Spandau between the Old Town and the Havel

Spandau invites you to experience the historic Old Town and its waterways as different sides of a stay in Berlin. The history of the Old Town dates back to the 13th century; cycle routes and waterways offer further ways to explore the district. You can weigh up culture, exercise and time by the water as different priorities for your trip.

Spandau Old Town: history and Gothic architecture

Behnitz, also known as Kolk, is the oldest settlement area within Spandau’s Old Town. St. Nicholas’ Church stands at the heart of the Old Town: an impressive Gothic building and the district’s only medieval church. Its long history and distinctive architecture give the Old Town a tangible historical and architectural character. If you are interested in medieval buildings, you can make the church a prominent stop as you explore the Old Town.

Getting around on foot: a walk and an audio tour

For a walk through historic Spandau, you can choose a route of about four kilometres that begins at Spandau station. The station is accessible by both S-Bahn and U-Bahn; check your connection before you travel. A shorter route with a stated duration is offered by the free, accessible audio tour: it is about 2.8 kilometres long and takes approximately one hour. It starts at the Tourist Information Centre in the Gothic House. From there, it leads past the Town Hall and along the water to the Citadel. The tour also includes audio descriptions, easy-to-understand language and sign-language videos. The different route lengths and formats can help you plan the day together and choose a suitable focus.

Culture at the Citadel

Spandau Citadel is a venue for cultural events, including concerts, knightly combat performances and other events. This adds an events programme to the historic sights of the Old Town. If you would like to include a specific event in your travel plans, check the dates before your visit.

The Havel Cycle Route and waterways

You can also cross Spandau from north to south by bike: around 20 kilometres of the 371-kilometre Havel Cycle Route run through the district. The cycle route follows the Havel throughout. The local section therefore offers a clear guide for anyone who would like to include a longer cycling route in their plans. Check for any current detours before setting off.

Numerous routes through Spandau’s waterways offer another perspective: you can explore the district on the water or start a multi-day trip by boat. If you are looking for a specific option, check in advance for current operators and availability. This makes it possible to consider cycling and waterways as different options alongside the historic sights of the Old Town.

More ways to experience Berlin

If you are planning your stay beyond Spandau, Berlin offers other destinations with a different character. Tiergarten is Berlin’s largest and most visited inner-city park, where you can go for a walk, enjoy outdoor activities or have a picnic. Tempelhofer Feld is a large public park where people picnic, sunbathe and play sports. These park landscapes offer a different focus from Spandau’s Old Town, audio tour and waterside routes. As you plan, you can consider whether you would prefer to combine historic sights, exercise in green spaces or a trip on the water.

You can also choose your accommodation to suit your interests: consider which experiences you want to shape your stay, then look for places to stay in Berlin that match.

Discover more destinations

Berlin-Neukölln, Kreuzberg, Buckow, Karow, Weißensee, Bohnsdorf, Altglienicke, Mahlsdorf

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