Werder (Havel), a fishermen's island in the Havel, among orchards and vineyards.

Werder is a small town on the banks of the Havel, just past Potsdam, whose old town occupies an island in the middle of the river. For centuries it lived off fishing, fruit and wine, and even today it calls itself the city of flowers because of the orchards around it. For a traveller flying into Berlin it is a short, easy day trip: half an hour on the RE1 regional, a walk around the island, water everywhere and good food.

What to see in a day

The island walk. The Inselstadt, the island town, is the oldest part: lanes of low fishermen's houses, the brick Church of the Holy Spirit beside the water, the bridge with its view of the river and, at the top, the wooden windmill rebuilt in 1987. Information posts with QR codes tell the history along the way.

The gondola on the Havel. A genuine Venetian gondola, with a gondolier, for two to four people, which leaves at the foot of the windmill and circles the island. An hour costs €129 for the whole boat.

The Zernsee thermal spa. The Havel-Therme is a saltwater spa with Andalusian inspiration on the shore of the Großer Zernsee, with indoor and outdoor pools, thirteen saunas and a separate family pool.

The Wachtelberg. Werder has had vineyards for centuries. On the Wachtelberg, the Lindicke winery opens its seasonal tavern with a view over the Havel, from Easter to mid-October.

Petzow and the Glindow Alps. To the south, on Lake Schwielowsee, the village of Petzow has a palace and a Lenné park, and from there the Glindower Alpen route sets off, 7 km of wooded hills above the old clay pits.

How do you get there from Berlin?

By train, the RE1 regional goes from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Werder (Havel) in about 30 minutes, via Potsdam. From the station to the island it is about a 20-minute walk.

By car, about 45 km along the A115 and the A10, around 45 minutes. For Petzow, the Wachtelberg or the Zum Rittmeister hotel, in Kemnitz, a car or bike helps.

How much time do I need?

Half a day is enough for the island and the gondola; a full day if you add the spa or Petzow. Werder combines well with Potsdam: they are on the same train, ten minutes apart.

Where to eat and sleep

The Alte Überfahrt, opposite the landing stage, has a Michelin star for cooking based on vegetables from the Petzow palace garden; it opens at weekends at midday and Tuesday to Sunday in the evening. In Kemnitz, beside Lake Plessow, Zum Rittmeister cooks German food and brews its own beer, open every day. To sleep, the Hotel zur Insel, on the island square, or the Rittmeister hotel, with its own beach on the lake.

When to go

From April to October: orchards in blossom in spring, fruit in summer, grape harvest in September, when the Wachtelberg winery serves fermented must and onion tart. The spa is open every day, until midnight, so Werder is also a winter plan.