With colourful leaves, a fresh breeze and the cosiness we long for every year, autumn is arriving in Berlin - and filling our calendar of events for the weekend. Kites from all over the world await you at Tempelhofer Feld, you can fight your way over hill and dale at the Olympic Stadium and the tranquil harvest festival is celebrated at Domäne Dahlem.
Tip 1: Fly the kites on Tempelhofer Feld
When Berlin's treetops are transformed into a sea of colour, the sky is next in line: at the Festival of Giant Kites on Tempelhofer Feld on Saturday, kites up to 50 metres tall will take to the air from morning to evening, transforming the sky over Berlin into a colourful realm of mythical creatures.
In addition to classic kites with a line, giant octopuses, comic figures, fish and astronauts can also be marvelled at. With around 100,000 visitors, the festival is one of Berlin's most popular autumn events. Whether it's a family outing or the grand finale of an extended autumn walk, it's always worth a visit. With or without your own kite!
When: Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm
Where: Tempelhofer Feld, Tempelhofer Damm, Tempelhof
Tip 2: Visit the exhibition Close Enough at C/O Berlin
This special exhibition was created to mark the 75th anniversary of the renowned New York agency Magnum Photos - and is now being shown at C/O Berlin to celebrate its 25th birthday. Its name, Close Enough, refers to a quote from Magnum co-founder Robert Capa: "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."
With this sentence in mind, the twelve exhibited photographers explore the themes of closeness and distance and the relationship between photographers and their subjects. From documentary photography to long-term personal studies and family portraits , Close Enough presents a whole range of photographic disciplines and invites you to look at the relationship between geographical and emotional proximity from twelve new angles.
When: Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 8pm
Where: C/O Berlin (in the Amerika-Haus), Hardenbergstraße 22, Mitte
Tip 3: Try coffee from all over the world at the Coffee Festival Berlin
Our next tip is preceded by a little piece of advice: If you're planning to visit this festival, you should switch to decaffeinated alternatives after the third or fourth cup at the latest. The Berlin coffee scene comes together at the Coffee Festival Berlin on Friday and Saturday as part of Coffee Week to present you with the latest creations, beans and flavours of the coffee world - and said scene is not exactly small.
There is no shortage of new trends, new equipment and new types of coffee. After all, Berlin is known for its extensive coffee culture. You can expect a wide-awake weekend of networking, workshops and the delicious smell of coffee in Tempelhof's Atelier Gardens.
When: Friday and Saturday from 11am to 6pm
Where: Atelier Gardens, Oberlandstraße 26-35, Tempelhof
Tip 4: Scare your way through 800 years of city history at the Berlin Dungeon
Our next tip is aimed at adventure seekers, history buffs and horror fans alike. You only need to bring one thing with you: strong nerves. Because in the gloomy depths of the Berlin Dungeon, the city's dangerous past suddenly comes surprisingly close to you. Here, professional actors embody real people from over 800 years of the city's history and tell their stories.
You will meet the notorious serial killer Carl Großmann or Catarina Selchow, who was sentenced to death as a witch and tells you about life in medieval Berlin. If you haven't had enough heart palpitations from these eerie encounters, you can get your last adrenaline kick in the 12 metre deep indoor freefall tower. Look forward to an eerily beautiful family adventure!
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm
Where: Dungeon Berlin, Spandauer Straße 2, Mitte
Tip 5: Enjoy Japanese soup culture at the Berlin Ramen Festival
Soup belongs to autumn like a pot belongs to a lid. And this weekend is the ideal time for the Berlin Ramen Festival, which spoils us with the finest Japanese soup creations every year at the NÅPOLEON KOMPLEX in Friedrichshain. In addition to innovative ramen flavours such as Crispy Duck and Tantanmen Ramen, classics such as shoyu, miso, shio and tonkotsu are of course also represented.
And in addition to the steaming noodle soups, you can look forward to many other Japanese starters, desserts and snacks . A delicious celebration of international exchange with karaoke, pub quizzes, Japanese art and lots of fun for the whole family.
When: Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon
Where: NÅPOLEON KOMPLEX, Modersohnstraße 35-40, Friedrichshain
Tip 6: Take a look into the future of dating at FUTURE RULES
With Love is Blind, Bachelor/Bachelorette and Too Hot to Handle, don't we already have enough dating shows? Fortunately, the performance collective Frauen und Fiktion didn't ask themselves this question - or if they did, they answered it with a decisive "no". Because FUTURE RULES doesn't have much in common with the aforementioned shows apart from the format.
in the style of a classic dating show, chanteuse Géraldine Schabraque in the role of FUTURE (of Economy) guides you through an evening that transforms complex topics into a captivating theatre experience that is as humorous as it is feminist. What relationship models does capitalism actually still allow us? What does justice mean in love and, above all, with whom do we want to achieve it? Find out this weekend at TD Berlin - with drag and plenty of glamour.
