Zeuthen: Lake, Boat Trips and Höllengrund

In Zeuthen, boat trips on the lakes and a trail through Höllengrund offer different ways to enjoy the outdoors. Lake Zeuthen borders the town, the MS Olympia departs from Rathausplatz, and the Höllengrund hiking trail begins at Zeuthen S-Bahn station. There is also a Chinese garden and a themed playground.

Lake Zeuthen and boat trips aboard the MS Olympia

Lake Zeuthen is a bathing-friendly stretch of the Dahme and borders Zeuthen. It is used, among other things, for water sports, tourism and fishing. The lake is reported to have good water quality; assessments are seasonal. So check the current rating before swimming.

The MS Olympia passenger boat departs regularly from the landing stage at Rathausplatz in Zeuthen for trips across the lake district south of Berlin. The round trips last 1.5 to 5 hours and travel via Schmöckwitzer Werder, Lake Müggelsee or Lake Seddinsee. If you have a particular trip in mind, check the timetable in advance. The different tour durations give you an idea of how much time to set aside for a round trip.

Hiking in Höllengrund

The Höllengrund hiking trail begins at Zeuthen S-Bahn station and leads from Zeuthen via Hankelweg, following in Fontane’s footsteps, into Höllengrund. It is about 8.3 kilometres long and takes approximately 2.5 hours. The distance and duration are estimates to help with planning your time.

A strikingly incised valley channel shapes the landscape in Höllengrund. The Ebbegraben winds through a nature reserve that provides a refuge for rare plants and animals. So the trail leads not just to a named destination, but into a landscape whose terrain and watercourse give Höllengrund its distinctive character.

The time estimates make it easy to compare the hike and the boat trip: the approximately 2.5-hour hike falls within the 1.5-to-5-hour range for the boat trips. So if you are choosing between the two, compare walking and a boat tour rather than assuming one takes substantially less or more time.

Garden design and a themed playground

The Chinese Garden in Zeuthen is a relaxing spot by the lake. There, the symbolism of Chinese garden design is complemented by contemporary elements. This offers a different focus from hiking and boating: the emphasis is on design and the combination of different elements of garden art.

The “Alice in Wonderland” themed playground has various play features inspired by Wonderland. The garden and playground thus offer two clearly distinct themes for a stay in Zeuthen: Chinese garden design and contemporary elements meet a playground theme based on Wonderland.

Dahme-Spreewald as a wider setting

Within the wider travel destination of Dahme-Spreewald, the Dahme Lake District and the Spreewald together form part of the holiday region in the district of Dahme-Spreewald. This wider setting brings together scenic, historical and cultural attractions. Cycling routes are also a feature of the district: more than 1,000 kilometres of well-maintained, fully signposted routes connect landscapes and destinations in the Spreewald and the Dahme Lake District. Check the conditions along your chosen route before setting out on a bike ride.

Discover more destinations: Teupitz, Unterspreewald, Lübben, Krausnick-Groß Wasserburg, Jamlitz, Alt Zauche-Wußwerk, Bestensee, Steinreich

Back to the wider travel overview: Dahme-Spreewald.