Q // Once borders open, I’m hoping to visit friends in Berlin. Can you suggest some good day trips to take outside the city?

Given the extensive public transportation network in and around Berlin, it’s easy to escape the capital for a day trip.

With its web of canals and forests, Spreewald is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and oŒers a fairytale-like escape just an hour from Berlin. Take the train to Lübbenau, where you can rent a canoe or kayak, or hop on a guided boat tour, and cruise along the waterways. Spreewald is also famous for its gherkins, which have a protected geographical indication (PGI), so don’t leave without trying one.

History buŒs, meanwhile, should head to Potsdam, the capital of the surrounding state of Brandenburg. In around 30 minutes on public transport, you can tour the grand palaces and beautiful gardens (collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site), including Sanssouci Palace, Germany’s answer to Versailles. Alternatively, the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum tells the story of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, which operated from 1936 to 1945. Free to visit, it’s just 45 minutes away by train.

Berliners love to head to the lakes in good weather and two of the best are found just an hour outside the city limits: Wandlitzer See and Liepnitzsee. The former is the bigger of the two, and the latter is sometimes called ‘the turquoise lake’ for its clear, clean waters that make it a perfect spot for a swim. Take the train north to Wandlitzsee to get to the first lake, and from there it’s a short walk or bike ride to Lipenitzsee.