Last updated on 06/28/2026
When the big city gets too loud, relaxation is often closer than you think. Brandenburg's lakes and waterways begin almost at the gates of Berlin, and the most beautiful hotels by the water are quickly reached. The Precise Resort Marina Wolfsbruch in Rheinsberg-Kleinzerlang combines a hotel, a holiday complex and a harbour village with its own marina, while the Inselhotel Potsdam-Hermannswerder on Lake Templin tempts with its own lake access, a boat landing and a lakeside sauna. If you like a family feel, you will find an idyllic spot with a garden and boat rental at the Landhaus Himmelpfort on the Haussee. From a wellness break to an active trip on the water, the range has it all. Which of these water paradises will become your next destination in the countryside around Berlin?
Viktoria Tkachenko
For this list I looked for houses that make the water the centre of it all. A beautiful view of the water mattered to me, ideally with direct lake access, a boat jetty or boat rental, as well as good accessibility from Berlin. I considered very different concepts, from the family hotel to the wellness resort, so that there is something for every short break by the water.
In the Ruppiner Seenland near Rheinsberg lies the Sunday Resort Marina Wolfsbruch: a lake hotel with its own marina, combining water sports, wellness, and spacious holiday home facilities. Accommodation is directly on the shore, many houses have their boat berth right in front.
A harbor village in northern Brandenburg: The Sunday Resort Hafendorf Rheinsberg is located directly on Lake Rheinsberg and combines a maritime atmosphere with an expansive lake landscape. A lighthouse, private boat dock, and 2,000 square meters of wellness facilities characterize the 4-star superior resort.
Located on the Havel island of Hermannswerder in the south of Potsdam, this owner-managed 4-star hotel is situated directly on Templiner See, far enough from the hustle and bustle of the city of palaces, yet close enough to reach it in seven minutes by car. Lake sauna, lake restaurant, and lake view: here, the water is not just a backdrop, but the main attraction.
Directly on Lake Großer Döllnsee in the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve near Templin: The four-star Hotel Döllnsee-Schorfheide offers lake holidays in Brandenburg with its own bathing jetty, bathhouse, and plenty of surrounding forest, just an hour's drive north of Berlin.
On Lake Motzen in the Dahme Lake District, the Residenz Seehotel Berlin-Brandenburg combines Märkisch country house ambiance with a wellness area, private beach, and a 27-hole golf course right next door. It's about 30 kilometers from Berlin to the water.
The family-run Landhaus Himmelpfort is located on Lake Haussee near Fürstenberg an der Havel: an almost 100-year-old house with a large garden, private lake access, and boat rental. Nine suites and two double rooms, there are no more beds here.
Located on the tranquil Beetzer See near Kremmen in the Ruppiner Seenland, Hotel and Spa Sommerfeld is a wellness hotel by the water north of Berlin, exclusively for adult guests. Instead of hustle and bustle, there's forest, water, and an 800 square meter spa.
A neo-baroque manor house directly on the Großer Lankesee in Löwenberger Land: The Seehaus at Schloss Liebenberg combines historical charm with a peaceful hotel operation, about 60 kilometers north of Berlin. 18 double rooms, a bathing jetty, and lots of surrounding forest.
Located directly by the lido of Lake Rangsdorf, about 30 kilometers south of Berlin, is the Seehotel Berlin-Rangsdorf: a four-star hotel with private lake access, a 700 square meter wellness area, and a restaurant with lake views. BER Airport is a 20-minute drive away.
In the old town of Brandenburg an der Havel, directly on the riverbank: The Havelfloß Apartments combine lovingly renovated old buildings with floating holiday homes. You can choose between rooms with Havel views and license-free houseboats, with which you can explore the city from the water.