The beginning of summer in Berlin - that means sunshine on your skin, music on every street corner and experiences in the fresh air. When the city gets ready for the Fête de la Musique in June, there's a festival feeling in the air. And Berlin wouldn't be Berlin if this festival didn't spread across countless courtyards, parks and stages in every neighbourhood. But the capital is also celebrating its cultural diversity beyond the music this weekend: with a free classical music concert on Bebelplatz, an exclusive look behind the doors of the city hall or culinary excursions on Teufelsberg.
Tip 1: Celebrate the start of summer with the State Opera for all
A warm June Sunday, a picnic on Bebelplatz and two symphonies by Johannes Brahms: The Staatsoper Unter den Linden makes this summer afternoon dream come true with its free open-air concert. At Staatsoper für alle, Bebelplatz is transformed into an open-air stage. Conductor Christian Thielemann will lead the Staatskapelle Berlin through Brahms' musical masterpieces and treat you to a highlight of Berlin's classical music season on your own picnic blanket.
It pays to be there early: the best seats are quickly taken and the programme for younger guests starts at 11:30 with the children's opera orchestra and pieces by Tchaikovsky. And to ensure that everyone can listen, the musical spectacle will also be broadcast live this year.
When: Sunday from 11:30
Where: Bebelplatz, Mitte
Tip 2: Party on at the Fête de la Musique
And yet another firework of sound to mark the start of summer will be set off this weekend: At the Fête de la Musique, not just one square but the entire city will be transformed into an open-air stage. Over 300 locations, from late-night bars to opera houses and backyards to parks, invite you to experience music in all its facets with free admission.
With the partner district of Pankow taking centre stage, you can look forward to over 40 music venues there alone. Many stages start at 2 pm in this anniversary year. You can experience rousing, experimental and outstanding concerts until midnight. Whether you want to dance, listen, sing or even perform yourself, this music festival is for everyone and brings together music fans, amateur and professional musicians from all over the world.
When: Saturday at various times
Where: Various venues throughout Berlin
Tip 3: Feast on the Teufelsberg between art and pine trees
The Teufelsberg is perhaps the most creative mountain of rubble in the world. Overgrown with lush greenery, the hill is made up of rubble left over from the Second World War and is now a popular destination for walks. Artists from all over the world also come together here, making Teufelsberg one of the most exciting hotspots of Berlin's vibrant creative scene.
A delicious summery Teufelsberg highlight awaits you this weekend with the Street Food Market in the middle of Grunewald forest. After a short S-Bahn journey and a walk under the treetops, you can fill your belly with international delicacies at numerous food trucks and then admire the impressive Street Art Gallery. Because the way to a man's heart is through his stomach!
When: Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to sunset
Where: Teufelsberg, Teufelsseechaussee 10, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Tip 4: Come on board and enjoy the city from the water
On this sunny weekend in June, Berlin's Spree ships are not staying in port either. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the anchor will be lifted as usual at the berth in Charlottenburg, inviting you to discover the city from the water. Make yourself comfortable on the sun deck in lounge furniture, enjoy a cool drink or two and savour delicacies from the galley. For two hours, Berlin's most popular passenger ships will take you across the Spree and take you past the city's highlights. See Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral, the Nikolai Quarter and the Federal Chancellery and even catch a glimpse of the TV Tower. On foot, this tour would take you several hours on hot tarmac and in heavy traffic. Relaxing on the water is definitely more fun.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various departure times
Where: Reederei Winkler landing stage Charlottenburg/Schlossbrücke, Charlottenburger Ufer 1, Charlottenburg
Tip 5: Experience Pompeii up close
The earth shakes and suddenly Mount Vesuvius spews fire and ash: The sight of this devastating volcanic eruption in 79 AD. AD must have been as impressive as it was frightening from the Roman city of Pompeii. And rightly so, because within a few hours a living city was buried under layers of ash and pumice several metres high.
For archaeology and historical studies, however, the misfortune of the population is a real treasure, because everyday Roman life is better preserved here than in any other place. In the immersive exhibition The Last Days of Pompeii, you can take a 360-degree look at the legendary Roman city this weekend at the New Media Art Centre - including gladiator fights and faithful replicas.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 9pm
Where: New Media Art Centre, Revaler Straße 99, Friedrichshain
Tip 6: Dance to international brass music at the Berlin Brass Festival
The Berlin Brass Festival at the Kulturbrauerei proves that pretty much every musical genre is represented at the Fête de la Musique. Just in time for the summer solstice, trumpets, tubas and trombones will fill the courtyard of the historic brewery building in Prenzlauer Berg with jazz, funk and ska on Saturday. There will also be some great brass band moments: the festival ends at 9 pm with a powerful performance by the seven-piece ska and reggae band The Ruffians. With trumpets, saxophones, tuba and drums, they create an unforgettable sound experience and prove that brass music can inspire more than just the older generation. Look forward to a rousing afternoon under Berlin's June sky!
