Berlin: Day Trips

Leipzig New superfast trains rush you to the final resting place of Johann Sebastian Bach in under two hours. Leipzig is home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, boasts a charming old city center, and is home to an excellent Christmas Market. 120 miles southwest of Berlin; www.leipzig.de
culture | history

Milk and Honey Tours Spend the day immersed in historic or contemporary Jewish Berlin with a customized, on-request city tour. See where Albert Einstein played a violin duet, admire the old Orthodox Jewish quarter, and end your day with a delicious kosher meal. 011-49-30-61-62-5761; www.milkandhoneytours.com
culture | tour | history

Sachsenhausen The gates of the infamous Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp read “Work Makes You Free.” Within lies a museum, a thoughtful memorial, and a reminder to what must never happen again. 22 miles north of Berlin in Oranienburg; 011-49-33-01-20-0200; www.stiftung-bg.de
historic | memorial

Sanssouci Stunning Rococo Sanssouci Palace and its verdant gardens were the summer home of Frederick the Great. For us normal folk, Potsdam’s Sanssouci is a relaxing royal treat only 30 minutes away by train from bustling Berlin. 15 miles southwest of Berlin in Potsdam; 011-49-33-19-69-42-02; www.potsdam-tourism.com
family | culture | historic

Spreewald Enjoy the idyllic Spree Forest’s labyrinth of canals by boat, or stroll through the nature reserve. The area is also famous for its pickles. 60 miles south of Berlin; www.spreewaldguide.de
family | wildlife | outdoors

Wannsee Hop the regional train or S-Bahn to this lakeside area filled with sand, sun, and holiday houses. While there, think on the darker side of Germany’s history at the House of the Wannsee Conference, where the Final Solution – the grim plan to exterminate Europe’s Jews – was hatched. Southwest Berlin, Am Grossen Wannsee 56-58; 011-49-30-80-50-01-0
beach | family | history