Pfaueninsel

Lake, check. Under an hour’s drive from Berlin, check. Free-running PEACOCKS, a super cute ferry ride and a 16th century alchemist’s private island for undisturbed experimentation with coloured glass until he was kicked off it and married a Swedish princess? HELLO!! The Pfaueninsel truly has it all. This tiny island on West Berlin’s Havel is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and makes for a dreamy nature escape from the city for a few hours.

Make your way via public transport (U bahn from Berlin and a bus), or car to the ferry to the Pfaueninsel, which crosses the 30 metres of water to the island every 15 minutes from 10am – 4pm in the winter months.

You can walk around the island in a bit over an hour, but make sure to stop and check out the buildings, lovely bird aviary, and of course the wild peacocks! The island is really peaceful and offers lovely views across lawns, signs explaining its amazing history, and of course glimpses across the beautiful Havel. This is one of my “original Berliner” friends’ favourite places in the city to potter around, snooze in the sun and enjoy a few hours away from it all, and I can see why. ALSO, it’s like THE most romantic place if you’re tryna woo someone, just sayin. Enjoy!