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What are the best things to do in Berlin in the summer? We have written this guide to help you enjoy one of the best sides of this city. The days can be very long if you are here during this period of the year. Why? Because of its northern location, the hours of light during the nice seasons are many more in Berlin than in much of Europe.
Where do young people and residents of the German capital hang out during summer? Berlin is famous for its open spaces and large parks that extend into every district of the city. There are colorful outdoor bars, packed bridges along artificial canals, and hidden beaches on the River Spree. In this article, we show you all the most beautiful places populated by people from Berlin and every country.
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All the best things to do in Berlin during summer
The largest and most majestic – The Tiergarten
The Tiergarten stretches over 5.17 km². It is right in the middle of the city and is perfect if you are looking for a break from the pace of the capital. It’s named like this because the Kaisers loved to come here to hunt for wild animals (Tiergarten means Animal Garden). Over the centuries this reserve has been incorporated into inhabited areas. In the Tiergarten, you will find small forests, meadows, squirrels, and birds of all kinds. You can admire the Soviet Memorial, the Steppengarten, the Rosengarten (Rose Garden), the Victory Column in the middle, and the famous Zoo. Remember to also taste a beer in a typical outdoor Biergarten. The Café am Neuen See is located in the shade of large trees on the banks of small lakes.
Just in front of the Museum Island – James Simon Park & Monbijou Park
As soon as you get here, you’ll realize why this place is so popular. The view of the museum island is truly exceptional. You can admire on the other side of the river Spree, all the most famous neoclassical buildings in Berlin, surmounted by the dome of the Cathedral. Get a drink from a spätkauf (late shop). You can enjoy it lying on the grass as thousands of tourists and Berliners do every day. If you walk to the end of Monbijou Park, on the river bank, you can have a drink at the bar in front of the Märchenhütte theatre. Here you will find many people that often stop for a dance. Due to their central location and outstanding view, going to these parks is definitely one of the best things to do in Berlin during summer.
In the heart of Kreuzberg – Schlesisches Tor area
This is one of the favorite meeting places for residents of Berlin, between the river Spree and Gorlizer Park. Around this busy crossing, you will find many bars and restaurants and a young and creative atmosphere. Among others, we recommend Banja Luka and Wendel for a beer or a drink. If you want to eat something quick, try the famous Burgermeister, made in a former public toilet. Alternatively, you can go to Gude Falafel or taste real Italian ice cream at Duo – Sicilian Ice Cream. Walk along Schlesisches Strasse to reach the island of clubs and outdoor bars (read the next paragraph for more information).
Berlin canals – A walk between Admiralbrücke and Schlesisches Strasse
The most lively part of Berlin’s canals starts at Böckler Park and ends at the crossroads with Schlesisches Strasse, just where the Landwehrkanal flows into the river Spree. Head from the park to Admiralbrücke. Here you can stop for a pizza at Il Casolare, a popular and informal pizzeria. Continue further and enjoy the relaxed area until the canal divides. Continue on the left canal before entering the green area that spreads alongside Gorlitzer Park. At the end of your walk, you will reach an island famous for its clubs. Here you can’t miss having a beer in the open air at the characteristic Birgit & Bier and Club Der Visionaire (in the evening you can dance here). Nearby go to Slesiches Bush Park, always crowded with young people, especially at weekends. Don’t miss also Badeschiff, a small but charming outdoor pool on the edge of the river Spree.
In the shade of the wall – The sun on the banks of the river Spree
On the other side of the iconic Oberbaumbrücke from Schlesisches Tor, you can keep company with many young people sitting on the lawn behind the East Side Gallery. This is the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall. Get a drink in advance and enjoy the atmosphere, often accompanied by music and laughter. Just watch out for the pickpockets, which often pass themselves off as tourists looking for information. To eat one of the best Falafel in town, head to Nano Falafel. This small eatery is located at the crossroads of Warschauer Strasse, famous for its hectic nightlife.
