spreewald pickle boat tour

Spreewald, Germany: Tips for Brandenburg's Prettiest Forest

Spreewald is a biosphere reserve and forest located in Brandenburg, southeast of Berlin, Germany. Spreewald (“Spree Forest” in English) is famous for its winding canals, traditional Sorbian villages, and spa resorts. It’s one of the best day trips from Berlin for anyone who loves nature and wants a taste of traditional Germany.

It took me 7 years of living in Berlin until I finally visited Spreewald in October 2020. But I loved kayaking through Spreewald’s canals under the Autumn foliage, and wanted to share some tips for anyone wondering if the trip is worth it (spoiler: Yes).

As of July 2021, Spreewald is fully open for visitors and doesn’t require a negative COVID test for key activities like boat tours. As of November 2020, you can stay overnight in Spreewald again, too. Since Spreewald is a primarily outdoors destination, it’s a great place to visit this Summer to escape from Berlin.

This post is all about the best things to do in Spreewald, plus tips for how to reach Spreewald, where to stay, when to come, and a map to help you get the lay of the land.

• What is Germany’s Spreewald?

How to reach Spreewald from Berlin

• 10 Things to do in Spreewald, Germany

Where to stay in Spreewald

• A map of Spreewald

Best time to visit Spreewald for great weather

What exactly is germany’s spreewald.

Spreewald refers to a forested area in Brandenburg, Germany. It’s also a biosphere reserve , which is an internationally-recognized UNESCO designation for natural areas worth preserving for their social and ecological systems. The main towns in Spreewald include Lübbenau , Burg , and Vetschau and the villages of Lehde and Leipe .

What makes Spreewald special is over 200 canals traversing more than 276 kilometers, which you can navigate by traditional punting boat (called Spreewaldkahn ), kayak, or canoe. The total length of all channels, rivers, and streams is over 1,500 kilometers.

As you glide through the water, you’ll find over 6,000 species of plants and animals inhabiting Spreewald’s meadows, forests, wetlands, and marshes. It’s a really beautiful places to take a break from the city!

Apart from the nature, Spreewald is also unique because its original residents didn’t speak German — but rather, a slavic language called Sorbian. The Sorbs have lived in Germany for over 1,400 years, and are even responsible for the name “Berlin” which comes from the word for “swamp” in Slavic. In Spreewald, the famous village of Lehde is a unique insight into traditional Sorbian life and culture.

Here’s how to reach this beautiful place.

Spreewald is just 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Berlin and is easy super easy to reach by either car, train, or tour, though you can also reach it by bus with some determination.

Getting to Spreewald from Berlin by car and train take approximately the same amount of time. Getting to Spreewald by bus takes longer, because it involves a transfer and backtracking from Cottbus’ central station (Cottbus Hauptbahnhof). In all cases, the destination to put in your GPS is Lübbenau , the town in the heart of Spreewald.

Reach Spreewald from Berlin by car (Recommended)

Drive on the A13 for 90-100 kilometers (depending on where you’re coming from inside Berlin) until you see an exit for Lübbenau. Driving takes approximately the same amount of time as the train, roughly 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Personally, I recommend renting a car with DiscoverCars so you have the most flexibility with getting around Spreewald (there are plenty of places to park and driving is pretty simple in this area). Book in advance, and the cost isn’t much more than taking the train if you’re traveling in a group of two or more people.

Reach Spreewald from Berlin by train (Quickest)

Take the train from Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof (main station) to Lübbenau (Spreewald) which is the name of the stop. You can easily book train tickets online here and the total trip takes about an hour. This route uses the regional train (RE), but be sure to check whether your train requires a transfer (Umstieg) because many trains have just a 5-minute transfer window in Ostkreuz.

There are lots of departures every day, so it’s easy to catch a train to Spreewald. Train tickets cost from 25€ round trip, if you buy for fixed time slots for departure and arrival. Tickets with Deutsche Bahn typically cost more if you want flexible arrival and departure times.

The only downside is, once you’ve arrived in Spreewald, you are at the mercy of the local bus system. While I’d say Germany’s busses are pretty good, they are much less consistent than trains.

