8 great day trips from Berlin by public transport

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Looking for some day trips from Berlin to leave the big city? Then you are right here! Surrounded by the federal state of Brandenburg, Berlin is its own city-state and the largest city in Germany both by area and population. Of course, when you are visiting the city for the first time there is so much to see and explore. But when you’re living in Berlin or you’ve been there several times you might want to see something different, or just escape the big-city life to enjoy some nature or charming little towns. The most popular day trips from Berlin is to Potsdam or Spreewald, but there are other cities near Berlin to explore as well. Here we show you some top sights in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and how you easily can reach these places by public transportation.

1.Potsdam – most popular of day trips from Berlin

A day trip from Berlin to Potsdam is very popular, and rightfully so. It is one of our favourite cities when we want a short day trip from Berlin. We have been several times and still, we haven’t seen it all. We even stayed there for one night but we couldn’t manage to see everything. Potsdam just has it all; Countless palaces and royal buildings, huge parks, lakes, rivers, a world-class art museum which regularly change exhibitions (e.g. Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet), a Dutch quarter, cosy cafes and restaurants. It is definitely worth a visit, or two and more.

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How to get to Potsdam from Berlin

The best way for day trips from Berlin to Potsdam is by train. Several regional trains are leaving from Berlin central station but also the S-Bahn will take you to Potsdam from Alexanderplatz and the central station. The journey itself takes around 30min. You can buy a ticket at every station at the ticket machines. Buy a day ticket for zones A, B and C. This ticket is of course also valid for your return to Berlin.

^{TIP: Read our post from Schwerin Castle where we visit one of Germany’s most beautiful castles}

2.Neuzelle

We had never heard about this Cisterian Monastery until we went to ITB (a travel fair in Berlin) and got loads information about Brandenburg and day trips from Berlin. Just watching photos of this complex made us even more curious to go. We finally went to Neuzelle and it was simply breathtaking. It is regarded as one of the most significant Baroque monuments in the North of Germany. The complex consists of several churches, a cloister, cloister garden and a brewery.

History

In 1268 Neuzelle Monastery was endowed by Margrave Heinrich von Meissen. During the 15th century, the abbey was partially destroyed by the Hussites several times. Lower Lusatia first belonged to the Kingdom of Bohemia. From 1635 it belonged to Saxony which prompted monks from Bohemia to settle in Neuzelle. They were responsible for the redesign of the complex into Baroque style in the 17th and 18th centuries. You still can find architecture from the late Gothic in the conclave rooms and the cloisters. Since 1820 the monastery building is in use for educative purposes.

^{TIP: Read our post about a weekend trip from Berlin to Cottbus, near Neuzelle}

Today you can join guided tours through the complex and get all details and historical facts of the monastery. They have rebuilt a Baroque Garden where you can have coffee and enjoy the view of the Oder river meadows. The “Heavenly Theatre” Museum shows the depiction of the Passion from the Holy Sepulchre. It is one of the most impressive and unique artworks about the presentation of the Passion of Jesus in Europe. The Neuzelle Monastery is definitely a Baroque masterpiece in Brandenburg and worth trips from Berlin.

Highlights

• Abbey Church
• Cloister
• Orangery and Baroque Garden
• Protestant Parish Church
• Heavenly Theatre Museum

How to get there & infos

You can easily get to Neuzelle by train R1 from Berlin central station. You need to change to Frankfurt (Oder) and from there take train RB11 to Neuzelle. When you leave the train station in Neuzelle, it is only a 15min walk to the monastery complex.

Deutsche Bahn has always a great offer with the Berlin-Brandenburg-Ticket. Up to 5 persons can use this ticket for a whole day in Berlin (tram, bus, S- and U-Bahn) and Brandenburg (regional trains, no ICE) from 9 am (Mon – fri) and from midnight on weekends and public holidays. With this convenient ticket don’t have to stress about certain train times or to buy several tickets. It only costs 33€. Check bahn.de for more info and details.

Just outside the monastery, you can find some nice restaurants which serve local cuisine and a brewery where you can buy beer from the abbey brewery.

