This year, the fairytale white winter has come true. Thick flakes are falling from the sky and the whole city looks as if it's covered in powdered sugar. Time to get out the sledges and ice skates. But even if you've had enough of snow and cold, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the cold season in Berlin. From wellness offers to the cosiest cafés: here are our tips for perfect winter happiness!
Tip 1: Ice skating
First glide across the ice hand in hand , then warm up with a hot chocolate. Ice skating in Berlin is the perfect family fun in the afternoon and a great start to a romantic winter date in the evening. Here , the little ones can let off steam during the day, and teenagers are drawn to evening ice discos with hot rhythms for dancing on skates.
Tip 2: Sledging
In many parks, the sledding slopes are slowly becoming icy. But no one seems to mind, because it makes for a faster ride downhill. Wrap up warm and enjoy a thrilling ride through the bitter cold. There are actually small hills in many Berlin parks, but if you're looking for a longer route, we've put together a few tips for you here.
Tip 3: Warm up in a cosy café
After your winter sports, head to a cosy café. With a latte, hot chocolate and a delicious piece of cake, you can warm up and recharge your batteries for your next winter adventure. We've put together a list of some of the prettiest cafés for you, from Berlin's oldest café to excursions to Japan or France. Enjoy a little break in cosy warmth.
Tip 4: Take a winter walk
The air is clear and cold, the icy ground crunches under your feet and the branches are festively decorated with hoarfrost. Wrap up warm and head outside for a picturesque winter walk. In Grunewald or one of Berlin's numerous parks, you can discover enchanting landscapes and picturesque photo opportunities in winter.
Tip 5: Warm up in the sauna
At Olivin on the Pfefferberg grounds, you can even enjoy the enchanting bamboo garden after your sauna session on cold winter days. Numerous thermal baths in the Berlin area also invite you to relax. In Berlin, some municipal baths offer saunas, but private providers such as Saunafloß, vabali and tranxx also welcome your visit. Here you will find an overview of wellness offers in Berlin and the surrounding area.
Tip 6: Cuddle up and read
After your walk, make yourself comfortable on the sofa. Put on some cosy clothes, grab a plate of delicious biscuits and fragrant winter mandarins. Have you already watched all your streaming series? How about picking up a good book again? You can easily spend an entire afternoon browsing and reading in these 11 bookshops. Here are our tips for bookworms.
Tip: Alternatively, you can listen to a story. Our podcast Berlin Unboxed takes you behind doors that are otherwise closed to visitors. In the 20-minute episodes, you'll meet people who are making a difference in Berlin and learn the stories behind a wide variety of Berlin institutions. Have a listen!
Tip 7: Sweeten your day with chocolate
What better way to sweeten a winter afternoon than with chocolate? Whether enjoyed hot or as pralines, vegan or filled with truffles or brandy, Berlin has the perfect creation for every taste. At the small chocolate manufacturer Belyzium Craft Chocolatee, cocoa beans from their own plantation in Belize are processed into the finest chocolate on site in Berlin.
Tip 8: Celebrate a tea ceremony
After a walk in the cold winter air, a steaming cup of tea is especially good, preferably with fresh mint, ginger and lemon. In the Tajik tea room, you can sit back and relax on soft cushions while enjoying very special tea specialities. Or how about a traditional tea ceremony? At the ChenChe tea house, you can celebrate this in a private room.
Tip 9: Relax by the open fire
It crackles and flickers, radiating a particularly cosy warmth. On cold winter days, a log fire is simply the best. And how about a delicious dinner to go with it? We've looked around for you and picked out the most beautiful places and restaurants with fireplaces . Here you can enjoy the winter warm and cosy.
Tip 10: Browse through vintage shops
Are you tired of dark winter fashion or still looking for a warm jumper, a cool anorak, an unusual scarf or a chic hat? Then why not browseBerlin's second-hand shops? You're sure to find something to freshen up your wardrobe. Plus, shopping makes you happy!
Tip 11: Stroll through the museum
When the wind is blowing too hard outside, you can stroll through the Gemäldegalerie, admiring 1,400 works of art over two kilometres. On this tour through cultural history, you'll travel from the Middle Ages to the 18th century and see masterpieces by Rubens, Botticelli, Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt, among others .
Tickets for the Gemäldegalerie
You can find more events in Berlin in our event calendar.
