5 of the best day trips from Berlin

Berlin is surrounded by the forest-filled, lake-spotted state of Brandenburg, which offers year-round respite from the nonstop activity in the capital, and Berliners themselves love nothing more than a day out, especially when the weather is at its best. Forest walks, river paddles, dips in your pick of lakes, plus visits to historic sites are all easy to arrange from central Berlin and may even be within the city’s limits. But make sure you book ahead for popular sights and tours, as you're likely to be exploring with both tourists and locals.

1. Admire the grandeur of Potsdam

Travel time: less than 1 hour
How to travel: by train

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The classic day trip from Berlin is to Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg, Berlin’s surrounding state.

Nothing in Potsdam screams for your attention more than the yellow-hued Schloss Sanssouci, the rococo summer palace of the Prussian King Frederick the Great, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace grounds are wonderfully impressive, and you'll find a number of other ornate buildings, such as the Chinese House and the New Palace, to gawk over. Book tour tickets in advance, lest you miss out.

If the palace and its grounds don’t keep you all day, Museum Barberini is another Potsdam highlight, featuring international art exhibitions with a focus on impressionism; headline exhibits have featured the likes of Monet and Van Gogh.

Still some time before your return train? Wander around the historic Dutch Quarter and get a coffee at the locally beloved Buena Vida Coffee Roasters – it just might end up being one of your favorite coffee stops on your trip.

How to get to Potsdam from Berlin:

Potsdam is approximately 35km southwest of Berlin. It can be reached in less than an hour from central Berlin on the S-Bahn (S1 or S7). The city lies within Berlin’s C fare zone, so you’ll need an ABC ticket.

2. Swim in the clear waters of Liepnitzsee

Travel time: 1 hour and 50 minutes
How to travel: by train and bike

Plenty of swimmable lakes lie within easy enough reach of the city – there are approximately 3000 in Berlin and Brandenburg, after all – but Liepnitzsee is a standout for its clear water and lush surroundings.

Hardly a secret among Berliners, the banks of Liepnitzsee are filled on warm summer weekends, and you may have to search a while to find the perfect spot to lay down your towel, either in a secluded area nestled between trees or on one of several sandy beaches.

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Pack a picnic and spend your day dipping in and out of the refreshing water that appears to be a mesmerizing emerald green. If that’s too sedate for you, hire a paddleboat, walk or ride around the lake, or ferry to the island plonk in the middle, Großer Werder.

Not swimming weather? Go anyway. The lake and forest are picturesque at any time of year, even when covered in snow, and you may still see people swimming when others wouldn’t dare take off their scarves.

How to get to Liepnitzsee from Berlin:

Driving the 40km northeast from Berlin to Liepnitzsee is the most direct choice, but getting there with a combination of train and bike is the most fun. Take the S2 to Bernau, then ride the final 12km leg through the forest. If you don’t want to cycle, take the regional train all the way to Wandlitz; you'll need to walk from there.

3. Walk over treetops in Beelitz

Travel time: 45 minutes
How to travel: by train

Dedicate the first part of your day to the Baumkronenpfad Beelitz-Heilstätten, a treetop walkway above the sprawling grounds of an abandoned (and crumbling) sanitarium once used to treat tuberculosis patients and later soldiers (including Adolf Hitler) in both World Wars. You must join a guided tour to visit the buildings.

Then turn your full attention to seasonal produce – Germans are serious devotees of the freshest market offerings, whether it’s bärlauch (wild garlic), strawberries or Federweißer (a young, bubbly wine). An absolute favorite arrives in the region in early spring: Spargel (asparagus). Beelitz is the area's center of production for this vegetable with cult status, and you can visit local farms to see how the regional variety is grown. During Spargelzeit (asparagus season), starting in mid-April and ending, punctually, on June 24 (St John the Baptist Day), both the white and green varieties are celebrated on menus across city, and you won’t have to look long to find Spargel served as soup, with hollandaise sauce or in a more inventive manner. If you time your visit just so, you can attend the annual Spargelfest.

How to get to Beelitz from Berlin:

Beelitz is approximately 50km southwest of Berlin. Beelitz-Heilstätten train station is connected to Berlin Hauptbahnhof by the RE3. From the train station, you can reach the town by bus.

4. Paddle along the canals of Spreewald

Travel time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
How to travel: by train

Spreewald is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, occasionally referred to as Germany’s Little Venice. Well, forget about that and instead go for a peaceful paddle along the extensive network of forest-lined waterways. The gentle waters are easy to navigate, even for paddling novices, and you might be able to pull up at a little snack stop, restaurant (where excellent Spreewald gherkins are guaranteed) or beer garden along your chosen watery route. All stops are delightfully quaint and wholesome.

Lübbenau is one of the best towns from which to explore Spreewald. From Lübbenau’s Altstadt, it’s a short walk to Bootshaus Kaupen, where you can hire wooden kayaks and canoes and get information on suggested routes of up to 20km. The old town itself is worthy of a stroll, with a small market (for more Spreewald gherkin sampling), Brauhaus Babben (for postpaddling brews) and plenty of gherkin-inspired kitsch around town.

How to get to Spreewald from Berlin:

Spreewald Biosphere Reserve is located approximately 100km southeast of Berlin in the state of Brandenburg. It’s reached by the RE2 train from Berlin to Lübbenau. You can also hire boats in nearby Lübben for a similar experience.

5. Cycle along the Spree in Treptower Park and Plänterwald

Travel time: 30 minutes
How to travel: by train

You won’t leave the city limits on this day trip, but it will feel like you have. From the Treptower Park S-Bahn station, it’s just a hop, skip and jump to Treptower Hafen; from there, you can ride (or walk) along the shared bike and pedestrian path as it follows the Spree. The riverside path will take you through Treptower Park and then Plänterwald, passing the Zenner beer garden, Insel der Jugend, playgrounds, the infamous abandoned Spreepark and the newly opened Zum Anleger beer garden along the way – all worthy stops if you have the time or are in need of a drink, bratwurst or ice cream.

Otherwise, keep on riding until you reach a tiny ferry dock. From here you can take the Fähre F11 across to the other side of the river in just one or two throttles of the engine (you will need a BGV ticket for you and your bike). Once on the other bank, find your way to the Funkhaus Berlin, a former East German broadcasting complex that now hosts curated concerts and music festivals. Here you can grab a coffee or eat a wood-fired pizza from Zola while looking out over the water and summoning the energy for your return journey. It’s the perfect day out and a good activity with kids.

How to get to Treptower Park:

Treptower Park is easily reached by S-Bahn or bus from almost anywhere in Berlin.