At the northwestern edge of Berlin, where the city gives way to forest and water, Konradshöhe is a quiet residential area in the district of Reinickendorf, on a gentle rise above the Havel river and the Tegeler See. It feels more like a village than part of a capital: tree-lined streets of villas and small houses, sailing clubs and boathouses along the water, and the Tegeler Forst, a large forest of pine and oak, on its doorstep.
The Tegeler See is the loveliest of Berlin's big lakes, with wooded islands and sailing boats, and a promenade along the shore in Tegel. Nearby, Schloss Tegel was the home of the Humboldt brothers, Wilhelm and Alexander, the scholar and the explorer, and the family still owns the house and park. The Havel flows south toward Spandau, with its citadel, one of the best-preserved Renaissance fortresses in Europe.
Riding into Konradshöhe is easy and green. The roads from the north pass through forests and fields in Brandenburg, then enter the city through Heiligensee or Hennigsdorf, with the Havel and lakes alongside. The roads are generally good, though some streets have cobbles. Traffic is light compared to the city centre, but you will meet cyclists, buses and the occasional tractor near the edge of town. The ferry across the Havel from Konradshöhe to Spandau is a pleasant way to cross by foot or bicycle.
Fuel, supermarkets and cafes are close by in Tegel and Heiligensee. There are beer gardens and restaurants along the water, perfect for a drink in the evening sun after a long day on the Scharmützelsee loop. The lakeside paths are great for an evening walk, with views of the sunset over the water.
You come back to Berlin from the Scharmützelsee, a long lake in the Brandenburg woods southeast of the city, known as the Märkisches Meer, the sea of the Mark, and the contrast between that open water and this sheltered corner of the Havel is pleasing. Both are reminders of how much water and forest surround Berlin, and how quickly you can leave the city behind.