When we move abroad, one of the inevitable first questions from Germans would be “Why did you move to Berlin?” We would start with how we had always dreamed of living in Germany before they interrupted, “but Berlin is not Germany.”
Excuse me what? This drove us crazy … until we realized how true this was. Berlin is totally its own place, very different from the rest of the country. The capital has unique museums, street food, and architecture, but more than that is the way the city feels and moves. When other expats or travelers talk about their time in Germany, we will bow our heads and think that Berlin is nothing of the kind.
That is why it is so important that the lover of Germany leaves the capital to live the typical German experience. You don’t need to go far to find a totally different German world. Take these 6-day trips from Berlin to discover Typisch Deutschland .
Gorlitz
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Goerlitz, GermanyGet directions
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This East German city had almost been forgotten before it came to the attention of filmmakers. A perfect time capsule of Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) architecture, the city caught the eye of Wes Anderson and played a prominent role in his film, The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Brandenburg on the Havel
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Brandenburg, GermanyGet directions
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Brandenburg an der Havel is a medieval city located about an hour from Berlin on the River Havel. A laid-back town with over 1,000 years of history, most of the altstadt is just a 15-minute walk from the train station. The Altstädtisches Rathau s (Old Town Hall) is a late Gothic red brick building with a 5.35 million statue of the knight Roland erected in 1474. The tourist office (and a public bath) are also located right next to Square.
You can also follow the medieval city walls to the remaining four watchtowers or catch a glimpse of Germany’s recent past with a visit to the Brandenburg Euthanasia Center, a small but concise museum that focuses on treating the mentally ill. and other “undesirables” during the National Socialist Regime.
Liepnitzsee
Direction
Liepnitzsee, Wandlitz, AlemaniaGet directions
Swimming Berliners search for the perfect See (lake) every summer and Liepnitzsee could be it. Surrounded by a refreshing forest, the waters are almost perfectly transparent up to 3 meters and a central island ( Großer Werder ) can be reached by ferry.
If you are looking for more than just an idyllic bath (or a group of FKK bathers), the surrounding area offers a bit of GDR history. The party elites favored this place and created a Waldsiedlung (colony of summer houses). There are still many fine properties as you head to the park that surrounds the lake or wander through the area.
Werder (Havel)
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14542 Werder, GermanyGet directions
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Once a year in May, noisy groups of fruit wine drinkers head to this small farming village for Baumblütenfest . One of the biggest drink festivals in Germany, this is the only time most of the city’s people head to this laid-back town.
But with the cheerful blooming trees and the nurturing waters of the Havel running through the city center (which gives the city its name ‘river island’), there are plenty to keep you busy at other times of the year.
Spreewald
Direction
Pallasstraße 15, 10781 Berlin, GermanyGet directions
Telephone
+49 30 902777151
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This UNESCO-protected forest to the south-east of the city is known as the “green lung” of Brandenburg. Thousands of man-made canals crisscross the area and are best navigated by summer canoe, but winter adventurers can go ice skating.
Although most people visit the detour into nature, there are also some lovely urban centers in Lübbenau, Lübben, Burg (Spreewald) and Leipe. And don’t leave without trying a famous Spreewald pickle.
Rostock
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Rostock, GermanyGet directions
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Before visiting, all I knew about this city was its tough right-wing soccer team. But upon closer inspection it revealed its Hanseatic roots with its red brick architecture, the Fisherman’s Bastion, and the bustling harbor.
Pass through one of the impressive city gates and head to the Neuer Markt (New Market) and the Rathaus (City Hall), where 13th to 16th century structures create an elegant roof line. Stop by the Universität Rostock to discover one of the oldest universities in the world founded in 1419.
Berlin street food guide
