Car Hire Berlin Schoenefeld Airport

Berlin Schoenefeld Airport is one of two major airports in the German capital city – the other being Berlin Tegel. Located south-east of Berlin, Schoenefeld Airport is around half an hour’s drive from the centre via the A113 motorway, depending on traffic, providing a quick link into the main sights.

Germany is home to the famous autobahn motorway system, which has some stretches where there is no speed limit. However, it is recommended you travel at a maximum of 130km/h, and there are many stretches where limits are enforced.

On rural roads, the maximum speed is generally 100km/h unless signposted otherwise, lowering to 50km/h in towns and cities. Always ensure you check signs for the route that you are on however, as these can vary. Driving in Germany is on the right, with overtaking on the left.

The A10 forms a large circle around the outskirts of Berlin, with numerous routes leading into the centre. Berlin’s main street is called Kurfürstendamm – and this spacious boulevard is filled with designer shops, restaurants and luxury hotels.

Central Berlin is protected by an environmental, low-emissions zone. All our hire cars come with green admission stickers as standard, however, so you can explore these areas in the comfort of your chosen vehicle.

When parking in Berlin, you can look for an on-street space and pay for a ticket at the nearby meter – although, as a major capital city, it can be tricky to find a free spot. However, there are plenty of spacious multi-storey car parks in the centre where you can leave your car too. Hourly rates vary, but you can find garages which start from just €1 per hour.

The neighbouring city of Potsdam is around a 40-minute drive via the A115 route westbound, home to grand palaces and classical buildings. Several hours’ away, and possibly suited to a weekend break, is the city of Hamburg, which sits on a flowing network of canals.

Berlin has a sense of heritage and history, along with the buzz of a modern city that’s constantly developing.

There’s so much to see you can hardly keep tabs on it – with new restaurants, pop-up galleries and festivals in the park capturing the attention of locals and visitors alike.

For a cultural adventure you’ll never forget, Berlin is the perfect destination.

Classical beauty

Berlin is home to so many impressive and grand buildings. The Brandenburg Gate was built in the 19^th century, topped with four horses pulling the Goddess of Victory in a carriage. Today this landmark has become a uniting force, a meeting point in times of triumph and trouble.

Just around the corner, the Reichstag Building – home to the German parliament – sits overlooking the Großer Tiergarten park. It provides a beautiful backdrop for a picnic on a summer’s day, thanks to its Renaissance stone features and a gleaming glass dome.

As you walk around, it’s easy to spot the distinctive copper dome of the Berlin Cathedral Church too – a landmark feature of the city’s skyline. When you get closer, you’ll see the golden crosses and angel statues, forming a truly heavenly sight. Climb up the staircase to the top of the dome – 270 in total – and enjoy vast panoramic vistas over the city below.

Around 20 minutes’ drive west out of the centre is Charlottenburg Palace, a stunning example of Baroque architecture with sweeping gardens and a wealth of treasures to be admired inside. The list goes on, with Sanssouci Palace and the Victory Column, Potsdamer Platz and the Pergamonmuseum – full of art and antiquities – all waiting to be explored.

Sombre history

From murals to museums, the wartime history of Berlin is recalled across the city. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe – also known as the Holocaust Memorial – is made up of thousands of grey columns commemorating those who lost their lives. Admission is free to this poignant space, where you can walk between the monuments and reflect on the tragedy.

Numerous museums go into more detail about this dark period of history, including the Topography of Terror which stands on the former HQ of the Gestapo. While at Berliner Unterwelten, you can descend into the network of tunnels underneath the city, used as air raid shelters and escape routes during the Cold War.

Checkpoint Charlie is a remaining guard house that marks the point where the Berlin Wall stood, dividing the city into east and west following World War Two. Head east along the Spree River to visit the remains of the infamous wall at East Side Gallery, where the remnants of this divide have been painted with colourful murals.

Weird and wonderful

Berlin is well-known as an artistic city, where quirky culture is celebrated in all its forms. You can do things here which you’d never have dreamed of – like floating on a salt water pool to the beat of techno music.

Discover urban art murals the size of houses tucked around quiet corners, go to Peacock Island where there are (you guessed it) lots of peacocks, and feast on German bratwurst in 15 different ways. This weird and wacky culture is the joy of Berlin, serving up the life and soul of the city.

Drive around this vibrant city in total comfort, seeing all the famous sights and more, when you hire a car at Berlin Schoenefeld Airport.