Are you a seasoned Berlin traveler and can you find everything from the Brandenburg Gate to the Tempelhofer Field with your eyes closed? Then, get away from Berlin and take a day trip to one of these destinations, all within 2 hours by train or car from the German capital.
From wellness and nature to culture and history, these Berlin day trips are a great escape from the big city.
Potsdam
Direction
Potsdam , GermanyGet directions
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When Frederick the Great wanted to escape the formalities of his life in Berlin, he retired to his summer palace in Potsdam. You should do the same
After a short local train ride from Berlin, you can enjoy the Rococo-style palace, surrounded by 700 acres of ornate royal gardens, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Then head to the Old Town of Potsdam and stroll through the narrow cobbled streets of the Dutch Quarter. The charming townhouses are home to cafes, small shops and tasty bakeries.
Transport : take the S1 or S7 to Potsdam. It takes approximately 45 minutes.
Pfaueninsel
Direction
Pfaueninsel, 14109 Berlin , GermanyGet directions
This destination is still within the city limits of Berlin, but it feels much further removed from the hustle and bustle of the German capital.
A ferry takes you to Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island), a nature reserve on Lake Wannsee. On the island, there is a dream castle built in the 18th century for the King of Prussia and his favorite mistress. There are several greenhouses and fountains on the grounds, but the best part is the peacocks and the beautiful gardens and trees. This is the perfect getaway for romantic walks and picnics.
Transport : Take S1 or S7 towards Potsdam, get off at Wannsee station and then bus 216 or 316. To get to the island, you will need to take a very short ferry across the water. It takes about 1 hour.
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Direction
Str. Der Nations 22, 16515 Oranienburg , AlemaniaGet directions
Telephone
+49 3301 2000
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The Sachsenhausen Memorial Site, a former concentration camp in Oranienburg, is a must-see for history buffs. The camp was erected in 1936 and until 1945 more than 200,000 people were imprisoned by the Nazis.
Sachsenhausen was in many ways one of the most important concentration camps of the Third Reich. It was the first camp established under Heinrich Himmler (Chief of the German Police) and its architectural design was used as a model for almost all concentration camps in Nazi Germany.
Transport : On the edge of fare zone C, Oranienburg is the terminus of the S-Bahn line S1, as well as the regional trains RE5 and RB12. The closest station is actually Sachsenhausen (Nordbahnhof), but RV 12 is the only train that stops there. Visitors can take bus No. 804 to the camp (Gedenkstätte stop) or walk 25 minutes from Sachsenhausen. It takes about 50 minutes.
Spreewald
Direction
Burg , GermanyGet directions
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Formed during the ice age, the landscape of the Spreewald (Spree Forest) is breathtaking. More than 200 canals run through this stretch of marshland, dotted with pine forests, meadows, meadows and islands with ancient villages. The best way to explore this extraordinary biosphere reserve is by taking a trip on a traditional boat.
Spreewald locals still use these waterways to go to work or shopping. Many of them are descendants of the Slavic tribes of the Sorbs who preserved their language, traditions, costumes and recipes. Be sure to try delicious regional specialties like the Spreewald pickle.
Transport : regional train to Spreewald Therme / Burg. It takes approximately 1.45 hours.
Continue to 5 of 6 below.
VW Factory Wolfsburg
Direction
S the Allerwiesen 1, 38446 Wolfsburg, AlemaniaGet directions
Telephone
+49 5361 8903903
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If you’re a car enthusiast, head to the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, which prides itself on being the world’s largest car plant.
The adjacent Autostadt (car city) is a car theme park and offers everything from a car museum, pavilions dedicated to various VW cars, to driving courses for adults and children. Of course, you can also tour the factory and see how the Volkswagen is made from start to finish.
Transport : ICE train to Wolfsburg. It takes about 1.5 hours.
Bad Saarow
Direction
Bad Saarow , GermanyGet directions
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Bad Saarow is a small spa town 60 km east of Berlin. Located on the shore of a large lake and surrounded by hills and farmland, this is the ideal place to relax. Be sure to visit the modern saltwater thermal spa, one of the best in Germany.
End your day with dinner at The Buehne, just to the side of the train station, where you can enjoy regional cuisine in the atmosphere of the 1920s restaurant.
Transport : regional train to Fuerstenwalde, then local train to Bad Saarow. It takes about 2 hours.
