The best of Berlin's great outdoors

In winter, Berlin can seem like a cold concrete jungle. But with the first rays of sunshine, Berliners flock outside to occupy every scrap of green they can find - like the bank of the Landwehr Canal, which runs parallel to Berlin's Spree River. It's the perfect spot to sip a beer, play guitar and watch the swans glide by.

Berlin doesn't just have three rivers and eight canals, but also more than 50 lakes that invite a lazy day in nature and a refreshing dip. You'll find lakes in every direction, from the famous Wannsee in the south to Müggelsee's great expanse in the east. And if diving straight in isn't your bag, you can explore the waterways by sailboat, surfboard or canoe.

If you want an outdoor swim but don't fancy the journey out to one of Berlin's lakes, then Badeschiff, literally bathing ship, is the place to take a dip in the center of town. You can curl up with a good book in a hammock or dive right into the pool, which floats atop the River Spree. Be warned:on weekends, Badeschiff draws crowds of hipsters sipping gin-and-tonics to electronic beats.

If you need a break from Berlin's city buzz, head to Grunewald. The forest on Berlin's western edge covers 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres), making it the city's largest green area. If you're lucky, you might spot a deer or wild boar. Or check out the derelict former surveillance center on Teufelsberg, which was used by the Americans and Brits to spy on the GDR and Russia during the Cold War.

What used to be a Nazi airport is now a huge recreational area in the middle of the city. Berliners come to the former runways to skate, fly their kites, walk their dogs, practice riding Segways, and barbecue with friends. While you're here, you can also give back to the community by pitching in with urban gardening or volunteering at the refugee center inside the former airport building.

Pfaueninsel - or Peacock Island - in southwestern Berlin is a nature reserve where the eponymous birds add exotic color to a picturesque landscape rich with native flora. It once belonged to Prussian king Frederick William II, who built a castle here for his mistress Wilhelmine Enke. Today, the island is part of the Palaces of Potsdam, and a Berlin UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Berlin is its own state, but it's surrounded by another state: Brandenburg, famous for its pristine landscapes. The best way to explore Brandenburg's lakes, rivers and forests is by bike. Nothing clears the head faster than sweeping down avenues flanked by massive trees and sunflower fields with the wind in your hair.

Spreewald, less than an hour's train ride from Berlin, is a picturesque network of more than 200 small canals that are best explored by kayak. The landscape is breathtaking - it was shaped during the ice age and designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. Pull your boat up at piers along the waterways to buy honey and the famous Spreewald gherkins, or small cucumbers, from friendly locals.

Potsdam, Brandenburg's capital, is a 30-minute trip from Berlin, and well worth a visit for the luscious gardens at Sanssouci, whose name means "carefree." The Rococo palace was Frederick the Great's summer residence and is hailed as Germany's answer to Versailles. Its extensive grounds are littered with sculptures and follies that will whisk you a world a way from you worries.

If you want to get right out of the city - and perhaps out of the country - take a day trip to Frankfurt Oder. The city sits on the Oder River that separates Germany and Poland. Just wander across the bridge to enjoy a cold Polish beer in the country it was made. Back in Germany, you can chill out at one of the many lakes surrounding Frankfurt Oder - like the famous Helenesee.