Best Quick Escapes From Berlin

Potsdam is just a 25-minute ride from Berlin with the train, so get yourself a ticket and explore this wonderful city. It is full of charming, narrow streets with small boutiques and delicious cafés and restaurants; the Dutch district in particular is worth an extensive stroll. Go visit the old town hall, the old market, Potsdam’s own Brandenburger Tor and of course the Sanssouci Palace and Park.

The Saarow thermal bath is located 75 km outside of Berlin, and is easily reached by train or car. It is a place like no other for relaxing and getting rid of all the stress your daily life brings. Its direct location at the Scharmützel lake and its unique architecture makes the visit all the more picturesque rewarding. The thermal bath combines wellness, nature and health. It offers an actual bath, a sauna area, a sunbathing area in summer, wellness and beauty areas, and restaurants. If you have the time, stay for longer than a day; the salty air, which come from all the Pakistani salt stones, is a great boost for your health, and you’ll feel like you’re directly at the seaside.

Need some days off without anyone around you? Go book a houseboat at Bunbo. They offer their houseboats at seven different locations, five of them within easy reach of the city. Not only can you live on a well-equipped boat for a few days, including a cosy bed, a sofa and a fireplace for cold days, you can also drive around in the boat. After arriving you quickly learn how to navigate and steer the boat, and can explore the lakes and canals nearby, even within some parts of the city itself. Get some friends together or enjoy some romantic togetherness and book a trip.

When you are looking for a spontaneous, short vacation not far away, Spreewald might be the place for you. It is around 100 kilometres outside of Berlin and is easy to reach by car. And no, Spreewald is not only famous for its pickles, there’s a lot more to do there: the UNESCO biosphere reserve offers canoe and rafts trips, you can go hiking, rent a bike and have a bathe in one of the lakes. From hotels to camping sites – you can chose where you want to stay.

The Liepnitz Lake is one of the prettiest lakes around Berlin. It is a calm lake with its own island you can swim to. It also has a sandy beach, ferries, is very family friendly and most of all, the lake is not that crowded like many of the other lakes around Berlin. Here you can cool down and get a break from the summer heat in the city. Have a dip in the lake and enjoy some sunbathing and the summer. Of course you can get some proper French fries and ice cream here too; without that no trip to a lake would be complete. Liepnitz Lake is reachable by car within 45 minutes, with the train it takes a bit longer but it’s definitely worth the 90-minute ride.

You’ve already been to the Berlin zoo a few times? Why not try the Tierpark? You can easily go there with the U5 towards Hönow. The park is the biggest animal park in Europe with almost 8000 animals, and offers experiences for both children and adults. Moreover, they attach importance to the protection of their species, especially in their aquarium. As well as simply visiting the animals, you can learn how to feed and take care of them, as well as handling and petting. Obviously, the lions and tigers are out of bounds, but elephants, giraffes, penguins, monkeys and turtles are an adventure too, and well worth experiencing.

One of the most romantic getaways around Berlin is probably Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island). The island is a UNESCO world heritage site since 1990 and every Berlin tourist should visit at least once. No cars are allowed apart from those belonging to the inhabitants of the island, and you can only get there by ferry. The old castle and its gardens are inviting for a picnic, and it’s the perfect place for a first date or a special occasion. But it is not only a beautiful place in summer, when it’s covered in snow the area is probably even more magical.

A fantastic view over Grunewald is one of the best things Teufelsberg has to offer; the tower is the second highest platform in Berlin with a height of 1201 meters.. The old US listening station is open for visitors; it is more or less a mountain of ruins right now and the insides of the station is covered in graffiti, but it’s still a cool place to look at, and it gives the tower an old, abandoned touch which is characteristic for lots of places in Berlin. Besides visiting the old station, the place is popular for hiking, mountain biking, sunbathing and paragliding. If you’re looking for some sports outside the city, this is the right destination for you!

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.