_{TIP: Read our post Biking in Germany where we visit the majestic Jerichow monastery in Saxony-Anhalt}

3.Rheinsberg

Probably you already know that we are totally fascinated (obsessed?) about castles, palaces and stately homes. Our day trips from Berlin often involves a castle. You can find a lot of them in Germany and of course also in Berlin and Brandenburg. Schloss Rheinsberg was on our bucket list for a while now and finally, we visited this place on a warm day in spring. Rheinsberg is a small town in the municipality in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district in Brandenburg, just 75km northwest of Berlin. The most famous sight is, for several reasons, the magnificent Rheinsberg Palace. This was also the reason why we travelled there. Rheinsberg is a cute, little town with old charming houses in the centre, delicious local cuisine, a cute lake and of course the impressive palace.

_{TIP: Read our post Castles in Berlin where you can visit no more than 13 German castles}

History

Crown Prince Frederick, later King Frederick the Great, got this castle from his father Frederick Wilhelm as a present for his loyalty. He moved in with his wife Princess Elisabeth Christine in 1736. In the following years until 1740, he extended and improved the castle by Johann Gottfried Kemmeter and Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff. It was the first building of the so-called Frederician Rococo style.

_{TIP: Read our post Castle Hotel Germany if you would like to stay in a German fairytale castle}

Frederick himself described his time in Rheinsberg as “the happiest time of his life”. With his accession to the throne in 1740, his time in Rheinsberg ended. He gave the palace to his brother Henry four years later. In 1752 Henry moved in with his wife but they mostly lived separately because Henry paid more attention to his male friends than to her. The prince also extended and embellished the castle and the park. You can find his tomb in the park which is in form of a truncated pyramid. Henry was buried there after his death in 1802.

During East German times the palace was in use as a diabetes clinic. After a long renovation of the palace and the park, it now belongs to the Berlin-Brandenburg Foundation for Prussian Palaces and Gardens. You can visit the palace with an audio guide and enjoy magnificent rooms and beautiful artwork. The park is free of charge.

Highlights

• Rheinsberg Palace
• A walk in the Schlosspark
• Obelisk
• Tomb of Prince Henry
• Charming houses along Deutsche Alleenstraße in the centre of Rheinsberg

How to get there & infos

You can reach Rheinsberg by train from Berlin. There are several trains daily to Rheinsberg and the ride takes around 1-2 hours. During the train ride, you can enjoy the beautiful landscape of Brandenburg. When you enter Rheinsberg, it is only a 15min walk to the palace and centre of the town.

Deutsche Bahn has always a great offer with the Berlin-Brandenburg-Ticket. Up to 5 persons can use this ticket for a whole day in Berlin (tram, bus, S- and U-Bahn) and Brandenburg (regional trains, no ICE) from 9 am (Mon – fri) and from midnight on weekends and public holidays. With this convenient ticket don’t have to stress about certain train times or to buy several tickets. It only costs 33€. Check bahn.de for more info and details.

On the way to the palace, you can also find restaurants where you can enjoy lunch or dinner.

^{TIP: Read Christine’s post about a day trip to Waren an der Müritz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern}

4.Spreewald – popular for day trips from Berlin

Spreewald (=spree forest) is a biosphere reserve around 100km southeast of Berlin. This 484m² large area has over 200 small canals and it’s famous for boat rides, although it’s not a typical boat ride as you probably would think of. They are called “Kahn” which you could compare with a punt boat and is steered by ferrymen or women. Electrical boats are not allowed in the shallow waters. The water is not very deep, so that is why the ferrymen/ women steer the punt boat with a long pole. While taking a boat ride through the canal hemmed in by forest you might be a witness of one of the 18000 species of the flora and fauna of Spreewald. This very unique network of waterways, grasslands and fields, which was shaped during the last Ice Age, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.

Boat tours in Spreewald

The best way to take a boat ride is from Lübben or Lübbenau. You can easily get there by train from Berlin and then walk to the boat rental station in the centre of each place. There you will find ticket offices to buy tickets for your boat ride. A journey takes around 2 hours, but of course, you can book from different tour providers and choose other routes which are longer as well. Spreewald is a tourist destination (popular on day trips from Berlin) and the number of visitors is getting higher from year to year. In 2018 it was more than 750.000 persons visited the biosphere reserve. But no wonder why it is so popular. A boat ride is very relaxed and you can truly appreciate Spreewald’s charm almost without any noise.

The Spreewald is also famous for the ethnic minority of the Sorbs who have their homes there. You can visit an open-air museum called “Freilandmusuem Lehde”. There you can see how the Sorbs lived a century ago. Wander around the village with reed-covered buildings and look for hay stacks on the fields. Check out the webpage for special events or parades on the canals. And of course, do not forget to try the famous Spreewald gherkin (=pickled cucumber). Over 40.000 tonnes are produced every year in Spreewald.

