The word on everyone’s lips this summer (2020) is ‘Stay-cation’ and it seems this will be the case for a while longer as we move into late summer and on to Fall. We would like to inspire your travel plans and show you a few ideas of what the States around Berlin have to offer!

Spreewald (Brandenburg) – Around 100km south-east of Berlin, this UNESCO world heritage site is a stunning biosphere reserve which covers almost 500 square km. Lush green forests, 200 small canals, tiny historical towns and extensive wildlife await you. The main town is called Lübbenau, from here you can explore the area on foot or even better on the water by punt or kayak. Sample the local specialities such as ‘Spreewald Gurken’ Pickels or Kartoffeln, Quark & Leinöl – Potatoes with Quark and Linseed oil which is produced locally and considered a speciality of the region. The area is steeped in history, originally settled by the Sorbian people – of whom many locals draw their ancestry today – there is rich history and culture to discover. The Spreewald can be reached by car or train.

Caputh  (Brandenburg) – this village was once where Albert Einstein spent his summers sailing on the lake Schwielowsee. Approximately 30-40 mins drive from Berlin, this tranquil little haven is a great place for a day trip. You can take a walk around the Caputher See, visit the Einstein Haus and the 350-year-old barock pleasure palace ‘Schloss Caputh‘ once belonging to Friederich Wilhelm of Brandenburg on the banks of the Havel river. There is also a lovely bathing spot in Caputh called the ‘Seebad Caputh‘ which offers a sandy beach, refreshments for sale and beautiful atmosphere on a warm summers day.

Sächsiche Schweiz (Saxony)– this stunning area boasts dramatic views and fabulous historic sights, it is known as Saxon Switzerland. It is slightly further afield, 3 hours by car but also reachable by train. Southwards down the river Elbe from Dresden, you will find the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, high above the river valley – this area invites you to hike up to the Bastei, discover the Königstein Fortress or relax in the thermal pools in Bad Schandau. The Sächsische Schweiz is a fabulous place for a weekend trip with all the family and while you are here you can head up the river and discover all the beautiful sights Dresden has to offer!

Waren an der Müritz  (Mecklenburg Vorpommern) – If you love the tranquillity of water this is the place to visit, Waren is situated on Germanys largest lake the Müritz (117 square km) and surrounded by a further 6 lakes. Founded in the middle ages, it has a rich history and a beautiful town centre. The Müritz National Park includes large parts of the lake and is home to a large range of wildlife. Discover the area by boat, put up a tent for a weekend of camping or hike around the lakes. Waren is approximately 2 hours drive from Berlin and can also be reached by train. About the author Hi there! I’m Juli, German roots but I grew up in New Zealand and have been living in Germany since 2004. I love sharing my passion for Berlin and all it has to offer with new ‚Berliners‘ and through my work as a freelance Relocation Consultant with IRC I have the opportunity to do so.