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11 tips to escape the football fever

Neither fans nor balls in sight

Abteibrücke connecting treptower park to Insel der Jugend in Berlin, Germany
© Getty Images, Foto: Jarama

2024 is the year of the football summer in Berlin. There will be live broadcasts almost everywhere, public viewing, fan zones and lots of events centred around the European Championships. If that's too much for you, don't worry: Summer in Berlin offers plenty of ways to escape the football fever. Enjoy secluded bathing lakes, idyllic cycle routes and many exciting festivals, events and cultural activities. Here are our 11 tips for everyone who dares not be a football fan these days.

Tip 1: Instead of football, simply celebrate 75 years of democracy!

Die Spree im Regierungsviertel
© Zeitgeistmarketing

Not only European football history wii be written in 2024, but democracy will also be celebrating its birthday. To mark the occasion, you are invited to the Open Air Cinema in Berlin's government district throughout the summer. The film People and Parliament - 75 Years. Democracy alive shows the most important events in German parliamentary history, from the imperial era to the reunification of Germany. Among other things, you can see footage of the Reichstag throughout the years, how it has been destroyed, repaired, covered up by Christo and Jean Claude and finally converted into the seat of the German parliament.

The screen is the façade of the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus, with eight different projection surfaces being used. A real sound and light spectacle that you shouldn't miss in summer 2024.

When: daily from 3 July at 10:15 pm, from 15 July at 10 pm, from 29 July at 9:45 pm, from 12 August at 9:15 pm, from 12 August at 9:15 pm, from 15 July at 10 pm. August at 21:15, from 26 August at 20:45, from 9 September at 20:15
Where: Spreeufer am Friedrich-Ebert-Platz

People and Parliament - 75 years. Democracy alive

Tip 2: Enjoy international street food instead of stadium sausage

Street Food
© GettyImages, Foto: RgStudios

If you're not in the mood for stadium food, Berlin is the place for you. Not only are there countless restaurants for every taste, but in summer there are also numerous food festivals. Here you can sample food from all corners of the world. Enjoy Thai street food every Friday at Jules B-Part am Gleisdreieck at Thai Bridge Volume 2. On Sunday you can discover culinary delights from various countries at Street Food on the Move.

When: every Sunday from 12 noon 
Where: Street Food auf Achse, Kulturbrauerei, Schönhauser Allee 36, Prenzlauer Berg

Street Food auf Achse

Tip 3: Let love win instead of football and see FALLING | IN LOVE

Falling in Love
© Bernd Brundert

Who needs a trophy when the Friedrichstadt-Palast is all shiny and glittery? 100 million Swarovski crystals make the world's biggest stage sparkle for this jewel of a show. None other than Jean Paul Gaultier has lent his signature style to the show and designed 280 of the 550 costumes. Look forward to glitz, glamour and a world in which it's not a football team that wins - but love itself.

Tip: In our Berlin Unboxed Podcast episode on Friedrichstadt-Palast takes us behind the scenes with artistic director Berndt Schmidt and ballet director Alexandra Georgieva.

When: every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and on some Sundays (theatre holidays 7. July to 8. August)
Where: Friedrichstraße 107, Mitte

Falling | in Love

Tip 4: Cool off the football fever in a lake

Children jumping into a lake
Children jumping into a lake © Getty Images, Foto: FatCamera

Want to cool off? Then head for the outdoor pool or the nearest lake. On our Berlin swimming map we have collected over 50 summer swimming pools and lakes for you: From the bathing boat at the Arena to the lido at Wannsee, there are plenty of opportunities in Berlin to take a dip away from the hustle and bustle of football.

Zur Bade-karte

Tip 5: Cheer for Tom Tykwer instead of Manuel Neuer

BKA Theater
© BKA Theater, Foto: Sven Ihlenfeld

Excitement doesn't just happen on the football pitch: In "Edith rennt" the Ades Zabel Company speeds up the pace. Edith, the main character takes on the stage in the style of "Lola rennt", the cinema classic by Tom Tykwer. Apart from the fact that the director has given his permission to use the soundtrack and original film clips from his movie for the production, he also plays himself in one of the video clips. Enjoy  a colourful mix of the shows highlights from the last few decades. Watch out football players, "Edith" might outrun you - when it comes to comedy!

