Are you fed up with the city but don’t have the budget for a flight? Then we have just the thing for you. Here you will find city trips that you can reach from Berlin by bus, train, or rail in a maximum of 2.5 hours!
Dahme-Heideseen Nature Park
Photo: @heyiamnele / Instagram
Travel time: 45–60 minutes
The Dahme-Heideseen Nature Park southeast of Berlin is an ideal destination for anyone who wants to get out into the countryside quickly. From Berlin Central Station or Ostbahnhof, take the RE2 Regional Express to Königs Wusterhausen in about 30 minutes. From there, take the RB36 Regionalbahn to places like Storkow or Groß Köris, which are perfect starting points for hikes, bike tours, or canoe trips in this lake-rich natural region with over 100 lakes.
Schorfheide Wildlife Park
Photo: @rs99_fotografie / Instagram
Travel time: 1 – 1.5 hours
Schorfheide Wildlife Park is located in the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve, about 60 kilometers north of Berlin, and is also easily accessible by train. From Berlin Central Station or Gesundbrunnen, take the RE3 Regional Express train to Eberswalde in about 30 minutes. From there , a regional bus will take you to the district of Groß Schönebeck, where the wildlife park is located. Covering around 105 hectares, you can observe animals such as wolves, brown bears, lynxes, bison, and red deer in large, natural enclosures along several kilometers of hiking trails – in the middle of one of Germany’s largest forest landscapes.
Brandenburg an der Havel
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Travel time: 1 hour by regional train
Brandenburg an der Havel, often simply called Brandenburg, is known for its Gothic red brick buildings and the picturesque Havel River. The city’s bronze “Waldmops” statues, based on Loriot’s caricatures, invite you to take part in a fun scavenger hunt.
Braunschweig
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Travel time: 1.5 hours
Braunschweig, the former ducal residence of Henry the Lion, offers numerous historical sights such as St. Blasii Cathedral, Dankwarderode Castle, and the Magniviertel district with its half-timbered houses, including the oldest half-timbered inscription in Germany.
Chorin
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Travel time: approx. 30 minutes
The RE3 train will take you to the historic Chorin train station in the middle of Brandenburg in just 30 minutes. From there, an idyllic hiking trail leads through beautiful forests to an imposing monastery complex. The famous building ensemble is an architectural landmark of Brick Gothic architecture, as are, for example, the Gray Monastery and the monastery ruins in Mitte. In addition to a café, the complex also houses a permanent exhibition on the history of the 13th-century monastery. A second hiking trail takes you back to the station, or you can spend a few relaxing hours at the nearby Amtssee lake before heading home.
Dresden
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Travel time: 2 hours
Dresden, known as the “Florence of the Elbe,” captivates visitors with its impressive Baroque architecture. The Zwinger, the Royal Palace, the Frauenkirche, and the charming old town are all worth seeing.
Erfurt
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Travel time: approx. 2 hours
The capital of Thuringia captivates visitors with St. Mary’s Cathedral, where Martin Luther was ordained, the picturesque Severi Church, the Kaufmannsbrücke bridge with its unique shops, and the well-preserved Old Synagogue.
Hamburg
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Travel time: approx. 2 hours
The bustling port city of Hamburg is ideal for exploring the historic city center, relaxing in Planten un Blomen, visiting the viewing platform of the Elbphilharmonie, and strolling around the Außenalster.
Leipzig
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Travel time: 1 hour by ICE
Leipzig offers a rich historical experience. Music lovers can explore St. Thomas Church, where Johann Sebastian Bach composed many of his works. Other highlights include the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, the Grassi Museum, and the charming old town.
Ludwigslust
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Travel time: 1 hour by ICE | 2 hours by regional train
Ludwigslust is a tranquil town with a baroque palace, a picturesque palace park, and a main church. The town is famous for its unique papier-mâché decorations, known as Ludwigsluster Tafeln, which are made as a substitute for stucco or wood.
Magdeburg
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Travel time: approx. 2 hours
Magdeburg, one of Germany’s oldest towns, is known for the Cathedral of St. Maurice and St. Catherine, the burial place of Otto the Great. Other attractions include the whimsical Green Citadel by Friedensreich Hundertwasser and the historic old town.
Oranienburg
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Travel time: 45 minutes
Oranienburg is located at the terminus of the S1 line and is home to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, which is now an open-air museum and memorial. Between 1936 and 1945, more than 200,000 people were imprisoned here, of whom only about 3,000 were liberated by Soviet forces at the end of the war. Admission to Sachsenhausen is free, and the exhibitions offer a detailed overview of the history of the camp and its prisoners.
Potsdam
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Travel time: approx. 35 minutes
Potsdam is a great choice for a day trip from Berlin, accessible by the S7 and RE1 lines. The highlight is Sanssouci Park, home to the magnificent Sanssouci Palace, a Rococo masterpiece built for Frederick the Great that earned Potsdam the nickname “Versailles of Germany.” Other attractions include the Dutch Quarter, Cecilienhof (site of the 1945 Potsdam Conference), Babelsberg Palace, and the historic city center.
Rostock
Travel time: 2 hours
Rostock, the largest port in East Germany after World War II, has an extremely rich history. Here you can enjoy the historic city center, St. Mary’s Church with its 14th-century astronomical clock, as well as shops and cafés!
Schwerin
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Travel time: approx. 2.5 hours
Schwerin is a paradise for castle lovers with the majestic Schwerin Castle, the magnificent castle gardens, the State Museum, and the old town.
Weimar
Travel time: approx. 2 hours
Weimar is a cultural center, home to literary greats Goethe and Schiller, and birthplace of the Bauhaus school. Among the most important sights are the Bauhaus Museum, the Anna Amalia Library, Goethe’s residence, and the park on the Ilm River.
Wittenberg (Lutherstadt)
*Travel time: 45 minutes by ICE | 1 hour 30 minutes by regional train
Wittenberg is the birthplace of the Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the castle church here. Among the most important sites of the Reformation are the castle church, the Assisi Panorama, St. Mary’s Church with its impressive Reformation altar, and Luther House, which offers exhibitions on the history of the Reformation.