While there are enough great attractions within Germany's capital to keep visitors occupied for days, a trip to Berlin's neighboring towns and beauty spots can offer an excellent respite from the crowds. From the lovely palaces and pristine parks of Potsdam to the natural splendor of the Rivers Havel and Spree, the city's rail and public transport networks make it easy to get out and about. Here are ten of the easiest outings to get you started.
1 Potsdam's Parks and Palaces
The capital of the state of Brandenburg, Potsdam - located 40 kilometers southwest of Berlin - is one of Germany's most famous former imperial cities and makes for a splendid day trip from the capital. Easily accessible by train and public transport, Potsdam is famous, not only for its beautiful parks and lakes, but also for its old Prussian Rococo palaces (a large portion of this beautiful city is protected under UNESCO Palaces and Parks of Berlin and Potsdam World Heritage Site status). Its most famous royal estate is Sanssouci Park, home to many exquisite gardens, impressive buildings, artworks, and walking trails. Established in 1744, the park's highlights include Neptune's Grotto, the Picture Gallery in the Orangery with its collection of 17th-century paintings (including works by Rubens, van Dyck, and Caravaggio), and the Great Fountain with its representations of the four elements and mythological figures. Not to be missed are the park's two palaces: Sanssouci Palace, a single-story, domed Rococo building built in 1745 based on sketches by Frederick the Great; and the New Palace (Neues Palais) built in 1769 and famous for its sumptuous interior.
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2 Walking Around Peacock Island
Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel), just one and a half kilometers long and 500 meters wide, has long been a favorite place for excursions (and yes, it does have a population of peacocks). Accessible by ferry along the River Havel, this 242-acre island was laid out in the style of an English landscaped park and is now home to many rare plants and numerous trees. Scattered amidst the luxuriant vegetation are a number of buildings, including a memorial temple for Queen Luise, built in 1829, and a sandstone portico from the Mausoleum in the park of the Charlottenburg Palace. Further north is the Dairy Farm (Meierei), built in 1795 in the style of a mock ruin, while in the center of the island lies the 19th-century Kavaliershaus with its Gothic façade. Other highlights include the Schweizerhaus (Swiss Cottage), built in 1830, the Russian Slide, and the Frigate Harbor, all reached via winding footpaths. The most important building, Peacock Island Castle, was built in the late 1790s and resembles a romantic ruin, its twin towers linked by an iron footbridge (it's now home to a small museum).
Address: Nikolskoerweg, 14109 Berlin
3 Spandau Citadel
The old fortress town of Spandau lies at the confluence of the Rivers Spree and Havel, and until 1920, was an independent trading town due to its position along the main west-to-east trade routes connecting Magdeburg and Berlin. Granted its town charter in 1232, Spandau's two important settlements grew up: the town on the Altstadtinsel (Old Town Island) and the castle on the Zitadelleninsel (Citadel Island). Today, the highlight of a visit is Spandau Citadel (Zitadelle), an imposing high-walled fortress largely unchanged since its construction in the 16th century. Entirely surrounded by water, the citadel is square in plan with a bastion at each corner, making it virtually impregnable. A narrow bridge leads from the Citadel to the Gatehouse, home to a local museum, while other highlights include the Prince's Room; a splendid old courtyard; and the 14th-century Palas, the castle's residential quarters. Be sure to climb the 145-step Julius Tower with its magnificent views over the Old Town and Spandau Lock. English language audio-guides are available, costing €2.
Address: Am Juliusturm 64, 13599 Berlin
4 River Havel Highlights
The River Havel flows through Berlin for 30 kilometers of its 340 kilometers, traversing the city north to south before joining the River Elbe near Havelberg. The most beautiful city stretches are around Schildhorn, Lindwerder, Schwanenwerder, the Pfaueninsel, and on the left bank, theGrunewald, Berlin's large forested parkland. A good way to enjoy the scenery is by driving along the Havelchaussee, a leafy stretch of road that winds through the Grunewald and along the river's eastern bank; alternatively, regular tourist buses travel this route, and it's also popular with cyclists. The best way to see the Havel is aboard a riverboat, and numerous options are available, from pleasant private excursions to large state-run ships that ply the river and its adjoining canals. A good plan is to start at the Freybrücke landing stage in Spandau and take a boat downstream past Schildhorn, the Grunewald Tower, Lindwerder, and Breitehorn to Kladow, returning by boat via the Wannsee and Potsdam before jumping on a bus or S-Bahn back to Berlin's city center.
