A colorful sea of leaves — discover Berlin's beautiful fall on the S-Bahn

Do not worry, you read that right: This tour does not lead you to Krummen Lanke in Grunewald, but to Krummen Lake in Grünau. Parallel to the Dahme and Regattastrecke the Krumme Lake meanders, here as sluggish river, through a virgin mixed forest. In late summer the mosquitoes are dancing here in the sunlight, but in the autumn a special peace returns. The leafless trees and the gentle morning mist immerse the landscape in a particularly beautiful atmosphere. Our tour takes you from Grünau S-Bahn station once along Krummen Lake and then on the banks of the Dahme back to the station.The S-Bahn station Grünau, starting point of your hike, is regularly approached by the S-Bahn lines S8, S9, S45, S46 and S85. At the station you cross the busy Adlergestell before entering the Grünauer Forst. The trail meanders through the forest and past the forest cemetery to Krummen Lake. Here you walk along the quiet river and enjoy the autumnal peace. Back then it goes with beautiful views along the riverside along the Dahme. On the other side of the river you can see the Müggelberge and the Müggelturm. After crossing the Krumme Lake on a bridge, you will reach the Ausflugslokal Hanff's Ruh. The Waldgaststätte has been around for over 100 years and a special tradition has been preserved to this day: if you bring your own coffee powder, then your coffee will be cooked - only the hot water will be paid. It's best to ask the landlords about the story behind this tradition. After your break, it's back to S-Bahn station Grünau.

Are you in the mood for a long day hike? Then the Hohe Fläming is the right place. From Bad Belzig you hike through pine and beech forests, along hilly fields and through small, sleepy villages to Wiesenburg. Absolute highlight on this tour: The Hagelberg. With a height of 201 meters, it is the second highest elevation in Brandenburg. At the top there is a beautiful view, a summit cross and even - quite true to style - a summit book.It takes only a good hour to get on the RE3 from Berlin Ostbahnhof or Hauptbahnhof, and you're already in the Hohe Fläming. Just the picturesque old town and the impressive castle in Bad Belzig are worth a visit, but today is hiking on the program. At the castle Eisenhardt you walk out of the city. You follow the art trail through quiet pine forests to Hagelberg. Here it is worth taking a break to enjoy the beautiful view of the hills. Between the fields, you continue to Gutsdorf Schmerwitz. At the pottery café in the small church, you warm yourself up with a bowl of soup or a cup of coffee and cuddle the friendly cafe cat. Freshly rested, you then hike on to Wiesenburg. On your way to the train station you pass the impressive castle garden - a great place even in autumn. From Wiesenburg station, take the RE3 back to Berlin.

In summer, a large number of bathers travel to Bad Saarow to splash and swim in the Scharmützelsee. In autumn, on the other hand, especially the huge forests in the area attract to extensive hikes. On our round trip you will visit three highlights in the woods: in the west you will explore the old clay pits and in the north you will find the largest foundations in Germany as well as a fantastic panoramic view from the lookout tower. The hike continues on narrow hiking trails and wide forest roads through the peaceful mixed forest.The RE1 leaves every 30 minutes from Berlin Central Station, Ostbahnhof or Zoologischer Garten to Fürstenwalde. Here you change to the regional train 35 and about 10 minutes later you reach the train station Bad Saarow. Here you walk along the beautiful lakeside promenade and follow the hiking trail into the forest. After a short walk through the clay pits. The path then meanders through the hilly forest towards the north to the Margrave stones. The two huge boulders bear the names Großer and Kleiner Markgrafenstein. Interestingly, today is the Small Markgrafenstein the larger of the two boulders. In the middle of the 19th century, more than half of the larger boulder was blown up, transported to Berlin, where it made a huge granite shell. You can still admire these today, because it is in the Lustgarten in front of the Berlin Cathedral. Only a few meters from the boulders is the lookout tower. It goes up 45 meters over many steps and at the top, high above the trees, you have a fantastic view. Through the forest it goes back to Bad Saarow. If you feel like it, treat yourself to a slice of cake in one of the cafés before returning home with the RB35 and the RE1.

