5 best Berlin lakes for swimming

There are approximately 43 lakes in Berlin, many of them with gorgeous spots for swimming. Looking to cool down or get your blood pumping in the chilly waters? We give you a rundown of the best Berlin lakes for a dip.

Where to swim in Berlin

Berlin boasts some of the most beautiful lakes for swimming, with lakeside beaches, grassy knolls and rope swings, inviting turquoise waters and lakes so expansive that they seem to have no end. These are our five favourite spots:

1. Schlachtensee

Despite its name, which literally means “Slaughter Lake”, Schlachtensee is among the most beautiful and peaceful of the Berlin lakes, with trees that bend from the bank towards the water. A relaxed walk about the encircling path takes you about an hour. If you’re feeling adventurous, look for one of the three or four rope swings along with a path, or simply find a spot to lay your towel. 

When you’ve soaked up enough sun or are ready to warm up from your cold water swim, head to the Fischerhütte am Schlachtensee restaurant and Biergarten at the most westerly point of the lake.

Schlachtensee is relatively easy to get to from many parts of Berlin. Take the S1 S-Bahn from Friedrichstraße, Brandenburger Tor or Potsdamer Platz, or take the Ring Bahn to join the S1 at Schöneberg. Alight at Mexikoplatz or Schlachtensee, depending on which side of the lake you’d like to be on.

2. Krumme Lanke

Krumme Lanke is just a stone’s throw away from Schlachtensee, but as one of the most popular Berlin lakes, it also deserves a place on this list. The lake, formed during the Vistula ice age, boasts plenty of sandy and grassy spots for laying your towel and taking a dip. If Germany has convinced you of the wonders of nudist bathing, head to the FKK meadow at the southern end of the lake.

If you want to visit the northern end of the lake, take the U3 U-Bahn line and alight at Onkel Tom’s Hütte (15-minute walk), or if you’re going to the southern end, alight at U-Bahn Krumme Lanke (10-minute walk).

People swimming on the beach at Krumme Lanke, Berlin (Image credit: Timmy Shoot / Shutterstock.com)

3. Langer See

Langer See is a long but little-known lake in the southeast of Berlin. The lake is a particularly broad stretch of the Dahme River, is 8,5 metres deep at its deepest point and has three small islands.

On the northern banks, you’ll find a sandy beach, with rental boats, a play area for children, a volleyball court and table tennis tables. On the southern bank is Strandbad Grünau, an outdoor swimming area with a cafe which is open during the summer.

Head further along the lake to find woodlands where you can beat the crowds and bathe more peacefully. However, Langer See is quieter because it is a little harder to get to than other Berlin lakes. Take the S8 or S85 to Grünau, followed by a 25-minute ride on the 68 tram and alight at Schappachstraße.

4. Müggelsee

Covering 7,4 kilometres, Müggelsee is Berlin’s biggest lake. At certain points, the lake is so vast that it will seem more like a small ocean. This means that Müggelsee is great for finding a spot in the surrounding woodlands where you can feel almost completely alone.

There are some downsides to swimming at Müggelsee. First, at certain entry points, the lake is very shallow for a long stretch, meaning you’ll have to leave your things far behind before you’re actually swimming, rather than paddling. Second, the large lake is very popular for sailing, so swimmers should be careful to make themselves visible. Alternatively, you can visit one of the four official swimming spots along the northern shore of the lake, which includes an FKK beach.

Müggelsee is reachable by the S3 train. Alight at Friedrichshagen if you’d like to visit one of the bathing spots on the northern shore. If you’re looking to swim at a quieter spot, consider taking your bike to move faster around the lake and find a secluded area.

Boats on Müggelsee Lake, Berlin (Image credit: Mo Photography Berlin / Shutterstock.com)

5. Liepnitzsee

Liepnitzsee isn’t technically in Berlin, but just beyond the city’s border. But since it is a picture-perfect spot and easily accessible with the S-Bahn, bus and regional train, it had to be added to our list. 

Liepnitzsee is the cleanest of the lakes in Berlin-Brandenburg and is known for its inviting turquoise waters. There is some speculation on this, but the lake is said to go down to 70 metres at its deepest point!

Swim out to the Große Werder island, which lies in the middle of the lake, and explore the woodlands in your swimwear and the warm sunshine. Feeling like lazing around? Take the small ferry and sip a beer at the island’s Klause cafe.

What is your favourite Berlin swimming spot?

There is nothing like a refreshing dip in the lake to make you feel alive! What is your favourite Berlin lake for swimming?