Berlin Schönefeld Airport is located 18 kilometres southeast of central Berlin and is the city’s second-largest airport, receiving flights from budget airlines across Europe. Originally, Schönefeld Airport served as the primary civil airport of East Germany and will eventually become part of the planned Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
If staying close to Berlin Schönefeld Airport, there are plenty of attractions to visit. Treptower Park is close by, a popular place for locals to visit memorials and sculptures, and enjoy an abundance of greenery. Tempelhofer Park is also a short distance away, a former airport turned public park, is now an ideal area for skating, jogging, cycling, and picnics. The area of Potsdam is a short drive from Berlin Schönefeld Airport, the largest city in the state of Brandenburg. Nestled on the banks of the River Havel, Potsdam has a rich history serving as a prominent location during and at the end of World War II, now features the oldest large-scale movie studio in the world. Glienicke Bridge was said to be the transfer point between East and West Germany for Cold War spies and the Cecilienhof Palace is where the first post-war Allied Forces conference was held. The city has various cultural landmarks which are also worth visiting, including Sanssouci park and palace which are the largest World Heritage Sites in the country. For those wishing to venture into Berlin city itself don’t miss a trip to the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall and the myriad parks and museums the city has to offer.
Getting to and from Berlin Schönefeld Airport is easy, as it has its own railway station which provides good connections in and around the city. The Airport Express runs twice an hour and takes 30 minutes to reach Central Berlin. Several bus services also operate routes to and from the airport and surrounding areas.
Prior to the Second World War, construction began on three runways to serve a local aircraft plant in Schönefeld. In 1945, the facilities became occupied by the Soviet military and eventually the plant was demolished. The Soviet forces then moved their base to Schönefeld Airport, and the airfield was the only one accessible to East German carrier Interflug, as Allied Forces had control of both Tegel and Tempelhof airports. Today, Berlin Schönefeld is an easily navigable airport serving many European commercial flights, and due to its proximity to central Berlin and increasing traffic the airport has plans to become part of the larger Berlin Brandenburg Airport within the next few years.