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Weekend tips 22 - 24 / 03 / 2024

Two-wheelers, magical worlds and lots of flora at the start of spring

Frühling
© visitBerlin, Foto: Dagmar Schwelle

The birds are chirping, the snowdrops are sprouting and sunshine is slowly but surely no longer a foreign word in Berlin. It couldn't be nicer, you might think. But it is: because the weekend is drawing ever closer. And as is so often the case, the city has an unrivalled offer for you. In addition to music, film and history, nature is also celebrated this weekend. Because whether it's the herb garden or the zoo - there's fresh air to be found in Berlin too. Let's get ready for a (hopefully) sunny weekend!

Tip 1: Celebrate music at the Berlin State Opera Festival

Staatsoper Unter den Linden
© Gordon Welters

Spring is just around the corner and with it the eagerly awaited start of the Staatsoper Berlin's festive season. Ever since the world-famous star conductor Daniel Barenboim launched the festival in 1996, classical music fans have been eagerly awaiting the Easter season every year. When the first flowers sprout, the conductor's baton is raised in Berlin. For a whole two weeks, international stars of the classical music scene bring century-old works to life. Among many other highlights of classical music, you can look forward to Dmitri Tcherniakov's new production of Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen", Anton Bruckner's 8th Symphony and music by Antonín Dvořák, performed by the Opera Children's Orchestra.

When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday (various times)
Where: Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Unter den Linden 7, Mitte and Philharmonie Berlin, Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, Tiergarten

More Information about the Festtage der Staatsoper Berlin

Tip 2: Immerse yourself in outstanding photographs at Chronorama

Staircase at Museum für Fotografie - Helmut Newton Stiftung
Staircase at Museum für Fotografie - Helmut Newton Stiftung © Newton Museum

Helmut Newton, Diane Arbus, Robert Frank, Irving Penn - if these names immediately conjure up images in your head, then Chronorama is the right place for you. The photo exhibition is dedicated to important photographs of the 20th century and is showing some works for the first time ever. Among the little treasures are numerous photographs by Newton for various magazines, colour illustrations from the 1910s and 1920s and works from the renowned Condé Nast archive. Perfect conditions for collecting new images in your head.

When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Museum of Photography, Jebensstraße 2, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

More info about the Museum für Fotografie

‘Shades of the Night’ Photography Exhibition

BBA Gallery in Berlin presents "Shades of the Night", the debut solo exhibition of the Dutch artist Vincent van Gaalen, who won first place in the BBA Photography Prize in 2022. "Lights out" is also the motto for Earth Hour on 23. March. Van Gaalen's artistic photographs of natural landscapes in the light of the full moon emphasise the importance of our unique ecosystems.

Tip 3: Celebrate the beginning of spring at the Britzer Baumblüte

Kulturstiftung Schloss Britz
© Runze & Casper, Foto: Nils-Peter Schmidt

The fact that there is always something to celebrate in Berlin is known far beyond the city limits. This weekend, for example, the Britzer Baumblüte is taking place for the 68th time. The popular folk festival in the south of Berlin invites you to enjoy the first rays of sunshine with all kinds of popular fairground attractions. Whether it's bumper cars, candy floss, a beer garden or the Nessi family rollercoaster - young and old alike are guaranteed not to get bored here. And a very special attraction awaits guests who make their way south on Saturday evening: at 9.30 pm, a colourful firework display lights up the Britz night sky!

When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 
Where: Festival grounds - Gutspark Britz, Parchimer Allee/Fulhamer Allee, Britz

More about Britzer Baumblüte

Tip 4: Enjoy Mediterranean film art at the Greek Film Festival

Filmrolle und Regieklappe
© Getty Images, Foto: KTSDESIGN

Greece is the cradle of the Western theatre tradition and has an artistic history like few of its European neighbours. So it comes as no surprise to anyone that modern Greek (film) art also has a lot to offer. This weekend you can see this for yourself at the Greek Film Festival at the Babylon cinema on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. From Friday to Sunday, films in all possible genres and formats await you. The festival ends on Sunday evening at 8pm with "The Summer with Carmen" by Zacharias Mavroeidis, a queer film about art and friendship. You can also look forward to a Q&A afterwards!

When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday (different times)
Where: Babylon, Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße 30, Mitte

 More about the greek FIlm festival

Tip 5: Experience aviation history up close at Tempelhof Airport

Vorfeld Flughafen Tempelhof
© Claudius Pflug

While the younger generations mainly think of skateboards, picnics and walks when they hear the word Tempelhofer Feld, long-established Berliners still remember the busy air traffic. Until 2008, this dominated the hustle and bustle on what is now a local recreation hotspot. The history of German aviation and the former Tempelhof Airport are closely linked. Some spectacular aircraft have taken off and landed here. You can find out all the important information about this and much more from experts on site on Friday, who will take you on a two-hour tour of the former airport. As an absolute highlight, carefully restored historic aeroplanes from the Museum of Technology await you. A Friday afternoon will quickly turn into a journey through time!

