We are booked this June on the RS Berlin/Prague/Vienna tour. We plan on arriving in Berlin 4 days ahead of the tour start date for what we are calling the vacation before for the vacation. Looking for a relaxing destination that is a 2-3 ish hour train ride from Berlin. Would prefer a water/beach resort type destination with some low key sight seeing . We have started our search along the northern coast from Lubeck to Rugen Island. Any suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated. Alternative suggestions welcomed.
Posted by
Paradise
6633 posts
Your tour offers only 2 full days in Berlin plus a couple of hours the night prior. Berlin is huge - the sort of place most experienced travelers would advise targeting with 4 days. You might look into what you can't see/do on your tour that might interest you for at least one of those days prior.
I doubt you've given any consideration to the Berliner-insider oasis of Wannsee Lake, right in Berlin's backyard - might be what you are looking for in your free time. Chill place, lightweight sightseeing.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187323-d2705579-Reviews-Wannsee-Berlin.html
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/wannsee
https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionsNear-g187323-d2705579-Wannsee-Berlin.html
Potsdam is a couple of stones' throws from there:
Grunewald too:
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/grunewald
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187323-d519793-Reviews-Grunewald_Forest-Berlin.html
Posted by
San Francisco
14507 posts
Hi,
Within the trip time limit you indicated, how about Greifswald , or taking a bit more of the travel time, I would suggest Stralsund.
It's somewhat far from Berlin, but I would suggest staying in Hamburg or Lübeck pre/after the tour and seeing more of Schleswig-Holstein, basically, from Hamburg to Flensburg....all very interesting re: the landscape, culture and historical museums, esp, the smaller towns, Husum, Eutin/Holstein, Heide, Plön, etc.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7289 posts
In my opinion beach experiences in the US are better than many in Europe. You may find the Baltic too cold or rough. I also think it's a little too far for the time available. It's not true that you need a car for local touring, but you don't have time to learn the local transit situation.
Here are some not specifically "beach" ideas:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/baltic-germany-fachwerke-landesgartenschau
I happen to like cities, so I might go to Leipzig or Dresden. Dessau-Wörlitz Gartenreich (UNESCO WHS) is more pastoral.
Posted by
Germany
450 posts
Helgoland. North Sea island with red cliffs, bird watching, history, and a relaxing atmosphere. You can stay on Helgoland or the little island of Düne, which has little cabins on sandy beaches. If cold water is not too problematic, you can swim right beside the Robben (seals), who will share the beach with you. There is a little mini-ferry between the two since there is no real food option on Düne.
St. Peter-Ording. See the Wattenmeer. Ride horses on the most amazing beach ever.
Posted by
Washington
470 posts
I was also going to mention Helgoland. We really enjoyed our day trip there. I am sure staying a couple of nights would make for a memorable experience and great way to recover from travel.