Reach Spreewald on a Tour from Berlin (Simplest)

If you don’t want to mess with figuring out the train and reserving a boat tour, you can take a guided tour to Spreewald from Berlin. This Spreewald tour with Viator starts in Kurfürstendamm in Berlin and takes you by bus to Spreewald.

While the live commentary is in German, there’s also an English audioguide (which is honestly often better, as sometimes German tour guides speaking English can be hard to understand). It lasts 7 1/2 hours and includes transit, a traditional boat tour, and local snack on arrival for a very fair price considering the cost of everything separately. Click here to check availability.

Reach Spreewald from Berlin by bus (Slowest)

Finally, you can travel with Flixbus to nearby Cottbus , a super popular bus network for budget travel around Europe, for about 10€ each way. From Cottbus, you’ll need to take a train from the Cottbus Hauptbahnhof (main station) to Lübbenau for an additional 12€ or so per person. This makes it about the same price as taking the train, but longer because you’ll be “backtracking” from Cottbus Hbf to Lübbenau.

8 Things to do in Spreewald, Germany

Now that you know why you should visit Spreewald and how to get here, these are the best things to do in Spreewald that I’d recommend for any visitor!

1. Rent a kayak or canoe

Exploring Spreewald by boat is undoubtedly the best way to experience the region, and renting your own kayak or canoe gives you the ultimate control of where you go. Plus, in “these times” it’s a great outdoor activity you can do far away from other people.

You’ll find tons of places that rent boats along the Spreewald, designated by signs that say Bootsverleih (or, “Boat Rental”). You can find options for boats for one, two, or more people, and naturally the prices increase as your boat gets fancier (more on pricing in a second).

When we went to Spreewald in Autumn 2020, there was plenty of space for boats in the canals. It wasn’t empty, but it also wasn’t super busy either. There were long stretches where we didn’t see other boats.

The main way you’ll navigate is by following signs at “intersections” of the canals, which help tell you which direction you can go to get to various points of interest. Importantly, “sport boats” are not allowed in certain canals, which will also be clearly marked.

Tips for renting a kayak or canoe in Spreewald: If you’re starting in Lübbenau, you can find a list of places to rent a boat on the Spreewald Tourism website, some of which have their own websites. We booked with Bootsverleih Richter which offers a 2-person kayak for 32€ per day, though you can also book hourly. It’s also possible to reserve a canoe online here which could come in handy during the high tourism season.

Ultimately, renting your own kayak or canoe in Spreewald is an incredible way to get around, and is a family-friendly activity to boot.

2. Or join a Spreewald boat tour with a Spreewaldkahn

But if you want pure relaxation, you can also book a Spreewald boat tour in a traditional Spreewaldkahn . A Spreewaldkahn is a punting boat, where the navigator pushes the boat along by pressing wooden paddle against the bottom of the canal.

At first, it right remind you of the gondolas of Venice, but the water in Venice is actually too deep for this technique to work. Since the canals in Spreewald are quite shallow, this makes it easy to get around using punting boats.

These kind of tours typically don’t include a full meal, but will include local snacks like Brot mit Schmalz und Spreewald Gherkin (bread with lard and Spreewald gherkins). For the best seats, you’ll definitely want to reserve in advance and show up before boarding time so you can pick where you’ll sit on the boat.

Note: It used to be that in order to ride on these boats, you had to present a negative COVID test. However, this is no longer required since the incidence level in Brandenburg is so low. You’ll only be required to provide your contact details when you book a boat tour in Spreewald.

3. Paddle around Lehde, a traditional Sorbian village

If you’re starting from Lübbenau, you’ll ultimately want to make your way to Lehde . Lehde is a small village with just 130 residents, and one of the oldest and most beautiful in Spreewald. You’ll notice that many houses you pass also have a small boathouse with a traditional Spreewald boat docked nearby.

It is also possible to reach parts of Lehde by car and then by foot, as there are a number of bridges connecting the two sides of the canal. You can also consider getting out at the Spreewald Freilandmuseum in Lehde. We didn’t have time for this, but it costs just 5€ to enter so worth checking out if you have the time.

