Berlin in summer can be bustling, but there’s another side to it. These eleven tips will take you to some of Berlin’s favourite spots that haven’t yet been discovered by everyone. You can paddle through an industrial idyll, discover bars by the water, dance in the park or listen to organ music within cool, ancient walls. And you don’t even have to spend ages getting there – many of these hidden gems are right under your nose.
Tip 1: Go canoeing and relax at the Funkhaus on Nalepastraße
The first tip has that ‘lost place’ vibe. Tucked away in Berlin-Oberschöneweide, yet brimming with history and life: the Funkhaus Nalepastraße. Originally built as the GDR’s broadcasting headquarters, the complex impresses with its monumental architectural style. Today, the site attracts visitors with a very special mix of culture, cuisine and industrial charm. Perfect for hot summer days: you have a direct view of the River Spree from here.
At the rear of the site is Backstagetourism. Here you can relax whilst hiring canoes or SUPs, or take part in a guided canoe tour. And after your trip on the water, pop into Pizzaria ZOLA or the Milchbar to refuel. Concerts are held regularly in the impressive halls of the Funkhaus – it’s well worth taking a look at the programme.
Where: Nalepastraße 18, Treptow-Köpenick
Tip 2: Enjoy a refreshing drink on the waterfront at the Estrel Berlin
Also situated right by the water is the Waterfront Bar in the Estrel Sommergarten. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, you can unwind here in a relaxed atmosphere. The Estrel Berlin’s outdoor area is situated right on the Neukölln shipping canal. Surrounded by palm trees, wooden decking and laid-back music, you can round off a summer’s day in comfort. Enjoy freshly mixed cocktails, pizza and sandwiches.
Where: Ziegrastraße 44, Neukölln
Waterfront Estrel BerlinTip 3: A break at Zollhaus Pankow
Where: Berliner Str. 80, Pankow
Bike ride through Pankow
Tip 4: Stay stylish all summer long with vintage sunglasses
The summer sun is beating down in full force and you desperately need a pair of sunglasses – but not just any old pair. You’ll soon find yourself in this situation if you’ve underestimated the Berlin sunshine. Since 2004, Brillovsky has specialised in trading and refurbishing classic vintage sunglasses. What makes it special is that Brillovsky doesn’t have a permanent shop you can just pop into. This specialist retailer has a stall at the flea market and weekly market on Boxhagener Platz, where you can find sunglasses from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Where: Boxhagener Platz, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
When: Saturday 11 am to 4 pm, Sunday 12.30 pm to 6 pm
Tip 5: Experience Bikini Fashion Fusion
Something a bit different: from 1 to 11 July 2026, you can experience inspiring fashion and take part in fashion events at Bikini Berlin’s Bikini Fashion Fusion – Walks, Talks & The View. This new format brings the atmosphere of Berlin Fashion Week straight to you, making it part of your shopping experience. You’re invited to fashion shows, workshops, talks and pop-up spaces featuring independent slow-fashion labels from Bikini Berlin, as well as from across Germany and Europe. What makes it special is that you can buy everything you discover straight away and also chat to the designers in person. Highlight: On 4 July, more than 30 shops, designers and fashion brands will be presenting their latest collections on the large indoor catwalk at Bikini Berlin.
Where: Bikini Berlin, Budapester Straße 38, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Tip 6: Get into the swing of things at the Kolonnaden Bar on Museum Island
In summer, the Kolonnadenhof in front of the Alte Nationalgalerie transforms into a hotspot where you can enjoy the lovely weather right in the heart of Museum Island. At the Summer Festival by Vagabund 2026 , running until 30 August, numerous artists invite you to a fantastic cultural programme on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 pm to 10 pm, and Fridays to Sundays from 12 noon to 10 pm. Of course, there’ll be plenty of chilled drinks and DJ sets to get you moving.
Where: Kolonnadenhof in front of the Alte Nationalgalerie, Museum Island, Mitte
When: Until 30 August
Tip 7: Dance, make music and have fun at Tempelhofer Feld
Every Thursday from 6.30 pm, the south-western corner of Tempelhofer Feld is transformed into a Mediterranean dance floor as the sounds of the tarantella – a lively folk dance from southern Italy – fill the air. From 6.30 pm, there’s a relaxed workshop for anyone new to the scene. After that, it’s all about dancing, drumming, meeting people and joining in! Using traditional instruments such as the tamburello and accordion, the collective brings that Mediterranean zest for life right to the red ‘Kulturgate’ container. It’s easy to get started, the atmosphere is warm and the music is infectious – whether you want to dance or just listen to the music.
Where: Tempelhofer Feld, by the red ‘Kulturgate’ container (about 200 metres straight ahead from Entrance S at Tempelhof), Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Tarantella on Tempelhofer Feld
Tip 8: Round off the summer evening on the terrace of the Haus der Kulturen der Welt
Right on the banks of the Spree and in the heart of the government district, you’ll find a lovely sun terrace with a beer garden where you can spend balmy summer evenings. It’s part of the Weltwirtschaft restaurant at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. Nestled between an architectural icon and the water, the beer garden offers the perfect blend of an urban retreat and a cultural hotspot. Here you can meet up for an after-work beer, enjoy snacks under shady trees or listen to the hum of the city. The Weltwirtschaft impresses with seasonal dishes and an atmosphere that is open, relaxed and yet unique.
Until 17 July, the Haus der Kulturen der Welt is also hosting the Sonic Pluriverse Festival, featuring concerts and DJ sets.
Where: Haus der Kulturen der Welt, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, Mitte
Tip 9: Swimming fun for the little ones at the FEZ Badesee
As soon as the temperatures start to rise, everyone is drawn to the water. For children in particular, a day out at the water’s edge is the highlight of the summer. The FEZ Badesee isa lovely alternative to Berlin’s natural swimming lakes. The artificial lake has a shallow, child-friendly entry point and a sandy beach where you can build sandcastles with your family. The swimming lake is open from 9 July to 30 August from 10 am; at weekends, you can only get in with a combined ticket, which also gives you access to the ‘Circus by the Sea’ children’s workshop .
Water quality is checked regularly during the summer months.
Where: An der Wuhlheide 197, Treptow-Köpenick
Tip 10: Unexpected delights at the Berlin Organ Summer
Let yourself be enchanted by Baroque musical artistry, improvisations and the unique atmosphere of St Mary’s Church. Organ music may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of summer. And yet it exists: the Berlin Organ Summer. When the temperatures are high, you can sit within the cool walls and enjoy the spectacular soundscape of the Wagner/Kern organ, whose oldest pipes date back to 1723.
Where: St. Marienkirche, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 8, Mitte
Tip 11: From hidden gems to real secrets
What’s the story behind these pink pipes? Why are yogis squatting at traffic lights? And what do rabbits have to do with the Berlin Wall? Berlin surprises – and sometimes it baffles too. In this article, we’ll go on a discovery tour together and unravel some of the city’s most fascinating mysteries.
