The Grunewald is the big forest of western Berlin, about 3,000 hectares of pine, birch and oak between Charlottenburg, Wannsee and the Havel. You can walk, run and cycle here all year round, half an hour by U-Bahn or S-Bahn from the centre. The best-known walks go around the Schlachtensee and the Krumme Lanke, two lakes where people swim in summer, or climb to the Grunewaldturm, a 55-metre brick tower on the Havel. Access to the forest is free and open; only the climb up the tower and museum visits are paid. Near Grunewald station, the Gleis 17 memorial is worth a detour: see our guide.
Highlights
The Schlachtensee loop
A shaded path goes around the lake, an easy loop of about 5 km that takes one to one and a half hours. It continues to the Krumme Lanke, a smaller lake, which makes the walk about 10 km (2.5 to 3 hours). Equipped beaches and swimming areas line the route in summer; in winter the lakes can freeze, but never walk on the ice unless officially marked as safe.
The Grunewaldturm
Built between 1897 and 1899 for the centenary of Wilhelm I, this neo-Gothic brick tower, designed by Franz Schwechten, is 55 metres tall. You climb 204 steps to a platform at 36 metres, where the view takes in the forest, the Havel and the Wannsee. In the hall, a neo-Byzantine mosaic decorates the ceiling and a statue of the emperor stands; a restaurant and a beer garden are at the foot of the tower.
The Teufelssee and the Teufelsberg
The Teufelssee, a small lake in the heart of the forest, is a popular swimming spot; the neighbouring hill of Teufelsberg and its abandoned listening station can be reached on foot in about twenty minutes from the lake.
The banks of the Havel
The Havelchaussee runs along the east bank of the Havel, with beaches and views over the water. The Havelhöhenweg, a ridge path, crosses the forest from north to south, and a ferry links the shore to Lindwerder island.
The Jagdschloss Grunewald
This Renaissance hunting lodge on the Grunewaldsee is one of the oldest surviving palaces in Berlin; it houses a small museum. Hours and prices vary by season: check before you go.
Practical info
Tips
Berlin's forests are free and unfenced, but expect shade and mosquitoes in summer, and paths that can be muddy after rain. Bring water: shops are rare in the middle of the forest. Dogs: large off-leash areas exist in the Grunewald, including a dogs' beach on the Grunewaldsee; elsewhere a lead is compulsory, and you may meet wild boar, especially at dawn and dusk: do not feed them. Entry to the tower and the Jagdschloss is paid, a few euros according to the sources consulted in October 2026: check the prices before you come.
How to get there
Schlachtensee: S-Bahn S1 (Schlachtensee or Nikolassee station); Krumme Lanke: U-Bahn U3 (terminus Krumme Lanke). Nikolassee is also served by the S7, and Grunewald station (S7) leads towards the Teufelssee and the Teufelsberg. The Grunewaldturm is at Havelchaussee 61, 14193 Berlin; bus line 218 serves the Havelchaussee (check the stop on bvg.de). The whole network is in zone AB. For more lakes and beaches, see our guide to the lakes around Berlin and the page on the Wannsee beach.
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