When: Friday and Saturday at 8 pm
Where: TD Berlin, Klosterstraße 44, Mitte
Tip 7: Set off on an evening boat tour on the Spree
Marvelling at autumnal Berlin at sunset with a hot tea in your hand without having to walk a single step? The evening sightseeing tour on the Spree makes it possible this weekend. For more than two hours, you can make yourself comfortable on the deck of one of Berlin's passenger ships and sail past Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral and the government district.
The drinks menu includes all kinds of hot drinks, beers, long drinks and savoury snacks. The tour starts at Reichstagsufer and shows you Berlin from perhaps its most beautiful side: timeless, relaxed and bathed in evening light.
When: Friday and Saturday at different departure times
Where: Friedrichstraße landing stage (Reichstagufer), Reichstagufer 19, Mitte
Tip 8: Let BLINDED by DELIGHT whisk you away to dream worlds
Like no other cultural institution in Berlin, Friedrichstadt-Palast knows what a good show should look like - and proves its expertise in the new Grand Show BLINDED by DELIGHT. What it's about: The protagonist Luci opens her eyes one day and is suddenly surrounded by the breathtaking splendour of her very own dream world.
Her everyday life is soon forgotten - and when the love of her life finally appears on the scene, this new life is almost too good to be true. She is soon faced with a decision: Does she follow her dreams or does she flee back to reality. With over 100 artists and a breathtaking stage set, you can expect an unrivalled show this weekend.
When: Friday at 19:30, Saturday at 15:30 and 19:30 and Sunday at 15:30
Where: Friedrichstadt-Palast, Friedrichstraße 107, Mitte
Tip 9: Celebrate the opening of the Tanztreffen der Jugend 2025
Now that eight of the original 53 ensembles from all over Germany have had their work selected for the final round, the 12th Tanztreffen der Jugend can finally get underway this weekend. To give the festival a fitting welcome, the organisers, together with young jurors Mila Lipicar and Aliyye Sahin, have organised a festive opening evening at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
Here you can experience the participating ensembles together on one stage and gain a first insight into their work. The Tanztreffen der Jugend sees itself as a space for encounters, artistic exchange and innovative dance art. The duo Rona Stoica and Vincent Kern will provide musical accompaniment on this Saturday evening.
When: Saturday at 7 pm
Where: Haus der Berliner Festspiele - large stage, Schaperstraße 24, Wilmersdorf
Tip 10: Harvest your own pumpkins at the Domäne Dahlem harvest festival
The annual harvest festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday at the historic Domäne Dahlem estate in the south of the city. Starting at 10 a.m., you can expect a richly decorated harvest wagon, a market on the estate with all kinds of autumnal delicacies and exciting insights into the history of this special place.
Probably the most autumnal highlight of all at this harvest festival, however, is the pumpkin harvest. You can harvest your own Hokkaido, butternut and ornamental pumpkins and many other varieties fresh from the domain field. The rules are straightforward: collect the harvest bags from the edge of the field in return for a deposit and only harvest as much as you really want to buy. From then on, you can do what you like - our suggestions: Soup, quiche or pasta.
When: Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Domäne Dahlem, Königin-Luise-Straße 49, Dahlem
Harvest festival Domäne Dahlem
Tip 11: Leave all obstacles behind you at the Obstacle City Run
This sporting event has symbolic power: although the Obstacle City Run puts, places and hangs numerous obstacles in your way, you leave one after the other behind you. Your success will not be made easy, but with team spirit and perseverance you can do it all! Thechild-friendly Family Edition starts with 3 kilometres, followed by the 6-kilometre team course and finally the ultimate challenge with 31 obstacles awaits you over 12 kilometres.
At the end, all participants will receive a medal and a good reason to be proud of themselves. Look forward to a fun and sporty weekend with a beer garden, DJ music and lots of exciting challenges for the little top athletes among you.
When: Saturday at various start times
Where: Olympiastadion - Maifeld, Olympischer Platz 3, Westend
Here you can find even more great tips for activities & things to do in Berlin - whatever the weather.
