Brandenburg is the federal state that entirely surrounds the city-state of Berlin without containing it, stretching from the Baltic-facing Uckermark lake district in the north to the Lusatian mining lakes in the south. Its capital, Potsdam, is home to the UNESCO-listed Sanssouci Park and Palace, once the summer residence of Frederick the Great. Beyond Potsdam, Brandenburg is a patchwork of glacial lakes, pine forests, and slow rivers, including the UNESCO Spreewald Biosphere Reserve, where villages are still reached by flat-bottomed punting boats through a maze of canals.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Brandenburg.
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- relaxed, local family lido close to the city
Strandbad Templiner See, Potsdam
A sandy municipal lido on the Templiner See, part of the Havel lake chain immediately southwest of Potsdam's old town. The lido has a shallow children's area, a jetty for swimming into deeper water, and grass lawns for sunbathing, with views across the water toward Babelsberg parkland.
Editor’s tip. Combine with a walk through Park Babelsberg on the opposite shore
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- quiet village lido, unhurried and local
Strandbad Ferch, Schwielowsee
A quiet sandy lido on the western shore of the Schwielowsee, a widened section of the Havel lake chain southwest of Potsdam, in the village of Ferch. Less crowded than the Potsdam city beaches, with a gently sloping sandy entry and views toward the Baumgartenbrück shore.
Editor’s tip. Sailing and rowing boat hire on site suits a swim-and-paddle afternoon
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- village lido paired with historic sightseeing
Strandbad Caputh, Schwielowsee
A lakeside lido in the village of Caputh on the Schwielowsee, within walking distance of the Baroque Caputh Palace and Albert Einstein's former summer house. The beach combines swimming with easy access to two well-known historic sites.
Editor’s tip. Visit Caputh Palace and Einstein's summer house (Einsteinhaus) before or after swimming
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- clear-water forest lake within a protected biosphere reserve
Strandbad Werbellinsee, Altenhof
A clear-water lido on the Werbellinsee within the Schorfheide-Chorin UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, north of Berlin. The lake is one of Brandenburg's cleanest, with a sandy shore backed by pine forest, and is popular with both swimmers and sailors.
Editor’s tip. The Schorfheide-Chorin biosphere reserve surrounding the lake is excellent for a forest walk after swimming
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- polished spa-town lido on Brandenburg's largest lake
Strandbad Bad Saarow, Scharmützelsee
A well-equipped lido on the Scharmützelsee, Brandenburg's largest lake at over 12 km², in the spa town of Bad Saarow. The beach combines swimming with the town's wellness reputation, sailing marina, and lakeside promenade.
Editor’s tip. Bad Saarow's spa facilities make a good rainy-day backup near the beach
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- easy-access family lido inside a forested nature park
Strandbad Wandlitzsee, Naturpark Barnim
A forest-fringed lake beach in Wandlitz, within the Naturpark Barnim north of Berlin. The lido is a straightforward sandy municipal beach popular with families from both Brandenburg and Berlin thanks to its direct rail connection.
Editor’s tip. Direct S-Bahn access makes this one of the easiest Brandenburg lake beaches for a Berlin-based day trip
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- large, developed lake resort with a lively family atmosphere
Strandbad Senftenberger See, Senftenberg
A large artificial lake in the Lausitz region formed by flooding a former open-cast lignite mine, now one of Brandenburg's biggest inland beach destinations with a long sandy shore, watersports centre, and marina.
Editor’s tip. The lake is large enough for windsurfing, sailing, and even a small artificial ski slope nearby
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- small, warm-water village lido, ideal for young families
Strandbad Motzener See, Motzen
A small, quiet lake beach in the Dahme-Seenkette lake chain south of Berlin, near Zossen. The Motzener See is shallow and warms quickly, making it one of the better options for young children among Brandenburg's lake beaches.
Editor’s tip. The lake's shallow depth makes it one of the warmest swimming spots within easy reach of Berlin
What to bring
A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.
- Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
- HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
- FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
- Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
- Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
- ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.
Beach safety
Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.
Critical
Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.
Caution
Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.
Tip
Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.
Practical
Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.
Common questions
Quick answers to the questions we get asked most about Brandenburg’s coast.
How do visitors reach Strandbad Templiner See without a car?
Tram lines 91 and 94 run from Potsdam Hauptbahnhof to the Bertinistraße stop, about a 10-minute walk from the lido.
From the Strandbad Templiner See, Potsdam editorial.
Is the lido suitable for young children?
Yes, it has a shallow, roped-off children's area and an on-site playground, making it one of Potsdam's more family-friendly swimming spots.
From the Strandbad Templiner See, Potsdam editorial.
Is Strandbad Ferch busy in summer?
It is significantly quieter than the lidos closer to central Potsdam, popular mainly with local Havelland residents.
From the Strandbad Ferch, Schwielowsee editorial.
How do visitors reach Ferch without a car?
Regional bus routes 631 and 638 run from Potsdam Hauptbahnhof to the Ferch, Ort stop, a short walk from the lido.
From the Strandbad Ferch, Schwielowsee editorial.
Can visitors combine swimming with sightseeing at Caputh?
Yes, both Caputh Palace and Albert Einstein's summer house (Einsteinhaus) are a short walk from the lido.
From the Strandbad Caputh, Schwielowsee editorial.
How do visitors reach Caputh from Potsdam?
Regional bus routes 603 and 607 run from Potsdam Hauptbahnhof to the Caputh, Schleuse stop, close to the lido.
From the Strandbad Caputh, Schwielowsee editorial.
How clear is the water at Werbellinsee?
It is considered one of Brandenburg's clearest lakes, with good visibility owing to its position within the protected Schorfheide-Chorin biosphere reserve.
From the Strandbad Werbellinsee, Altenhof editorial.
How do visitors reach Altenhof from Berlin?
A regional train runs from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Eberswalde in about 45 minutes, followed by a local bus to Altenhof.
From the Strandbad Werbellinsee, Altenhof editorial.