May is here and with it Mother's Day! And so this Sunday it's high time once again to thank the mothers of the world - preferably with great Berlin experiences. Berlin's open gardens, theatres, ships on the Spree and extraordinary event venues provide the perfect backdrop for this festive occasion on this sunny weekend - and our calendar of events is once again overflowing with art, culture and leisure fun.
Tip 1: Taste your way through True Italian Gelato Week
Ice cream lovers take note: This weekend, Berlin will be transformed into a land of milk and honey for everyone who loves gelato. During True Italian Gelato Week, you can embark on a very special culinary journey - in over 40 hand-picked ice cream parlours in the city! Each of them offers a special flavour created especially for this event, which you can try for just 1.50 euros. Whether it's rhubarb meringue, pistachio with olive oil or vegan saffron sorbet - it's not just sweet here, but also really creative.
When: 8 to 14 May 2025
Where: In 42 participating gelaterias throughout Berlin
Tip 2: Experience Breathing Art on the Teufelsberg
The Breathing Art - Live Painting & Yoga event on Teufelsberg will highlight the more political aspects of Mother's Day, while at the same time offering a relaxed accompanying programme. Frankfurt street artist HERA (Jasmin Siddiqui) will be painting live on a wall over 17 metres high on Berlin's mountain of rubble in cooperation with the Violence against Women helpline. In addition to political art and social discourse, you can also look forward to a relaxing offer: In the middle of nature, yoga professionals will help you to find your inner peace - because self-care is also political after all!
Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm
Where: Teufelsberg, Teufelsseechaussee 10, Grunewald
Tip 3: Enjoy terrific cinematic art at the 2025 Jewish Film Festival
Just a few weeks after the Attendance Berlin Film Festival, the next highlight of the art of film is already on the horizon with the Jewish Film Festival. The Jewish Film Festival 2025 celebrates the conclusion of this year's edition this weekend and invites you to films, talks and interviews. Look forward to exciting panels on current topics of the Jewish community worldwide as well as numerous captivating films that bring contemporary and historical Jewish perspectives to the screen. The festival embarks on a journey across all genres and also awards prizes for the best documentary and feature film. This unique cultural event is dedicated to the remembrance of the Holocaust, active engagement against anti-Semitism and dialogue-based democracy, especially in difficult times.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various event times
Where: Various venues throughout Berlin
Tip 4: To Mom, I want to... is about being separated from each other
Home, exchange, belonging ... all of these themes are part of the complex world of motherhood and play a particularly important role in the context of diaspora experiences. In her theatre piece To Mom, I want to... author Jiayun Zhuang explores the mother-child relationship together with the Berlin-based artist collective Nomadic Minutes, consisting of Cao Kefei, Zhou Niannian, Zhang Deng and Liu ShiYu. The play is an ode to motherhood and deals with the emotional challenges it brings when families are separated by temporal, spatial and socio-cultural boundaries.
When: Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 6pm
Where: Ballhaus Ost, Pappelallee 15, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 5: Experience a particularly humorous evening at the opera with The Cast
Great opera music can make for truly sublime emotions - but why does it always have to be so terribly serious? Anyone who recognises themselves in this rather special dilemma can breathe a sigh of relief: this weekend, the opera band The Cast returns to the BKA-Theater on Mehringdamm and conquers the Kreuzberg stage with incomparable vocal power. In addition to the masterpieces of classical music, there will also be plenty of humour. Six virtuoso singers from four continents create this special evening with a lot of humour, joie de vivre and according to the motto Opera À La Carte. Because here you can help decide which pieces are performed on stage - sometimes life is a concert of wishes after all!
When: Saturday at 8pm
Where: BKA Theatre, Mehringdamm 34, Kreuzberg
Tip 6: Look forward to relaxing on the high Spree this weekend
Especially when the weather plays along, the many waterways in and around Berlin invite you to make yourself comfortable on one of the many excursion boats and let the sun shine on your nose. This is a particularly good idea at the weekend: coffee, cake, a refreshing drink and plenty of anecdotes about Berlin's past. The city's cultural highlights will pass you by, there will be a gentle breeze and the most important thing? Whether you're a mum or not, you don't have to do a thing. Because the experienced crew of the Berlin Spreeschiffe will take care of the cake, iced coffee and entertainment. So the only order on board is: open your eyes and enjoy!
