Berlin Südkreuz luggage storage

About the station 

While it’s easy to feel the magnetic pull of Berlin’s central districts, this is a city that you’ll want to explore every corner of. With landmarks literally everywhere and a bohemian population that has developed little pockets of culture throughout the city’s many neighborhoods, you should absolutely check out places like Friedrichshain, Neukölln, and especially Schöneberg.

Situated south of the city center near the Tempelhof Field, Schöneberg is known for its leafy boulevards, stylish restaurants, and an overall relaxed vibe that makes it a haven for locals and travelers looking for a more authentic experience. Schöneberg is also home to Berlin’s largest LGBTQ+ community with a wonderful nightlife and dining scene boasting a welcoming atmosphere. 

Berlin Südkreuz is the primary transportation hub for Schöneberg and other neighborhoods south of the city center. It’s one of Berlin’s major railway stations, so it serves local, regional, and long-distance trains. So if you’re traveling from another city in Europe and are staying in the area, you can simply disembark at Südkreuz Station instead of heading into the Hauptbahnhof.

Similar to other Deutsche Bahn inner city train stations, Südkreuz is highly connected with the rest of the S-Bahn and U-Bahn networks. It takes less than 20 minutes to reach the Hauptbahnhof and the surrounding city center. So if you’re planning on staying in Schöneberg or exploring there, getting around is simple and affordable. 

Do Berlin train stations have luggage lockers?

Some Deutsche Bahn train stations all come equipped with luggage lockers in their main halls. Generally, it’s the larger stations like Hauptbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Ostbahnhof, Friedrichstraße, Potsdamer Platz, and Südkreuz that have amenities like luggage storage facilities. It should be noted that almost all of these have limited capacity and won’t come with any customer support (these are self-service). 

Can you store luggage at Berlin Airport?

Berlin Brandenburg (BER) Airport does have luggage storage facilities in Terminal 1 on level U1. This is a solid option if you have a layover and want to explore the area around the airport for a few hours, but it might be preferable to store your belongings closer to where you’ll be if you’ll be poking around Berlin for an entire day. 

Where can I leave my bags in Berlin?

Some shopping centers, museums, and transit facilities will have luggage lockers, but these aren’t always the most reliable option. They tend to be overcrowded or even unreliable. If you need to store a bag or other personal items anywhere in Berlin, you’ll want to find a location managed by a luggage storage service like Bounce. 

How does Bounce work? 

With luggage storage locations throughout Berlin, Bounce has to be the absolute best option for storing your bags for a few hours while you explore. In general, if there’s an attraction or landmark worth visiting, there will be a Bounce facility located within walking distance. Even better, you can use the Bounce mobile app to quickly find this location and even book on the go.

Things to do near Berlin Südkreuz Train Station

The most popular attraction in Schnöneburg has to be the neighborhood itself, with the Motzstrasse and Viktoria-Luise-Platz stretches offering the best cafes and restaurants along with vintage stores and artisanal shops. There are also a few of Berlin’s top landmarks nearby. 

Malzfabrik

Similar to the urban renewal efforts you’ll find in cities like Brooklyn, Berlin has seen many of its former industrial infrastructure repurposed into valued community centers and cultural sites. Everywhere in Berlin, warehouses and factories have been revitalized and repurposed to serve the local communities. A former malt factory that served Berlin’s breweries and bakers, the Malzfabrik building epitomizes this concept. With a massive footprint offering six floors of space, the Malzfabrik is used by local creatives, tech companies, artists, and nonprofits.

There are art installations everywhere alongside workshops and eco-conscious facilities. It’s hard not to get inspired by the forward-thinking culture that permeates the Malzfabrik. You can also take a tour to learn about the former factory, with antique malting equipment and ovens on display. 

Malzfabrik bag policy 

While there are guided tours and other aspects that make Malzfabrik resemble a museum, there aren’t any bag policies or luggage storage considerations for visitors. It’s an open-ended sort of place where visitors move freely to check out everything that’s going on. Still, there’s plenty of walking, so bringing your luggage isn’t advised. 

Shop around KaDeWe

One of Berlin’s top shopping destinations is situated right in Schöneburg, just a short walk from Südkreuz Station. The largest department store in Europe is the stunning modern KaDeWe building. You’ll have hundreds of brands to choose from, but the focus is on luxury designers. 

