Need to escape the city for a bit? These weekend trips from Berlin are all easy to reach by train and require NO TRANSFERS!
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Love Berlin but desperately need to escape life for a couple days? There are so many fun and easy weekend getaways from Berlin that don’t require a rental car.
Within this guide, I’ll be sharing my top 15 weekend destinations with direct connections (aka no transfers!). Deutsche Bahn does a fabulous job of connecting small towns and big cities alike, but if a strike happens or construction pops up en route then even a single transfer can end up derailing your entire journey.
I’m sure there are more incredible weekend trips you can take from Berlin, but these are the cities I’ve visited and can personally vouch for! If there’s another location you think I should scope out, please leave me a comment at the end of this post.
Note that the travel times listed within this guide are approximations only. If there’s construction on the track, there will likely be delays.
Table of Contents
Click “show” to see the full table of contents for this post. You can jump around the post as desired by clicking on the individual sections listed below.
Looking for Day Trips Instead?
If you’re short on time and can only get away for a day, I suggest enjoying one of the many day trips from Berlin instead. Again, no car needed!
1 to 2 Hours Away by Train
Leipzig
Travel time by train: 1 hour 15 minutes via ICE
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once described Leipzig as “Little Paris” due to its stylish citizens and stunning architecture. Today it’s a lively university city that makes for a fantastic weekend break from Berlin.
Of all the things to do in Leipzig, my favorites are without a doubt St. Thomas’ Church, which is where Johann Sebastian Bach worked here for 30 years; the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, a stunning monument that commemorates Napoleon’s defeat at Leipzig; and the Naschmarkt, which is where the Baroque-style Old Stock Exchange is located.
Since you’ll be in Leipzig for a full weekend, I also highly recommend going on a walking tour; Free Tour Leipzig does an excellent free walking tour.
Or, go on a classic Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour of Leipzig if a walking tour isn’t in the cards for you (not my preferred way to see the city, but I’m not the travel police!).
Braunschweig (Brunswick)
Travel time by train: 1 hour 30 minutes via ICE
Braunschweig is a highly underrated city in northern Germany that’s well worth exploring over the weekend.
Henry the Lion— founder of Munich, amongst many other accolades — is entombed within St. Blasii Cathedral. Located on the same square as the cathedral is his former ducal residence, Dankwarderode Castle.
If you love art museums, the Duke Anton Ulrich Museum is fantastic.
You can easily fill an entire weekend in Braunschweig with minimal planning on your part, but if you’d like to explore more of the area the quaint town of Wolfenbüttel is just 10 minutes away via regional train. The town boasts around 1,000 half-timbered houses and is a cute place to window shop, enjoy cake and coffee in the sunshine, and generally just relax.
Erfurt
Travel time by train: 1 hour 45 minutes via ICE
Erfurt deserves so much more love than it gets! While you’re in the capital of Thuringia, be sure to visit St. Mary’s Cathedral; it’s where Martin Luther was ordained. Right next to the cathedral (as in, about 10 steps away — I’ve never seen anything like it!) is the Church of St. Severus.
There are also some great views of the city from the Petersberg Citadel, a star-shaped Baroque fortress in the center of the city. If you book a tour of the citadel, you can see the passageways beneath the fortress!
My absolute favorite attraction in Erfurt is the Merchant’s Bridge. It’s a gorgeous half-timbered structure that dates back as far as the 8th century. There are local merchants represented along the bridge selling hand-made goods — these are no touristy knickknacks, believe me!
Hamburg
Travel time by train: 1 hour 45 minutes via ICE
If you’ve only got a weekend in Hamburg, I suggest spending most of your time in the Old Town and Speicherstadt. Hamburg’s Old Town has plenty to keep you busy, like St. Peter’s Church, which is the oldest surviving church and has a platform at the top of the bell tower that offer a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the city.
The Neo-Renaissance style City Hall and square is also worth visiting, as is picturesque Deichstraße which looks like it came from a storybook.
The Speicherstadt (pictured above) is brimming with attractions, such as the traditional ship harbor and Miniatur Wunderland, a gigantic model railway that sounds weird but is actually amazing.
