Berlin Schoenefeld Airport is the smaller of the two airports that currently serve Berlin. Located 18km outside the city centre, it boasts good transport links and roads into the city. As the airport is located outside the city limits you could be on the autobahn within minutes and driving to any location in Germany.
Things to See and Do in Berlin
Berlin is a vibrant city with lots of fantastic attractions that will keep you busy however long you are staying for. It is also an incredibly green city as around a third of the city’s area is comprised of woodland, parks, and rivers.
If you are interested in art, then make your way to the Bauhaus Archive Museum. The archive is an extensive collection of pieces associated with the Bauhaus School. The collection is housed in a dramatic building which was designed by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius.
Berlin is a great place for street food. There are so many fast food stalls dotted around the city it gives the impression that the locals are always late for something. However, the real secret behind the extensive street food network is their obsession with currywurst, a steamed, then fried sausage, cut into slices and served with a curry flavoured tomato sauce.
Also a must see is Schloss Charlottenberg, the largest palace in Berlin. This stately home was built in the 17th Century and is a popular tourist attraction in the city. You can gain entry to some of the palace to view the baroque decoration and a room called the ‘Porcelain Cabinet’, with thousands of porcelain objects in it. The palace, however, only holds half of the attraction to the tourists who visit here. The gardens are just as popular as the house and the grounds were designed by Andre Le Notre, who also designed the gardens at Versailles.
Day Trips From Berlin
Just outside the central area of the city is Grunewald, a huge 7,400 acre forest. Stumbling across this mass of green just outside the urban area of the city is typical of the natural connection Berlin has. The Havel River runs through the forest and it is a wonderful spot for walks and picnics. There are also a variety of lakes and ponds waiting to be discovered within the dense conifer woodland.
If you are looking for a longer trip outside of Berlin, then Leipzig is well within driving distance and should take just over an hour to reach. Leipzig is one of Germany’s economic centres and a thriving metropolis. However, the old parts of the city are filled with delightful renaissance architecture, and the historic Leipzig Opera House is famous for the quality of its productions. The city also hosts the Leipzig Zoo and the oldest Botanical Gardens in Germany.
Also within a short drive south of Berlin is Dresden. The city is perfect for a day trip, or even a longer stay. If your time is limited, make visiting the Dresden State Art Collection your priority. Commonly considered to be one of the most important collections in Europe, it consists of 12 museums of which the most famous are the Old Masters Gallery and the Green Vault. You can also spend your time taking in the fantastic architecture or visiting one of the striking religious buildings in the city.