4. Eat (or stay!) at a traditional German Gasthaus

After all that boating around, you’ll want something to eat. Inside Spreewald, you’ll find a number of restaurants, cafes, and guesthouses (in German, Gasthaus ). Pretty much everywhere offers outdoor seating, so you can sit near the canal and enjoy the weather while you have something to eat. A lot of these restaurants also double as guesthouses, meaning you can stay overnight in the Spreewald.

On offer you’ll mostly find standard German fare, like Schnitzel and Pommes (French fries). It is a bit overpriced considering what you’d pay for something similar in Berlin, but obviously you’re in a “local tourism hotspot” in Spreewald so it’s to be expected.

Here’s a peek at my Schnitzel and Pommes:

Lots of the restaurants and cafes are on Google maps, which you can check out as you’re boating around in the canals.

5. Try local Spreewald Gherkins

If there’s one local specialty you have to try, it’s the Spreewald Gherkins. Spreewald Gherkins are a type of locally made pickle, which are protected by the EU as a Protected Geographical Indication — just like Champagne from the Champagne region of France. But pickles.

There are cucumber fields in the area where the special cucumbers are grown, which are eventually made into Spreewald Gherkins. This is a look at three varieties of Gherkin served together, alongside some Bot mit Schmalz (bread with lard):

If you are a big-time pickle-lover, you can even check out the Spreewald Gherkin Museum . We didn’t make it in and honestly the reviews aren’t that great, but you can also buy yourself a jar of pickles right in Lehde or back in Lübbenau.

The sign here says than entry to the museum includes a tasting of the Königsgurke (“King’s Pickle”) in case that entices you inside.

5. Walk around the town of Lübbenau

After your paddling adventure, you might want to check out some of the surroundings in Spreewald. A logical place to start would be Lübbenau.

Lübbenau is a town in Brandenburg, most famous for its incorporated villages of Lehde and Leipe. It has a popular port/marina, from which many of the Spreewald boat tours depart hourly. There’s also a small market nearby called the Gherkin Mile where you can buy local products like pickles and honey.

Drive around town, and you’ll also be able to find the Spreewald Museum and a castle, Schloss Lübbenau which is today a four-star hotel where you can stay in overnight.

6. Visit the Slavic castle Raddusch

Raddusch is best known for its reconstruction of the Slavic Castle pictured below. Back in the 9th and 10th century, the western part of Spreewald was connected through a string of ring-shaped castles like this one. If you go inside, you’ll find a permanent exhibition of the region (known as Lower Lusatia) from the Stone Age through the Middle Ages. Nearby, you’ll also find the town of Vetschau , which was first mentioned as early as 1302.

While you’re in Vetschau, you can also pop by Vetschau Castle (which also has some accompanying gardens) and the Wendish-German double church .

7. Relax at a Spreewald Spa in Burg

The most famous spa in Spreewald is definitely Spreewald Therme located in Burg, an opportunity to soak in salt water thermal baths whose brine comes from 1,350 meters below. They’ve got a Finnish sauna, fitness centers, aroma steam bath, and a fire sauna. And of course, you can experience all of this while eating your fill of Spreewald Gherkins!

8. Cycle the Gurkenradweg

The Gurkenradweg is a 260 kilometer bike trail that winds through the Spreewald, including its famous villages and nature. The route is very flat, and even has a network of battery charging stations in case you want to explore it with ebike. The route can be broken into 8 different stages, usually started in Lübbenau.

Apart from this route, there are other cycling routes in the Spreewald. So if you love outdoor cycling, you can definitely bring your bike here as an alternative way to get around.

There are a few main places you’ll want to stay in Spreewald overnight, but the most popular are in Lübbenau itself or in guesthouses in the historic villages of Leipe or Lehde. Here are the most popular places to stay in Spreewald with great reviews:

• Pension & Gasthaus Spreewaldhof in Leipe – Excellent location right on the canal, you get a real sense of living in one of these historic villages for the night. Breakfast included, and you can rent a boat directly through the guesthouse.
• Schloss Lübbenau – Your chance to stay in a legit castle while you explore the Spreewald over the weekend. This four-star hotel has a great location as a base in Spreewald.
• Hotel Ebusch – Luxurious, four-star accommodation in Lübbenau with glowing reviews and a 9.3 “Superb” rating on Booking.com.

