Located only a few hours away from Berlin, here is all you need to know for planning a trip to Spreewald in Germany

Either you are canoeing at one of the over 200 streams branching out from the Spree River during Summer or wandering through snow-covered villages and rivers during Winter, Spreewald is always a good choice if you want to experience something new and different of what the rest of Brandenburg has to offer.

I visited this day-trip getaway and discovered why Germans love Spreewald so much and how to make the most of it.

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Understanding Spreewald: Germany’s natural paradise

First of all, Spreewald is not a city or a region in Germany. It’s a biosphere reserve located just 100 km south from Berlin. It is the place where the Spree River transforms into dozens of narrow streams and the forest surrounding the landscape turns into a home for thousands of species of flora and fauna. It is a marvel of nature and with small villages set along the canals, many consider this a version of Venice in Germany.

Green wetlands, thick forests, 1.500 km of labyrinthic canals and around 18.000 different species of plants and animals. Spreewald is an example of how nature change just an hour away from Germany’s largest and most hectic city.

How to get to Spreewald

Even though it is more comfortable and easier to rent a car and plan a road trip to Spreewald, Germany’s railway system, Deutsche Bahn, has direct connections from Berlin Central Station to the village of Lübben in just 1 hour. Lübben is the main center of Spreewald and the most common destination for travelers to visit.

NOTE: If you are traveling in a few cities of Germany, I recommend you to get a Deutschlandticket. A pubic transport train ticket that allows you to take every regional train in Germany for only 49€ a month.

Cycling enthusiasts can also depart from Berlin and in 1 or 2 days reach the town of Lübben. Many see this as a beautiful multi-stop cycling trip and an opportunity to see more of the state of Brandenburg.

However, in my opinion, the best way to travel from Berlin to Spreewald is by getting your own vehicle and combine Spreewald with a few other destinations around. Renting a car in Germany is super easy and with all big companies offering vehicles, prices are quite competivitive and cheaper than other European countries.

This is the most convenient way to travel and during my trip to Spreewald, I was able to combine this cool destination with other great places in Germany such as:

• Sachenhausen concentration camp
• Bad Muskau
• Rakotzbrücke (also known as the Devil’s Bridge)

An interesting option for those wating to get from Dresden to Berlin or viceversa is to get a car and travel between these two cities with your own vehicle. What a road trip!

If you want to compare different car rental options, I use Discover cars and Rental Cars to check the different options available. Simpy put Dresden as the pick up location and find a vehicle.

Where to stay in Spreewald

There is plenty of accomodation around Spreewald and the options are quite cool to be honest. From hotel rooms located in 15th century castles such as Schlosshotel Fürstlich Drehna to home stays at traditional German “Fachwerkhäusern” like at Kur und Wellnesshaus Spreebalance.

When it comes to accomodation, I like to compare prices at Booking.com and Agoda.com. Usually these two platforms have the best prices for accomodation. Additionally, I like to use the free cancelation policy and secure my favorite accomodation right away. In case my plans change, or prices for some reason decrease, I can simply cancel without any problem.

Best activities to do in Spreewald

Spreewald offers various adventurous activities for travelers looking to explore the nature of the reserve. It also has some cultural treats and hidden getaways for those staying longer. Since the communities living inside the biosphere reserve depend a lot on tourism, there is definitely no lack of activities to do here.

Even though Spreewald and its beautiful water canals are not very popular for travelers coming from abroad, this is one of the most popular places to visit for Germans living in the region.

Here are my best tips for travelers visiting Spreewald.

I compare prices for tours at Viator. This is one of the best platforms in Europe for tours. Another option is Get Your Guide. You can find almost the same tours at the same prices.

Read more: The Deutschlandticket – A Train Ticket For Unlimited Travel In Germany

Read more: How to spend each evening of the week in Berlin

Kayaking and canoeing

The most common activity is paddling in the canals. During my stay in Spreewald I had the option to rent several types of canoes, kayaks, or small boats. While kayaks offer a more flexible and adventurous trip, small canoes for 2 or 3 people are the perfect choice for simply relaxing and enjoy a warm day.

My friends and I rented a 3-person kayak for 10 EUR and we were able to paddle around the key areas of Spreewald. We did several stops at some of its charming alleys, as well stopped for some snacks from time to time.

Maps of the Spreewald canals are available at most kayak tour shops and if you feel lost in Spreewald’s canals, you can always follow other boats until you find a place you recognize.

Get your Guide has a very nice boat ride tour for the warm days. I think this is the most relaxing option if you want to plan something bigger beforehand.

Feeling adventurous

There are multi-day kayak tours that start in Lübben and go all the way to Berlin. They take anything between 3-5 nights and offer a unique experience in Spreewald and Berlin. You can stay at the several lodges located along the Spree and spend your days kayaking your way north.

Read more: Visiting Saxon Switzerland – Germany’s most beautiful national park

Read more: What is the most beautiful street art in Berlin

Hiking

Not everyone wants to spend the whole day in the water and it’s fine. Spreewald has some of the most beautiful hiking trails in Brandenburg and many visitors who plan to stay for multiple days in Lübben, combine water activities with hiking and sightseeing.

The hiking paths of Spreewald charm their visitors with fairy-tale forests, picturesque houses in a traditional style and one or another castle hidden in the woods. Spreewald’s most popular hiking trails start from the villlages of Burg and Lübben and can be done in half a day or even less.

When I go for a hike, I like to use the app Komoot, a German navigation app, where locals and outdoor enthusiasts create hiking routes in all levels of experiences. Just like my last 4 or 5 hiking trips in Germany, I have used Komoot to decide which route I want to take or what I want to see along the way.

Cycling tours

Although you can come to Spreewald with your own bicycle (either by train or cycling the whole way), bike rentals are very popular in the region. Germany has one of the best cycling networks in the world and excellent routes to discover – including Spreewald.

Private companies also offer half day, one day or multiple day tours, in which you travel with a small group around the key spots of the biosphere reserve and at the same time they explain you about the history, culture and natural diversity of the region.

NOT TO MISS
Spreewald pickles are famous all over Germany. If you are going for a culinary treat, try any of the local dishes with pickles. They have them with all different kind of variations and if you feel brave enough, you can also get a taste of the traditional pickle vodka – something I’ve only seen in Spreewald.

Read more: Road Trip to Rakotzbrücke – Germany’s Devil Bridge

Read more: Visiting Bohemian Switzerland – Czech Republic’s most beautiful national park

I visited many spots in Germany during the past 10 years. However, I still think Spreewald is one of the most beautiful. I felt welcome by everyone I crossed and felt part of the little community that has been living in this region for more than a century.

My visit to Spreewald was short. Still, I saw a getaway from Berlin that left me wanting to come back as soon as possible.

How do I find cheap flights to Berlin?

Finding a cheap flight anywhere around the world is not always easy. It’s about comparing platforms, selecting the right routes and booking at the right time. Fortunately, platforms like Skyscanner became known as an all-in-one tool for booking flights at the lowest cost possible.

They analyse every potential company and sub-contractor in order to find the lowest price available for you. Not only that, but you can also select the option “Travel Anywhere” and let Skyscanner find the cheapest place to travel at any selected date.

I check all my flights first at Skyscanner, and in 90% of the cases, I find the best option for me to book.

Also, by booking here using Skyscanner, you will support my blog and help me create more amazing and useful content.