When: Saturday from 4pm
Where: Kulturbrauerei, Schönhauser Allee 36, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 7: Sail and stroll through Berlin with a tour guide
There are many ways to get to know a city better, and a city tour is undoubtedly one of them. Whether by bus, bike, on foot or by boat - the choice is huge. However, if you don't want to commit to just one means of transport, we have good news for you: combinations are not only possible, but also extremely sensible.
On the combined tour: boat trip and city walk, you spend the first part of the tour comfortably on board, listening to the waves of the Spree and original Berlin anecdotes. The second part of the excursion continues on foot. An experienced tour guide will pick you up directly at the landing stage and take you on a two-hour walk through Berlin. The tour ends at the TV tower - and possibly for you in the associated Sphere Bar, which is located 200 metres above Berlin.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various times
Where: Landing stage Bhf. Friedrichstraße, Reichstagufer 18, Mitte
Tip 8: Celebrate the City Museum Foundation at the Museum Festival in the Nikolai Quarter
After 30 years of tireless commitment to Berlin's cultural landscape, the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin is celebrating a lavish birthday party. To mark the occasion, the Great Museum Festival in the Nikolai Quarter invites you to celebrate the anniversary in Berlin's oldest settlement area. A bouncing programme of concerts, guided tours and workshops awaits you in the medieval-looking alleyways.
Including opera stars in a minibus, a concert on an almost 200-year-old lyre grand piano, a guided tour of Berlin myths and numerous workshops in the Knoblauchhaus museum. Look forward to a little journey through time and lots of fun for the whole family!
When: Saturday from 4 to 10 pm
Where: Nikolai neighbourhood, Am Nussbaum 3, Mitte
Museumsfest Nikolaiviertel
Tip 9: Encounter the diasporic worlds of Berlin at Performing Exiles
With Performing Exiles, the Berliner Festspiele have created an interdisciplinary, international and interactive festival that is fully dedicated to the artistic perspectives of artists who are often involuntarily displaced:artists who often involuntarily live and work far from home. The theatre performances, performances, discussion formats and concerts of the festival will take place at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, HAU (Hebbel am Ufer) and Ballhaus Ost and negotiate the concept of exile as a fluid concept that is subject to constant change in a globalised world.
Not only established voices such as the Oscar-nominated film director Mohammad Rasoulof will take to the screen: as part of the 100° Diaspora stage marathon, the first 45 submissions will be offered a platform on a first come, first served basis. Look forward to the talented and unique voices of the Berlin diaspora!
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various times
Where: Haus der Berliner Festspiele, HAU (Hebbel am Ufer) and Ballhaus Ost
Tip 10: Drop by Kai Wegner's mayor's office
The administration doesn't want to be left behind on this eventful weekend either and has organised an open day at Berlin's Red City Hall. The governing mayor Kai Wegner invites you to experience Berlin politics up close and personal and even clarify the otherwise annoying administrative issues. A new passport? A housing application? Bring your documents and ask Mr Wegner in person at his mayor's office.
Live music as part of the Fête de la Musique and delicious street food in the idyllic town hall courtyards provide the perfect backdrop. By the way, "up close and personal" is meant literally: You can ask the Senate Chancellery staff all the things you've always wanted to know about administrative work at the speed dating event. City politics can be so accessible!
When: Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus), Rathausstraße 15, Mitte
Open Day
Tip 11: Watch the zoo inhabitants sunbathe
Some pant, others look for a shady spot and still others bury themselves up to their heads in mud. How animals deal with the heat differs from species to species and has only one thing in common: it works. Because no matter how high the temperatures climb in the Berlin summer, the animals in Berlin's Tierpark are doing just fine. At the start of summer, you can see this for yourself on a start of summer tour and learn a lot about the animal inhabitants. Let's see if the bears have already rubbed the hibernation sand out of their eyes ...
When: Saturday and Sunday at various tour times
Where: Zoo entrance bear showcase, Am Tierpark 125, Lichtenberg
Start of summer at Tierpark
Additional Tip: Celebrate 150 years of Waidmannslust in the countryside
On a sunny weekend in Berlin, head out into the countryside, for example on a hike in Tegeler Forst. What could be better than taking a detour to the exhibition "150 years of Waidmannslust - from an excursion destination to today's district" in the Pfarrhaus Bondickstraße? Using historical photographs from the collection of the Reinickendorf District Museum, you will learn that Berliners already appreciated the fresh air at the gates of Berlin in the 19th century.
In keeping with the anniversary of the district, which was incorporated in 1920, you can experience a variety of programme items throughout the summer. For example, choir concerts, neighbourhood festivals, tours and much more.
