September has arrived and brings with it more than just colourful leaves: this weekend's programme includes the world's leading trade fair for electronics, the pyrotechnics festival, an Italian street food festival and exciting exhibitions. The real Berlin highlight, however, is the start of the Berlin classical music season: the choice is yours!
Tip 1: Get to know the latest developments in electrical technology at IFA
Today, IFA is known as Consumer Electronics Unlimited, but in the past it was simply called the "Internationale Funkausstellung". And by earlier, we really mean earlier: the first edition of the electronics fair took place at the Berlin Exhibition Centre in 1924. Over the course of the 20th century, experts from all over the world presented innovations such as tube receivers, headphones and the first electric washing machines. Today, we are a little further ahead: this weekend's programme includes exciting presentations with VR glasses, talks on AI and panels on climate-friendly electronics. And for a change from the technology programme, there will be concerts and celebrity talks in the IFA Summer Garden!
When: Friday from 12 to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
Where: Messe Berlin, Messedamm 22, Charlottenburg
Tip 2: Start the Berlin classical music season at the Musikfest
The Musikfest is to the Berlin classical music season what Advent is to Christmas: both a harbinger and a recurring highlight of the year. Just in time for late summer,top musicians from all over the world gather at the Berlin Philharmonie to present you with a unique and innovative programme. On Friday, the Orchestre des Champs-Élysées and the Collegium Vocale Gent will set the French Revolution to music with works by Cherubini and Beethoven, and on Saturday the programme will continue with Beethoven: the original sound ensemble Les Siècles will perform pieces by the great composer using the original instruments of his time. Those who prefer to save the great classical music until Sunday can look forward to the Berliner Ensemblekollektiv and a journey through Debussy's La Mer with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.
When: Concerts at various seasons
Where: Philharmonie Berlin, Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, Tiergarten
Tip 3: Enjoy Dolce Vita & Italy with tartufo, salami and co.
At the Frizzante Food + Wine Festival from Friday to Sunday, over fifty food producers and winemakers will spoil you with delicacies from Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria and South Tyrol. At the Mercato Italiano , you can stock up on salami, chocolate, bacon and cheese and then make yourself comfortable in the summer garden: Here, the best Italian restaurants set the tables for you and serve selected menus whose ingredients come directly from Italy to your plate. If you would like to find out more about the production methods or the secrets of Cucina Italiana, you are also cordially invited to the numerous talks, workshops and tastings. Look forward to Italian dolce vita on the grounds of the historic St Elisabeth's Church - with musical accompaniment and free admission!
When: Friday from 6 to 9 pm, Saturday from 12 to 9.30 pm and Sunday from 12 to 7 pm
Where: St. Elisabeth and Villa Elisabeth, Invalidenstraße 3, Mitte
Frizzante Food & Wine Festival
Tip 4: Stroll through a sea of flowers at the Berlin perennial market
The Berlin perennial market in the Botanical Garden is an exhibition space, swap meet, garden market and flower paradise all in one. This weekend, it really brings summer back to the city. The more than 80 participating nurseries not only have their colourful flowering treasures on display, but also plenty of good advice. Numerous presentations will provide you with information on topics such as wild bee diversity, soil protection and pruning fruit trees and help hobby gardeners to get even greener fingers - whether in the garden, on raised beds or for your balcony plants. There will also be a lovingly put together hands-on programme for young and old and culinary delights will also be provided against the romantic backdrop of the large greenhouses!
When: Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm
Where: Botanic Garden Berlin, entrances Königin-Luise Straße 6 and Unter den Eichen 5-10, Dahlem
Tip 5: Marvel at the colourful art of fireworks at the Pyronale
Thanks to the Pyronale, fireworks fans in Berlin don't have to wait until New Year's Eve to experience breathtaking displays of lights in the sky - the Olympic Stadium is already ablaze with fireworks in September. Every year, participating teams present their artistic firework creations here, from which you can choose your favourite spectacle together with a jury of experts. The criteria are as follows: Originality, overall impression, colour and interplay of light. As you will get more than enough of all four aspects here, the decision will be anything but easy for you: the teams come from all over the world, are masters of their trade and vie for your favour in their presentations. Look forward to good music, a competitive atmosphere and all the colours of the rainbow!
When: Friday and Saturday from 20:30
Where: Maifeld Olympiastadion Berlin, Olympischer Platz 3, Charlottenburg
Tip 6: Celebrate spring fever in autumn with Romeo & Juliet
The heartbreaking audience favourite Romeo & Juliet - Love is Everything has been making hearts beat faster at the Stage Theater des Westens since April. While the leaves are slowly turning colour outside, the play brings spring fever to the stage once again. The Berlin composer duo Peter Plate and Ulf Leo Sommer have transformed Shakespeare's love tragedy into a musical hit-fest that you can experience live at the weekend. The play has already been nominated seven times for the German Musical Theatre Award and, in our opinion, fully deserves this honour. The special mixture of modern pop songs and classical arias complements the original Shakespeare dialogue with the special magic of the musical tradition. Look forward to a rousing evening with a particularly emotional stage show!