Around Berlin, wide forest areas join, but in the south are wide, open meadow landscapes. Especially on the wall path between Lichtenrade and Lichterfelde you can enjoy the wide view over pastures and fields. If the sun is low here in autumn and the morning mist is hovering over the fields, then this is the best time for a hike.Let's start at the S-Bahn station Lichtenrade, which you can reach every 10 minutes on the S-Bahn line S2. From the train station you follow Prinzessinenstraße and after a few minutes you are standing at the border between Berlin and Brandenburg. Where once the death strip of the Berlin Wall ran, grow today along a hiking and biking trail young pines and birches. You follow the path directly along the edge along fields. Apart from a few cyclists and a few hikers, hardly anyone else will meet you here in autumn - a perfect place for a quiet walk. You follow the Mauerweg, cross the Marienfelder Allee and finally reach the S-Bahn station Lichterfelde Süd. From here, take the S-Bahn lines S25 and S26 back home.

While the shores of Lake Schlachtensee are visited by many bathers on hot summer days, you can enjoy the water and the silent forest all by yourself here in autumn. The lake can be completely circumnavigated on comfortable hiking trails. In the restaurant Fischerhütte on the northeastern shore of the Schlachtensee, you can warm up on particularly cool autumn days on your tour. If it's warm enough, take a seat on the terrace. Our tip: the walk is especially nice on an early Saturday morning. Then the city is still sleeping and you can enjoy the morning peace all to yourself.Practically, the S-Bahn line S1 stops every 20 minutes directly on the southern shore of Lake Schlachtensee. At the exit of the station you stand in the Paul-Ernst-Park and have a first view of the lake. Here you turn left and follow the trail always along the wooded shore. At the bathing areas, the trees give you a glimpse of a beautiful autumn panorama: around the lake, the leaves of the oaks, beech trees and birches change color. After a leisurely break in the fisherman's hut on the shore back to the S-Bahn station Schlachtensee.

Between Erkner and Woltersdorf lies the idyllic Flakensee. On its eastern shore rises the Kranichsberg. With a height of 104 meters, it is a pretty impressive increase - at least according to Brandenburg conditions. On the top of the mountain is a wooden observation tower, which offers you a wonderful panorama over the surrounding lakes and forests. The view in autumn is particularly beautiful when the leaves of the surrounding forest areas light up in the most beautiful colors.With the S3 you drive every 20 minutes to the final stop Bahnhof Erkner. From the train station you walk a bit through the city, cross the Löcknitz and then you are already in the middle of nature. This is where the Theodor-Fontane-Weg begins. It leads first to the Löcknitz and then along the Flakensee. You follow the beautiful hiking trail to the Woltersdorfer lock. There, a signposted path branches off in the direction of the lookout tower. It goes a little uphill and then over numerous steps to the observation deck. The effort is worth it: From the top you can enjoy a great view of the landscape. After the visit to the tower, it's back to the lock, where you can also take a break in one of the cafes or restaurants. This is followed by a short dangling through Woltersorf and on the other side of the Flakensee you wander back to S-Bahn Erkner.

In the north of the garden settlement Frohnau is the small Hubertussee. The lake was originally created as a clay pit. Already around 1910 it was flooded and renatured. He was part of the new settlement plan for Frohnauer Forst. Another special feature of the forest dates back to this time: cobblestone streets had already been built before a first house was built. Although the settlement plan was never put into action, the paved roads were preserved. On a leisurely hike to the lake you can discover the old streets.Take the S-Bahn S1 line to S-Bahn station Frohnau every 20 minutes. You walk a bit through the beautifully laid out streets in the direction of the Berlin Wall Trail. On the edge of the S-Bahn tracks the Mauerweg leads for a bit through an open meadow landscape, until it finally kinks before Hohen Neuendorf into the forest. Here you leave the wall path for a few meters and walk on to the cobblestone streets. Only in late autumn, when the ground is completely covered with leaves, the streets disappear until spring. Then it goes back to the Wall. After you have passed an old border watchtower, you will soon reach the Hubertussee. You circle the lake and then follow the trail over a section of the old wall strip back to S-Bahn station Frohnau.

The nature reserve at the Karower ponds is always worth a visit throughout the year. Countless birds live here on the wooded shores of the former peat bogs. In addition to ducks, swans, whales and herons, you can even see cuckoos and marsh harriers here. It will be particularly exciting for birdwatchers in autumn. Then large swarms of migratory birds settle on the ponds. Some of the birds only stay for a short rest, the others overwinter here completely.Your tour to the Karower ponds begins at the S-Bahn station Karow, which is approached every 10 minutes by the S-Bahn line S2. From there it goes through a small family house estate further to the Karower ponds. After you have crossed the Panke, you turn to the right and reach the nature reserve a little later. Give yourself plenty of time for your round and bring you the best binoculars. By the way, you have the best view from one of the four viewpoints. When you have finally completed your tour around the ponds, you will walk back to the Karow S-Bahn station.