5 Köpenick
Like Spandau, Berlin's Köpenick district is the site of a very old settlement dating back to the Bronze Age. Today, Köpenick is not only Berlin's largest district, it's the richest in terms of woodland and lakes, its 14,700 acres of heather-carpeted woods boasting numerous birch, oak, beech, pine, and lime trees. Come summer, walkers and watersports enthusiasts are attracted by this abundance of nature - an estimated 80 percent of the district's surface is covered by water, woodland, and grassland - making it the main recreation area in eastern Berlin. A highlight of a visit should be Köpenick Palace, a 17th-century mansion standing on an island on the Dahme River. Once home to Prussian royalty, it now houses Berlin's Museum of Decorative Arts. Afterwards, be sure to take a walk around the pedestrian-friendly Old Town of Köpenick with its splendid architecture, particularly its Alte Rathaus (be sure to walk over Long Bridge - Lange Brücke - for its splendid views of the old moat and river).
Address: Alt-Köpenick 1, 12557 Berlin
6 The River Spree
At 382 kilometers in length - some 150 kilometers of which is navigable - the River Spree is the most important tributary of the River Havel, which it joins in Spandau. Visitors looking for a fun day trip should venture into the Spreewald, a lowland area unique both in landscape and culture that lies 100 kilometers southeast of Berlin and is notable for its sandy flats and dunes crossed by numerous watercourses known as the Fliessen (they're popular for punting and rowboats). The region is also notable for its population of Sorbs, a Slavic minority known for their rich cultural customs and colorful traditional costumes. One of the best ways of exploring the waterway is a round trip on the Spree and the Landwehrkanal, a circular tour that lasts three hours and begins at the Charlottenburg Palace Bridge (Charlottenburger Schlossbrücke) before traveling along the Landwehrkanal through Kreuzberg and then back to the Spree in the district of Friedrichshain, finally returning to Charlottenburg via Old Berlin (Alt-Berlin).
7 The Wannsee
Wannsee means two things to Berliners: it refers to the ritzy district with its fine old villas, as well as its two lakes, the Grosser and Kleiner (Great and Little) Wannsee. The lakes are the big draw and rank as one of the top recreation areas for Berliners, thanks to their beaches, sailing, and rowing clubs; numerous cafés and restaurants with terraces overlooking the water; and their many attractive footpaths. The Grosse Wannsee, which covers some 640 acres, is part of a basin gouged out during the Ice Age that runs into the River Havel. From the southern end with the Wannsee bridge, which carries the Königstrasse from Berlin to Potsdam, a string of small connected lakes runs southwest in a long trough, including the Kleiner Wannsee, the Pohlesee, the Prinz-Friedrich-Leopold-Kanal, and the Griebnitzsee. If driving, take Am Grossen Wannsee, a scenic road on the lake's western bank (another option is to take one of the Wannsee tourist boats that run to and from Spandau and Potsdam).
8 Klein Glienicke
The village of Klein (Little) Glienicke, on the lake of the same name between Potsdam and Berlin, is famous for its iron Glienicke Bridge with its spectacular views over the River Havel. It's also famous for Glienicke Palace, a Neoclassical country house built in 1826 as a summer residence for Prince Karl of Prussia, as well as its renovated park. Covering 287 acres, Volkspark Glienickewas laid out in 1816 and opened to the public in 1934 and affords fine views over the Havel towards Potsdam, as well as beautiful riverside and lakeside walks from the Glienicke Bridge to popular Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel). Also of note is the Klosterhof, a former monastery built to a Venetian design in 1850, as well as the Nikolskoe viewpoint, site of a former royal summer home. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul with its Russian-style onion-dome, built in 1837, is also worth a visit.
9 The Military History Museum
Southwest of the village of Gatow, on the outskirts of Berlin, between the Gross Glienicker See and Wannsee, Gatow Airfield was used by the British RAF for military purposes and, from time to time, to airlift supplies into the city. Now home to the Military History Museum: Berlin-Gatow Airfield (Militärhistorisches Museum: Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow), the museum boasts a large number of German military aircraft dating from WWI to the NATO period, along with a collection of more than 200,000 artifacts including engine parts and uniforms. All told, the site has more than 150 original and replica aircraft, including WWII prop- and jet-fighters, as well as a number of rare machines in various stages of restoration.
Address: Am Flugplatz Gatow 33, 14089 Berlin
Official site: www.mhm-gatow.de/en/
10 The Museum Village of Düppel
A popular day trip for families, the Museum Village of Düppel (Museumsdorf Düppel) lies in the southwest corner of Berlin in Zehlendorf, near the original archaeological site at Machnower Fenn. This educational reconstruction of an early 13th-century medieval settlement consists of numerous old houses; barns and workshops, including a blacksmith shop; a cobbler shop, and pottery, all built using the methods available during this period. Highlights include costumed staff playing the roles of traditional villagers and trades people, and demonstrations of such skills as bread making, pottery, weaving, and carving. The village is also notable for the rare animals it has bred back from extinction, including the Düppel pig. Also of interest are the attraction's use of long-forgotten herbs and vegetables grown using traditional farming techniques. Fun guided tours are available (Sundays only), and a program of Market Days and Medieval Festivals offer a unique insight into life during this period of history.
Address: Clauertstraße 11, 14163 Berlin Zehlendorf
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