Müggelsee: Berlin's Largest Lake

Müggelsee, also known as Großer Müggelsee, is a sprawling natural lake on Berlin's eastern edge, gracing the Treptow-Köpenick district. Spanning over 7.4 square kilometers, with a length of 4.3 kilometers and a width of 2.6 kilometers, it is the largest of Berlin's lakes. The lake is divided into the Greater and Smaller Müggelsee. For centuries, Müggelsee has been a favored recreational spot. What the Wannsee is to West Berliners, the Müggelsee is to East Berliners. Today, visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, hiking, cycling, and various water sports. Three official bathing areas dot the shoreline: the Friedrichshagen lake resort, the undergoing-renovation Müggelsee lido, and the bathing beach at the Small Müggelsee. Numerous boat rental stations offer diverse watercraft, from motorboats to canoes. Sailing and surfing are permitted, and motorboats can operate within marked fairways. The lake's southern shore is ideal for hiking, with trails along the shoreline and through the forested Müggelberge hills. The Müggelturm lookout tower, atop the highest natural hill in Berlin, provides panoramic views. Boat tours offer stunning perspectives of the lake and its surroundings. A ferry service, covered by a public transport day-pass, connects the northern and southern shores. The area also features restaurants, cafes, and the historic Friedrichshagen waterworks museum.