This weekend, our events round-up has lots of ways to connect with the great outdoors – in the past, present and the future! Learn how Woodstock revellers celebrated in harmony with nature, wander round the buzzing, art-filled district of Neukölln or attend the Greentech festival and help make our planet a little bit greener in the years ahead: there’s no excuse for not getting out there and seeing what Berlin has to offer!.
A tip for your summer in Berlin in advance
Summer is here, so it’s the perfect time to experience Berlin again! Here are our best offers for everyone who already has a public transport ticket. Have some unforgettable experiences with the Berlin WelcomeCard - Summer Edition – your perfect companion in Berlin. For just 9 euros, the Summer Edition of the Berlin WelcomeCard gives you from 25% to 50% off on tickets and attractions at over 180 partners throughout Berlin and Potsdam for 72 hours. If you want a little more culture, you can get the Discount Card including Museum Island.
Tip 1: Watch the nation’s best athletes battle it out at The Finals
Feeling bereft after the Special Olympics National Finals wrapped up on 24 June? Well, we’ve got just the ticket: 16 of Germany’s national sport associations have come together to hold their very own finals, all on one weekend. No matter what sport is up your alley, the nation’s best athletes are all readying themselves on the start line: from athletics to rowing, great sportsmanship is guaranteed!
When: 23 to 26 June, see individual events for times
Where: various locations across Berlin
Tip 2: Journey to a greener, cleaner future at Greentech Festival
Airports and travel go hand-in-hand – but what about airports and sustainability? Well, Berlin Tegel will show you how! This decommissioned airport now goes by ‘TXL’ and is set to become the flagship home of innovative tech solutions. At this weekend’s Greentech Festival, you can chat with upwards of 190 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge ideas from hydro-powered vehicles to water-saving technologies. Welcome on board this flight – to the future!
When: festival open to the public from 9.15 am to 9 pm on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 June
Where: TXL, Saatwinkler Damm, Reinickendorf
find out more
Tip 3: Feast your eyes on art at 48 Hours Neukölln
Neukölln is one of Berlin’s most deliciously diverse neighbourhoods, where falafel shops rub shoulders with Middle Eastern patisseries – and this weekend, an art festival is paying homage to this gastronomic melting-pot, too! In fact, the theme for this year’s ‘48 Hours Neukölln’ event is ‘I’m going to eat my head off’. Sculptors, painters and even cutting-edge digital artists have all put their own spin on the topic, showing off their talents in spaces ranging from private homes to the great outdoors. 48 Hours Neukölln aims to offer a fresh, decentralised approach to contemporary art – for a veritable feast for the eyes!
When: 6 pm on 24 June to 6 pm on 26 June
Where: various locations across the district of Neukölln
find out more
Tip 4: Explore the history hiding under your feet at Tempelhof Airport
With sky-scraping control towers and planes soaring heavenward, you’d be forgiven for thinking that, as far as airports go, the only way is up. But Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport is here to prove you wrong: on this guided tour, you’ll discover subterranean treasures galore. From secret bunkers to air-raid shelters, this two-hour experience reveals the role the airport and its grounds played during Germany’s Nazi past – and truly brings history to life.
When: tours start at 11 am, Wednesday to Monday
Where: meet at Platz der Luftbrücke 5, Tempelhof Airport, Tempelhof
Tip 5: Explore the digital world on Digital Day
Libraries might conjure up visions of dusty bookshelves filled with seldom-read tomes – but the libraries of the 21st century are at the forefront of the digital revolution! To mark 2022’s national Digital Day, Berlin’s American Memorial Library is putting on a plethora of events. How about an escape room looking at the dangers posed by risky photos? Or an in-depth session on the nitty-gritty of music apps? Or even a party to install Linux on your own machine? Whether you’re tech-savvy or a complete technophobe, there’s something for you!
