62 Locations
A lake is never far away in Berlin, a city ringed by dozens of them, from the Wannsee to the Müggelsee. In summer, a lake means swimming, sunbathing, boating and lakeside beer gardens, all reachable by train or bike from the centre.
This overview gathers Berlin locations around a lake, from big bathing lakes with lidos to quiet forest waters. Some focus on swimming and beaches, others on boat hire, walking trails and lakeside restaurants.
Browse the places below to find the best lake spots in Berlin, compare beaches and facilities, and plan your visit.
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.
Purest water, sand as fine as powder and a beer garden right on the beach - do you need anything more to be happy?
Not only the extremely clear water with a depth visibility of up to 4 metres but also two green enchanted little islands in the lake make Groß-Glienicker See very special to its visitors.
Berlin Boat Rental is the central booking platform for renting boats in Berlin, making motorboats, party boats, rafts, and houseboats comparable across the city on the Spree and Havel. Those who want to charter a boat in the capital will find the largest selection bundled here, advised by native Berliners with 16 years of experience on the water.
Sunday brunch at martas Restaurant Alvis, a gourmet experience, perfect for a get-together with friends and family in a central location.
Right on the Great Wannsee and at the edge of the Grunewald forest: The Wannseeterrassen in Zehlendorf is one of Berlin's most famous excursion restaurants, with lake views, a spacious terrace, and cuisine blending German and French traditions.
Bathing, relaxing or perhaps getting married? Seebad Friedrichshagen is for all of this the right location.
The Precise Resort Bad Saarow is located in a park on Lake Scharmützelsee and features a 4,200 square meter spa with indoor and outdoor pools, an adult relaxation pool, and a sauna with lake views. Three 18-hole golf courses are located directly next to the hotel.
Right on Lake Senftenberg in the Lusatian Lake District, the Wellnesshotel Seeschlößchen combines castle romance with an extensive private SPA, an Ayurveda concept, and sophisticated cuisine. The family-run four-star superior hotel in Senftenberg is Brandenburg's most charming answer to the need for true deceleration.
In Tiergarten, right by the water: The Café am Neuen See is one of Berlin's most famous excursion destinations. Beer garden, restaurant, and boat rental are located here under old trees, and it's open all year round.
Stand Up Paddling on the Havel, right in Spandau: The SUP Center Berlin on Eiswerder Island is the perfect place for anyone who wants to experience Berlin from the water in beautiful weather. Rentals, courses, yoga, and XXL boards make this spot the top choice for watersports activities in the capital.
No party train, no sash chaos: For a bachelorette party on the Finnfloat sauna raft on Müggelsee in Köpenick, the girls sweat, jump, and toast in a Scandinavian way. Wellness on the water, far away from the hustle and bustle of Berlin.
The Wellnesshotel Seeschlösschen is located on the shores of Lake Senftenberg in the Lusatian Lake District and features a 5,000 square meter spa area with indoor and outdoor pools, a natural swimming pond, and eight saunas. Additionally, it offers its own Ayurveda center and four private spas for two.
The northern outskirts of Berlin are the home of Strandbad Wandlitz.
The Ice rink at Strandbad Friedrichshagen in the seaside resort offers a 600 m² ice rink for skaters from November 29, 2025, to January 31, 2026. Visitors can practice their skills here and enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Müggelsee.
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.
Nestled away in the forest under pine trees you will find the bathing beach Kleiner Müggelsee.
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.
Bad Saarow is a mud spa and recognised health resort in the south of Berlin, directly on Lake Scharmützelsee, which offers a wide range of recreational opportunities.
The Gründerzeit villa Am Sandwerder is situated above the Großer Wannsee, with its garden extending to a private jetty. Up to 86 guests can celebrate in the house, and 34 can stay overnight in the 17 rooms, with double rooms starting from 88 Euros. For a romantic wedding in Berlin, this means: a ceremony on the shore, and no one has to travel across the city at night.
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.
Tucked away in the Grunewald, deserted and absolutely peaceful - if you prefer a calmer place to go for a swim, the bathing spot Badestelle Kuhhorn on the banks of the Havel might just be the place for you.
A cycle tour through Lichtenberg and Hohenschönhausen combines lots of nature and history.
Anchored in Friedrichshain, in the middle of the Spree, the Hauptstadtfloß transforms into a floating alpine hut: sheepskins, deer antlers, and a crackling fireplace make the Winterfloß's cozy hut atmosphere arguably Berlin's most rustic Christmas party location.
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.