What to See in Brandenburg? Original Plan for the Trip

What to see in Brandenburg? Potsdam had long been at the top of my list of places to see. I really wanted to see this beautiful city, full of gardens and palaces, and that’s why this year’s trip around Germany was particularly significant for me. However, the list of interesting attractions in Brandenburg is actually much longer, and during this year’s journey, I managed to visit some of them.

Below you will find a ready-made travel plan that also includes lesser-known treasures of Brandenburg. There are suggestions for lovers of culture, nature, history, technology, and even shopping. It was a trip where “everyone finds something for themselves,” because that’s what Brandenburg is like: diverse and surprising.

I hope you will follow in my footsteps, so I invite you to read the article.

Table of Contents

1 Frankfurt (Oder)
2 Designer Outlet Berlin
3 Potsdam
4 Eberswalde
5 Niederfinow Boat Lift
6 Angermünde
7 What to see in Brandenburg?

Frankfurt (Oder)

We started our trip in Słubice, on the Polish-German border. From there, we cross the bridge to Frankfurt (Oder). An interesting fact is that in the past, Słubice and Frankfurt were one city, which was divided after the border changes in 1945. Today, Frankfurt has just under 60,000 inhabitants and has been cooperating with Polish Słubice for years due to its border location. It’s worth noting the European University Viadrina, which has departments on both the German and Polish sides. There is also an excellent viewpoint on Frankfurt in Słubice (Collegium Polonicum), especially picturesque at sunset (you can get the key to the terrace from the porter).

And what is worth seeing in Frankfurt? First and foremost, it’s worth walking around the city. Visit the St. Mary’s Church, tour the interior, and climb the church tower (the entrance to the tower is paid). Frankfurt is famous for its art, including alternative art. If you are interested in this topic, visit two places: MAGISTRALE KUNSTHALLE and KUMA Gerstenberg (an evening art project is available).

This city suffered greatly during World War II, and a significant part of the buildings was not rebuilt. In my opinion, this makes Frankfurt one of those cities that make you think: the contrast between the “new” and the “old” architecture reminds us of the costs of war. At the same time, the city shows that destruction can become an impulse to create a new identity.

Designer Outlet Berlin

This place made it to the list for a reason. A lot of Poles come here for shopping. Why? It’s on the way to Berlin, the prices are actually lower (up to -70%, at least -30% off the tag price), and there is a wide selection of stores. However, it must be admitted that this shopping center is primarily beautiful: it was designed in the style of a village, specifically to reflect local architecture. Personally, I am waiting for such an outlet in Poland.

An interesting fact: from Berlin, you can get to Designer Outlet Berlin for free by public transport (bus).

Potsdam

If you haven’t been to Potsdam, you have certainly heard about it. And if not, now is the time to discover why it is so special and worth visiting.

First and foremost, the park, gardens, and palaces are noteworthy. Visiting the Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam is an exceptional experience, as the interiors are truly beautiful. You will learn the history inside, now for the specifics: the audio tour takes about an hour. However, keep in mind that the entrance ticket to the palace is tied to a specific time slot. To avoid any inconveniences, it’s worth arriving on time. This ticket not only allows entry to the Sanssouci Palace but also grants access to all other palaces in Potsdam for the entire day.

It is worth taking a guided walk through the picturesque Sanssouci Park. You can tour on your own, but a guided tour is an excellent opportunity to learn about the picturesque corners, history, and secrets of this beautiful garden. We toured with Johannes Westerkamp, who passionately talked about the curiosities related to the park, its architecture, and its role in the lives of kings and aristocrats.

It’s worth visiting the historic center of Potsdam. You can start exploring the city from the Dutch Quarter, characterized by picturesque brick buildings. Then head to the Old Market, the city’s central point. Here you can admire magnificent buildings, such as St. Nicholas Church. Nearby is the New Market, which is somewhat less majestic but much more intimate and equally beautiful. Don’t forget to see the Russian Colony Alexandrowka. This unique place, full of wooden houses, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Eberswalde

Eberswalde is also called the forest town because it is surrounded by forest areas – in the south, there is the Barnim Nature Park, and in the north, the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve with the Plagefenn Reserve. The forests near the city offer numerous hiking trails and bike paths.

Until the fall of the Berlin Wall, the city was based on heavy industry, including a steel rolling mill and a crane factory. Today, part of the former factories has been transformed into cafes, shops, and a family garden “Familiengarten.” In this park, you can see and climb the former assembly crane; there are many attractions for children (slides, houses, playgrounds) and even an underground route for pedal boats. The entrance fee is 4 euros for adults and 2 euros for children, so the price is really low. As for other places, one of the main attractions of the city is the zoo. Besides, you can visit the botanical garden (free), the museum, and really relax in nature.

Niederfinow Boat Lift

The next point of our journey was Niederfinow, more precisely, the two boat lifts located there. The boat lifts are at the eastern end of the Oder-Havel Canal. The difference in levels between the upper and lower sections of the canal is 36 meters. The first steel-constructed lift, commissioned on March 21, 1934, is the oldest operating boat lift in Germany. The lift is enormous, with a trough measuring 83.5 m in length, 11.5 m in width, and designed for ships up to 1,000 tons. The second lift, commissioned on October 5, 2022, is even larger: the trough measures 113 m in length, 12.5 m in width, and is designed for ships up to 2,300 tons.

That’s enough dry facts, let’s move on to the tour. We can take a 1.5-hour cruise, during which we will use the lift twice, going up and down. With a bit of luck, we might get to use both lifts. We were not that lucky and used the new lift twice. Besides the cruise, it’s worth taking a guided tour of the lift, also available in Polish (Tuesdays and Saturdays, but it’s better to check the days in advance). Tickets can be purchased at the information center, where there is also an exhibition dedicated to the new boat lift, which can be visited for free.

This is one of those places that is not only a technical marvel but also makes you think about the direction of transportation development: practically from the Polish-German border to the Netherlands, goods can be transported using rivers and canals.

More information: https://schiffshebewerk-niederfinow.com/pl/besichtigungen/

Angermünde

My last stop was the town of Angermünde. Located by Lake Mündesee, Angermünde is a place where time seems to flow more slowly.

The square layout of the city, dating back to around 1230, is a testament to careful urban planning . Angermünde was founded in a thoughtful way, which can be seen in the harmony and order of its space. Impressive churches and the defensive wall surrounding the Old Town are a testimony to the old times. These historic buildings remind us of the years when Angermünde was a center of trade and crafts. This town, situated at the intersection of important trade routes, quickly gained importance.

The town’s atmosphere and charm captivated me. I highly recommend visiting Angermünde if you like peaceful, well-maintained towns. I greatly regretted that it was time to return home, so I will return to Angermünde, this time for a leisurely vacation.

An interesting fact: Angermünde hosts the largest stone sculpture conference in northern Europe. So while walking around the town, you can come across sculptures made from boulders weighing several tons.