Flohmarkt Schoeneberg

For a slightly less upscale (but infinitely more unique) shopping experience than you’ll find at KaDeWe, head to this scrappy flea market that takes over a former town hall building on weekends. With over 70 stalls with vendors selling everything from antiques to vintage threads, this flea market perfectly captures the DIY spirit of Schöneburg, and it’ll be a nice break from the tourist-heavy shopping experiences in the city center. There are even street food vendors lined up to sell you some creative (and cheap) bites. Fun fact: the Flohmarkt is also across the street from where John F. Kennedy made his legendary “Ich bin ein Berliner” statement (yes, the one where he unknowingly called himself a donut). 

Tempelhofer Feld 

Whether it’s the Berlin Wall or the mountains of rubble that make up the Tiergarten’s grassy knolls, Berlin has a knack for turning its complicated history into things of beauty. The site of the famous Berlin Airlift event back in the 1940s has turned into one of Berlin’s coolest public parks. Tempelhofer Airport was replaced with the modern Brandenburg Airport years ago, and its vast airfields have been repurposed into a sprawling park with acres of grassy lawns and cycling trails. There’s a lot to do here, which explains its popularity with locals. The place is filled with art installations and an outdoor classroom for workshops and events. There’s even the Luftgarten beer garden.

Airport travel from Berlin Südkreuz

While they’re not incredibly close, it’s generally a quick trip to Südkreuz from Brandenburg Airport (BER). Here are a few options :

• Train: The S45 S-Bahn line is the most direct way to get between Brandenburg Airport and almost always the quickest. It only costs $4 and there’s a train every 20 minutes. The trip reliably takes about 25 minutes. 
• Bus: The #057 Bus runs between Südkreuz and Brandenburg Airport. There’s a bus about every 10 minutes but the trip will take between 20 to 40 minutes. Though less frequent, the train will probably be quicker and it’s the same price. 
• Taxi and rideshare: It’s easy enough to grab a taxi outside the arrivals area of Brandenburg Airport, but the trip to the area around Südkreuz Station will take you at least 30 minutes with decent traffic, so it might not be worth the $40 - $60. The same situation applies to rideshare services like Uber. 

Getting around the city from Berlin Südkreuz

How to get to Berlin Hauptbahnhof from Berlin Südkreuz Station 

The trip between Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof and Südkreuz is as quick and easy as it gets with the S-Bahn. The journey takes between 10-15 minutes, and with a few options (the S2, S5, and S7 Lines are the most common lines running between the two), you’ll be able to catch the first train towards the city center and shouldn't wait more than 10 minutes. There are also regional train lines (RE3, RE5, RB10) that will take about the same amount of time. All of these trips will cost you less than $5. Taxis are also an option, with the average trip taking 15 minutes, but this doesn’t save you much time and it will cost you at least $20. 

How to get to The Berlin Wall from Berlin Südkreuz Station 

The Berlin Wall’s East Side Gallery is easily one of the top tourist spots in the city. With hundreds of provocative, playful, or psychedelic murals, strolling along this part of the Berlin Wall is a vital part of the experience. To get here from Berlin Südkreuz, simply take the S2 Line to the Friedrichstraße stop, transfer to the S5 Line, and get off at Berlin Ostbahnhof. From here it's a short 10-minute walk to the Berlin Wall. You won’t be able to miss it! 

How to get to The Museumsinsel from Berlin Südkreuz Station 

The Museumsinsel is a massively important part of Berlin’s cultural and historical heritage, and it’s easy to get to from anywhere in Berlin. It’s literally an island complex filled with five world-class museums. From Berlin Südkreuz, you take the S25 to Brandenburger Tor and transfer to the U5 U-Bahn train before getting off at U Hönow. You’ll be only steps away from a full day of unbelievable sightseeing.

Luggage storage near Berlin Südkreuz

The best option for luggage storage Berlin Südkreuz and the surrounding neighborhood is Bounce. With dozens of luggage storage facilities in the area, it’s simple to find a suitable place to store the bags while you explore Schöneberg or want to leave some belongings near the train station while you head into the city center. Bounce can also help you in cities other than Berlin. With locations around the world, all you’ll have to do is pull up the trusty Bounce app and see where you can store your luggage on your next trip.