Brandenburg

Right on Lake Scharmützelsee in Bad Saarow, Villa Contessa offers arguably Brandenburg's most intimate luxury experience: only eight rooms and suites, an exclusive Royal Spa with lake views, and a kitchen serving daily changing Michelin-level menus.

About 100 kilometers southeast of Berlin, in the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve, lies Brandenburg's most famous waterway: a network of over 300 kilometers of streams that winds through forests and Sorbian-influenced villages. A punt tour from Lübbenau is the classic weekend excursion destination from the capital, which has lost none of its charm in over 150 years.

Windmill, slide tower, and Germany's longest mini-golf course: The Holland Park in Schwanebeck, directly on the Berlin city limits, is one of Brandenburg's most versatile leisure destinations for families with children — weather-independent, with free admission and enough program for a whole day.

In Potsdam-Bornim, not far from Sanssouci Palace, lies the cradle of the modern perennial garden: Foerster Stauden combines over 115 years of breeding history with an unparalleled assortment. Anyone looking to buy hardy perennials, grasses, and ferns directly from the producer won't find a closer source anywhere else in Germany.

Those who want to escape everyday life on four wheels and at full throttle south of Berlin should head to the Teltow-Fläming district. In Zossen OT Wünsdorf, QUADraTOUR Mathias Tauchnitz has been sending adrenaline junkies on guided quad tours through Brandenburg's forests, fields, and off-road trails for over 20 years.

Anyone who wants to experience a real safari adventure with children will find one of the region's most charming destinations in Nedlitz near Gommern: Straußenland Nedlitz. On five hectares of pasture, the world's largest birds live here and can be petted, fed, and admired.

Where Brandenburg is most peaceful, it's best to hold meetings: The Hotel Döllnsee-Schorfheide is located in the Groß Dölln district near Templin, directly on Lake Großer Döllnsee, in the middle of the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve. Located just under 60 kilometers from Berlin, the four-star conference hotel offers conference rooms with park views, an auditorium, and 126 rooms.

The Sunday Resort Schwielowsee is located in Petzow near Werder (Havel) directly on the lakeshore, with its own harbor and pile dwellings on the water. The 1,500 square meter spa includes an indoor pool, an outdoor pool with a pool bar, a bio sauna, and a Finnish sauna.

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.

Only an hour's drive from Berlin, the Wildlife Park Schorfheide is located in the middle of the woods. Right beside the wildlife park, visitors will also find a climbing park.