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Wannsee - Berlin Hotels .com

When Berliners crave some beach-side fun, they flock to Wannsee, an area to the southwest of the city that features two large lakes: the Großer Wannsee (greater Wannsee) and the Kleiner Wannsee (little Wannsee), both of which are fed by the river Havel. The many beaches of this resort area make it one of the most popular recreation sites for Berliners.

The main draw is the Strandbad Wannsee, which is the longest inland beach in Europe. This lido is a favorite for bathing and recreation, and it sports a very popular nudist section as well. Several other beaches dot the large lakes, where you can enjoy strolling ashore, or water sports including rowing and sailing on the lake. For quieter recreation, scenic walking trails offer beautiful views of the lakes. As this is a major vacation spot, plenty of restaurants and street-side cafes are to be found.

And as is the case in much of Germany, the past is never very far away, even in a resort town: A Holocaust memorial museum is housed at the nearby Wannsee Villa, where Nazi leaders gathered to plot the extermination of the Jewish people.