Steglitz Cycle Route
Cycling in the southwest of Berlin
The approximately 16-kilometre route takes you to varied and worthwhile places in the south-west of Berlin. Cycle along the Museum of European Cultures, extraordinary architecture and the Teltow Canal. Cosy restaurants and good shopping opportunities are also offered on this tour. Starting on Schloßstraße, the route takes you towards the canal, along historic sites to Dahlem. You will then return to Steglitz town hall via the Botanical Gardens.
Tip: Combine the Steglitz Route with other tours in southwest Berlin that are also part of the Radrouten Südwest logo, such as the Dahlem Route, the Wansee-Babelsberg Route or the Nikolassee Route. You can also book guided bike tours on all routes.
Steglitz has many facets that are easy to explore on this tour by bike. Discover the various highlights of the tour:
Rathaus Town Hall
The starting point of your bike tour is Steglitz Town Hall. The Steglitz Route first leads along Schloßstraße. When you arrive at Bierpinsel, you can take a look at the exterior façade designed by street artists. Schloßstraße is Berlin's second largest shopping street with numerous department stores, shopping centres, shops, cafés and restaurants. So, if there is something you’ve forgot to bring, you will definitely find it there. From Feuerbachstraße, follow the route to Sedanstraße.
Steglitz City Park
From there, the route takes you to the Steglitz City Park. Along the flowerbeds, avenues and small ponds, you will soon see the fountain of the Stadtpark. The approximately 17-hectare public green and recreation area is under monumental protection.
Path along the banks of the Teltow Canal
Along the main path you go straight on to the path along the banks of the Teltow Canal. The Benjamin Franklin University Hospital can be seen on the right-hand side of the developed path. On the opposite bank, after about 400 metres, is the Lichterfelde combined heat and power plant, which is now completely shut down.
Continuing towards the Wismarer Straße, you will reach the memorial "The Pillar of the Prisoners". The information board tells you about the external camp of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Wismarer Straße. Then, follow the route and turn to the right into Baseler Straße. If you want to cool down, take a detour to the Finkensteinallee swimming pool, which is steeped in history. Back on your route, you will then come to one of Berlin's many villa districts.
Lichterfelde West Villa District
The Lichterfelde villa colony, also known as Carstenn'sche Villenkolonie, is one of the oldest villa districts in Berlin. There, you can admire Lichterfelde West, founded in 1860, with its Tuscan villas, romantic medieval castles, English country houses and lovingly designed gardens. The architectural style of the Lichterfelde West railway station also blends in with the villa-dominated townscape.
Free University and Dahlem Science Campus
After the short detour to Lichterfelde West station, you continue your tour to the area around the Free University of Berlin. Following Fabeckstraße, you will pass the "Holzlaube", which owes its name to the wooden exterior façade.
Not far from the university, you can see a large red sign saying "MEK". The Museum of European Cultures conveys everyday culture and lifestyles in Europe from the 18th century to the present day. It offers permanent and special exhibitions with numerous exhibits, always aiming to overcome national and linguistic borders and promote intercultural encounters.
Dahlem Village
If you continue to follow the route along Franz-Grothe-Weg, you will shortly arrive at the Dahlem-Dorf underground station. There, the route joins the Dahlem Route. A stop at the Domäne Dahlem is definitely worthwhile. The historic manor is now an open-air museum for agricultural and food culture with an ecological focus in southwest Berlin. As the route continues, you will also pass the embassy quarter.
Botanical Garden
The route then takes you directly to the Berlin Botanical Garden. This is one of the largest and most species-rich botanical gardens in the world. In addition to the extensive outdoor area and the 20,000 plant species, there are 15 show greenhouses.
Back in Steglitz, a visit to the Schwartzschen Villa is worthwhile. Over a nice coffee you have a good view of the Steglitz roundabout, which will become Berlin's largest residential building. From Schloßstraße you can easily get back to the bus stops as well as to the S-Bahn and U-Bahn station Rathaus Steglitz.