Highlights

• Punt boat tour in Spreewald
• Visit the village Lehde
• Try ghurkins from Spreewald in different flavors (eg. dill, mustard seeds, chilli, garlic)

How to get there & infos

You can reach Spreewald by train from Berlin. There are hourly trains to Lübben and Lübbenau en route to Cottbus from Berlin central station. The train ride takes around one hour. When you arrive at one of the train stations, it is only a short walk to the centre of the town and the boat rentals.

Deutsche Bahn has always a great offer with the Berlin-Brandenburg-Ticket. Up to 5 persons can use this ticket for a whole day in Berlin (tram, bus, S- and U-Bahn) and Brandenburg (regional trains, no ICE) from 9 am (Mon – fri) and from midnight on weekends and public holidays. With this convenient ticket don’t have to stress about certain train times or to buy several tickets. It only costs 33€. Check bahn.de for more info and details.

In both towns, you can find restaurants or pubs to grab lunch or dinner or just enjoy coffee and cake. Of course, you have also the chance to sleepover in Spreewald.

^{TIP: Read our post about the best things to do in Weimar for a great weekend trip from Berlin}

5.Oranienburg & Sachsenhausen

Another popular day trip from Berlin is the small town of Oranienburg, located 35km north of Berlin. This is a town of opposites. They have a beautiful Baroque palace next to the river Havel, Schloss Oranienburg. But also a very cruel place where lots of people died and got murdered in WWII, the Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen.

Anyhow, Oranienburg is a very interesting place to learn about the past and its history. If you leave early in the morning you can combine both sights. It will take time for Sachsenhausen to go through the memorial site because you will be emotionally affected by the horrible facts. Because of this, we recommend starting the day at the concentration camp, and then maybe it’s good to walk around at the palace grounds after that to get some other thought in mind.

Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen

The concentration camp in Sachsenhausen was in use from 1935 to the end of WWII in 1945. It was a camp with a gas chamber, medical experimentation area and several subcamps. Many of the people who were imprisoned, were political opponents, gipsies, Jews or homosexuals. They were treated harshly and sometimes also killed openly. During the time around 200.000 persons were kept in prison and far from all came out alive. They were forced to work hard under terrible conditions. Thousands of them died of hunger, exhaustion, illness or medical experiments. During a tour with an audio guide, you will get lots of information about life in a concentration camp. At the entrance, you’ll see the well-known gate with “Arbeit macht frei”. You can visit barracks, prison rooms and even an execution trench. This tour will definitely not leave you untouched.

Since 1993 it is a memorial site and you can learn there about the path of Germany in the Third Reich. This visit of the concentration camp in Sachsenhausen will hopefully leave a big and important impression for you. Every human should be respected in their own beliefs, skin colour, culture or preferences of sex, religion or lifestyle. What happened in this time should never happen again.

Tips for the visit of Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen

• Check opening times on their webpage of Sachsenhausen
• The visit of the memorial and museums are free of charge
• Audio-guide 3€
• Wear appropriate clothing
• Show respectful behaviour

Schloss Oranienburg

Schloss Oranienburg is the oldest Baroque Palace in Brandenburg and was built as a country estate in 1655 for Louise Henrietta of Orange (born 1667 in The Hague, Netherlands as Princess of Orange-Nassau), the first wife of the Great Elector. The town was first called Bötzow but it got changed into Oranienburg because Louise Henrietta was Dutch and the landscape reminded her about her home. Therefore the name of the town was changed and the palace was built in Dutch style too. Frederick, I enlarged the palace and decorated it very sumptuously. Today the palace shows a collection of unique artworks, paintings, seating furniture, porcelain and silver. There is also an adjacent park where you can go for a stroll.

Schloss Oranienburg for Christmas

In case you visit Oranienburg in December, check out the dates for the Christmas market “Weihnachtsgans-Auguste-Markt”. Normally it is the third advent weekend of each year. It is named after a Christmas story about a goose called Auguste. The market is not as crowded as in Berlin, the prices for food and glühwein are also lower and the atmosphere in front of the palace is very romantic and perfect for Christmas. For us, this Christmas market feels very authentic and not touristy compared to the markets in Berlin. Try some delicious waffles, drink hot glühwein, listen to a choir and maybe you will be lucky and meet Santa Claus.

