Got extra time in Germany’s capital? Explore beyond the city by tackling some of the coolest day trips from Berlin. With a few days to spare, the gritty and offbeat German capital is the perfect base for visiting some of the top travel destinations in Germany. From relaxing in picture-perfect German towns hidden in the Spreewald to scoping out classic Central European elegance in cities like Potsdam or Dresden, dig deeper into the region with this complete Berlin side trips guide!
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Potsdam
No side trip from Berlin gets more attention than Potsdam. The reason is simple: Getting to Potsdam takes just 25 to 60 minutes from the center of Berlin. You’ll never regret trading in the metropolis for a day of strolling among the gardens and palaces of this former Prussian royal city.
Start off your Potsdam visit by wandering towards the Old Dutch Quarter. The red-bricked Dutch-style architecture of Potsdam’s Dutch Quarter is unique, not only in Germany but in Europe. Finding buildings to match Jan Bouman’s 18th-century creations in Potsdam is impossible. Even in the Netherlands!
On the fringes of the Old Dutch Quarter, let out your inner knight by clopping around Nauener Tor. The medieval fairytale façade betrays the age of Nauener Tor. The gate is an 18th-century example of Gothic Revival architecture, not a true relic of the Middle Ages.
Nauener Tor is part of a trifecta of original city gates along the now-defunct Potsdam city wall. The other two gates are Brandenburg Gate, not to be confused with Berlin’s, and Hunters’ Gate (Jägertor)
From Nauener Tor, swing west along the leafy Hegelallee. Soon, you’ll find the feather in Potsdam’s cap, Sanssouci Park. Take your time wandering through the gardens and palaces of Sanssouci Park. You’ll soon see why so many travelers love visiting Potsdam and why the park is considered one of the most beautiful places to visit in Germany.
Throughout the park, opulent palaces and manicured gardens spring forth in the shade of towering oak trees. Sanssouci Park is home to three major palaces:
- Sanssouci Palace (Schloss Sanssouci)
- Orangery Palace (Orangerieschloss)
- New Palace (Neues Palais)
All the palaces are built in different architectural styles. Each is worth seeking out as you wander through the park. Be sure to peek inside for a taste of the grandeur that King Frederick the Great of Prussia sought for his summer residence city.
How to get to Potsdam
By public transportation, the most common route to travel to Potsdam from Berlin is via the S7 S-Bahn. The journey time is approximately 50 minutes. Although convenient and comfortable for travellers, it’s not the fastest route to Potsdam. Instead, hop on one of the regional trains towards Brandenburg and Magdeburg. It will only take about 25 minutes between central stations.
If you decide to rent a car in Germany, the journey should take about 45 minutes to 1 hour. While it’s a longer journey, with a car, you can combine your day trip to Potsdam with other nearby destinations like Brandenburg an der Havel.
Looking for more ideas? Check out all our other day trip guides and our Berlin Travel Guide for recommendations on when to visit, where to go & what to do!
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
You can hardly call visiting Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp a “fun” day out. But if you have even a passing interest in 20th-century history, visiting this former Nazi concentration camp is a must. Especially if you find yourself with some extra time in Berlin.
Sachsenhausen in Oranienburg is a grim reminder of the horrors of the WWII era. Although originally conceived to house political prisoners, Sachsenhausen went much further.
Daily life in the camp was nothing short of brutal. Over 30,000 inmates lost their lives here. They suffered through starvation, execution, exhaustion, and medical experimentation.
How to get to Sachsenhausen
By public transportation, find a regional train to Oranienburg. From S Oranienburg Bahnhof, it’s a 25- to 30-minute walk or a 7-minute bus ride to the camp. Traveling to Oranienburg will require a Berlin Transport ABC Zone ticket. It costs €3.30 each way and should take about 55 minutes total.
To avoid the complications of navigating to Oranienburg on your own, hop on a guided tour instead. The popular Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Walking Tour is a good option. It leaves at 10 am from Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station in central Berlin.
The tour doesn’t include the Transport ABC Zone ticket. These tickets will be available through your guide. He or she will lead you to the camp via public transportation without hassle.
Wannsee
Want to lap up the sunshine along the shores of Berlin’s most popular beach getaway? As relaxing as it can be, a word of warning is due: Wannsee might not be the idyllic lakeside escape you’ve always dreamed of.
Wannsee’s Strandbad is Europe’s largest inland outdoor beach. Spending a summer’s day here usually means hustling to carve out space amongst the hordes of locals escaping the urban heat. Nonetheless, when you’re figuring what to do in Berlin in summer, the excitement and energy at Strandbad can’t be beaten.
For the pleasure of sunbathing and swimming with half of Germany, bring along €5.50 for admission to Strandbad.
