Spandau between the Old Town, the Havel and the Citadel

Discover Spandau: Old Town, Water and Citadel

Spandau combines a rich urban history with various ways to experience the district on foot, by bike or on the water. In the Old Town, its historical origins date back to the 13th century. Those planning a trip combining culture, activity and varied ideas for day trips will find several clearly distinct starting points here for planning their own itinerary.

One defining building in the Old Town is St. Nicholas Church. It is an impressive Gothic building in the heart of Spandau’s Old Town and the district’s only medieval church. Behnitz, also known as Kolk, is likewise part of the history of old Spandau and is the oldest settlement area within Spandau’s Old Town. These two historical references give a tour of the district different focal points: in one case, medieval church architecture takes center stage; in the other, the development of the oldest settlement area.

Exploring old Spandau on foot

The walk through old Spandau is approximately four kilometers long and begins at Spandau railway station. The station can be reached by both S-Bahn and U-Bahn. This makes the route a practical point of reference for anyone who would like to begin their visit with a guided itinerary. You should take the distance into account when planning your day, especially if you want to combine it with additional stops or an event.

Another option is the free, accessible audio tour through Spandau’s Old Town. It is approximately 2.8 kilometers long and takes about an hour. The tour leads from the Tourist Information Office in the Gothic House via the town hall and along the water to the Citadel. In addition to the audio content, audio-described content, easy-language content and sign-language videos are available. For a travel group with different interests, the audio tour can offer a different form of orientation than the longer walk through old Spandau.

Culture at the Citadel

Spandau Citadel serves as a venue for cultural events such as concerts, knights’ tournaments and other events. It thus complements the Old Town’s historical themes with a variety of event formats. Anyone who would like to include culture alongside a tour when planning their trip can make the Citadel a separate focus. The formats mentioned range from music to staged historical themes.

Cycling and Waterways

Spandau also offers a distinctly different perspective for active days. The Havel Cycle Route is 371 kilometers long in total, around 20 kilometers of which run through Spandau. The cycle route crosses the district along its entire north–south extent and consistently follows the Havel. Those who prefer to experience the surroundings on two wheels can use this route as a guide when planning their own trip.

In addition, numerous routes through Spandau’s waterways offer the opportunity to explore the district by water or begin a multi-day journey on the water. This gives trip planning several basic options: historical discoveries in the Old Town, cultural events, a walk, an audio tour, a bike ride or a water route. If members of a travel group have different preferences, the day’s activities can be organized around these various formats.

The Right Accommodation Idea for Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Spandau, you can first consider which of these experiences should be the focus of your trip. For days centered on culture, the Old Town’s historical themes and the Citadel provide useful points of reference. Those who would like to include physical activity can choose between the approximately four-kilometer walk, the approximately 2.8-kilometer audio tour, the Havel Cycle Route and the waterways.

If you would like to compare other destinations, you can find Charlottenburg, Karow, Kreuzberg, Weißensee, Zehlendorf, Kladow, Friedrichshain and Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg here.

For the overarching travel overview: Berlin.