That said, if you are visiting during the high season (April through October) or trying to make a Winter trip near Christmas, there is not a ton of accommodation and it tends to get rented out quickly.

That said, since Spreewald is an easy day trip from Berlin, you can also choose to stay in Berlin . It really depends how much time you have and whether you want to do a simple boat trip or also enjoy some of the cycling, hiking, and other sights in Spreewald.

Map of Spreewald, Germany

Here is a map of Spreewald, which you can use to plan your trip ( larger here ).

Spreewald is more or less a year-round destination, with the high season in April through October, and the low season from November to January.

Summer is the most popular time to visit Spreewald. The weather is great, and the trees offer a lot of shade during most of your boat trip through the Spreewald canals. However it’s also much busier, so you’ll want to be sure you book in advance as this is a very popular local weekend trip.

Autumn is also a beautiful time to visit Spreewald. For the best Autumn foliage, I’d recommend the very end of October (though my tip for hitting the peak is to check recent photos on Instagram to see how far along the change of color is). Another reason to visit in Autumn is that during this season, large numbers of waterfowl stop by Spreewald on their journey South for the Winter. You may also be able to spot sea eagles as well.

Finally, Spreewald in Winter (and during Christmas) is also a sought-after experience. In especially cold winters when the canals freeze over, you can even get around in a sled!

If you want to time your visit alongside an event, you can check out the Events page on Brandenburg Tourism’s website (unfortunately only in German). But there is a lot going on, ranging from a Chopin concert to a Slavic Fairytale Festival. You’ll find plenty no matter what month you end up visiting.

Looking for more places to visit near Spreewald?

One hour away from Spreewald to the southeast and you can visit Germany’s Devil’s Bridge , in the Kromlau Rhododenron Park. It’s really only easily accessible by car, and is absolutely stunning to visit in Autumn. The park was recently under reconstruction, which should be finished in Summer 2021.

This legendary bridge in Saxony, Germany will make you feel like you've fallen into a fairytale. It's one of those places where it's just as magical in photos as it is in real life.

Otherwise, the nearest town is Cottbus , which is a small German city. Only worth a stop if you are already in the area, Cottbus has a zoo, castle, and museum.

About the author

Hi there! I'm Monica, an American expat living in Germany for over six years and using every opportunity to explore the world from my homebase in Berlin. My goal is to capture my memories in photos and posts that show how easy it is to start from scratch and travel the world by working abroad.

Follow along on Instagram , Twitter , Bloglovin , & Facebook .

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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. S preewald’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

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?

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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.

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The classic: Experience the Spreewald by boat

Travel time: 01.04. - 31.10. People: from 1

Your team day in the Spreewald

10:00 am Arrival of the group in Lübbenau/Spreewald, big port

10:30 a.m. 3-hour barge trip from Lübbenau to Lehde incl. 1-hour stop in Lehde and gherkin tasting on the barge 

11:30 Visit of the open-air museum in Lehde incl. guided tour

14:00 Culinary Spreewald tour in Lübbenau, lunch, excl. drinks 

15:30 Individual exploration of the historic old town of Lübbenau/Spreewald with the Sorbian fashion atelier Wurlawy, the Sagenbrunnen, castle with castle park, Great Harbour, Gherkin Mile and Babben Brewery

• 3-hour barge trip from Lübbenau to Lehde incl. 1 hour stay in Lehde and gherkin tasting on the barge
• Visit to the open-air museum in Lehde incl. guided tour
• Culinary Spreewald tour in Lübbenau, lunch together
• Individual exploration of the historic old town of Lübbenau/Spreewald

Further information

Tourismusverband Spreewald

Tourism Association Spreewald Raddusch, Lindenstraße 1 03226 Vetschau / Spreewald

(Service hours Mon-Fri 9-12, 13-17 hrs)

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• Museums & Exhibitions
• Canoes and paddle boats
• Press & News
• Impressions

Holiday in the Spreewald

• Holiday flats
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• Book online
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• Tourism Association Spreewald e.V.
• Declaration on accessibility
• Climate Neutral Website
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• Data protection

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This UNESCO protected forest region is the ideal day trip from Berlin . Take a break from civilization to get back to nature and enjoy country life in northern Germany .

