These boots were made for walking
10/2021 - Sahar Saini
A lot of people associate the colour black with Berlin. My guess is its correlation to the club culture ––you see a lot of people wearing black, sometimes you can’t even get into clubs if you’re not wearing black. I, on the other hand, couldn't disagree more. The colour of Berlin for me is green—I’m a freak for nature. When it comes to green spaces and parks, I have to admit that Berlin is one of my favourite big cities in Europe, if not the world. Ever since moving here, I’ve been blessed with endless amounts of both tiny and large parks scattered around the city, and even some forests here and there. You might know the most popular ones already, but there are many places in and around Berlin that are worth seeing and ready to get discovered.
While trying to conduct some research, I came across Waldbaben on Instagram, an account that recommends the best hiking and cycling routes in Berlin and Brandenburg, and I obviously could not ignore it. The name translates to “forest bathing”, which has nothing to do with water or showering oneself. It’s more a metaphorical description of immersing oneself in the forest. With its motto “Love, Light, Leben”, Waldbaden introduced me to some of the nicest and most secluded hiking and cycling routes that might have fallen off the map. So put on your walking boots and follow me!
This path takes you through wild clay pits to the Großer Kolpiner See and to the Storkower See with its gorgeous swimming areas. If you want to find adventure and relaxation between forests and vast bodies of water, definitely check this one out. From a primeval forest to Germany’s largest land dune and secluded bathing areas, everything is right here! The endpoint is the Bad Sarrow railway station and the state-sponsored resort of Wendisch Rietz, located on the largest lake in Brandenburg.
Pick out a sunny day and take a perfect day tour over picturesque bridges, through rustic forests and across river landscapes in the Briesetal, north of Berlin. The path meanders through marshy meadows, alder quarries, coniferous and mixed forests before reaching the shores of the Rahmersee and Wandlitzer See. Trust me, summer or not, the water makes you want to dive right in.
A scenic landscape between wet meadows, pastures and lakes. The quiet atmosphere tempts you to picnic in this historic old town time and time again. One can stroll, eat comfortably and enjoy the Spreeweisen Nature Reserve, before reaching the endpoint at Beeskow railway station.
Looking to take a little dip? Pack your swimsuit! You don’t have to go far. Walking from Grunewald to Havel, you’ll forget you’re in a metropolis. With five beaches and two islands all discoverable in one walk, you can find tranquility between trees overlooking glittering waters. The endpoint is Grunewald S-Bahn or Wannsee S-Bahn.
This is a cycling tour in the south of Wendisch Rietz which takes you to some of the most beautiful and crystal-clear lakes in Brandenburg. This remarkable area is dominated by its chain of lakes, each one more beautiful than the last. It’s filled with wide views, secret forests and lonely skinny-dipping spots to dream about.