Family holidays on the Havel River

Rent a houseboat for exciting family holidays. You can choose from a wide range of options including a simple adventure raft or even a fully furnished 'floating' holiday house with fireplace and/or a sauna. Most boats can be operated without a skipper’s licence or only require a brief training session to obtain a Charter Permit ('Charterschein').

Potsdam–Havelberg

In recent years houseboats and rafts have become more popular on the Havel River between Potsdam and Havelberg. The perfect family holiday – a holiday house on water. There is a lot to be discovered between shoving off and arrival. Look here for a selection of highlights along your route. 

Potsdam

Museum Barberini

Historic architecture meets modern art, exhibition on art in the GDR and international art after 1989, as well as special exhibitions

 

Business hours/Admission:

Mon., Wed. – Sun., 11am – 7pm, 1st Thu. of the month until 9pm

€14 adults, €10 reduced rate, free admission for children and youth under 18

Contact:

Alter Markt· Humboldtstraße 5-6 · 14467 Potsdam · Phone: (+49-331) 23 60 14 499

www.museum-barberini.com

Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg

Enjoy pretending to conquer historic places during guided tours with the ferocious castle dragon or the chambermaid or take part in a creative children’s workshop.

 

Contact: 

www.spsg.de

Filmpark Babelsberg

The theme park about cinema and TV with numerous attractions including scenery, props, costumes, special effects and technical equipment

 

Business hours/Admission:

Apr. to Sept., 10am – 6pm

Oct. to beginning of Nov., 10am – 5pm

(Closed on various days. Please note!)

€22 adults, €15 children (aged 4–16), €65 family ticket

ContaCt:

Großbeerenstraße 200· 14482 Potsdam-Babelsberg · Phone: (+49-331) 72 123 45

www.filmpark-babelsberg.de

Adventure Park

Challenging high rope course offering 12 levels (low to high) and a 200m zipline just a ten-minute walk from the main station

 

Business Hours/Admission:

Apr. to Oct., daily from 10am to 5pm/7pm depending on the season

€22 adults, €16 children up to 12 years, €19 youth, students, trainees

 

Contact:

Albert-Einstein-Straße 49 · 14473 Potsdam · Phone: (+49-331) 626 47 83

www.abenteuerpark.de

Schwielowsee

Caputh Castle

Baroque castle of the time of the Elector Frederick William picturesquely situated on the Havel River, guided tours for children on request

Business hours/Admission:

May to Oct., Tue. – Sun., 10am – 6pm

Apr., Sat./Sun., 10am – 6pm

Nov. to Mar., Sat./Sun., 10pm – 5pm

€6 adults, €5 reduced rate, €12 family ticket

Kontakt:

Straße der Einheit 2 · 14548 Schwielowsee OT Caputh · TPhone: (+49-33209)70345

www.spsg.de

Einstein’s summer residence

Exhibition on the physicist Albert Einstein with computer simulations, GPS exhibit and hands-on models

Business hours/Admission:

Apr. to Oct., Tue. – Sun. and public holidays 11am – 5pm

Nov. to Mar., Sat./Sun. and on holidays 11am – 5pm

Contact:

Straße der Einheit 3 · 14548 Schwielowsee OT Caputh · Phone: (+49-33209) 217 772

www.sommeridyll-caputh.de

The 'Wietkiekenberg' observation platform

Fantastic view of the Havel Lakes and the landscape around Schwielowsee Lake (follow the signs from 'Strandbad Ferch') 

Business hours/Admission:

open year-round · free admission

Werder (Havel)

Pick your own fruit

Fancy picking your own sweet berries? A number of fruit farms let you pick you own delicious fruit.

Contact: 

www.obstbauverein-werder.de

'Sea for Kids' indoor playground

At the 'Sea for Kids' indoor playground children can romp and climb – rain or shine.

Business hours/Admission:

Tue. – Fri., 2pm – 7pm, Sat., Sun., 10:30am – 7pm

during the holidays and public holidays 10:30am – 7pm

€6 children, €3 adults, €16 family ticket

Contact: 

Mielestraße 2 · 14542 Werder (Havel)· Phone: (+49-3327) 669 48 03 

www.meer-for-kids

Town forest

Time to stretch your legs! Why not head to the 'Stadtwald' of Werder (Havel) for a nature walk?

 

Ketzin/Havel

Tour of Ketzin’s Old Town

On steles throughout the Old Town you will find interesting stories told by Fishermens’ princess Julia and her friend Jakob (more information at the Tourist Office).

