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A post punt delivering mail along a channel in Lehde in the Spreewald
The iron gate of Tower A at Sachsenhausen with the words Arbeit macht frei
A wooden Spreewald punt moored on a channel in the village of Lehde

Things to do in Berlin and Brandenburg

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Photo: JoachimKohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0

Oranienburg, north of Berlin

Visit the Sachsenhausen concentration camp memorial

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Photo: JrPol, CC BY-SA 3.0

Lübbenau and Lehde, Spreewald

Glide through the Spreewald channels on a punt from Lübbenau

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Photo: Neuköllner, CC BY 4.0

Berlin is a city-state of its own, set in the middle of the state of Brandenburg, a flat land of lakes, rivers and pine forests. Most visitors base themselves in the capital and take day trips out: to the Prussian palaces of Potsdam, to the memorial at Sachsenhausen and to the channels of the Spreewald.

This hub links Berlin and Potsdam, which have pages of their own, and adds the Sachsenhausen memorial and the Spreewald.

Places in this region

2 things to do in Berlin and Brandenburg

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The iron gate of Tower A at Sachsenhausen with the words Arbeit macht frei

Visit the Sachsenhausen concentration camp memorial

Oranienburg, north of Berlin

Half a day including the trainFree

The concentration camp the SS ran on Berlin's doorstep from 1936 to 1945, now a free memorial and museum in Oranienburg.

Check dates and pricesSmall-group day trip from Berlin with a licensed guide
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A wooden Spreewald punt moored on a channel in the village of Lehde

Glide through the Spreewald channels on a punt from Lübbenau

Lübbenau and Lehde, Spreewald

A full day from BerlinGo alone or with a tour

A river delta of narrow channels south-east of Berlin, explored the local way: sitting in a wooden punt pushed by a boatman's pole.

Check dates and pricesDay trip from Berlin with a punt ride to Lehde
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Traveller picks

Hidden gems suggested by travellers. We check each one before it goes up; the words are theirs, not ours.

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Plan your trip

  • Which places for what

    Berlin for 20th-century history, museums and neighbourhoods. Potsdam for palaces, parks and the Glienicke Bridge. Sachsenhausen for the history of the Nazi camps, and the Spreewald for a day on the water.

  • Combining them

    In must30's view, four or five nights in Berlin cover the city, with one day in Potsdam and, if you have time, a morning at Sachsenhausen or a full day in the Spreewald. All three trips work by train from central Berlin.

  • Getting around

    S-Bahn and regional trains link Berlin with Potsdam and Oranienburg, and regional trains reach Lübbenau in the Spreewald. The Deutschlandticket covers all of them; otherwise buy a Berlin ABC ticket for Potsdam and Oranienburg.

  • When to go

    May to September is best for the lakes, parks and Spreewald boats. Autumn and winter suit Berlin's museums and memorials, and from November the New Palace in Potsdam opens only for guided tours.

Questions travellers ask

Can I do Potsdam and Sachsenhausen in one day?

It is possible but rushed: both are under an hour from central Berlin, in opposite directions. In must30's view, give each its own half day or more.

How do I get to the Spreewald from Berlin?

Regional trains run from Berlin to Lübbenau, home of the Great Spreewald Harbour where the punts leave. Guided day trips by coach are an option without a car.

Is Sachsenhausen free?

Yes, admission to the memorial and its museums is free. Audio guides cost €3.50 and public tours run in English on Saturdays at 11:00.

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