Brandenburg an der Havel is a lovely city just 45 minutes from Berlin. Known for its red brick buildings and 15th century Old Town Hall, this is a great day trip destination for Berliners!
Brandenburg an der Havel is a hidden gem in northern Germany. Tourists haven’t yet discovered the beauty of Brandenburg, despite its close proximity to Berlin. Because of this, the city feels more traditionally German — don’t expect signs to be written in multiple languages or there to be maps of the city center posted on every street corner!
The city of Brandenburg has a long and interesting history that stretches back nearly 1,000 years. It was founded in 948 and was a Slavic settlement for many years before becoming the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (part of the Holy Roman Empire) in the 12th century.
When visiting Brandenburg an der Havel, the first thing you’ll notice are the gorgeous red brick buildings built in the Gothic style. They’re everywhere! As you meander through the Old Town, you may also notice that the city is actually composed of three islands separated by the Havel River flowing between them — hence the city’s name!
Brandenburg an der Havel is one of the easiest day trips to take from Berlin and also one of the most laid back. You can easily fill an entire day seeing the sights, but there’s nothing that requires standing in line or booking tickets in advance. It’s a quiet, more traditional German town that’s great for exploring on foot.
To help you plan your day trip to Brandenburg an der Havel, here are the top attractions I recommend visiting!
Note: Throughout this post I refer to the city as both Brandenburg an der Havel and just Brandenburg. Both are correct! Because it’s situated within the German state of Brandenburg, “an der Havel” is often added to the city name to distinguish between the two.
How to Get From Berlin to Brandenburg an der Havel
To get to Brandenburg from Berlin, take the RE1 train from Berlin to Brandenburg Hauptbahnhof. The RE1 stops at Berlin’s central station as well as Zoologischer Garten, Charlottenburg, and Wannsee so get on wherever is most convenient for you! From Berlin’s central station the journey takes about 45 minutes.
Note that you’ll need to purchase a ticket through Deutsche Bahn to ride the regional trains.
1. Track Down the Wild Pugs
While wandering through the city center, your eye will be drawn to life-size bronze statues of pugs with what appear to be adorable little antlers on their heads. Reader, meet the “Forest Pug” or Waldmops in German.
This adorable creature is the brainchild of the German comedian / cartoonist / writer Vicco von Bülow, better known by his pen name Loriot. He was born in Brandenburg, Germany and held his hometown in high esteem.
In the 1970s, Loriot released a comedic “documentary” about the forest pug (it was a joke! The forest pug doesn’t exist, which seriously confused this non-native German speaker).
Following his death in 2011, the city of Brandenburg asked the community for ideas on how to commemorate Loriot’s life. Someone suggested creating a “pug sanctuary” within the city — referring to the beloved pug cartoon from the ‘70s.
The first few pug statues were “released into the wild” (hardy har) in 2015 and it was an immediate success. Each year, the city hides more life-size forest pug statues around the city. I believe the count is up to 50 now!
What makes this memorial so amazing is that the pugs are placed in the most unlikely of places. Each pug is holding a different pose, and there’s no map showing the exact placement of the statues. My inner child loved tracking down all the pugs!
Tip: You can sign up for a walking tour to learn about the “Forest Pugs” and Bülow’s life.
2. Visit the Cathedral
The top attraction of Brandenburg is the Brandenburger Dom, officially called the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The foundation stone of this Romanesque cathedral was laid in 1165, although the church has been damaged and repaired multiple times since its initial construction.
The cathedral was rebuilt in the Gothic style in the 14th century, and it’s the building you see today. It’s considered the “Mother of all Mark churches,” referring to the network of churches in the state of Brandenburg.
The cathedral is a pretty space to poke your head around, and there’s even a small museum inside that you can pay extra to visit.
3. See the Old Gate Towers
Called Tortürme in German, four of the city’s original gate towers remain standing. Their placement will give you an idea of where the original city walls — which were built in the 14th and 15th centuries — used to be.
Soon after the city walls and gate towers were erected, the city of Brandenburg outgrew them. The walls were torn down in the 18th century, but some of the gate towers were preserved.
Of note is the 15-century Steintorturm, which is the largest remaining city gate at 28.5m high. It’s impossible to miss as you walk from the train station to the center of the New Town
Other towers to track down are the Mühlentorturm (which you’ll pass en route to the cathedral), Rathenower Torturm (the oldest of them all; it dates back to 1290!), and the Plauer Torturm (near Humboldthain Park).
4. Tour the Archaeology Museum
Located in the former Dominican Church of St. Pauli (Paulikloster), the archaeology museum of Brandenburg provides a great overview of the basic archaeological periods viewed through the lens of the region’s history.