When: Saturday at 3pm and 7.30pm and Sunday at 2.30pm and 7pm
Where: Stage Theatre of the West, Kantstraße 12, Charlottenburg
Tip 7: Enjoy the last days of summer at the Kolonnaden Bar
The historic colonnades on Museum Island are not only a beautiful addition to the magnificent museum buildings on the Spree, but the Kolonnaden Bar is also a popular meeting place for Berliners in summer. In order to promote a culture of conversation under the magnificent colonnade, a drinking hall was opened here as early as the 19th century and remained open until the 1930s. The National Museums in Berlin are continuing this tradition with the Kolonnaden Bar: Cool drinks are enjoyed during the day, bar talks take place in the evening and afterwards you can enjoy the sunset with DJ sets. Make yourself comfortable in the deckchairs on the Kolonnadenhof this weekend before this favourite bar disappears for its winter break in mid-September!
When: Friday to Sunday from 12 to 10 pm
Where: Kolonnadenhof in front of the Alte Nationalgalerie, Bodestraße 1-3, Mitte
Kolonnaden Bar on the Museum Island
Tip 8: Experience an early autumn cruise on the Spree
Our next tip is a maritime autumn highlight that will delight landlubbers and experienced sailors alike. From the Charlottenburg landing stage, one of Berlin's most beautiful Spree ships will take you on a two-hour cruise. What do you have to do? Absolutely nothing - except perhaps get on board, order a hot coffee and wrap yourself up while the most beautiful Berlin buildings pass by on the autumnal banks of the Spree. And so that you can enjoy your drinks on board whatever the weather, there is both a sun deck and a covered cabin. Exciting sailor stories from the Berlin harbour book and a fresh September breeze await you!
When: Spree cruise at various departure times
Where: Reederei Winkler landing stage Charlottenburg/Schlossbrücke, Charlottenburger Ufer 1, Charlottenburg
Tip 9: Take a look at Pissarro's works at the Museum Barberini
Born in the Caribbean, Camille Pissarro is a world-famous representative of French Impressionism. His paintings depict the everyday lives of people in the Caribbean and in France: ordinary labourers, peasant life in the countryside - scenes to which his special eye and revolutionary painting style lend a magic all of their own. Pissarro took a particular painterly interest in the living conditions of poorer people and was already known during his lifetime for his combination of masterful art and social idealism. At the Barberini Museum in Potsdam, you can see Pissarro 's work in the exhibition With an Open Eye. The Impressionist Pissarro this weekend and until the end of September. More than 100 works are on display here, including landscapes, cityscapes, still lifes and figure paintings from around 50 collections. A museum visit that invites you to dream!
When: Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm
Where: Museum Barberini, Alter Markt, Potsdam
Tip 10: Listen to the Konzerthausorchester in the open air
The Konzerthaus Berlin also opens the classical music season this Friday with a festive kick-off. Under the direction of chief conductor Joana Mallwitz, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin will perform works by Maurice Ravel, Anna Meredith, Beethoven and Dessner. Some of you may be wondering at this point: Isn't the concert already sold out? Yes, but fortunately that's not a problem in a city like Berlin. The Konzerthausorchester is organising a live stream in the open air together with the Freiluftkino Friedrichshain, for which there are still plenty of tickets available. Pack a picnic blanket, snacks and a cosy jumper for the evening hours and make yourself comfortable in Volkspark Friedrichshain while star pianist Alice Sara Ott performs Dessner's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra on the big screen.
When: Friday at 19:45
Where: Friedrichshain open-air cinema in Volkspark Friedrichshain, Ernst-Zinna-Weg, Friedrichshain
Season opening of the open-air concert hall
Tip 11: Marvel at the bronzes of San Casciano in the James Simon Gallery
What came to light in 2022 and 2024 in an ancient thermal bath in San Casciano dei Bagni in Tuscany is considered a find of the century and an archaeological sensation: large ancient bronze statues, small bronzes and many coins were literally unearthed from the mud, dating back to the 2nd century BC - an extraordinary and extremely rare find from the Etruscan-Roman period! Highlights: the unique half-naked bronze torso of a man, a bronze replica of a windpipe, the statue of a child with a moving ball in his hand and a bronze snake about one metre long. Take a look at the exhibition - it can only be seen once in Berlin. You can marvel at it from this Friday until mid-October in the James-Simon-Galerie on Museum Island.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: James-Simon-Galerie, Bodestraße 1-3, Mitte
Our extra tip for the whole family: free family Sunday at the Stadtmuseum (city museum)
Celebrate a cheerful, colourful Sunday with the whole family in the historic Nikolai Quarter: the City Museum cordially invites you to do so - all offers are free of charge. With free admission, there are museum tours, time capsule stations, the CABUWAZI children's circus, juggling, face painting, laughter, dancing...and a picnic mobile.
When: Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Museum Ephraim-Palais, Museum Nikolaikirche and Museum Knoblauchhaus and the Nikolai Quarter
Here you'll find even more great tips for things to do in Berlin – rain or shine.