How to get there & infos

The best way for day trips from Berlin to Oranienburg is by train. There are several regional trains. R5 and R12 leaves from Berlin central station, but also the S-Bahn S1 will get you to Oranienburg from Berlin Friedrichstraße. The ride itself is around 25min – 45min. You can buy a ticket at every station at the ticket machines. Buy a day ticket for zones A, B and C. This ticket is of course also valid for your return to Berlin.

Deutsche Bahn has always a great offer with the Berlin-Brandenburg-Ticket. Up to 5 persons can use this ticket for a whole day in Berlin (tram, bus, S- and U-Bahn) and Brandenburg (regional trains, no ICE) from 9 am (Mon – Fri) and from midnight on weekends and public holidays. With this convenient ticket don’t have to stress about certain train times or to buy several tickets. It only costs 33€. Check bahn.de for more info and details.

The camp in Sachsenhausen is around 2km from the train station in Oranienburg. It is a nice way to walk there. From the train station turn right into Stralsunder Straße, right on Bernauer Straße, left on Straße der Einheit and right on Straße der Nationen. You could also take the bus 804 which makes hourly trips.

To get to Schloss Oranienburg, turn left after Stralsunder Straße into Bernauer Straße and follow the street until you have to cross a bridge over river Havel. Then you will see the beautiful Baroque Palace.

On the way from the train station to the palace, you will have several options for restaurants, pubs and cafes. But do not be surprised about the calmness in the town. We always experienced Oranienburg as a very quiet and calm town and not very lively (maybe we were there too late or in the off-season).

6.Woltersdorf

Woltersdorf is actually just next to the border of Berlin and Brandenburg and is perfect for day trips from Berlin. There are no big sights to visit, it is more about nature and enjoying it. The coolest part is definitely the way to get there because you need to take the tram (Woltersdorfer Straßenbahn) from Rahnsdorf. Woltersdorf is the smallest municipality with its own tram.

Rahnsdorf

You can start your day trip from Berlin by public transport to get to Rahnsdorf. In about 30min you can walk through a nice forest to the oldest part of Rahnsdorf. It used to be an old fishing village. Today, you find cobblestone streets, cute, small houses and a church almost next to Müggelsee und Müggelspree. It feels like being in a different world since Rahnsdorf still belongs to Berlin.

Woltersdorf

Go back to the S-Bahn-Station from where you take the yellow tram to Woltersdorf. The tram ride takes around 10min and passes through forests and houses with large gardens. When you arrive in Woltersdorf, you already can see the floodgate and the “centre” of Woltersdorf. You find several cafes, restaurants and hotels there. From there, you have a few options to spent your time: Either you go for a walk along with one of the three lakes or a hike at Kranichsberg. When it is sunny, you get a nice view from the top of the beautiful landscape and lakes. In the summertime, you can go for a swim or rent a boat on your own. After you are finished with your outdoor activities, make sure not to miss a cold beer from the local brewery “Woltersdorfer”.

_{TIP: Woltersdorf is great for swimming in the summer. Read our post from Rügen Island if you rather swim in the Baltic Sea}

Highlights

• hike at Kranichsberg up to a viewing tower
• walk along or go for a swim at the lakes Flakensee, Kalksee or Bauersee
• rent a boat
• go for a boat cruise
• visit the local brewery “Woltersdorfer”

How to get there & infos

The best way for day trips from Berlin to Woltersdorf is by S-Bahn. There are several trains (S3) leaving from Alexanderplatz or Ostkreuz. The journey itself takes around 30min. You can buy a ticket at every station at the ticket machines or on the app. Buy a day ticket for zones A, B and C. Of course, this ticket is also valid for your return to Berlin and valid for the tram ride from Rahnsdorf to Woltersdorf. The tram leaves usually every 20min. Check the timetable for weekends and holidays.

7.Werder an der Havel

Werder is a town in Brandenburg, just behind Potsdam and easily to reach for day trips from Berlin by public transport. The River Havel is also just next to Werder. The main attraction is actually the river island. In the summertime, Werder is perfect to go for a swim, too. Werder might not have the biggest sights there but that is not important. It is about to enjoy the cute town next to the water.

_{TIP: Werder is perfect for biking. Read our post Bike routes from Berlin for other great bike routes in the region}

Werder is also called the city of blossoms since they grow lots of fruits and vegetables there. Of course, it is best to visit the town in spring, when everything is in full bloom. Werder has an annual blossom festival, the Baumblütenfest, one of the region’s largest festivals. It is usually at the beginning of May. Check the webpage of Werder to save the date.

