Out of town
Two trips by regional train: the Spreewald and Frankfurt (Oder) with Słubice
Within an hour of Berlin you can be in the Spreewald among waterways and punts, or on the Oder walking into Poland. Here are both trips with travel, tickets and the routes on the ground.
About 1 hour by RE2 from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Lübbenau in the Spreewald
Every 30 minutes the RE1 usually runs to Frankfurt (Oder), about 1 to 1.5 hours
Deutschlandticket is valid for both trips, otherwise a VBB ticket beyond Berlin
On foot to Poland across the city bridge from Frankfurt (Oder) to Słubice
Trip 1: the Spreewald from Lübbenau
The Spreewald is a network of river branches and canals where many farms used to be reachable only by punt, and it is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The Sorbs and Wends also live here, which is why many signs are bilingual; Lübbenau is called Lubnjow in Lower Sorbian. The RE2 runs from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Lübbenau in about an hour.
01 Lübbenau old town and punt trip · Lübbenau
about 14 minutes on foot from Lübbenau station to the Spreewald Museum
The Spreewald Museum is on the Topfmarkt, and nearby the punts set off, poled by boatmen with long poles. Punt trips come in different lengths, from a short harbour loop to tours of several hours, and some operators also run in the cold season. Prices and departure times vary by operator, so compare at the harbour.
02 Lehde and open-air museum · Lehde
about 33 minutes on foot from the Spreewald Museum, more comfortable by punt
The small village of Lehde lies right among the waterways and is one of the loveliest destinations in the Spreewald. The open-air museum shows old farmhouses and how people used to live in the Spreewald. The footpath from Lübbenau runs along the water, and the punt is a good way back. The museum's opening times are seasonal, so check beforehand.
Trip 2: Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice
Frankfurt (Oder) and Polish Słubice were one town until 1945; today the Oder separates them as a border, and they see themselves as a twin town. The RE1 usually runs every 30 minutes from Berlin; get off at Frankfurt (Oder) station, not at the Rosengarten stop one station earlier.
03 German-Polish tourist information in the Bolfrashaus · Frankfurt (Oder)
about 15 minutes on foot from Frankfurt (Oder) station
Directions in Google Maps · Official site
On Große Oderstraße, Germans and Poles jointly advise visitors from both countries. This is also where the signposted tours through the twin town begin, such as a park tour by bike covering about 17 kilometres on both sides of the Oder.
04 City bridge and Collegium Polonicum · Słubice
about 13 minutes on foot from the Bolfrashaus across the city bridge
Across the city bridge you walk into Poland; there are normally no checks within the Schengen area. Right behind the bridge stands the Collegium Polonicum, a joint institution of the European University Viadrina and the University of Poznań. According to the tourist board, its roof terrace looks out over the bridge, the river and across to Frankfurt.
Good to know
- Bring ID: even without border checks, you should carry a valid ID card or passport when crossing the border.
- Money: Poland uses the złoty, not the euro.
- Ticket: the Berlin ABC ticket is not enough for either trip. With the Deutschlandticket you travel on regional trains at no extra cost; otherwise there are VBB tickets covering all of Berlin and Brandenburg.
- Engineering works: RE1 and RE2 regularly have engineering works with replacement buses, so check the app before travelling.
- More Poland in Berlin: Polish Berlin from our series.