Hannover
Travel time by train: 1 hour 45 minutes via ICE or IC
Known for being Germany’s Messestadt or trade fair center, Hannover might ring a few bells for people who travel a lot for work and who’ve attended their fair share of conferences.
Hannover isn’t a hot and happening weekend destination for most Berliners, but it really should be. The food is good, the people are nice, and there’s lots to do in Hannover!
I suggest visiting Herrenhausen Palace and Gardens, window shopping in the Old Town, and ascending the dome of the New Town Hall for an epic view of the city. Oh, and Hannover is where Leibniz Cookies originated, so be sure to stock up while you’re in town!
2 to 3 Hours Away by Train
Rostock / Warnemünde
Travel time by train: 2 hours via IC / ICE, 2 hours 45 minutes via RE train
Rostock is a lovely port town on the coast of the Baltic Sea. It’s not a big city, so you can comfortably see everything you want in a single weekend.
I have a full guide to Rostock that you can check out. Make sure to visit St. Mary’s Church, which has a beautiful (and massive!) 15th century astronomical clock inside. It’s also worth tracking down the Old City Gates for some nice photos, going through the Cultural History Museum to learn more about the city, and taking a trip to nearby Warnemünde to see the sea.
Warnemünde doesn’t get its own section in this list of Berlin weekend trips because there’s no direct train you can take to this cozy beachside town. However, it’s worth visiting if you’ve got the time. There’s a pretty beachside promenade, a historic lighthouse, and plenty of white sand for laying out in the sunshine.
Here are all of my suggestions for what to do in Warnemünde.
Dresden
Travel time by train: 2 hours via IC
Dresden is my favorite weekend getaway from Berlin! Dresden’s Old Town is chock full of gorgeous sights, like the Zwinger Palace and the Church of Our Lady.
I toured the Semperoper Opera House last time I was in Dresden, and I plan on attending an opera the next time I’m in the city.
Be sure to cross the Augustus Bridge to see some of Dresden’s Neustadt (New Town). It’s a hipper part of the city with more unique attractions such as the Kunsthofpassage with its five interconnected courtyards filled with cafes and shops.
Weimar
Travel time by train: 2 hours 20 minutes via ICE
Okay, I cheated a bit by including Weimar in this guide because it’s not a direct train ride from Berlin; you have to transfer to a regional (RE) train in Erfurt to get to Weimar, but the journey takes a whopping 12 minutes so I figured you wouldn’t mind!
Weimar is one of the most culturally rich cities in Germany. Johann Wolfgang von Geothe lived here (down the street from Friedrich Schiller, as it happens), and you can now tour Goethe’s house since it’s part of the Goethe Nationalmuseum.
The Bauhaus Museum showcases roughly 500 works from Bauhaus School. It was an interior design school that was founded in Weimar in 1919.
If there’s one place you visit during your weekend in Weimar, make it be the Duchess Anna Amalia Library. It’s a working research library that’s known for its jaw-dropping Rococo Hall.
Schwerin
Travel time by train: 2 hours 40 minutes via RE train
Founded by Henry the Lion (whose tomb can be visited in Braunschweig; also on this list), Schwerin has a beautiful Old Town and Cathedral.
The main attraction, however, is Schwerin Castle. It was built in 1843, so it’s fairly new all things considered. The original castle allegedly has 365 towers and turrets; part of the castle can be visited with an audio guide, and part of it is used only by the parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Here are even more things to do in Schwerin over the weekend.
3 to 4 Hours Away by Train
Nuremberg
Travel time by train: 3 hours via ICE
Site of the Nuremberg Trials following WWII, this historic Bavarian city has a little bit of everything for the weekend visitor. You’ll likely want to spend most of your time in Nuremberg’s Old Town.
The Kaiserburg is Nuremberg’s imperial castle. Generations of Holy Roman Emperors lived in this castle, and the exhibitions inside do a good job of explaining the history of both the castle and the city.
Albrecht Dürer’s House is another must-see. He was one of the best-known Renaissance painters in Europe, and he lived in a half-timbered house near the castle.
If you’re visiting in December, you must spend a full day at Nuremberg’s Christmas Markets. They’re some of the best and most famous in Germany, and the quality of goods for sale is unreal.
