Transportation to Schönefeld bei Berlin (Former Airport Terminal 5 / SXF)

Berlin Brandenburg Airport Terminal 5 (previously Flughafen Schönefeld SXF) closed permanently but some trains still stop at the nearby station which is 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: Transportation to Berlin Airport Terminal 1 + 2.

Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg BER-Terminal 5 (former Schönefeld Airport SXF) at night
Historical Image — The lights are off in Terminal 5 © Günter Wicker / Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg BER

NOTE: Berlin Airport Terminal 5 is no longer in use for passengers arriving or departing from Berlin Airport.

The public transportation options below are mostly how to recover when arriving at S Schönefeld station (previously Berlin Airport Terminal 5) by mistake — any passengers departing from Berlin Airport should use the information for Terminal 1-2. From S Schönefeld station, use S-Bahn trains S9 or S45 to transfer to Terminal 1-2. (From 2024, buses X7 and X71 no longer stop at Schönefeld!) The ticket price Schönefeld to Flughafen BER is a Kurzstrecke, if not using an ABC ticket already when arriving, or planning to continue travel to central Berlin.

Regional Trains to Berlin Airport Terminal 5 Station

Two regional trains stop 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 traveling to S Schönefeld Bhf (previously Terminal 5):

  • RB24: Eberswalde Hauptbahnhof – Melchow – Biesenthal – Rüdnitz – Bernau – Berlin-Hohenschöhnhausen – Berlin (Lichtenberg – Ostkreuz – Schöneweide) – S Schönefeld (previously BER T5) (Transfer to Flughafen BER Terminals 1 and 2 by S-Bahn).
  • RB32: Oranienburg – Berlin (Hohenschönhausen – Lichtenberg – Ostkreuz – Schöneweide) – S Schönefeld (previously BER T5) (Transfer to Flughafen BER Terminals 1 and 2 by S-Bahn).

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.

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Public Transportation from Berlin Airport Terminal 5 to Terminal 1–2

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 and walking between Terminal 5 and Terminal 1-2 is not an option.

S-Bahn Trains at Schönefeld (Berlin Airport BER Terminal 5)

The S-Banh train is usually the simplest and fastest way to connect between S Schönefeld (previously Berlin Airport Terminal 5) and Berlin Airport Terminal 1 and 2 if arriving by regional train. Both S9 and S45 connect Schönefeld and Flughafen BER frequently. 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, S45 is handy to reach Berlin-Südkreuz, where many intercity trains stop as an alternative to traveling all the way to the Hauptbahnhof. S9 follows the traditional (slow) route through Berlin via amongst others Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Zoologischer Garten, and Charlottenburg.

Buses to Berlin Airport BER Terminal 5 (Schönefeld SXF)

JetExpressBus X7 and X71 no longer stop at Schönefeld station — use the S-Bahn trains instead.

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.

Berlin Public Transportation Bus and Trains Ticket Prices in 2024

Berlin public transportation prices in 2024 are as follows:

Prices in €AB TicketsABC Tickets
Single:3.504.40
24-Hours9.9011.40
24-Hours (Group of 5)31.0033.00
Berlin Welcome Card 72h35.0040.00
7-Days (VBB Umweltkarte)41.5049.00
Deutschland Ticket Monthly Subscription49.0049.00

Note. Single tickets are valid for 120 minutes, transfers are allowed but no return or circular journeys. A Kurzstrecke (€4.20) is valid for 3 train or 6 bus stops — no transfers or journey interruptions. AB includes central Berlin, ABC the larger Berlin area including travel to the Airport, Potsdam, and Oranienburg.

Transportation to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)

Public transportation from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to Berlin generally requires an ABC ticket — €4.40 in 2024. Many further deals and passes are available to travelers.

For more on Berlin Transportation Passes see also:

Henk Bekker in armor

About the author:

Henk Bekker

Henk Bekker is a freelance travel writer with over 20 years of experience writing online. He is particularly interested in history, art, and culture. He has lived most of his adult life in Germany, Switzerland, and Denmark. In addition to European-Traveler.com, he also owns a travel website on the Lake Geneva region of Switzerland and maintains statistical websites on car sales and classic car auction prices. Henk holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and an MSc in Development Finance from the University of London.

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