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.
Brandenburg is very safe for visitors. Violent crime against tourists is rare, and most incidents involve opportunistic petty theft rather than confrontation. Potsdam and Cottbus rank among Germany's safer mid-sized cities. Standard urban-safety awareness — watching belongings in crowded areas near Sanssouci Park, the Dutch Quarter, and regional trains, and using licensed boat operators in the Spreewald — is enough for the great majority of trips. Outside the towns, the main risks are water safety on canals and lakes and rural road conditions rather than crime.
Current safety advisory
Very Safe — Brandenburg Has A Low Violent-Crime Rate And Strong Regional Policing; The Main Precautions Concern Water Safety On The Spreewald Canals And Havel Lakes, And Standard Petty-Theft Awareness In Potsdam's Tourist Crowds.
Last updated: 2026-09-06
Official advisories
Guidance from national travel-advisory services.
Items
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Petty theft in Potsdam's tourist areas — Sanssouci Park, the Dutch Quarter, and Potsdam Hauptbahnhof see occasional opportunistic bag and phone theft, particularly in crowded areas and on regional trains connecting to Berlin.
Spreewald canal punting and swimming safety — The Spreewald's canal network is generally calm and shallow, but currents can pick up near locks and after heavy rain, and canals are not supervised for swimming. Families punting with children should take extra care.
Lake swimming safety on the Havel and Rheinsberg lake chains — Brandenburg's many lakes are generally safe for swimming but can have cold spots, sudden depth changes, and occasional boat traffic near marinas.
Driving on Brandenburg's rural B-roads — Brandenburg is flat and generally easy to drive, but rural B-roads connecting the Spreewald, Rheinsberg, and Uckermark can be narrow, poorly lit at night, and shared with agricultural vehicles and cyclists.
Common tourist scams in Brandenburg — Brandenburg sees far fewer scams than major international tourist cities, but a small number operate around its busiest sites.
Tick awareness in Brandenburg's forests — Brandenburg's forests, including the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve and the woodland around Sanssouci and Wildpark, carry a tick population from April through October, which can transmit Lyme disease.
Important local regulations for visitors — Brandenburg follows standard German regulations that visitors should be aware of, particularly around cycling and rural land access.
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Overview
- Brandenburg has a solid regional healthcare system, with the largest hospitals in Potsdam and Cottbus; English-speaking staff are more common in Potsdam than in smaller rural towns.
- Insurance
- EU/EHIC cardholders receive emergency care at German-citizen rates; non-EU visitors should carry comprehensive travel insurance covering medical treatment.
- Pharmacies
- Pharmacies (Apotheke) are marked with a red 'A' sign and can advise on minor ailments; a rotating duty pharmacy (Notdienstapotheke) covers nights and Sundays in every town.
- Water
- Tap water (Leitungswasser) is safe to drink and of good quality throughout Brandenburg.
- Ticks
- Forest and meadow areas, including the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve and the Wildpark near Potsdam, carry a tick risk (Lyme disease) from April to October; use repellent and check skin after forest walks.
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Solo travellers
Brandenburg is a comfortable destination for solo travelers. Potsdam's town center, the Spreewald gateway towns, and Rheinsberg are all walkable and low-risk during the day. Standard precautions apply on evening regional trains back from Berlin, and solo travelers punting through the Spreewald or swimming in Brandenburg's lakes should avoid doing so alone after dark or outside supervised bathing areas.
Female travellers
Female travelers generally report feeling safe in Brandenburg's towns and countryside. As with any destination, avoid poorly lit areas around train stations late at night, and use licensed taxis or pre-booked transport after dark in smaller towns such as Rheinsberg and Chorin, where street lighting can be limited.
Families
Brandenburg is a strong destination for families, with flat, easy walking at Sanssouci Park and the Spreewald, and generally low crime. The main family-specific precautions concern water safety: use life jackets for children on Kahnfahrt boat tours and supervise closely near unfenced canal edges in villages such as Lehde and at lake shorelines outside designated bathing areas.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Germany has strong legal protections for LGBTQ+ people, and Brandenburg's larger towns, especially Potsdam, are generally accepting. Smaller rural villages may be more socially conservative in practice, though overt hostility toward visitors is rare. Berlin, a short train ride away, has an established LGBTQ+ scene for travelers seeking a specifically LGBTQ+-oriented nightlife or community setting.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Eu Emergency Number
- 112 (police, ambulance, fire — works EU-wide, including from a mobile with no SIM)
- Police Number
- 110 (Germany's dedicated police number)
- Nearest Major Hospital Potsdam
- Name Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann Potsdam, Address Charlottenstraße 72, 14467 Potsdam, Phone +49 331 2410
- Nearest Major Hospital Cottbus
- Name Carl-Thiem-Klinikum Cottbus, Address Thiemstraße 111, 03048 Cottbus, Phone +49 355 460