Holiday in the Dahme-Spreewald
The district of Dahme-Spreewald, located southeast of Berlin, offers an enchanting mix of idyllic nature, traditional culture, and relaxed recreation that is unique in Germany. Anyone wishing to escape the daily routine and immerse themselves in a landscape of water, meadows, and forests will find a perfect travel destination here. A vacation in Dahme-Spreewald is a journey into a green labyrinth that promises a slower pace of life and unforgettable experiences.
The Brandenburg district gets its name from the Dahme River, which, with its numerous lakes, extends to the Spreewald.
The district’s area is rich in forests and lakes, and you will find many areas used for agriculture. Beautiful nature parks invite you to go hiking, cycling, and also enjoy water sports:
- the Dahme lake district with the Dahme-Heideseen Nature Park,
- Lower Lusatia with the Lower Lusatian Ridge Nature Park, and
- the Spreewald with the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve.
The Spreewald is designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Here you will find a unique habitat for numerous rare animal and plant species. The most traditional and relaxed way to explore this water world is a trip on a traditional wooden punt. Poled by a ferryman, you glide silently through the green thicket, past thatched wooden houses and blossoming gardens. Those who prefer to be more active can rent a kayak or a canoe and explore the hidden corners of the labyrinth on their own.
Away from the water, the region has much to offer. An excellently developed network of cycling and hiking trails leads through a varied landscape.
- Gherkin Cycle Path (Gurkenradweg): On this famous route, you follow the trail of the legendary Spreewald gherkin for around 260 kilometers. The path leads through picturesque villages, past gherkin fields, and through shady forests, always with connections to the waterways.
- Hiking in nature: Numerous hiking trails, such as the 66-Lakes Trail (66-Seen-Weg) or shorter themed paths, lead through heathlands, extensive pine forests, and along the shores of the region’s over 70 lakes. The Krausnick Hills, with the Wehlaberg, even offer one of the highest elevations in Brandenburg with a breathtaking panoramic view.
The Spreewald is the home of the Sorbs (also known as Wends), a West Slavic minority with its own language, culture, and colorful traditions. This heritage is still alive today and shapes the region.
Excursion tips for a holiday in Dahme-Spreewald
Two days in the Spreewald - for us that meant two days of feasting and enjoying. We tried a few delicacies in the Spreewald and are thrilled with the diverse food in the Spreewald.
I spent two days in the Spreewald. I visited 5 towns and was shown interesting places everywhere. Now I realise that the Spreewald offers exciting excursion destinations worth discovering at any time of the year and I will definitely go there again and discover more!
Eichwalde is located in the Brandenburg district of Dahme-Spreewald directly on the border with Berlin-Köpenick and is the smallest municipality in Brandenburg with an area of only 2.8 km² . After our visit to neighbouring Schmöckwitz, we ended the weekend with a walk through Eichwalde.
It’s the end of July 2020: After many, many years it is finally going to happen. The opening of the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport BER in Germany’s capital city in October 2020. I was part of a test run before the opening.
Travel information about Dahme-Spreewald
Getting there
By plane
Berlin-Brandenburg Airport BER is located in the north of the district.
By train
From Berlin’s main station, you can reach Königs Wusterhausen by regional train (RE 2) and numerous smaller stations in the region by regional trains RB 24 and RB 36.
By car
The Berlin A10 motorway ring and the A12 and A13 motorways run through the region. From the motorway junctions you often drive along romantic avenues through the district.
By boat
The Dahme waterway passes Königs Wusterhausen.
By bike
The DahmeRadweg and Hofjagdweg long-distance cycle routes run through the Dahme-Spreewald holiday region.
On the way in...
By public transport
Many towns and villages can be reached by regional trains and in some cases by suburban trains. The regional transport company offers numerous bus connections within the region.