Open-air Karaoke and Flea market – Mauer Park
Anyone living in Berlin knows the karaoke of Mauer Park well, simply because it is something unique. We could not miss it in our guide to the best places to go out in Berlin in spring and summer. It is held every Sunday afternoon during the good seasons (starting around 3 pm) in a small theatre made of stone seats, on a hill in Mauer Park. Here you are in the lively area of Prenzlauer Berg, a neighborhood full of bars and boutiques of all kinds. Therefore go on Sunday afternoons, perhaps at lunchtime, to try the food at the flea market. Here you will really find all kinds of vintage and antiques.
The small sea of Berlin – Wannsee
When we talk about the best things to do in summer in Berlin we can’t miss its largest lake. It is located on the outskirts of the city, and it is the city’s small sea. Wannsee is the favorite place of the Berliners and from Alexanderplatz, it takes only about 50 minutes to sunbathe on a real beach. The Strandbad Wannsee is the largest sandy beach on the shores of a lake in Europe. The sand has been transported directly from the North Sea, to recreate a marine environment. Every day the beach is crowded with hundreds of people and if you don’t want to get dirty, you can always choose to lie down on one of the meadows overlooking the lake.
Picnic in the middle of an airport – Tempelhof
Have you ever had a picnic or barbecue in the middle of an airport? In Berlin, you can, right to the city center. Tempelhof was an airport open to passenger traffic until 2008. That’s why the complex has remained perfectly intact, with buildings from the Nazi era still in use and the possibility of walking along the runway or cooking in the designated areas on either side of the park. If you are a sportsperson you cannot deny yourself doing some land windsurfing or other interesting activities. This is a unique place, simply not to be missed.
On the rooftops of the city – The best bars with panoramic views
If you want to leave the busy streets and go up to the upper floors of Berlin’s youth life, go to one of the bars overlooking the rooftops of the city. Klunkerkranich in the Neukölln area is the most characteristic and from here you can enjoy a view of the entire city skyline. To get there, head to the entrance on the right side of the Arkaden shopping center at Rathaus Neukölln. Then take a lift to level P5. When you’re out, cross the covered car park and you will find the entrance to the top floor on your left. But it’s not just Klunkerkranich. Among the best bars with views, we recommend Monkey Bar, near Zoologischer Garten, Deck5 at Prenzlauer Allee, House of Weekend at Alexanderplatz, and the Wombat’s hostel bar, at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz.
Tip: Teufelsberg is an artificial hill just a few kilometers from the center of Berlin, from which you can enjoy an excellent view of the city. It is marked by many guides as one of the best places to go in spring and summer and is certainly a unique place also for its old American espionage station. However, the station has been permanently closed this year, so we do not recommend that you go here.
Beach volleyball, beer and relaxation – Gleisdreieck
This park, located nearby Potsdamer Platz, was created at the intersection of several railway bridges. Here once stood the famous wall that divided for over 28 years. Today it is a green handkerchief with an international atmosphere, where you can do many sports activities, including beach volleyball in one of the fields located in the south part. Here there is also the Berlin brewhouse BRLO. We recommend having a visit there whether you want to try a classic craft beer or one of the most elaborate (and expensive), offered by this small company that in recent years has become a brand recognized throughout Germany.
The best Berlin clubs to go to during summer with outdoor areas
Berlin never sleeps and if you really want to get to know this city, you can’t help but join one of its techno clubs. Some of them have real parks in their external areas, with abandoned cars and unusual entertainment. This is surely one of the reasons why they are the favorite destination at night (but also during the day!) for the most frequent clubbers. In spring and summer, we recommend Sisyphos (check their official website for the program), Griessmuehle, Mensch Meier, Kater Blau, Salon Zu Wilde Renate and About Blank. Don’t forget also the aforementioned Birgit & Bier and Club Der Visionaire, where the atmosphere is more relaxed.
How to get around in Berlin during the good weather? By bike!
We have revealed to you some of the best things to do in Berlin in summer and to get around we definitely recommend renting a bike. The roads in Berlin are wide and flat and you can almost always drive on a bike path. There are many companies that offer bike-sharing services and among these, we recommend you try the new service offered by Uber, Jump. Why? Other bikes are often uncomfortable (such as Mobike) or too expensive. However, the best choice remains to rent a bike for the entire day. In Berlin, you will find many bike shops that offer great service at affordable rates. What is the right price for renting a bike for a day? Between 10 and 12 euros.
