Day Trips

One of Berlin’s underrated qualities is how easy it is to leave. Brandenburg, the state that surrounds the city, is full of lakes, forests, and small towns that are completely different in character from the urban sprawl. Most of them are reachable in under an hour by regional train, and many can be done without a car.

The lakes are the obvious draw in summer. Müggelsee to the southeast is the largest lake within city limits and reachable by S-Bahn. Wandlitzsee to the north, Wolziger See to the south, and Schwielowsee near Potsdam all offer swimming, walking trails, and the particular pleasure of a landscape that feels genuinely rural even though you left the city two stops ago.

Potsdam is the most popular day trip for a reason. The palaces and gardens of Sanssouci are genuinely impressive, the old town is pleasant, and the whole thing is easy to reach by S-Bahn. It rewards a full day and, if you’re going in summer, an early start.

Further afield, Spreewald is one of the most distinctive landscapes in the region — a network of canals and small channels through a biosphere reserve, best explored by canoe or flat-bottomed punt. The town of Lübben or Lübbenau are the usual base.

These guides are focused on day trips that are worth the effort and easy enough to plan without a lot of preparation.