Wannsee

Wannsee is a locality in the Berlin district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, situated along two connected lakes. The Großer Wannsee and Kleiner Wannsee are separated by a bridge and form a landscape with shoreline paths and green spaces.

The area developed into a popular retreat for wealthy Berliners during the late 19th century. In January 1942, senior Nazi officials met at the villa here to coordinate the systematic murder of European Jews.

Max Liebermann's villa preserves the home and garden where the German painter lived and worked beside the water. The residence offers a window into the life of an impressionist artist who spent summers painting lakeside scenes.

S-Bahn lines S1 and S7 connect the locality to central Berlin, supplemented by regional trains and ferry services across the water. Pedestrians and cyclists find paths along the shoreline that are easier to navigate in summer and fair weather.

The Strandbad offers a long sandy shore along the Großer Wannsee, one of the longest inland beaches in Europe. Visitors can swim here in summer and use the lawns that were laid out in the 1920s.

Location: Steglitz-Zehlendorf

Elevation above the sea: 40 m

Shares border with: Nikolassee, Kladow

GPS coordinates: 52.41670,13.15000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:14