On nice bike trails around Berlin.

Let the beautiful surroundings of Berlin and the way the splendidly constructed bike trails encircle the federal capital impress you. We tested the route for you to compose a worthwhile mix of the newly-built trails. The region Berlin-Brandenburg is very rich of water plains and forests, which makes of the roundtrip of 350km length a unique experience very close to nature. You will cycle through the Schorfheide, Europe’s widest forest, to the second deepest and surely most beautiful lake of Brandenburg, the Werbellinsee, to continue across the impressive landscape of the Oderbruch, shaped by the latest ice age. The gentle hills of the Mark Brandenburg will lead you to the Müggelsee, the biggest lake of Berlin. Be ready to discover the rich cultural and industrial history of the region: The dreamlike landscape around the only lately redone castle of Oranienburg where an electress used to reside, the Cistercian monastery in Chorin and the lift lock in Niederfinow, known as a masterpiece of constructional engineering. On this tour, you will get to know the Havel bike trail, the Oder-Neiße-bike trail, the trail of the Oderbruch-railway, Europe’s R1 bike trail and the Berlin Wall bike trail. The paths are mostly well-paved and post-signed and far off the highways. Gravelled, sanded or cobbled paths are rather seldom. Except for few hills on the scarp of the Oderbruch or in the Mark Brandenburg, the route stays rather even and can easily be accomplished by any cyclist in average shape.

1. day Arriving in Potsdam

The former Prussian imperial seat Potsdam is characterised by stunning palaces and gardens extending along the Havel river: Sanssouci, Neuer Garten, Babelsber, Glienicke, Pfaueninsel and Sacrow have been part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage since 1990. You should travel to the train station or to the parking facilities at the hotel to receive your rental bikes.

2. day Potsdam – Oranienburg (57 km if part of the way is accomplished by ferry / 76 km if the whole stage is done by bike)

Your bike tour starts in the town centre of Potsdam with an interesting boat trip to Sacrow. This is how you will comfortably pass the bridge of Glienicke, where important agents crossed from west to east and back during the Cold War. You will also come to enjoy the landscape of the Havel surrounded by the château park of Babelsberg, the public park of Glienicke and the Neuer Garten. Still in a comfortable pace, the Havel bike trail will then take you through forests and waters to the great Wannsee. If you wish to follow, the surroundings will invite for a short stop here and you will have the chance to visit the old town of Spandau or the post mill of Gatow. Today’s destination will be Oranienburg with the only lately refurbished palace and gardens. Since the state garden show in 2009, this dreamlike landscape once owned by electress Louise Henriette of Oranien has been shining in new splendour. Anyone who wishes to be a little more active in the morning may skip the ferry trip and continue on the European bike trail R1, the Berlin Wall trail and the Havel bike trail. These trails always stay close to the green riverside, far away from any traffic and add 19 more kilometres to the day.

3. day Oranienburg - Werbellinsee 52 km

The very well implemented bike trails will lead you along the waterside and through the Schorfheide today. Along the Oder-Havel-channel, not far from the Havel river, your route will take you to the small rural town of Liebenwalde, past the Langer Trödel (area of stagnant water, no longer navigable today) to the watergate of Zerpenschleuse, past the Finow-channel to Marienwerder and finally to the Werbellinsee. The untouched nature is only densely populated and offers wide spaces for neat discoveries: the church and contemplativeness of Neuholland, the rehabilitated facades across the market place of Liebenwalde, the former town prison, the boatmen’s houses by the 400 years old Finow-channel and last but not least the Neo-gothic village church that seems much too big for Marienwerder. The day ends at the hotel right by the shore of the Werbellinsee, in the middle of this wonderful nature.

4. day Werbellinsee - Hohenwutzen / Oder 63 km

The first few kilometres of the day lead past the crystal clear Werbellinsee, measuring up to 55 metres in depth, to Joachimstal. This is where Emperor Wilhelm II. had a unique train station constructed in Norwegian country style so that he could travel into the Schorfheide to go hunting more comfortably. Today, the Emperor’s station has been redone to shine in its former glory again. Not far from here, a wide viewing platform allows enjoying a spectacular panorama view over the biosphere reservoir of Schorfheide-Chorin. Through a beautiful landscape, you will continue along the Grimnitzsee to Chorin, where a short side trip of 3 km to the Cistercian monastery of Chorin is a worthwhile idea. From here, the Mönchsheide, an almost deserted strip of land, leads to the lift lock of Niederfinow. It is the oldest one of its kind in Germany that is still active today. Built in 1934, it has been conferred the title of the „historical emblem of constructional engineering in Germany”. Your hotel lies right ahead of you at the river Oder.

5. day Hohenwutzen - Buckow 56 km

A completely different landscape will escort you today: Together, the Oderbruch and the Oder river constitute a natural landscape unique in Europe. Until 1762, this inland delta that had emerged during the Weichsel ice age in the Oderbruch, was drained under the Prussian King Frederick II and his plans to settle the area with ribbon-built villages were realised. Today, you can cycle from Bad Freienwalde to the Oder river on a bike trail completely assembled in 2009, to continue by the course of the river on the Oder-Neiße bike trail via Bienenwerder and Zollbrücke to Güstebieser Loose from here. Once you have arrived here, you will discover a breathtaking and extremely densely populated landscape by the border to Poland. On a little ferry, you can even take a short trip to the other side of the river to allow yourself a nice pause in one of the restaurants of the Oder-Culinarium. Only in the afternoon, your route leaves the river and continues on calm highways and the European bike trail R1 to Buckow in the Mark Brandenburg. Here, the worthwhile Brecht-Weigel-Haus by the Schermützelsee will be awaiting your visit.

6. day Buckow - Müggelsee 51 km

From Buckow, known as the gem of the Mark Brandenburg, you will make your way to Berlin’s famous excursion destination, the Müggelseeperle. Side by side with the rails of the vintage trains, you will roll comfortably along until reaching Waldsieversdorf. From here, idyllic places like Bergschäferei, Garzin and Garzau will seam your way. Germany’s largest fieldstone pyramid has been rebuilt completely in the summer of 2009 in the palace gardens of Garzau. Another highlight of the World Cultural Heritage is the museum’s park of Rüdersdorf. From the middle of the 19th century on, limestone was exploited here. The muschelkalk still bears fossilised dinosaur bones and sharks’ teeth. Through a tremendous landscape of forests and lakes you will cycle to Erkner from here, place by the shores of the Müggelsee. Again, your beautiful hotel lies right by the lake and provides a relaxing holiday atmosphere.

7. day Müggelsee - Potsdam 58 km

From the Müggelsee, you will ride across the forest to the Müggelturm, a tower from whose top you will be able to enjoy a fantastic view over the greenest district of Berlin. On a small ferry, you will then travel on the Dahme river from Wendenschloss to Grünau, where you will encounter the Berlin Wall bike trail after only a short while. Following this bike trail, you will be riding on the tracks of a very young piece of German history. Climbing a futuristic tower, you will be rewarded with a view over the developing airport of Berlin-Brandenburg. On the most interesting parts of the Berlin Wall bike trail you will cross lively villages like Großziethen and the newly redone Old town of Teltow. The enchanting Hakeburg castle, the recreation area by the Watergate of Kleinmachnower Schleuse and Babelsberg will impress you. Past the famous film park your way leads back into the historic town centre of Potsdam where your roundtrip started.