Wismar
Travel time by train: 3 hours 15 minutes via RE train
You really only need one dull day to see the top attractions in Wismar. It’s yet another small town on the coast of the Baltic Sea that’s rich with history and incredibly photogenic.
There are a few key churches you’ll want to visit in Wismar; the Church of the Holy Spirit was my favorite, with its painted wooden ceilings. The Old Harbor has retained its same design since the 1200s and is a good spot to grab fish sandwiches for lunch.
Wismar is also the home of Karstadt, a popular German department store chain.
Munich
Travel time by train: 4 hours via ICE
Most of the weekend destinations in this guide can be reached first thing on Saturday, but I recommend traveling to Munich on Friday night if at all possible. It’s a big city with lots to see and do!
If you’re traveling to Munich for the first time, you’ll likely spend most of your time in the Old Town. Highlights of Munich’s Old Town include the Marienplatz (ascend the clock tower of the New Town Hall for a view of Munich from above), the Church of Our Lady (you can see the devil’s footprint in the entryway!), and the Munich Residence which includes more than 100 rooms in the self-guided tour.
To maximize your time in Bavaria’s capital city, I suggest using my 3-Day Munich Itinerary as a jumping off point.
4+ Hours Away by Train
Prague (Czech Republic)
Travel time by train: 4 hour 8 minutes via EC
If you’re desperate for a weekend getaway not just from Berlin, but from Germany as well, hop on a direct train to Prague!
While in Prague, you have to see the Old Town Square, the medieval astronomical clock (attached to the Old City Hall), and cross the Charles Bridge at sunset for a spectacular view of the river you’ll never forget.
A visit to Prague Castle is a must, too! You can tour the castle on your own or sign up for a guided tour.
Cologne
Travel time by train: 4 hour 15 minutes via EC
Cologne isn’t the prettiest city in Germany, but it’s got arguably the nicest people living in it! Whether you’re visiting for Karneval or are traveling across the country just because you can, Cologne won’t disappoint.
The Cologne Cathedral is mere steps away from the central train station and is truly one of the most spectacular sights in all of Germany.
The Wallraf-Richartz-Museum is a wonderful art museum with pieces from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. I enjoyed grabbing a quick lunch to-go and eating it along the Rhine Promenade. The entire Old Town is a feast for the eyes and has lots of nice restaurants and cafes.
Cologne is also known for its unique beer, called Kölsch. Be sure to order a glass when you’re at dinner, or go on a guided brewery tour to taste the local beer!
There are plenty of things to do in Cologne and the surrounding area to fill an entire weekend — and then some!
Frankfurt am Main
Travel time by train: 4 hour 15 minutes via EC
As Germany’s financial capital, Frankfurt has a lot to offer to weekend visitors! Climb the bell tower of the Cathedral to see Frankfurt from up high, and take plenty of photos in the Old Town (it’s small, but before WWII it was one of the largest in the country).
Additional Weekend Getaways (No Direct Connections)
Below are some more ideas for weekend trips from Berlin. Alas, these didn’t make the cut because there are no direct trains from Berlin to these destinations.
However, I’ve visited the following cities and can confirm they’re easy to reach — even if they do require a transfer. Click the links below to be directed to my guides on each city.
- Bremen — 3 hours via ICE (1 change in either Hamburg or Hannover)
- Lübeck — 2 hours 45 minutes via ICE (1 change in Hamburg to an RE train)
- Regensburg — 4 hour 15 minutes via ICE (1 change in Nuremberg)
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use your 49 Euro Deutschland Ticket for any train journeys along regional (RB) or regional express (RE) routes. From this guide, that includes: Rostock / Warnemünde, Schwerin, and Wismar.
You’ll want to book train tickets either directly through the Deutsche Bahn website or through a site like Omio. If you’re traveling via regional train and have a Deutschland Ticket, you don’t need to book separate train tickets.
If I had to pick the best of the best from this list, I’d recommend Leipzig, Dresden, Nuremberg, Munich, or Hamburg. They’re some of my all-time favorite destinations that I return to again and again.
Looking Forward to Your Weekend Away?
You work so hard — treat yourself to a weekend outside of Berlin! Like I said, you can reach all of these destinations with the somewhat-trusty Deutsche Bahn. Who needs a rental car anyways?
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