Campingplatz Rathenow

Once you’ve ambled around the wildlife havens near this park there’s a handful of handsome cities to see on day trips: start off in Potsdam (an hour and a half drive) for royal attractions including the massive Sanssouci Palace and the pretty Renaissance Orangery Palace with its Italianate garden dotted in fountains. Climb up to the Historic Mill for views then get a glimpse of yet more gardens – English ones this time – around the neoclassical Charlottenhof Palace. After pottering in Potsdam the next urban area to check out is Berlin, an hour and a half from the site by public transport; you could spend days in this excellent city but if you can only spare one make sure to swing by the graffiti murals on the Berlin Wall, the towering Brandenburg Gate and the displays inside the handsome buildings on Museum Island.