I’ll admit, this isn’t the best museum I’ve ever been to. It’s a good rainy day activity, but it’s not a “must see” attraction in my opinion.
However, the building itself is very pretty! The church dates back to 1311 and is an example of the red brick Gothic architecture that the city is known for. The church was severely damaged in WWII, and after being rebuilt it was turned into the museum you see today in the early 2000s.
Tip: The museum exhibits are primarily in German, so if you don’t speak German I don’t recommend visiting.
5. Window Shop Along Hauptstraße
The Hauptstraße, or main street, runs through the New Town and connects with the Old Town via the Millenium Bridge. (The New and Old Towns were integrated in the 1700s, so “new” is a relative term here. There are still lots of pretty, old buildings along the Hauptstraße!)
You’ll find a shopping center with chain stores along this street, as well as local boutiques and cafes the closer you get to the river.
If you need a pick-me-up stop for a cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake from the quaint Kaffekännchen cafe!
6. Relax Along the Riverbanks
On either bank of the Havel River (near the Jahrtausendbrücke or Millenium Bridge), you’ll find plenty of terraced seating perfect for relaxing and watching the boats and water fowl pass by. I recommend grabbing an ice cream cone or a drink on your way to the river, and definitely bring a book if you’re on your own! The bank of the Havel River is an idyllic spot to rest your feet and chat with good company.
7. Stroll Through the Old Town
The Old Town of Brandenburg an der Havel is small but super pretty. The Old Town area isn’t clearly marked on any maps I saw, but to the best of my knowledge it begins near the Jahrtausendbrücke, on Ritterstraße.
The Old Town has lots of cafes and shops, as well as churches, antique stores, and the Old Town Hall (which gets its separate entry on this list!).
8. See the Old Town Hall
Called the Altstädtisches Rathaus in German, the beautiful Old Town Hall was built in 1474. It remained in use as the town hall until the unification of the Old and New Towns in 1715. After that, the building was used for all sorts of things.
During its lifetime the building has served as the city’s town hall, a textile factory, a warehouse, a grocery store, and a granary — and probably other things that history books failed to record.
At some point, the building was sold to private owners, but following the threat of demolition it was repurchased by the city of Brandenburg in 1904. It’s since been lovingly restored and is now a top attraction in the Old Town.
When you visit the Old Town Hall, you’ll notice the massive statue standing guard out front. That’s Roland! Roland statues can be found all over northern Germany (including Bremen!).
The tradition dates back to medieval times. A town with a Roland statue effectively told the world that it was an independent entity with rights and freedoms.
9. Explore the Church of St. Gotthardt
Note that the heading for this Brandenburg attraction uses the verb “explore” and not “visit.” That’s because there’s so much to discover inside the walls of St. Gotthardt!
The church has two levels; you can climb a few different sets of stairs to access the various wooden galleries for views of the church from all angles. Off of one gallery, you’ll find an incredibly steep set of stairs winding up to a third level of the church. (You’ll know you’ve found the correct stairway if it’s marked with an ominous sign saying “climb at your own risk.”)
That creepy stairway takes you up to the church’s tower. From there, you’ll get a wonderful view of the square surrounding the church as well as the surrounding cityscape. So cool!
After clambering back down the creepy staircase, make sure to track down the 13th-century baptismal font. There are a couple other medieval furnishings in St. Gotthardt, too!
Tip: Loriot (of forest pug fame) was baptized in this church in 1923. There’s a small exhibit about him tucked away on the upper level.
10. Unwind in Humboldthain Park
After all that wandering, your feet will likely be aching by the end of the day. Another pretty spot to relax in is the Humboldthain Park, near the river. There are lots of trees here offering shade, as well as a few forest pug statues hidden where you least expect to find them.
Even More Things to Do in Brandenburg
A few more things to do in Brandenburg an der Havel that I didn’t have time for include:
- Friedenswarte on the Marienberg — a futuristic-looking tower built in 1974 to celebrate the 25th birthday of the German Democratic Republic (aka East Germany). It’s supposed to have a great view of the area.
- Katharinenkirche — a lovely red brick, late-Gothic church in the city center. You can listen to a free organ concert here every Wednesday!
- Outdoor activities — thanks to the Havel River that runs through the city, there’s lots to do in the way of outdoor sports! Think: kayaking, canoeing, etc.
Auf Wiedersehen, Brandenburg!
Brandenburg an der Havel is an underrated day trip from Berlin, but it’s definitely worth visiting! It’s a small city, so a day is really all you need to see the main sights.
And if you have just a free afternoon, that’s good too! There’s lots to see in the city of Brandenburg, but nothing is time-sensitive or requires waiting in a line.
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