Treptow and Köpenick: the Spree, the forests and the old town in south-east Berlin

Treptow-Köpenick is Berlin's largest borough by area and the least densely populated: 168 km² for about 289,000 residents at the end of 2024. People come for a Berlin of water and forest, far from the museums of the centre: a large Soviet memorial in a park on the Spree, the former GDR amusement park under renovation, a peninsula old town with its Baroque palace, and the Müggelsee, the city's largest lake. This guide covers the two halves of the borough, Treptow in the west and Köpenick in the east, how to link them and a one-day itinerary. The hours and prices quoted were checked in October 2026.

Treptow-Köpenick at a glance

The borough was created in 2001 by merging Treptow and Köpenick, two former East Berlin boroughs. It stretches from the Spree, opposite Kreuzberg, to the forests and lakes on the city's south-east edge. Three areas are worth knowing: Treptow, with Treptower Park and the Plänterwald on the Spree; Köpenick, with its old town and palace; and the lake and forest area around the Müggelsee.

The S-Bahn serves the west well (Treptower Park and Plänterwald stations) and the south-east (the S3 line to Köpenick, Friedrichshagen and Rahnsdorf). Between the two, Spree boats are a pleasant alternative in season. For tickets and zones, see our guide to getting around Berlin.

Place	What to do	Access
Treptower Park	Soviet memorial, riverside walk, boat landing	S-Bahn Treptower Park
Spreepark	Former amusement park: guided tours, reopening announced for spring 2027	S-Bahn Plänterwald
Köpenick old town	Old town, Rathaus, palace and museum	S3 to Köpenick, then tram
Müggelsee	Swimming, walks, forest	S3 to Friedrichshagen or Rahnsdorf

Treptower Park and the Soviet memorial

The Treptower Park is the borough's gateway. This 88-hectare landscaped park on the Spree holds Berlin's largest Soviet memorial, where the statue of the liberating soldier towers over an avenue of sarcophagi. Entry is free every day. The park also offers a riverside promenade, the Archenhold Observatory and the landing from which cruises to the centre and the Müggelsee leave in season.

To the north, the Spree separates the borough from Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, where the Oberbaumbrücke and the East Side Gallery are close by: the open-air gallery and Treptower Park combine easily, on foot along the Spree or by S-Bahn from Warschauer Straße or Ostkreuz.

The Spreepark and the Plänterwald

Aerial view of the Spreepark, with the Ferris wheel in the middle of the forest

South-east of Treptower Park, the Spreepark is the former GDR amusement park, opened in 1969 and closed in 2001. At the end of 2026 it is not yet open to the public: its 45-metre Ferris wheel is due to turn again in spring 2027. Until then you can discover it on a guided tour of the site or by stopping at the Eierhäuschen, a former riverside inn turned art venue and restaurant. The surrounding Plänterwald is a pleasant forest to explore on foot or by bike.

Köpenick old town and palace

Köpenick old town and the tower of its town hall

Köpenick is one of Berlin's oldest districts. Its old town sits on a peninsula between the Dahme and the Spree. Its red-brick Rathaus, completed in 1904, is famous for the "Captain of Köpenick" affair: in 1906 the shoemaker Wilhelm Voigt, disguised as a captain, took the town's cash box there. A bronze statue and an exhibition tell the story.

A few minutes' walk away, Köpenick Palace stands on an island in the Dahme. This Baroque palace houses a branch of the Museum of Decorative Arts devoted to 16th- to 18th-century interiors: €8 full price, free for under-18s, open Thursday to Sunday in winter and Wednesday to Sunday from April to September. The palace park is free to enter.

The Müggelsee and the forests

Aerial view of the Müggelsee, surrounded by forest

East of Köpenick, the Müggelsee is Berlin's largest lake, surrounded by forest. The S3 serves Friedrichshagen and Rahnsdorf on its north shore. People come to walk, rent a boat, swim in summer or eat in a lakeside beer garden. The Strandbad Müggelsee, a lido laid out in 1930 and listed as a historic monument, is one of the lake's best-known swimming spots. Check the access conditions on site before you go.

South of the lake, the Müggelberge are wooded hills with walking trails and viewpoints over the lake. For more swimming ideas, see our guide to lakes around Berlin.

A one-day itinerary

This route is best done between April and September, when boats run and the parks are green.

In the morning, get off at Treptower Park and walk through the Soviet memorial, then along the Spree promenade.
Continue east to the Eierhäuschen and the edge of the Spreepark, on foot or by bike along the bank, or book a guided tour.
Head to Köpenick old town (S-Bahn then tram, or by boat depending on the season) and have lunch by the Dahme.
Visit the palace and its park, then the Rathaus.
Finish at the Müggelsee: S3 to Friedrichshagen, a walk along the water, a swim or a terrace.

Getting there and where to stay

Treptow-Köpenick is a residential borough with few hotels. Most visitors sleep in Friedrichshain or Kreuzberg, a few S-Bahn stops away: our guide to where to stay in Berlin compares the districts. For a walk further north, see our guide to Friedrichshain.

Going further

If nature appeals to you, our guide to Berlin in summer has more ideas for swimming and evenings by the water. To understand the history of the east of the city, read our guide to East Berlin and the GDR.