Pfaueninsel

A few minutes by ferry, and Berlin is gone. Peacock Island in the Havel is car-free, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and can only be reached by boat. Peacocks roam freely among 400 ancient oaks, and in their midst stands a white pleasure palace from 1794. For a marriage proposal, this is a rare case of a backdrop you don't have to book.

Peacock Island: The Marriage Proposal Beyond the Ferry

The crossing takes hardly longer than a song, yet it changes everything. Peacock Island in the Havel is car-free, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and can only be reached by a small ferry – which means no one comes here by chance. Those who disembark walk between about 400 ancient oaks towards a white pleasure palace from 1794, and along the paths, a peacock is almost certain to strut by.

For that decisive question, the island offers several stages. The most obvious is the Rose Garden, created by Peter Joseph Lenné in 1821, making it the oldest in the city. The more beautiful one is on the back side of the island, where the paths narrow and the Havel riverbank suddenly appears between the tree trunks. Outdoor photography is allowed without permission, by the way, as long as no one is disturbed.

Why Morning on Peacock Island is the Better Choice

You should forget about a sunset proposal here; the ferry service stops long before then. That sounds like a disadvantage, but it’s not. Those who arrive early have the paths practically to themselves, the light streams low between the trunks, and on the back side of the island, you’ll hardly meet anyone on a weekday. The ferry costs 6 Euros for a round trip. It’s no more effort than that to leave Berlin completely behind for a few hours.