When: every Wednesday to Saturday in June from 8 pm
Where: BKA Theatre, Mehringdamm 34, Kreuzberg

Edith rennt

Tip 6: Listen to anything but football anthems at #HiddenGarden concerts

Neukoelln, Rixdorf
© visitBerlin, Foto: Dagmar Schwelle

The #HiddenGarden headphone concerts in a secret garden in Rixdorf are the perfect way to escape the football hustle and bustle. Every second Wednesday, two artists perform a 45-minute set. To avoid disturbing the neighbours, the audience listens with headphones. Those are available at the entrance for a deposit of ten euros. At the end, you decide how much of the deposit you wish to get back. All donations go to the musicians, GEMA, technology and staff. There will also be a small bar - and plenty of umbrellas to keep everyone dry in bad weather.

When: Wednesday 19 June, 3, 17 & 31. July from 8 pm
Where: Wanzlikpfad 3, Rixdorf, Neukölln

#HiddenGarden Konzerte

Tip 7: Watch world-class tennis instead of football at the Berlin Ladies Open

Female Tennis Player In Mid Motion During Grass Court Game
© GettyImages, Foto: peepo

It's hard to believe, but there's actually more top-class sport than just football in June. The Berlin Ladies Open will bring Wimbledon flair to Berlin from 15 to 23 June. Up to 7000 fans will experience world-class tennis in the Steffi Graf Stadium. By the way: Steffi Graf herself was the patron of the bett1 open in 2023. This year's patron has not yet been announced. However, the world's top 10 players are sure to be competing again!

When: 15 to 23 June. June
Where: Steffi-Graf-Stadion, Gottfried-von-Cramm-Weg, Grunewald

Berlin Ladies Open 

Tip 8: Take a football break at the Luftschloss

Musiktheater Luftschloss
© Barbara Eismann

In the Luftschloss, the Atze Musiktheater presents a colourful cultural programme at Tempelhofer Feld. Whether children's theatre, concerts, comedy, dance events or a hands-on programme, there is something going on here all week long. Make sure to visit the small beer garden in the outdoor area of the open-air theatre. This makes the Luftschloss the perfect meeting place for anyone who needs a break from the football fever.

When: June - September
Where: Tempelhofer Feld, south-west entrance, Tempelhof

More about the Luftschloss

Tip 9: Aloha instead of La Ola at the Berlin Ukulele Festival

Ukulele
Ukulele © Getty Images, Foto: Image Source

If you prefer the leisure of a Hawaii vacation to a crowded stadium atmosphere, the Berlin Ukulele Festival is the place for you. Music will be played here for three days on the opening weekend of UEFA EURO 2024. In addition to the concerts and open mics, there will be play-alongs and workshops for all those who prefer making music to playing football. 

When: 14 to 16 June. June
Where: ufa-Fabrik, Viktoriastraße 10-18, Tempelhof

Berlin Ukulele Festival 

Tip 10: Cycling instead of football

Fahrradfahrer im Park/Wald
© GettyImages, Foto: Janina Steinmetz

If you want to be sporty without football, simply grab a bike. There are numerous idyllic routes in and around Berlin. On a tour along the Mauerradweg, you also learn a lot about the history of the formerly divided city. Cycle along the water, explore Berlin's historic village centres and green corners, the lakes and the Grunewald forest or discover Street art by bike.

With the FAhrrad in Berlin

Tip 11: Football time-out on the water

Yoga auf dem SUP
© gettyimages, Foto: J. Michl

With a few exceptions, most water sports don't require a ball at all. And the best thing is that you can practise many of them in Beriln. Surfing at Wellenwerk, paddling on the Spree, water skiing and wakeboarding in Spandau, there are even many different options for SUP yoga. And if you want to take it easy, hire a houseboat or raft with a sun deck and sauna.

Tip: With Green Kayak, you can paddle completely free of charge in return for doing something good for the environment and cleaning up Berlin's waters.

11 tips for water sports in Berlin

Josefine Köhn-Haskins

Josefine

is originally from Munich and started out her career at one of Germanys largest daily news papers. Before finding her home in Berlin, she also reported as a correspondent and trend scout from the US. Today she is cruising Berlin's neighbourhoods, always on the lookout for good stories - with a focus on culture, music and ideas for the future of an innovative Berlin. All posts