When: 24 to 25 June, check the library’s website for each event’s timings
Where: American Memorial Library, Blücherplatz 1, Kreuzberg
view the programme (in german)
Tip 6: Learn the foundations of building design at the Day of Architecture
Berlin is a city defined by its architecture, from its imposing Brandenburg Gate to its soaring TV Tower. So what could be more exciting than exploring the process by which these iconic buildings come into being? On the Day of Architecture, architects’ offices around the city throw open their doors and give visitors a sneak peak of their current projects. Plus, you can even enjoy free tours of buildings as varied as municipal waterworks and ultra-modern shared living spaces. It’s time to build your knowledge of architecture from the ground up!
When: 25 June, times vary by location
Where: various locations around the city
Tip 7: Discover what museums were like in the GDR
Humans have always been fascinated by the ancient world, and things were no different in divided Germany. Back then, the ‘Vorderasiatische Museum’ (now part of the Pergamon Museum) showcased an array of exhibits from across the Middle East – and was one of the only museums in East Berlin, to boot. Now, a special exhibition explores how the history of the city’s museums can shine a light on the history of the city itself. What were the differences in conservation standards between East and West? And were museums as divided as the city they called home? You’ve got until the 26th to find out!
When: Tuesdays to Sundays, 10 am to 6 pm (exhibition closes on 26 June)
Where: Pergamon Museum, Bodestraße 1-3, Mitte
get tickets
Tip 8: Bask in a sound installation at Le Cercle Rouge
Le Cercle Rouge has been designed specifically for Konzerthaus Berlin by artist Hanno Leichtmann. This multi-channel work series blends together installation, improvisation and graphic score interpretation to put musicians in a unique dialogue with themselves. On 25 June, pianist Magda Mayas takes to the ivories while Leichtmann works his magic to create a fully immersive experience. So, get down to the Konzerthaus – you’ll hardly be able to believe your ears!
When: 8 pm, 25 June
Where: Konzerthaus Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt, Mitte
Tip 9: Peace, love & unity: see how Woodstock’s values hold true today
When it hit the headlines in 1969, Woodstock marked a pivotal moment in the history of popular music – and photographer Elliot Landy was there to capture it from every angle. Now, 160 of his photos are being displayed in Berlin so visitors can step back in time to an age where peace & love reigned supreme. Don’t forget to immerse yourself in the sounds of the 60s at the audiovisual psychedelic show, too. And if you’ve worked up an appetite after all that time travel, catch a bite at the Woodstock Café. Now that’s groovy, man!
When: every day from 12 pm to 7 pm, until 30 June
Where: Kranzler-Eck, Kurfürstendamm 22, Charlottenburg
Tickets for the exhibition
Tip 10: Make history and a greener future at GreenDays
A historic moment comes this weekend when Berlin’s iconic Potsdamer Platz plays host to its first street festival! GreenDays is an eco-themed event that has it all: a plethora of DIY workshops and mouth-watering street food stalls, all to the accompaniment of live music and a DJ. No matter whether you take a session on weaving your own flower crown, upcycling mosaics or painting with plant-derived dyes, GreenDays is here to show you that being green can be incredibly colourful, too!
When: 2pm to 9 pm 24 June, 12 noon to 9 pm 25 June, 12 noon to 6 pm 26 June
Where: Potsdamer Platz, Mitte
Tip 11: Tap into your inner child at the Legoland Discovery Centre
Lego is synonymous with creativity, freedom – and fun! The Legoland Discovery Centre is no different. This Berlin-based experience has no fewer than 15 stations where little kids (and not-so-little ones!) can really let their creativity run riot. How about a thrilling ride through a medieval castle, on the back of a dragon, no less? The chance to enjoy a factory tour and see how the colourful bricks are made? Or even the opportunity to build your own Lego race car and put it through its paces? No matter what you build with your bricks, Lego is fun for the whole family!
When: every day, 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Legoland Discovery Centre, Potsdamer Straße 4, Mitte
