Wandlitz was first mentioned as Slavic Vandlice in a 1242 deed, when the Margraves of Brandenburg John I and Otto III sold it to the Lehnin Abbey.

Situated on the Barnim plateau among woods and lakes it became a popular recreation area especially in the 20th century.

The name Wandlitz was and is also often used as a synonym for the nearby "Waldsiedlung" compound, where the highest East German functionaries lived removed from the general population.

The orphanage, run by nuns, later became a holiday spot for visiting high-ranking Communist party members.

The NEB Heidekrautbahn links Wandlitz with the Berlin-Karow railway station on the Berlin S2 S-Bahn line.