While you walk on cobblestone streets, you will also pass a post mill, a church in the centre of Werder and lots of beautiful houses. To get the best photos, you should not be on the island. Before you enter the bridge to the island, there are nice spots to take photos of the island with its sights. During your walk, which won’t take too long to cross this little island, there are a few options to eat and drink, even a small French bistro which offers fresh quiches, cheeses and delicious wine. But you can bring your own drinks and food to have a picnic along the shore of the river island. Sometimes you can even buy some homemade fruit wine, jam or juices from a private stall along the street to the island.

How to get there & infos

The best way for day trips from Berlin to Werder is by train. There are several regional trains RE1 leaving from Berlin central station but also the S-Bahn will take you to Potsdam (where you can change to RE1) from Alexanderplatz and the central station. The journey itself takes around 35min. Werder is only 3 stops away from Potsdam by train. You can buy a ticket at every station at the ticket machines or on the app. Buy a day ticket for zones A, B and C. This ticket is of course also valid for your return to Berlin. You can also take a boat from Potsdam/Werder. We took a boat back to Potsdam and it’s a very scenic route. Several providers are offering these boat tours. From the train station Werder it is a ca 30min walk to the river island. Walk along Adolf-Damaschke-Straße and Eisenbahnstraße till you reach Unter den Linden to get to the island.

8.Ludwigslust

Ludwigslust is a small town in the German Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and another great option for a day trip from Berlin by public transport. As lots of other German towns, there is another great castle to explore, which is called the “Versaille of the North”: Schloss Ludwigslust. Ludwigslust is located between Hamburg and Berlin, and very close to Schwerin. The population is around 12.000 people. The main attractions is definitely the castle, but it is worth to spend a full day there. The large palace garden invites to stroll around and nearby the castle you find cosy restaurants and cafes.

Around the beautiful palace you find lots of charming houses. Opposite of Schloss Ludwigslust, there is the town church, which is built in neoclassical style. At first sight this church looks more like an ancient temple, but it is a church. The most impressive part is the altar painting made in paper-mâché.

History

The magnificent baroque Ludwigslust Palace, located in a large and spacious park is also known as the “Versailles of the North”. In 1724 Prince Ludwig, the son of Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg, decided to build a hunting lodge near a small hamlet called Klenow. After his succession to the Dukedom, this became his favourite residence and he named it accordingly Ludwigslust. Duke Frederick von Mecklenburg-Schwerin built it between 1772 and 1776 according to plans by the court architect J.J. Busch. The castle was inhabited by dukes until 1945.

As a result, the historically evolved atmosphere was preserved. State organs of the GDR moved into the historic interior for several decades. In 1986, the palace and gardens were placed under the administration of the Schwerin State Museum and major measures were taken to secure the building, and rooms were opened to the public for viewing for the first time. In March 2016, the east wing of the palace was reopened after extensive restoration.

Today, the main attraction is the Golden Hall. Monumental columns, large mirrors, magnificent crystal chandeliers and the restored floor will allow it to shine in splendour in the future and take you back to the past of magnificent balls and festive concerts. Other highlights in Schloss Ludwigslust are the gallery with paintings and porcelain, busts and royal interior.

Highlights

• Ludwigslust Palace
• Golden Hall
• a walk in the park
• cascades
• town church / Stadtkirche
• charming houses around the palace and along Schloßstraße
• Palais Bülow

How to get there & infos

You can reach Ludwigslust by train from Berlin. There are several trains daily to Ludwigslust and the ride takes around 1-2 hours, depending which train you choose. During the train ride, you can enjoy the beautiful landscape of Brandenburgand Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. When you enter Ludwigslust, it is only a 20min walk to the palace and centre of the town.

Deutsche Bahn has always a great offer with the Berlin-Brandenburg-Ticket. Up to 5 persons can use this ticket for a whole day in Berlin (tram, bus, S- and U-Bahn) and Brandenburg (regional trains, no ICE) from 9 am (Mon – fri) and from midnight on weekends and public holidays. With this convenient ticket don’t have to stress about certain train times or to buy several tickets. It only costs 33€. Check bahn.de for more info and details.

On the way to the palace, you cannot really find restaurants. There are all in the centre of Ludwigslust and close by the palace.