Contact:

Tourist Office and Museum of the town Ketzin/Havel

Rathausstraße 18 · 14669 Ketzin/Havel · Phone: (+49-33233) 720 112

www.tourismus.ketzin.de

Bathing Beach Ketzin/Havel

Swimming in the Havel River, and on the banks hot-dog stall, table tennis, volleyball and canoe and rowboot rental

Business hours/prices:

Mid-May to middle of Sept., 10am – 8pm, depending on the weather

€3 adults, €1 children aged 4–16, €1.50 reduced rate, €7 family ticket

Contact:

Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Weg 31 · 14669 Ketzin/Havel · Phone: (+49-171) 971 15 47

www.ketzin.de

Kloster Lehnin

Cistercian Abbey

Imposing Cistercian monastery with Romanesque-Gothic brick abbey amidst wonderful old trees, numerous concerts in summer

Business hours/admission:

Apr. to Oct., Mon. – Fri., 10am – 4pm, Sat., 10am – 5pm, Sun., 1pm – 5pm

Nov. to Mar., Mon. – Sat., 10:30am – 3:30pm, Sun., 1pm – 4pm

Free admission

Contact:

Klosterkirchplatz 1-19 · 14797 Kloster Lehnin OT Lehnin · Phone: (+49 178) 61 871 38

www.klosterlehnin.de

Bathing beach Lehnin

Swimming for the whole family at Klostersee Lake with big jungle gym playground, beach volleyball, table tennis, boat rental and café  

Business hours/admission:

During the season depending on the weather 

€2 adults, €1 children aged 6+

Contact:

Am Klostersee 12 b · 14797 Kloster Lehnin OT Lehnin · Phone: (+49-3382) 734100

www.strandbad-lehnin.de

Bird observation towers

Two towers for observing water birds in the Special Protection Area designated by the EU, in Rietz and on the Emster Kanal (including a nature trail on Emster Kanal)

 

Brandenburg an der Havel

Slawendorf (Slavic village)

Experience history up close on a journey through time back to the ancient Germans and Slavs with period games, audio-guided tour and a rustic tavern.

Business hours/admission:

Apr. to Oct., Mon. – Sun., 10am – 12am and 2pm – 6pm

€3 adults, €2 reduced rate, €10 family ticket

Contact:

Plauer Straße · 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel · Phone: (+49-3381) 2087 4033

www.slawendorf-brandenburg.de

Marienbad indoor pool

Indoor swimming and adventure pool with numerous saunas, 25m and 50m pool (with retractable roof), outdoor pool, 3m diving platform, whirlpool, toddler pool etc.

Business hours/admission:

Daily from 9am, Mon. from 10am, closes at 8pm/9:30pm

Pool and outdoor pool: rates from €3.40, reduced rate €2

Leisure pool: rates from €4.80, reduced rate from €3.60

Sauna: rates from €13.50, reduced rate from €12.50

Contact:

Sprengelstraße 1 · 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel · Phone: (+49-3381) 322-780

www.marienbad-brandenburg.de

Archaeological Museum of Brandenburg

Interesting exhibition with more than 10,000 exhibits on 130,000 years of cultural history of Brandenburg and vicinity

Business hours/admission:

Tue. – Sun., 10am – 5pm

€5 adults, €3.50 reduced rate, €10 family ticket

Contact:

Neustädtische Heidestraße 28· 14776 Brandenburg an der Havel · Phone: (+49-3381) 410 41 12

www.landesmuseum-brandenburg.de

The Cathedral of Brandenburg an der Havel

Interesting exhibition with more than 10,000 exhibits on 130,000 years of cultural history of Brandenburg and vicinity

Business hours/admission:

Apr. to Oct., Mon. – Sat., 10am – 5pm, Sun., 12am – 5pm

Nov. to Mar., Mon. – Sat., 11am – 4pm Sun., 12am – 4pm

Free admission

Contact:

Burghof· 14776 Brandenburg an der Havel · Phone: (+49-3381) 211 2223

www.dom-brandenburg.de

Pritzerbe

Reed weaving mill in Pritzerbe

Wherever you look, reeds everywhere. Visitors can try their hand at weaving this renewable raw material on hand-looms.

