Enjoy the warm days, get outside, soak up the sunshine and vitamin D - and get in shape for the swimming season. Here are our tips for summer activities where you can really work out or relax! Leave the stress of everyday life behind you and start the Berlin summer full of activity and joie de vivre!
Tip 1: Cycling tours through Berlin
Getting back on your bike in spring and exploring the city and surrounding area is definitely one of the top outdoor activities in Berlin! In Berlin there are varied or romantic routes, along the Panke, the Tegeler See, through the Grunewald forest or the zoo and of course along the former Berlin Wall. Or you can start a discovery tour on the traces of Berlin's industrial culture, visiting backyard sites and former factory buildings. To cool off after your tour, you can also take a ride to one of the many lakes for swimming in Berlin.
Tip: If you prefer guided bike tours, check out Berlin on Bike.
Tip 2: Relax outdoors during a walk in the park
Berlin has so many beautiful parks to offer that it is difficult to choose the best one. The Britzer Garten, featuring blossoms in spring and a colourful dahlia show in the fall, is definitely one of the highlights! On 100 hectares you can stroll through the lake district, theme gardens such as the famous rose garden or the witch garden.The little ones enjoy the beautiful play areas. Of course, the Botanical Garden in Steglitz. the park at Schloss Charlottenburg or the Tiergarten - the green lung in the middle of the city - are always worth a visit.
Tip 3: Paddle environmentally friendly and free of charge
Being outdoors in Berlin also means being on the water. Here you can discover Berlin in a very special way and do something good for the environment at the same time! With GreenKayak, you can paddle across Berlin's waters in a kayak for free while you fish rubbish such as plastic out of the water. The environmentally friendly kayaks are available at two locations in Berlin: at Backstagetourism and at whatSUPberlin on the Havel. A unique outdoor experience for environmentally conscious adventurers.
Tip 4: Hiking in and around Berlin
Hiking in the big city might sound like a crazy plan at first, but this year you've seen that Berlin has some beautiful corners that are well worth exploring! For example, take a walk along the Wuhletal hiking trail, which winds its way south from Eichepark at Ahrensfelde S-Bahn station with the valley of the Wuhle River to Köpenick S-Bahn station.
Besides the species-rich, idyllic river valley, you will encounter numerous parks and meadows along the way. The route also runs along the IGA grounds, which invite you to take a short detour with a cable car ride.
Tip 5: Excursions to Brandenburg
Why not take a trip to neighbouring Brandenburg? In the Spreewald biosphere reserve, about an hour south of Berlin, you can enjoy the landscape on a boat trip along dreamy thatched cottages. Rheinsberg Castle in north-west Brandenburg is also worth a visit. The rococo castle is located directly on the Grienericksee lake.
Tip 6: Embrace the outdoors and hit the skates
The sun is shining, the paths have been cleared: finally it's time to get out the inline skates and skateboards again. From skate parks to the skater meeting place at the Allmende Kontor of Tempelhofer Feld to the kilometre-long track through Grunewald - Berlin has a whole range of options for starting the spring on wheels. We have compiled the 11 best routes for you here
Tip 7: Discovery tours through the city
During a walk through the city you can always discover something new. The whole of Berlin is a gigantic outdoor museum. Here you can stroll through the neighbourhoods and see numerous sculptures and works of art by famous artists such as Henry Moore or Keith Haring, and all for freeThe government district and the banks of the Spree also attract inline skaters and joggers, in Dahlem you can walk along green paths and from Tempelhof you can cycle or hike along the Teltow Canal to Steglitz.
A trip to the Bavarian Quarter is also historically interesting. Numerous commemorative plaques await you, which remind you of the gradual discrimination and disenfranchisement of Berlin's Jews. Incidentally, Albert Einstein also lived here in Haberlandstraße between 1917 and 1932. There is a project website about the new Einstein-Stela with quotations and a lot more information about the famous physicist.
Tip 8: Discover Street Art outdoors
The whole of Berlin is a gigantic outdoor gallery. You'll find great works of art and murals all over the city, ranging from the mosaics of GDR times to the East Side Gallery and modern street art works. Street art icons from all over the world like Jadore Tong, Shepard Fairey, Jim Avignon, Herakut or blu have left their mark.
Discover street art highlights in Berlin with our ABOUT BERLIN app and learn more about the artists and the individual murals. Download now for free. Your digital city guide to Berlin history and stories.
There are many stories to tell: ABOUT BERLIN
Tip 9: Discover new spots while geo-caching
If you're looking for a challenge, geocaching is definitely the right choice. With the help of a free app, you can solve puzzles, follow tips and find treasures. It's not unusual for you to have to go to places that are new even to experienced Berliners.
Tip 10: Viewpoints in Berlin's neighbourhoods
Teufelsberg is the highest elevation in Berlin. For this reason, the Americans chose this heap of rubble as the site of their former spy station. Thee journey and climb up the hill takes about 30 minutes, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view. The whole of Berlin is at your feet, and there's always a good breeze blowing on the 99 metres of the artificially raised hill. We have put together a list of other beautiful vantage points in Berlin's neighbourhoods.
Tip 11: Climbing and bouldering
A little below the former spy station on Teufelsberg you will also find a climbing tower that is even suitable for top rope, which means you can attach your climbing ropes to the top and belay each other. You can also climb and boulder outdoors at the "Kegel" on the RAW site. Many bouldering halls like Bright Side open their outdoor climbing gardens in summer. And in the Jungfernheide forest high ropes course, completely new challenges await you. We have put together more ideas for climbing and bouldering for you here.
Here you can find more tips for activities in Berlin: things to do and explore.