Hunt down the perfect spot on Strandbad and cool down in the Wannsee’s waters. After you’re done, swing to the opposite side of Wannsee. Walk down Am Großen Wannsee for a glimpse at some of Berlin’s most impressive historical homes.
Pop into the Liebermann Villa am Wannsee, the summer house of German painter Max Liebermann. You’ll also find the House of the Wannsee Conference here. The building was the haunting venue for the infamous Wannsee Conference. The conference proposed the fateful “Final Solution to the Jewish Question” during WWII.
How to get to Wannsee
From central Berlin, hop onto S-Bahn S7 or S1. Exit at Nikolassee (for Strandbad) or Wannsee (for Am Großen Wannsee). The S-Bahn journey takes about 45 minutes.
Pfaueninsel
Is Wannsee too packed for your tastes? Drift further west along the River Havel for a relaxing float to Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island). This small nature reserve island stretches only 1.5 kilometers in length and 0.5 kilometers in width. It teems with greenery and stately historic architecture. You’ll also spot wildlife on the island, including its colorful namesake peacocks.
Roaming around Pfaueninsel, you’ll breathe in the fresh air off the Havel and wander through the island’s winding paths to the tune of exotic birds singing.
Besides peacock spotting and bird watching, sniff out the Schloss auf der Pfaueninsel. Also called Peacock Island Castle, the castle was built by Fredrick William II. He constructed it in the late 18th century as a love retreat for himself & his mistress.
The 19th-century Kavaliershaus in the middle of the island is also worth scoping out.
How to get to Pfaueninsel
Getting to Pfaueninsel is easiest by car. To the ferry on Nikolskoerweg, the journey should be between 45 minutes and 1 hour from central Berlin in the direction of Potsdam.
Spreewald
On a summer road trip, there’s no better way to escape Berlin than slipping away to the Spreewald. The Spreewald (Spree Forest) is a UNESCO-protected nature reserve sprouting from the banks of the Spree River.
At Spreewald, you’ll find tranquil waterways brushed with lush green landscapes. You’ll float past idyllic farmhouses and villages. With its perfect ensemble of attractions, the Spreewald wins over everyone who steps foot inside.
The most interesting way to experience the Spreewald is manually: by bike, by boat, or by foot. Other than hiring a tourist boat, public transportation won’t help much in exploring this neck of the woods.
Start off in Lübbenau, Spreewald’s most popular tourist center. Walk one of the well-marked trails to Lehde, a traditional lagoon village, or Leipe, a small fishing village. For a relaxing day out, you can visit Burg, a popular German spa town.
Is seeing the Spreewald from the river more your style? Rent a kayak or canoe in Lübbenau or Burg. You can spend your day floating leisurely through the waterways. You’ll drift alongside traditional wooden houses, age-old bridges, and thick forests. (Advanced reservations are recommended in summer.)
How to get to the Spreewald
By public transportation, the easiest entry points into the Spreewald are Lübben and Lübbenau. The RE2 regional train reaches either from Berlin in about an hour. It should cost about €9 each way.
To experience more tranquil locales in the Spreewald, rent a car and head towards Burg (Spreewald).
Leipzig
If Eastern Germany was a family, Leipzig would be East Berlin’s hip little brother. Saxony’s biggest city has become one of Germany’s coolest cities. It’s attracted young creatives looking for a quieter—and cheaper—alternative to Berlin.
Leipzig is often brushed over by visitors. It’s a shame, considering how easy it is to visit from Berlin. The city is one of Germany’s top trade fair destinations. Leipzig regularly attracts businesspeople from all around the world. On this excursion, you’ll have a chance to see a side of Leipzig that quick business trips often ignore.
Start your day exploring Leipzig Altstadt. From the Hauptbahnhof, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the Markt (Market Square), the main square in Altstadt. Along the way—and in & around the square—you’ll find stunning examples of 19th- and 20th-century Saxon architecture. Styles range from Art Nouveau to Post Modernist.
If you love music and art, Leipzig is one of the better places in Germany to dig in. A few of the better choices are the three-museums-in-one GRASSI, the Bach Museum, and the Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts.
TIP: To cut down your costs in Leipzig and to save your feet, pick up a 1-day Leipzig Card. The card costs €11.50. It gives access to free public transportation. You’ll also enjoy free or discounted admission to many Leipzig museums.
Want a taste of what’s driving Leipzig’s reputation as the “New Berlin”? Head south on Karl-Liebknecht-Straße through the Zentrum-Süd and Südvorstadt neighborhoods. On your walk, you’ll drift by colorful street art and a number of bars and restaurants.
Pop into the Cafe Puschkin (Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 74). Grab a quick and hearty lunch. The café has an ever-changing menu of regional & international favorites in a pub-like atmosphere.
