Berlin is an incredible city with rich history, impressive sights, and outstanding food. You could spend your whole time just exploring the city’s little corners.
If you’re an expat living in Berlin, it’s nice to get out sometimes and see something new. Lucky for you, there are some fantastic day trips from Berlin!
Within three hours of Berlin, you can find everything from incredible quaint towns to vibrant cities and all types of places in between.
Better yet, Berlin has excellent public transportation that will make these places easily accessible. There are also guided tours that you can take that will make things even more straightforward!
In this list, you’ll find some of our favorite day trips to take from Berlin. These places are all within a few hours of the city.
If you’re interested in taking a day trip from Berlin, stay tuned. Here are five amazing Berlin day trip ideas for you:
Dresden
192 km from Berlin
One of the most breathtaking cities that you can visit as a day trip from Berlin is Dresden. It’s an easy bus ride to get there from Berlin.
Many have nicknamed this city the “Florence of the North,” but it doesn’t need this comparison to stand out.
Dresden is an architecturally stunning city with jaw-dropping baroque architecture alongside some more modern buildings and street art.
Take a boat tour along the Elbe River for some spectacular views of Dresden’s skyline.
On land, the Dresden Semperoper is a magnificent opera house worth visiting and watching a performance.
There are numerous free walking tours you can participate in, or you can take a hop-on hop-off bus tour if you want a guided experience.
Leipzig
190 km from Berlin
Leipzig is a picturesque city less than two hours away from Berlin that is worth a visit. Architecture lovers will enjoy this destination because of its numerous styles and points of interest. However, anyone can enjoy Leipzig because it is lively, historically rich, and gorgeous.
There is plenty to do and see in this charming place. A few must-see monuments include the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, the Paulinum, and Forderverein Versohnungskirche church.
For some outstanding views of Leipzig, the Panorama Restaurant is a must-visit spot. Another tasty place to eat is Auerbachs Keller, Leipzig’s second oldest restaurant.
Finally, art and culture enthusiasts would enjoy exploring the Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei neighborhood and catching a show at the Gewandhaus concert hall.
Spreewald
80 km from Berlin
A little under an hour from Berlin by public train is Spreewald, a favorite local UNESCO protected nature reserve. It’s hard to believe that this spectacular natural beauty could be so close to bustling Berlin!
This picturesque destination has a beautiful town surrounded by lush forests. Before exploring nature, it’s worth taking some time to visit the Spreewald Market and local shops.
One of the most popular activities in Spreewald is punting. A punt is a boat that looks like a gondola but is structurally different. Punting is a fantastic way to enjoy the sights and waters surrounding Spreewald.
Other popular ways to see Spreewald include kayaking and canoeing.
Finally, you can’t leave this town without trying a famous Spreewald pickle!
Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum
35 km from Berlin
While somber, the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum is an essential Berlin day trip because of its immense historical significance. This site was formerly a concentration camp that is now a museum.
This destination has numerous permanent and rotating exhibitions to visit. There are public guided tours by Friends of the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum for three euros. These highly educational tours do an outstanding job explaining the history of the grounds and the holocaust.
In addition to its public tours, there are numerous educational programs, extended seminars, and study days offered throughout the year.
Those interested in learning more about this subject matter can explore its public, specialized library that has over 25,000 units of media in its collection.
Tropical Islands Resort
70 km from Berlin
Wait, tropical island? Every list needs something out of the left field, and this is one of those places. We added this to our list because we know that sometimes, you need a change of pace.
The Tropical Islands Resort is just over 40 miles away from Berlin but will transport you to another world. It is open year-round and offers an escape from Germany’s cold winters.
This place has a water park, sauna, and spa where you can have fun and unwind. There’s a rainforest, tropical village, mini-golf, and many water attractions at the water park.
Tropical Islands Resort is the perfect day trip if you’re living in Berlin with your family or want different scenery.
Tickets start at 36.50 euros for kids and 46 euros for adults.
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