The Spreewald has been called the “green lung” of Brandenburg, the region around Berlin. It seems that this forest area emerged from the tales of the Brothers Grimm and is a UNESCO protected biosphere. Thousands of man-made canals criss-cross picturesque meadows with houses that have remained intact since before Germany became a nation. Just an hour southeast of the city, accessible by car or train, the Spreewald is the ideal escape from city life.
Spreewald towns
- Lübbenau : the largest and most touristic city with many restaurants, markets and boat rentals.
- Lübben : slightly smaller than Lübbenau, this city is its main rival for charm.
- Burg (Spreewald) : reachable only by car, this town is smaller and quieter than other places in the Spreewald.
- Schlepzig – Another picturesque little town in the Spreewald.
- Leipe : town on an island that could only be accessed by water. There is no road access.
How to get to the Spreewald from Berlin
- By car: follow the A113 south of the city. At Schönefelder Kreuz, continue south on the A13 motorway to Dresden. Leave the A13 at the Lübben or Lübbenau exits or continue towards the ‘Dreieck Spreewald’ (junction of the A13 and A15 motorways) and then onto the A15 towards ‘Vetschau’. Leave the A15 at the ‘Vetschau’ exit and continue towards Burg (Spreewald).
- By train : Regional trains run every hour from Zoologischer Garten, Hauptbahnhof, Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz or Ostbahnhof to Lübben or Lübbenau. From here, accommodations can offer a pick-up service when you book in advance.
Getting around the Spreewald
Once you reach one of the villages, set out and explore on foot, by bike, or by boat. There are boat and bicycle rentals in the larger cities, but public transportation is not available.
Accommodation in the Spreewald
There are accommodations, from campsites to cabins and rustic B & Bs (Pensions ) in Spreewald. The larger cities of Lübbenau and Lübben have the greatest variety of options accessible by train and on foot. If you don’t have a vehicle, check when booking about the pick-up service.
Make sure to book early as the German reputation for planning ahead extends to booking vacation spots before the summer season has started.
The reservation site spreewald.de offers a comprehensive search function for hotels in Spreewald.
Campings Spreewald:
- Spreewald-Camping Lübben – Am Burglehn, 15904 Lübben
- EuroCamp “Spreewaldtor” on the Gurkenradweg – Neue Strasse 1, 15913 Märkische Heide OT Groß Leuthen
- Camping Briesensee – PF 1420, 15904 Lübben
- Camping site “Am Großer Mochowsee” – Camping- und Heimatverein Lamsfeld e. V.
- 15913 Lamsfeld
- Spreewald-Natur-Camping “Am See” – Seestraße 1, 03222 Lübbenau OT Hindenberg
- Campsite “Am Schlosspark” – PSF 10 11 25, 03215 Lübbenau
- Kneipp and adventure camping on the Spreewald river – Vetschauer Straße 1a, 03096 Burg (Spreewald)
Sorbian Community of Germany
In addition to the wonders of the area’s flora, the Spreewald is also home to Germany’s indigenous Slavic community, the Sorbs. This community of just 60,000 people is descended from the Slavic tribes that settled in the central German highlands more than 1,400 years ago. Their unique language can be seen on bilingual road signs and signs of their unique culture can be seen throughout the Spreewald.