How to get to Leipzig
Intercity trains between Leipzig and Berlin depart several times throughout the day. Expect to pay up to a steep €48 each way for the privilege of this 75-minute high-speed train ride. (It would be a good time to pull out your German rail pass, no?)
Dresden
Although you’ll need more than 24 hours in Dresden to truly appreciate it, Dresden is one of the most stunning cities within quick reach from Berlin.
Like Berlin, there wasn’t much to behold in Dresden following the Second World War. Much of the Saxon city was levelled in firebombing campaigns. The attacks left little of its magnificent Baroque behind. Fortunately, Dresden’s beautiful Altstadt has since been restored. And what an impressive sight it is!
TIP: Before embarking, grab a Dresden City Card. It’ll help you save money on museums, sightseeing tours, concerts, theater shows, dining, and shopping.
Unless you opt for a guided Dresden Old Town Walking Tour, exploring Altstadt is most compelling independently by foot. Start by finding your way to Neumarkt. This large central square is home to Frauenkirche, one of the coolest places to see in Dresden. This beautifully restored Lutheran church is jaw-dropping inside and out. Frauenkirche also features one of the finest panoramas of Dresden from its dome’s viewing platform.
Grabbing the view from the dome will set you back €8. (You can book your tickets in advance here.) It’s a worthwhile expense, though, for seeing Altstadt in all its glory from above.
Before moving on to explore Altstadt further, spin along Augustusstraße. The street is a block west of the backend of Frauenkirche. Here, you can spot the Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes).
Fürstenzug is a 19th- and early 20th-century porcelain masterpiece. It depicts over 800 years of the royal ancestors of the House of Wettin, Saxony’s ruling dynasty. Stretching over a hundred meters, the Fürstenzug is the longest porcelain artwork of its kind in the entire world.
Somehow, while the rest of Dresden lay in ruins, Fürstenzug survived the 1945 firebombing. Unlike most of the Altstadt, what you’ll see here is original.
Another architectural wonder to keep your eyes peeled for in Altstadt Dresden is the Zwinger. The Rococo-style palace is sure to impress with its painstakingly elaborate architectural details. Entrance to the exterior courtyard is free.
Expect to pay €10 for entrance to the Zwinger’s three museums:
- Old Masters Picture Gallery
- Porcelain Collection
- Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments
If you have some time after exploring stunning Altstadt, cross over the Elbe River to Dresden’s hip and raw Neustadt. Unlike the squeaky-clean tourism wonderland of Altstadt, Neustadt might take some getting used to. (Think: Dresden’s answer to Berlin’s Kreuzberg.)
Wander around Neustadt. Weaving in and out of its galleries and hip cafés as you hunt for interesting street art and vintage clothing.
With little room in your belly for a treat, waddle into Pfunds Molkerei (Pfund’s Diary Shop). The Guinness-declared “most beautiful dairy shop in the world” dates back to the late 19th century. This palatial milk shop is popular among German tourists, who enter not only to gaze upon the hand-painted story-telling tiles but to taste Pfund’s famous raw milk and cheeses.
How to get to Dresden
To visit Dresden from Berlin by public transportation, you’ll have to be careful to choose the right trains. The fastest routes will take less than 2 hours. Slower journeys will add at least an hour. The quicker EC and IC trains generally leave every two hours, starting at 7:04 am. Prices start at €29 each way.
Szczecin
Who said you need to stick to Germany when exploring around Berlin? Lying just 150 kilometers northeast is the lovely Polish city of Szczecin. And it’s one of the most surprising retreats from Germany’s capital!
Sure, visiting Szczecin can’t compete with a romp in other major Polish travel destinations. But it’s hardly a slouch when it comes to dousing travelers with a little Polish charm.
Here, all the things we’ve come to love about Poland—from stunning historical architecture to good beer & hearty food—are on display. And it’s all just two hours and change away from Berlin!
Start your day in Szczecin with a visit to Stare Miasto, the city’s historic district. Get your bearings at Hay Market Square, the main square of Stare Miasto. Here, Szczecin’s Hanseatic roots are clearly on display among its colorful traditional architecture.
Elsewhere in Stare Miasto, don’t miss out on Ducal Castle, the most important historical site in Szczecin. The towering Gothic and mannerist castle was built in the mid-14th century. Reconstructed after WWII, Ducal Castle was once home to the dukes of Pomerania.
Wander around the castle grounds to get a sense of the castle’s unique architectural palette. Once you’ve finished, carve out time to visit the Castle Museum. Check out the museum’s Pomeranian dukes’ crypt and bell tower (open May 1 to Sept 30) for views above the city.
How to get to Szczecin
The easiest means of transportation between Szczecin and Berlin is by either train or car. The quickest direct trains (RE66) ply the route in about two hours and cost approximately €29 to €36. Depending on traffic, the trip by car will take anywhere between 1.5 hours and 2.5 hours.
