Brandenburg informs: News about travel, culture and tourism projects

Brandenburg's new cycling map is here

Brandenburg invites you to enjoy a variety of cycling adventures – and the new cycling map shows at a glance how diverse this cycling destination is.

Whether along rivers and lakes, through vast natural landscapes or from historic old town to old town: Brandenburg's long-distance cycle routes combine relaxation, culture and exercise in a unique way.

The compact map is ideal for on the go and makes you want to actively discover Brandenburg – whether for a relaxed weekend tour or a cycling trip lasting several days.

The cycling map is currently available in German and can also be downloaded at www.reiseland-brandenburg.de.

Germany – Poland: More train connections from December

From 14 December 2025, rail transport between Germany and Poland will be significantly expanded. Deutsche Bahn and Poland's PKP Intercity are increasing their service from the current eleven to 17 direct connections daily in both directions.

A Eurocity train will then run every two hours on the Berlin – Warsaw route, with a journey time of just under five hours. Ideal for city breaks or combined round trips.

The Leipzig – Wrocław – Kraków line will be completely new. Two daily trains will connect the central German metropolis with the important cities in southern Poland. One train will continue to Przemysl on the border with Ukraine. This will give the region and the border town a fast connection to Germany for the first time.

Optimised transfer times shorten the journey to Wrocław for travellers from Munich, Nuremberg and Frankfurt by up to two hours. Chemnitz and Dresden also benefit from the new connections via northern Saxony.

In addition to the increased daily connections, Deutsche Bahn and Poland's PKP Intercity are also significantly expanding their night train services. From the timetable change, a new daily Eurocity train will run overnight from Berlin to Przemysl, stopping in Wrocław and Kraków along the way. This will give travellers a convenient connection that makes central Polish cities and the border region with Ukraine directly accessible from Berlin.

Culture Train Berlin – Wrocław: Experience culture by the kilometre

The Culture Train to Wrocław is more than just a train connection – it is a travelling cultural experience. For the 10th time, the train will run every weekend until 28 December 2025 under the motto ‘Expedition Europe’.

From readings to concerts and karaoke to language activities and club nights, the varied programme ensures that there is no chance of boredom setting in during the journey. This makes the trip doubly worthwhile: guests travel to Wrocław, the European Capital of Culture 2016, for a maximum of £27 and enjoy an exclusive cultural programme on board at the same time.

The travel times are optimally coordinated with the weekend: Fridays from Berlin to Wrocław and back, Saturday mornings to Wrocław and Sunday afternoons back to Berlin. Since 2024, there have also been attractive stops along the way, inviting passengers to explore the route.

Both the timetable and the cultural programme calendar can be found online. Tickets for the culture train are also available online, at ticket machines and at Deutsche Bahn travel centres.

Smart and eco-friendly sailing – Ahoi focuses on sustainability and digitalisation

Sustainability and smart booking experiences go hand in hand at Ahoi – Simple. Beautiful. Sailing. Located on Lake Scharmützel, east of Berlin, the company offers sailing trips for every target group. From romantic sunset sailing and family outings to stag parties, team events and winter mulled wine sailing. The focus is on emission-free sailing: the yachts' engines are only used when docking or casting off, while the power of the wind provides environmentally friendly propulsion.

A digital booking system has been introduced for guests, which simplifies the booking process, saves time and creates transparency. After booking, participants receive personalised emails with all the important information. Interactive directions with 360-degree tours make it easier to find your way around on site and increase the anticipation of the sailing experience.

Ahoi also focuses on climate-friendly mobility when it comes to getting there: detailed information on public transport such as trains and buses encourages the use of low-emission options. The environment is also protected on the sailing trips themselves: mooring in sensitive coastal areas is avoided and guests receive information about the local flora and fauna. Comfort measures such as sun sails and complimentary drinks ensure that everyone feels completely at ease – whatever the season.

A particular highlight is mulled wine sailing in winter, which brings the region to life outside the traditional season and offers guests a special experience. The consistent combination of digitalisation, sustainable mobility and environmentally conscious experiences has not only significantly reduced the company's carbon footprint, but also inspired other providers in the region.

With its approach, Ahoi demonstrates how modern booking solutions and sustainable tourism offerings can work together successfully, while also strengthening the perception of Lake Scharmützel as a destination for environmentally conscious leisure and adventure tourism.

Further information is available at www.mitsegeln-saarow.d...

Senftenberg Lake Family Park: New escape adventure in southern Brandenburg

Senftenberg Lake Family Park has an exciting new attraction for visitors: the escape room ‘On Deck and Underground’ is located in the Kulturschiff (culture ship) on the lake promenade and takes players on an interactive journey through the history of the Lusatian Lake District.

With the help of a time machine, participants experience the development from the former open-cast lignite mining to today's lake landscape. Along the way, they have to solve puzzles, decipher messages and find missing heirlooms – logical thinking, teamwork and creativity are required.

