Spandau brings together an Old Town with medieval roots, a Gothic church, and routes for exploring on foot, by bike, and on the water. To plan your trip, you can first choose what you want to focus on: an audio tour of about an hour takes you around the Old Town on a clearly defined route; the Havel Cycle Route and routes along the waterways offer other ways to explore. These differences can also help you look for a holiday apartment, as you consider which excursions you want to shape your stay.

Old Town and Medieval History

The historical roots of Spandau’s Old Town date back to the 13th century. Within the Old Town, Behnitz, also known as Kolk, is the oldest settlement area. These details refer to different things: the date concerns the historical roots of the Old Town, while the designation as the oldest settlement area applies to Behnitz, also known as Kolk, within the Old Town.

At the heart of Spandau’s Old Town stands St. Nicholas Church, an impressive Gothic building. It is the district’s only medieval church. Its location in the Old Town center and its Gothic architecture make it a notable point of interest for anyone interested in medieval architecture. Together with the long history of the town center, the church gives the Old Town a clear cultural focus.

Explore Spandau on Foot

A walk through old Spandau is approximately four kilometers long. It starts at Spandau station, which can be reached by both the S-Bahn and the U-Bahn. Check the relevant connections before setting out to make sure the starting point suits your journey.

A shorter alternative is the free, accessible audio tour of Spandau’s Old Town: it is about 2.8 kilometers long and takes approximately one hour. The tour runs from the Tourist Information Office in the Gothic House, past the town hall and along the water, to the citadel. Audio-described content, easy-to-understand language, and sign-language videos are also available. If an approximate duration helps you plan your day, the audio tour offers a concrete timeframe. By comparison, the walk through old Spandau, at about four kilometers, is the longer of the two routes described.

By Bike or on the Water

The Havel Cycle Route offers one way to experience Spandau as part of a longer route: the entire cycle route is 371 kilometers long, around 20 kilometers of which run through Spandau. This section crosses the district from north to south and follows the Havel throughout. You can use these details to choose between exploring the Spandau section and taking in the entire route. Check for current diversions before setting out.

Numerous routes also run through Spandau’s waterways. They offer the opportunity to explore the district on the water or to set off on a multi-day journey. This gives you a choice of different scales: exploring within the district or setting out on a longer trip. Availability and operators may change; check relevant options as you plan your trip.

Cultural Events and Finding Accommodation

The Spandau Citadel serves as a venue for cultural events such as concerts, medieval tournaments, and other events. If you want a particular event to shape your visit, check event details before planning. Cultural events thus add another possible focus to the choice between an Old Town walk, a bike ride, and routes on the water.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Spandau, you can first consider which of these activities you want to shape your stay: the history and architecture of the Old Town, a route on foot, the Havel Cycle Route, or a water route. You can then choose accommodation to suit your own requirements. This keeps your choice of activities separate from your specific choice of accommodation, while letting local attractions help guide your stay.

Discover more destinations: Schmöckwitz, Köpenick, Rudow, Wedding, Berlin, Buckow, Charlottenburg, Marzahn.

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