When: At various departure times
Where: Reederei Winkler, jetty Bhf. Friedrichstraße, Reichstagufer 18, Mitte
Tip 7: Experience history, architecture and politics in Berlin's government district
The Berlin government district has not only been the political centre of politics in reunified Germany since 1991, but also a place full of exciting facts about the history and architecture of the city. With an experienced tour guide, you can set off on a two-hour tour of the extensive grounds at the weekend and brush up on your general knowledge in an informative and entertaining way. Where do the Federal Chancellors meet their guests? Are there underground corridors between the government buildings? Where and how are laws actually passed? Take a walk along the old section of the Wall and find out. You'll be well prepared for the capital city questions at the next quiz evening.
When: Saturday and Sunday at 10:15 am
Where: Paul-Löbe-Allee at the corner of Konrad-Adenauer-Straße, Mitte
Tip 8: Watch Danny and Sandy dance at GREASE in the Admiralspalast
The hit musical GREASE is unforgettable - you can experience its spectacular new production at the Admiralspalast until the end of May. And what better time to immerse yourself in this unique 50s nostalgia than now? After all, spring fever is the main theme of this stage hit. Dazzling costumes, trenchant dialogue, rousing dance interludes and plenty of teen romance effortlessly capture the magic of the original. Look forward to rock'n'roll, doo-wop sound, hits like You're The One That I Want and lots of pomade in the hair of high school sweethearts Danny and Sandy.
When: Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 3pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm and 7pm
Where: Admiralspalast, Friedrichsstraße 101, Mitte
Tip 9: Dream your way into Morten Juul's indie universe in Room 16
Danish DIY artist Morten Juul has long since conquered his hometown of Copenhagen and is now heading to Berlin to warm our hearts with his folky indie sounds. You can be there at Zimmer 16 on Saturday when he performs his debut album lights&woods. In his songs, the Dane combines old and new, timeless and contemporary and he brings electronic sound together with the typical sounds of instrumental indie music. Especially recommended for all those of you who want to dream away from the big city at the weekend with your eyes closed and into an experimental soundscape!
When: Saturday at 10pm
Where: Room 16, Florastrasse 16, Pankow
Tip 10: Pour yourself a glass of pure wine at Ludwig-Beck-Platz
This year, the popular wine and winegrowers' festival Weinfrühling on Mother's Day invites you to Ludwig-Beck-Platz. Together with your loved ones, you can spend this festive day not only in the best of company, but also with a nice glass of wine. Because what's served here is guaranteed to be delicious and includes truly unique wines: around the striking Wappenbrunnen fountain, small, self-marketed family wineries offer their fine wines and also provide you with matching snacks. Flammkuchen to cheese specialities are on the menu here, live music can be heard and on Sunday regional arts and crafts round off the wine spring. A glass of wine and sunshine - the best recipe for a perfect weekend!
When: Friday from 2pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm
Where: Ludwig-Beck-Platz, Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Tip 11: Inspected in Wedding Krempel de Luxe at the Inspector Villa
You can go on a treasure hunt this weekend in the garden of the two-storey Inspector Villa in Wedding. Twenty stalls will be selling heirlooms, clothing, art and junk. The special flea market Krempel de Luxe will amaze you with all kinds of curiosities - and not just because of its special location. The Inspektor-Villa is part of the former Wedding crematorium. In addition to its legendary past, it particularly delights visitors with its romantic architecture and green garden area. Plunge into a historical browsing and strolling experience away from the usual Berlin hotspots!
When: Saturday from 11am to 5pm
Where: Inspektor-Villa Wedding, Gerichtstraße 36, Wedding
Trip Tip: Stroll through the open gardens in Berlin and Brandenburg
Berlin, Potsdam and the surrounding region are known for their cultural wealth. This also includes garden culture. The first thing that springs to mind when you think of this is famous green spaces such as the Tiergarten or the Park Babelsberg - but there are plenty of other places to discover. This weekend, the Open Gardens Initiative is offering you the perfect opportunity to get a whole new insight into gardens. Just in time for Mother's Day weekend, hundreds of garden gates will be open in Berlin and the surrounding area, including smaller, private gardens in Berlin and Potsdam. For just five euros, you can get an annual badge that gives you and your loved ones unlimited access to the greenery on other open weekends too!
When: Saturday and Sunday at various opening times
Where: Various gardens in Berlin and Brandenburg