Business hours/admission:

Artisanal crafts, shop and museum, Mon. – Fri., 8am – 4pm

In Apr. to Oct., museum also Sat., Sun., 10am – 5pm

Contact:

Marzahner Chaussee 6 · 14798 Havelsee OT Pritzerbe · Phone: (+49-33834) 50236

www.rohrweberei.de 

Bahnitz

Kneipp course and Bahnitz swimming area

Fitness trail at the Kneipp Aquatic Therapy station in the quaint artists’ village Bahnitz

Milow

'Naturparkzentrum Westhavelland'

Interactive exhibition on the unique nature of the Havelland region with a diorama of the river renaturalization project and the stars adventure room and more.

Business hours/admission:

Apr. to Oct., daily 10am – 5pm, closed Wed.

Nov. to Mar., Thurs. – Sun., 10am – 4pm

€3 adults, €1–2 reduced rate

Contact:

Stremmestraße 10 · 14715 Milower Land · Phone: (+49-3386) 211227

www.nabu-westhavelland.de

Premnitz

Riverfront walk

Explore the riverfront walk on the Havel, enjoy the view from the observation platform that extends over the Havel River, or stop at the nice water playground. Everywhere the eye can see, there’s water.

Rathenow

'Bismarckturm'

Visitors can reach the neo-Gothic observation tower on Weinberg mountain via the Weinberg bridge, which is an architectural highlight.

Rathenow Optikpark

This park features landscaped gardens, cultural amenities, gorgeous raft tours and above all a lot of interesting information on eyewear.

Business hours/admission:

 

End of Apr. to beginning of Oct., 10am – 9pm

€5 admission, €2.50 reduced rate, free admission for children and youth aged 17 and under

Contact:

Schwedendamm 1· 14712 Rathenow · Phone: (+49-3385) 49850

www.optikpark-rathenow.de

Eyewear industry museum

Exhibition on the history and development of the eyewear industry in Rathenow, which is the cradle of the eyewear industry

Business hours/admission:

Tue. – Sun., 11am – 5pm

€3 adults, €1.50 reduced rate, €7 family ticket

Contact:

Märkischer Platz 3· 14712 Rathenow · Phone: (+49-3386) 5190 40

www.oimr.de

Hohennauen

Hohennauen swimming area with restaurant and café

Popular swimming beach with excellent water quality, a playground and an adjacent restaurant including an ice-cream parlour

Strodehne

Strodehne swimming area

Natural swimming area with a wide and shallow sandy beach and nice spots for a picnic

Havelberg

'Haus der Flüsse'

Multimedia exhibition on the fluvial system formed by the Havel and Elbe, a water playground and environmental education stations in the 'House of the rivers'.

Business hours/admission:

Apr. to Oct., daily 10am – 6pm, Nov. to Mar., Tue. – Sun. and public holidays 10am – 5pm

Free admission

Contact:

Schönberger Weg 6 · 39539 Havelberg · Phone: (+49-39387) 595 151

www.haus-der-fluesse.de

The Cathedral of Havelberg

Havelberg’s Cathedral towers imposingly over the town’s island. This pier basilica was built in Romanesque style and later Gothicized.

Business hours/admission:

Apr. to Oct., daily 10am – 6pm, Nov. to Mar., Tue. – Sun. and public holidays 10am – 5pm

Free admission

Contact:

Dom zu Havelberg· Domplatz  · 39539 Havelberg · Phone: (+49-39387) 791 04

www.havelberg-dom.de

Lively town centres

Historic town centres with a medieval spirit, splendid castles and gardens on the banks of the Havel River, cathedrals and cloisters creating an impressive skyline.

» more on the region

Waterside cafés and restaurants

Numerous restaurants tempt visitors to enjoy meals with a waterside view and can be reached directly by boat.

Activities on the water and at the waterside

You are closest to the water when canoeing, surfing, water skiing or standup paddle boarding (SUP). Check our  » Wasserwanderkarte (water touring map) for canoe/kayak, SUP and surfing outfitters.

'Naturpark Westhavelland' nature reserve

It is not uncommon to spot beavers, European otters or sea eagles when floating past the pristine nature of the Havelland region.

www.westhavelland-naturpark.de

Spectacular night sky

he particularly dark nights in the Westhavelland region offer glorious views of the Milky Way. Due to this feature the region was declared to be Germany’s first dark-sky park.

www.sternenpark-westhavelland.de

Swimming in the Havel River

here are flat, sandy beaches for bathing all along the Havel River and the many lakes, with secluded places to drop anchor in pristine nature or attractive swimming areas near towns. However, please bear in mind that you are not allowed to enter swimming areas by boat.

Fishing made easy

For those who love catching their own meals, there are numerous promising fishing grounds along the lakes, rivers and former clay pits. » Click here for more information on fishing.