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.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Tropical Islands Resort Lodging
Family features: Overnight stays inside the tropical dome (tents, lodges, or hotel rooms), extended park access, and children's activity programs
Hotel am Luisenplatz Potsdam
Family features: Family rooms, central location near Sanssouci Park and the Potsdam old town
Spreewald Hotel Lindenufer
Family features: Canal-side location in Lübbenau within walking distance of the Großer Spreewaldhafen boat harbour, family rooms available
A&O Potsdam
Family features: Budget family rooms and dormitory options, close to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof for easy access to Sanssouci and Berlin day trips
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Most Brandenburg restaurants, including canal-side Gasthäuser in the Spreewald, offer a children's menu (Kinderteller) of smaller, simple dishes for €6-10 (~$6-11)
High chairs (Hochstuhl) are commonly available in restaurants around Potsdam and the Spreewald tourist villages; it is fine to ask when seated
Baby-changing facilities are standard at Tropical Islands and in Potsdam's central shopping areas near the Hauptbahnhof
Spreewald restaurants serving traditional gherkins and potato dishes are generally mild in flavor and well suited to children's palates
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Combine a Spreewald boat trip with the Freilandmuseum Lehde and a canal-side lunch for an easy full day that involves almost no walking
Visit Tropical Islands on a weekday if possible — weekends and school holidays draw large crowds to the lagoon and slides
Book Filmpark Babelsberg tickets online in advance during German school holiday periods to avoid long queues at the gate
Pack swimwear even for a Potsdam day trip — several lake beaches are a short tram or bus ride from Sanssouci Park