terminal 1-2.
What ticket is needed between Schönefeld and BER?
Passengers without a Berlin ABC ticket can use a Kurzstrecke ticket for the short S-Bahn transfer between S Schönefeld and Flughafen BER.
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