The game lasts around 60 minutes and is aimed at small groups of three to six people. Families are also welcome: children aged seven and above can play when accompanied by an adult. The escape room is particularly noteworthy for its accessibility – it is also suitable for wheelchair users, as the Kulturschiff's leisure tunnel is accessible via a passenger lift.

Information on opening hours, admission prices and more can be found at www.senftenberger-see.de/de/familienpark/kulturschiff/escape-room.html.

Outlook for 2026

Rheinsberg Palace celebrates the 300th birthday of Prince Heinrich of Prussia (1726–1802)

Just 80 kilometres north of Berlin lies the picturesque Rheinsberg Palace on the shores of Lake Grienerick. After ascending the throne in 1740, King Frederick II gave the palace to his younger brother Prince Henry, who made Rheinsberg his personal retreat and lived there for five decades.

In 1752, his marriage enabled him to establish his own court. Renowned artists and architects such as Carl Gotthard Langhans, Georg Friedrich von Bouman the Younger and Friedrich Reclam worked here, and the palace and gardens became the centre of a prestigious court of muses. Music, theatre and the visual arts shaped the cultural life of the region.

2026 marks the 300th anniversary of Heinrich's birth – an occasion to honour his significance for the palace, the garden kingdom and the town of Rheinsberg. A tour shows the transition from Rococo to early Classicism: the Shell Room impresses with its wealth of detail, early Classicist decorative elements meet antique motifs in the library and bedroom, and Italian grottos, tapestries and marble sculptures enchant visitors on the palace island.

The summer apartment on the ground floor, Heinrich's personal retreat, is particularly worth seeing. The garden hall, designed by Frederick the Great, leads to rooms with painted grottos, wallpaper depicting birds, a white-lacquered chamber and the early classicist summer bedroom – offering an insight into Heinrich's taste, artistic enthusiasm and private life.

Further information is available at Rheinsberg Palace Schloss Rheinsberg – Sommer­appartement des Prinzen Heinrich - Prinz Heinrich ganz privat | SPSG

Lusatian Lake District 2026: Five lakes – one connected water sports area

By 2026, a unique, artificially created water sports area will be created in the Lusatian Lake District. Five former open-cast mining lakes will be connected to each other by waterways. This will create a continuous water landscape with a total area of around 51 km², making the Lusatian Lake District one of the largest artificial water networks in Europe.

Visitors can currently explore Lake Senftenberg, Lake Geierswalde, Lake Partwitz and Lake Großräschen by water. With the completion of Lake Sedlitz and the connection of all five lakes, it will be possible from 2026 to travel seamlessly between all lakes without having to cross roads or locks.

Extensive infrastructure plans are in place for the entire network. Existing ports are to be expanded, while a new port was opened at Lake Großräschen in June 2025. Two new bathing areas, a port and a waterway rest area are also planned. In addition, five transfer channels, including a tunnel under a federal highway and a railway line, will enable passage between the lakes. New beaches and leisure facilities will provide a wide range of tourist attractions and numerous recreational opportunities.

Discover the developments in the region with us. We will keep you informed and up to date.

Finally: From modern to magical – new accommodation for travellers to Brandenburg

The new ‘Elbe6’ apartment building opened on 1 May 2025 in Wittenberge in northern Brandenburg. The modern building offers three exclusive apartments ranging in size from 55 to 95 square metres and is located directly on the Elbe Cycle Route in the old town. From here, numerous leisure activities, restaurants and cafés are within easy reach. Each apartment features stylish furnishings, a fully equipped kitchen, fast WiFi and smart TV, as well as a roof terrace with views over the city. The three holiday apartments at Elbstraße 6 are certified with 5 stars and have been awarded the bicycle-friendly Bett+Bike label.

Further information is available here: www.elbe6.de.

Hostel in the Orangery: New accommodation option at Schlossgut Altlandsberg

Just outside Berlin, Schlossgut Altlandsberg has expanded its range of services to include high-quality accommodation: on the historic estate, where the future King Frederick I once spent his youth, the ‘Hostel in the Orangery’ has opened its doors, offering modern accommodation in a stately setting. The Orangery is located right next to the baroque castle church and not far from the listed brewery and distillery. The upper floor offers seven spacious double rooms, which are barrier-free and equipped with a bathroom, air conditioning, TV and WiFi. Breakfast in the restaurant can be booked on request. The surrounding castle gardens are ideal for walking.

The Schlossgut itself is a wedding and conference venue and also hosts a wide range of cultural events. A particular highlight is the on-site brewery, which has been producing craft beers according to historical recipes since 2016. The classics include ‘Altlandsberger Edel Hell’, the spicy ‘Altlandsberger Cupfer’ and the dark ‘Altlandsberger Nachtwächter’. The beers are served in the historic vaulted cellar of the brewery and distillery or in the beer garden with a view of the castle terrace and pleasure garden.

With its hostel in the orangery, Schlossgut Altlandsberg offers a high-quality combination of history, comfort and culinary experiences.

Further information is available at www.schlossgut-altlandsberg.de.