Feel like a royal at Schloss Glienicke

Berlin is not only great, because of its bustling city center, but there are also numerous scenic day trip options, many only a short S-Bahn journey away.

What about starting your exploration of Berlin’s surrounding area at the royal grounds of Schloss Glienicke, for example? Standing on the castle’s premises, you might feel a bit as if you were transported into an Italian movie set. And not without reason – in 1823, when Prince Carl von Preußen returned from his trip to Italy, he was fascinated by the Italian culture and architecture and therefore fulfilled his dream of an Italian replica of the buildings that he had seen in Italy. The castle with its mediterranean character became his summer home. What remains today is the castle, a „casino“, an orangerie, a big lion fountain and the royal garden.

 

Once you’re done strolling around the royal premises and you still feel like walking, you can take the path close by that leads you along the Havel up to the Pfaueninsel and the Wannsee. For some food and refreshments, you might like to take a little pit stop  at the restaurant „Wirtshaus Moorlake“ which is situated along the way.

Suggested hiking trail
View across the Havel
Illustrations by artist Christoph Niemann at the S-Bahn underpass ‚Wannsee‘
Where? Schloss Glienicke, Königstraße 36, 14109 Berlin  (you can take the S-Bahn to "Wannsee" and then continue with the bus 316 for a 12 minute ride to "Schloss Glienicke").
Opening Hours: The premises can be visited all year round. If you also like to see the inside of the castle, opening hours are as follows:
January - February: Closed
March: Open Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm
April - October: Open Tuesday - Sunday 10am-5:30pm
November - December: Open Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm
Admission:  6€ (5€ reduced) for the castle

 

Visit Tempelhofer Feld – Winter Edition –

One of our favorite spots in Berlin is Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport that has been transformed into a green recreational area, where Berliners come together to do sports, have a picnic, go for a walk or enjoy amazing sunsets. Additionally, it provides space for up to 7000 migrants and has become one of Germany’s largest refugee camps.

As winter is approaching, obviously, it is too chilly to lie in the grass, but this doesn’t mean that the Feld should be ignored during the winter months. Here are some activities that are definitely winterproof.

1) As long as the Feld is not fully covered in snow, you can still do sports: go for a run (there are special markings on the ground for runners and skaters to train), play basketball, soccer or table tennis.

2) Fly a kite (winds can get quite strong).

3) Speaking of wind: be adventurous and book a kiteboarding lesson.

4) Put on a warm hat, rent a longboard and head down the former airport’s runway (straight into the sunset).

5) …whilst on the topic: dress warmly and watch the sunset.

6) Enjoy wildlife: Tempelhofer Feld is quite the bird sanctuary and 2 nature reservation areas have been created to help wildlife.

6) Book a guided tour and explore the area’s rich history: Tempelhof Airport is one of only two Nazi-built buildings to survive in Berlin (the second is Olympiastadion).

7) Get informed about the Feld’s refugee camp.

Where? Main entrance Tempelhofer Damm/S,U-Bahn Tempelhof, side entrance Tempelhofer Damm/U-Bahn Paradestraße; main entrance Clumbiadamm/Lilienthalstraße, side entrance Columbiadamm/Golßenstraße; main entrance Oderstraße/Herrfurthstraße, 5 more side entrances at Oderstraße
Opening Hours: January and December: 7:30am - 5pm
February and November: 7am - 6pm
March: 6am - 7pm
April and September: 6am - 8:30pm
May and August: 6am - 9:30pm
June and July: 6am - 10:30pm
October: 7am - 7pm

[After closing hours the park can be exited via revolving doors at the main entrances].