Hi there from Seattle, WA fellow FT family :-)

I did some poking around the internet & FT as per usual just to get some tips of Berlin.

In May, I am going to checkout Berlin for 4 days. So, I am flying into Tegel and found a swank airbnb in the neighborhood of Schoneberg.

From what I have gathered, my only option is taking one of the regularly scheduled buses into Berlin proper, and from there transfer to one of the trains?

Thanks for any advice to this first time Germany traveler.

Patrick :-)

Hi Patrick,

you are right, there is no rail connection from Tegel Airport to the City.

However, Sch�neberg is not very far from TXL, so the journey should not be too bad.

Depending on where exactly you are staying, you can take either the local train (S-Bahn) oder subway (U-Bahn) when you get off the bus.

This map always helps me to get along when I am in Berlin, so maybe this will be helpful for you too:

https://www.s-bahn-berlin.de/pdf/VBB-Liniennetz.pdf

TXL is in the upper left section of the map.

Have a safe and fun trip!

Peter

Sch�neberg encompasses a lot of real estate. You could be near the U2 U-Bahn line. Or, you could be near the Ringbahn. Or neither one. And each of those would require using different transit lines for your journey. However, as was mentoned before, there is only public bus service from TXL. Do you have the street name and house number (or at least the nearest cross street) of where you will be staying?

It's not your only option. The easiest would be to take a taxi.

First of all: THANK YOU to each of you for your kindness in feedback :-)

I submitted my payment request to the owner of the flat in Schoneberg & am awaiting approval. Once I get the address, I'll let you know. Then we can determine the closest point of arrival.

The owner has been quite responsive too, so I am sure he'll be a good guide.

Here is the link to the place I decided upon to rent for the 4 days:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/268391

Now, I am of course thinking if 4 full days in Berlin is enough to see the top historical places while also just having some good old fashioned downtime in the cafes, and other neighborhood watering holes.

Also, I was even maybe thinking of getting to London to visit a family friend of mine after the 4 days. Easy Jet perhaps? Train? hmmmmm.

Hugs to you all for your guidance again.

Patrick ;-)

PS- reservation accepted and completed.

The host via airbnb did reply with very specific instructions on getting to the flat from Tegel. Whew! :-)

But, here is the address is anyone knows of the best way once in the city:

Winterfeldtstra�e 11
Berlin, Berlin 10781
Germany

Patrick :-)

You can either take the X9 bus to Ernst Reuter Platz and then the underground U2 to Nollendorfplatz and walk the better part of a kilometre from there or you could (should) take a taxi which is much more convenient and will cost less than €20. With bags, it's probably the best option. Or you downtown the myTaxi app and register your credit card. Order a taxi as you collect your bags and it'll be there for you when you exit the terminal (one of the great advantages of this ancient airport is that the direct distance between the plane door and the taxi stand is about 45 metres.) PM me if you want more info, I'm in Berlin pretty much every other week.

Danke for the additional information :-)

I do plan on traveling light for this trip, just my FA rollerbag and a small backpack.

Perhaps as you say, I should just make life easy on myself and take a taxi. Since I am saving on the airfare and airbnb, the taxi cost is all a wash.

Right now, I am either going to non-rev out of SEA or PDX to TXL via AMS on Delta.

This is so exciting for me, as I turn 50 on 2 May, so this trip is my little indulgence.

Patrick ;-)

Must add my opinion that the taxi will be far simpler and only a touch more $$$

simple is always best...

:-:


thank you!

Thanks, cost of a taxi was going to be my question. Flying into TXL next week and staying at the IC.

The last time I took a taxi from TXL to the Crowne Plaza (basically the same location as the IC) it was around 15-17 Euros for two passengers.

Always taxi from the airport. Once you are in Berlin, the subway/underground is always cheaper and often faster.

The area you stay in is a great neighbourhood.

Winterfeldtplatz (the square you come across when going from U2 station Nollendorfplatz to Winterfeldststr.) has a farmers' market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which I can recommend. The Nollendorfplatz area also has very nice caf�s.

The other side, around U2 station B�lowstra�e, was a largely Turkish neighbourhood when I lived there (in Winterfeldtstr. actually) a few years ago, with produce shops and Turkish eateries. It seems to have changed somewhat though.

Potsdamer Stra�e, the big street that takes you towards U2 station B�lowstra�e, has plenty of buses that take you to various places in the city. And, of course, the subway line U2 - which runs overground - which takes you to many of the major sights.

You can get a day ticket or weekly ticket for the public transport, which will allow you to use buses, subways and suburban trains within the designated area. Your AirBnB host will probably have all the info for you, but the BVG (local public transport) information counter at TXL will also help you with this.

It's been a large venue for street prostitutes for quite some time.(B�lowstra�e between the two U-Bahn stations, not the B�lowstra�e station itself). If someone wants a nice Turkish experience, I would recommend Berlin-Wedding near the Gesundbrunnen S+U-Bahn station. Or in the Kreuzberg district near the Kottbuser Tor U-Bahn station and Landwehr Kanal.