By Michael Blakley
Eastern Spree River
Like a little sweat with your sightseeing? We do too, so we put together a list of great bike paths for those of you who like a little cardio when you explore. Berlin’s bicycle friendly streets and flat terrain make it an ideal city for cyclists. Besides, taking a bike will give you a front row seat to the city’s neighborhoods, characters and street art. A view you’d certainly never get from the train or on the bus.
These routes are all easy to navigate and begin at our bicycle rental shop near Zoologischer Banhof. Once there you can rent either our classic cruiser bicycles or one our new trekking bikes. We also have helmets and panniers available so you can ride around both safely and comfortably. Periodically we’ll post maps, distances and suggest a few stops along some of Berlin’s most popular bike routes.
Eastern Spree
Type: Out and Back
Distance: 27 kilometers/17 miles
Highlights: Karl Marx Alle, East Side Gallery, Oberbaum Brucke, Spreewald, Kopenick Schlossplatz and Müggelsee.
Level: easy
Highlights
Take advantage of the wide boulevard, Karl Marx Alle designed by the East Germans to rival the Champs Elysees in Paris as you work your way east. Turn toward the river Spree and take in the murals painted along one of the few remnants of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery.
From here you can cross the river at the beautiful Oberbaum Brucke and ride riverside down to an abandonded amusement park left over from the GDR.
Finally park your bike and stroll through the Prussian architecture at the Schlossplatz in Kopenick. Drop by city hall to hear the bizarre story of the clever conman known as the Captain of Kopenick, and take a selfie next to his statue. If weather is on your side just a little more pedalling will get you to the impressive Müggelsee waterfront where you can relax in the sun or go for a swim. An easy return can be made by jumping on the train nearby
Finally you can cruise back through the Tiergarden on your way back and even enjoy a drink at nearby Schluezenkrug before dropping off your bikes.
Directions:
- Begin by exiting left from the Fat Tire shop and enter the Tiergarten.
- At the edge of the park follow the trail on the right that runs parallel to the street.
- Exit the park and continue along Unter den Linden
- Make a right onto Karl Marx Allee
- Turn left at Straße der Pariser Kommune
- Turn left at Mühlenstraße
- Go right and cross the Oberbaum bridge
- Turn left onto Schlesische Straße
- Turn left onto Am Flutgrater and follow the trail alongside the river through Treptow Park and arpund Spreewald.
- Exit the park and turn right onto Baumschulenstraße
- Left on Köpenicker Landstraße
- Make a soft left onto Schnellerstrße
- To continue to Müggelsee make a soft left onto Pablo Neruda Straße
- Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zcGXIVSZnMak.kkiOsv08TXns
