Days Trips from Berlin
Thursday, 8 Sep 2016
If you have been to all the main attractions in Berlin you should next consider taking one of the many possible day trips from Berlin. Send My Bag takes a look at the top five day trips you can take from Berlin.
Berlin is typically touted as an exciting, vibrant city that exudes cool. There is plenty to do in Berlin, from eating at fabulous restaurants, to enjoying Berlin’s hipster nightlife, to visiting the many historical monuments that attest to Berlin’s important role in European and world history. This doesn’t mean, however, that visitors won’t benefit from taking a day or two to explore the areas surrounding Berlin, to take a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city and to experience another side to Germany.
1. The Other City: Potsdam
Why not take a day trip from Berlin to another city? You need only hop on the train for forty minutes from Berlin’s city centre to find yourself in the city of Potsdam. Potsdam is the perfect mix of cityscapes, green space and splendid palaces. The city contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes Schloss Sanssouci and its park. The palace was the retreat of Frederick the Great (King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786) and his final resting place, having been reburied there in 1991. The palace boasts fantastic 18th-century architecture and opulent décor. The grounds are also noteworthy, with unusual vineyard terraces cascading down the hillside from the palace to the park. Other interesting areas of Potsdam include the Dutch and Russian areas, which are testament to the Dutch and Russian settlers that came to the city in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Dutch Quarter has rows of picturesque Dutch-style houses and the Russian town has twelve very quaint wooden houses in the Russian style. To go on a day trip from Berlin, take the S-Bahn (S7) from Berlin Central Station to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof.
2. Family Day Out: Tropical Islands Resort, Krausnick
An escapist day trip from Berlin is the Tropical Islands Resort, about an hour's drive away. This is a very large water park within an aircraft hangar, designed to look like a tropical paradise. The kids are bound to enjoy this unusual oasis, filled with fun water slides, waterfalls and a lagoon. Parents can also enjoy the spa and sauna. You can easily spend the day there, as there are plenty of eateries and bars to keep everyone happy. If the weather is good you also enjoy the new outdoor pool area. To take a day trip to the Tropical Islands Resort, take a shuttle bus from Brand Station or a train from Alexanderplatz.
3. A Whole Other World: Spree Forest (Spreewald), Lübbenau
Well worth a day trip from Berlin is the Spree forest, another area protected by UNESCO. Just an hour away from the centre of Berlin, the forest is full of many meandering waterways, making it truly a sight to behold, and a real change after the clamour of the city. Visitors can take boat trips around the waterways, departing from the larger villages. These are conducted in punts, with guides pushing the vessels along with sticks. The region also has areas where you can enjoy walks or bike rides, or even a spot of fishing. Not only can visitors take in the natural landscape, they can also experience the traditions of one of Germany’s minority populations – the Sorbs. This group of people, with their own unique traditions and language, derive from Slavs who migrated to the region 1,400 years ago. To reach the Spree Forest on a day trip from Berlin, you can take the train to Lübbenau and from there take a punt tour into the Spreewald.
4. Get Some R&R: Bad Saarow
Head to the spa town of Bad Saarow to indulge in some you-time. The town boasts hot springs and mineral mud, making it the ideal spa location. The SarrowTherme Spa offers thermal baths, saunas and steam rooms, plus all manner of spa treatments. If your other half isn’t a fan of spa treatments, you can compromise and spend half the day playing a round of golf. There are a few golf courses to choose from in Bad Saarow, including the Arnold Palmer Golfplatz and the Stan Eby Course. To go on a day trip from Berlin to Bad Saarow, take the train from Berlin’s main station to Fürstenwalde and change there to a train to Bad Saarow. The journey should only take about an hour. Click here to learn about sending golf clubs to Germany with Send My Bag.
5. A Piece of History: House of the Wannsee Conference
Located in a peaceful lakeside setting, this pretty villa has a dark past. This is where the horrors of the Holocaust were planned by SS officials in 1942. It is a more sobering day trip, but an informative one. A permanent exhibition explains the history surrounding the conference and tours of the exhibit can be taken. The exhibition is open daily from 10-6 and entry is free, with a 2 euro donation requested. To get there, take the S-Bahn (S7) or regional train from Berlin Central Station to Wannsee Station, then Bus 114 to the villa.
Don’t forget that you can send your luggage to Berlin with Send My Bag and so avoid the hassle of dragging bags behind you onto public transport.
Heading to Paris? Check out our blog on the best day trips to Paris.
Have you enjoyed any memorable day trips from Berlin? Let us know on our Twitter page.
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