When: Friday at 14:30
Where: Tempelhof Airport, CHECK-IN visitor centre, Platz der Luftbrücke 5, Tempelhof

Tickets and information to the tour

Tip 6: Visit the herb days at Späth'schen Baumschulen

Frühlingsfest „Späth’er Frühling“
© Späth’sche Baumschulen/Daniela Incoronato

When it's green and blooming everywhere and the buds are sprouting, the season starts at Späth'sche Baumschulen. The new flowering year starts here with the Herb Days, where around 300 varieties of culinary and medicinal herbs take centre stage - all from sustainable production. Individual advisors are also on hand with their green fingers. And in addition to the herbs, soils and garden accessories that can be admired and purchased here, the grounds themselves are also worth a visit. The historic buildings surrounded by green meadows and plants bring a touch of nature and tranquillity to the busy city life!

When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Späth'sche Baumschulen, Späthstraße 80/81, Treptow-Köpenick

More about the days of herbs

Tip 7: See the best water divers of the year in action

06.7.2017 IDM Schwimmen
© camera 4

The World Aquatics Diving World Cup 2024 is coming to Berlin for the third time in a row this weekend. In the swimming and diving hall at Europasportpark, you can be there live when the international stars of the aquatics scene take the plunge into the (hopefully not so cold) water. After the start of the competition in Montreal, Berlin is the second stop for the top athletes before they finally head to Xi'an in China. The athletes have to collect important points in Berlin for the final there - so motivated and energised spectators are more than welcome!

When: Friday at 10am and 1.30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 10am
Where: Swimming and diving centre at Europasportpark (SSE), Paul-Heyse-Straße 26, Prenzlauer Berg

More about World Aquatics Diving World Cup 2024

Tip 8: Let Spirited Away whisk you away to magical worlds 

Anime Fair
Anime Fair © Carsten Siegel

The enchanted animated films by Japanese storyteller Hayao Miyazaki have long been regarded as cultural treasures of cinema. Spirited Away (in German: "Chihiros Reise ins Zauberland") was honoured with an Oscar for good reason. And the film score is also a decisive reason why Miyazaki's fairy-tale worlds cast a spell over viewers in an almost magical way. Joe Hisaishi - composer and co-author - always creates his pieces in parallel with the development of the film, giving their very own universe a unique, acoustic soul. This weekend at the Philharmonie Berlin, the Simple Music Ensemble World will perform Hisaishi's music in his own arrangements and whisk you away to magical worlds.

When: Saturday at 7pm
Where: Philharmonie Berlin, Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, Tiergarten

tickets for Simple Music Ensemble. Spirited Away

Tip 9: Find out more about art as booty at the Humboldt Forum

Family at the Humboldt Forum Berlin
Family at the Humboldt Forum Berlin © visitBerlin, Foto: Thomas Kierok

The complex topic of looted art is cropping up more and more frequently in media discussions about Europe's colonial heritage. After all, how many of the countless treasures that we can marvel at every day in Berlin's museums actually come from our own culture? An exciting exhibition on this topic starts this weekend at the Humboldt Forum. "Art as loot. 10 stories" is dedicated to the topic of looted art in different eras using 10 case studies and invites you to experience the individual stories up close through virtual reality. An educational approach to impressive works of art!

When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 to 18:30
Where: Humboldt Forum, Schloßplatz 5, Mitte 

More about the art as loot. 10 stories

Tip 10: Marvel at giants of prehistoric times at Berlin Zoo

Dinoworld im Tierpark Berlin
© Tierpark Berlin

The popular Berlin Zoo is not the only place to go for animal lovers. The 160-hectare zoo is also a popular destination for animal fans of all ages. Here you can watch llamas, get the creeps from imposing tigers and even marvel at dinosaurs. In April 2023, a unique dinosaur exhibition opened its doors at Tierpark Berlin. Together with US palaeontologist Don Lessem, a place was designed that brings around 20 different dinosaur species to life in their original size. Even the giraffes look tiny against them!

When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm
Where: Tierpark Berlin, Am Tierpark 125, Friedrichsfelde 

Tickets and Information about Tierpark berlin

Tip 11: Spend the weekend among two-wheelers

Cycling in Berlin
Cycling in Berlin © visitBerlin, Foto: Thomas Kierok

Bicycles are one of Berlin's favourite means of transport - and rightly so: they are a fast, flexible and, above all, sustainable way to get around. This weekend, two-wheeler fans will find their absolute Mecca at Motorwerk. For three days, the kolektif berlin bike fair will be all about bikes. On 7,000 m², you can exchange ideas with other bike fans, get advice from professionals, buy equipment or even a new bike, take part in exciting events or simply enjoy a cosy cup of coffee. And for all those interested from Pankow (and of course the whole of Berlin): the Motorwerk is perfectly accessible by bike!

When: Friday from 5 to 10 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Motorwerk, An der Industriebahn 12, Pankow

More about kolektif berlin bike fair

You can find more great information in our visitBerlin event calendar.