Settled by the Sorbs and Wends in the sixth century AD, Spreewald  was a farming region with a problem. The area's wetlands made agriculture difficult, so the farmers resolved the issue by digging channels ( fließen ) to the river Spree for irrigation and drainage.

Over 800 miles of the waterway are the ideal way to tour the region. And with 18,000 species of animals and plants, there is plenty to see besides the water. The Spreewald is a major tourist destination just outside Berlin .

Boat the Canals

The canals are the major attraction of the area and the best way to move around the Spreewald. Book a tour on one of the many guided boat tours that slowly glide along the canals by punting, similar to Venice or Cambridge . Relax as your guide does the hard work while you absorb information about your surroundings.

While there are tours in almost every town, your best chance of finding an English-speaking boat is in Lübben or Lübbenau. Book a place on a public tour for 10 euro per person or bring some friends and rent the whole boat.

If you prefer to move along the canals yourself, there are boat rentals of rowboats, kayaks, and canoes (oddly called kanadier ). Your boat rental comes with a laminated map of routes determined by length (in 1, 2, and 3-hour increments) and costs about 12 euros for 2 hours.

Canals are marked with wooden signs so look for ironically named passages like the “Suez Canal.” Be aware that the 2-person Kanadier comes with a peddle/rudder system that can be tricky to figure out. And your journey can take much longer depending on your energy. It's a canal, not a river, so all motion is your own.

Although the Spreewald is often thought of as a summer destination, the canals are also an attraction in winter. Once the shallow waters freeze solid, residents take to the waterways by ice skate. Kids play pick-up hockey games and touring the Spreewald in winter white is an added dimension of charm. Stay warm with warm mugs of Glühwein and treats from local vendors.

If you prefer to stay on land, forest walks are also an option. The tourist office in Lubben sells trail maps. Or simply walk from Lubben to Lubbenau (13 km or 8 miles). Want to get there faster? Take a mountain bike on the well-equipped paths.

Fishing is another way to enjoy the waterways. Pike, zander, carp, eel, tench and other freshwater fish can be caught in the canals.

Note that a valid fishing permit is required and there are specific requirements to protect the biosphere.

It wouldn't be a relaxing break in the countryside without a spa. One of the best spas near Berlin is the Spreewald Therme. It utilizes the unique mineral water in the saltwater thermal baths and its brine is credited with improving skin, the respiratory system, and the entire musculoskeletal system.

Museums and Sites

• Freilandmuseum Lehde - Visit Lehde near Lübbenau, a 700-year-old preserved Spreewald village which consists of many small islands connected by pedestrian bridges. This protected heritage site was only reachable by boat until 1929 and even today relies on Germany's only post ferrywoman to distribute the mail. The fire brigade and garbage service also have their own boats.
• Walk the quaint town and bridges observing the typical Spreewald houses. Built of wood with roofs of reeds, note the Sorbian/Wendian snake symbols on the gables. People in traditional dress work on crafts for visitors.
• Slavic Fort at Raddusch – This rebuilt fort is just 15 km south of Burg (Spreewald). Built around 850 A.D., there are paths with information boards throughout the area and playground and picnic sites.
• Spreewald Therme – The Thermal Spa in Burg (Spreewald) is the ideal way to unwind after a day of boating, hiking, and biking. This modern facility offers the best in relaxation techniques, saunas, and overnight accommodations.
• Arznei- und Gewürzpflanzengarten Burg Spreewald – To take some nature home with you , this cutting garden is available for tours.
• Gurken- und Bauernhausmuseum - Taste the famous Spreewald pickle and track its history and development.
• Spreewald Aquarium – The aquarium focuses on the different types of fish that live in the Spree.

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