For more than 100 years, the beach at Wannsee has been a haven for Berliners when the sun is beating down. It remains a popular getaway every summer
The beach at Wannsee was officially opened to the public in 1907. Before that, men and women were not allowed to swim together. However, public pressure led politicians to relax the rules, and the Wannsee beach became a popular destination for Berliners looking to take a dip.
However, there were still rules governing what kind of swimwear guests were allowed to wear. It wasn’t until 2023 that equality was established, when the authorities finally allowed women to swim topless.
Besides, not much has changed on the beach at Wannsee.
Top photo: Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-10049 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo at the bottom by Chrissie Sternschnuppe@flickr. CC BY-SA.
The beach is part of Berliner Bäder, Berlin’s public swimming facilities. There is also a small entrance fee to get in. Another restriction is the requirement to show photo ID and have your bag searched at the entrance. This measure has been implemented to prevent violence and assaults on the beach.
Once you’re finally inside, though, it doesn’t feel like Berlin at all anymore. It’s almost like being on a beach by the Mediterranean.
There are beach chairs for rent along much of the beach. There’s also a kiosk where you can buy ice cream, soda, and snacks to take down to the sand and enjoy in the sun.
Photo by Chrissie Sternschnuppe@flickr. CC BY-SA.
The sand is clean, but it can feel scorching on hot days. So be sure to bring your beach shoes. Fortunately, you can also find a spot in the shade under the trees at the southern end of the beach, and you can cool off in the water.
The sand is clean, but it can feel scorching on hot days. So be sure to bring your beach shoes. Fortunately, you can also find a spot in the shade under the trees at the southern end of the beach, and you can cool off in the water.
Of course, there are also lifeguards.
In front of the beach area, you can also sunbathe on the grass. Or play a game of giant chess.
Photo by Chrissie Sternschnuppe@flickr. CC BY-SA.
The beach also has something to offer history buffs. Right across the way is the house where the Wannsee Conference took place.
Read more about the House of the Wannsee Conference
It’s best to buy a ticket to the beach at Wannsee online. There, you can also find various types of family tickets and other discounts.
Location:
Wannseebadweg 25
14129 Berlin
Familie friendly: Yes
Price: Reasonable
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