Berlin is a beautiful city to visit, particularly during the warmer months, when the city streets come alive with bustling biergartens and crowded street markets. To help you get the most out of a Berlin summer trip, we’ve taken a look at the best things to do and what sort of weather you need to be prepared for while you’re doing them. Get ready to head out onto the streets of Berlin and have a summer holiday you’ll never forget.
Berlin summer: weather
Berlin summers are mostly made up of mild, temperate days and sunny skies. On average, the maximum temperature is around 23 degrees Celsius (roughly 73 degrees Fahrenheit) in June and about 25 degrees Celsius (roughly 77 degrees Fahrenheit) in July and August. However, don’t expect clear skies for your whole visit, as summer is also when Berlin sees the most rainfall – thunderstorms are most common in July, so remember to pack an umbrella and prepare some rainy day activities.
Berlin summer: what to pack
In Berlin, the usual rules of summer travel apply: comfortable shoes, light clothing and all the sunscreen, broad hats and sunglasses you need to ensure sunburn doesn’t interfere with your plans. For lower temperatures, particularly if you plan on staying out late at night or getting up early in the morning, don’t skip out on a light jacket or two. Rain is common, so you’ll be glad you’re prepared with a pair of waterproof boots and a raincoat when a summer storm hits. One of the most popular activities in Berlin is swimming, so even if you don’t have beach plans, a swimsuit may end up coming in handy.
Berlin summer: high season
Summer is Berlin’s busiest tourist season (along with Oktoberfest), and that means the hotels and attractions will be more expensive and booked out than at other times of the year. If you’re arranging a summer visit, plan it well in advance to ensure you get the tours and stays you want (plus, booking ahead will usually save you some money). It’s also a good idea to buy a Berlin Welcome Card from the airport or a tourist information centre, which will give you free public transport and discounted entry to many of Berlin’s top attractions. The price varies depending on the length of your stay and whether you want to bundle in extras, but the base cost is roughly €24 for 48 hours.
Berlin summer: food and drink
Cool down with some ice cream
Berliners love ice cream, and you’ll find heaps of ice cream parlours, or ‘eiscafes’, all throughout the city. With so many parlours, individual eiscafes often get creative with their offerings, like Die Eismacher known for their ube-flavoured ice cream – arrive early if you want to try it, as it tends to sell out. While you’ll find at least a few vegan flavours at many eiscafes, Tribeca is dedicated to vegan ice cream made without sugar. On the other hand, Eiscafe Monheim has been around since 1928, and its philosophy is all about making traditional flavours using old family recipes to produce high-quality, delicious ice cream.
Relax after a long day of travel at one of Berlin’s beer gardens
Germany is, of course, well known for its beer, and Berlin’s beer gardens, or ‘biergartens’, are a fantastic way to experience the local offerings and soak up some sunsets. Prater is the oldest one in Berlin – although it’s massive, it’s also very popular, so it can be difficult to get a table. Golgatha is excellent for young families, located inside Viktoriapark, next to a large playground. Burgergarten has excellent pretzels and weisswurst to go along with its beer and is located close to the edge of Lake Muggelsee, giving you a beautiful view of the waterfront.
A bite to eat at Bite Club
Found on the banks of the river Spree, Bite Club is a street market that’s only open during the warmer months in Berlin. It’s an absolute must-visit for any dedicated foodie, with stalls and food trucks serving street food from all around the world. You’ll find delicious bao buns, decadent cannoli and mouth-watering kimchi. It’s usually open every Friday in summer from 16:00 and is a wonderfully relaxing way to end a long day of sightseeing.
Berlin summer: other fun things
Summertime festivals
Summer is when festivals are in full swing in Berlin. In late May, Kreuzberg hosts the Carnival of Cultures, a celebration of the city’s cultural diversity. Here you’ll find dance, music and art aboard floats that move throughout the city. In June, the Christopher Street Day Parade is Berlin’s Pride celebration, with colourful floats and live performances celebrating LGBTQ+ communities. While Oktoberfest isn’t until autumn, the Berlin Beer Festival in August is the next best thing, with streets full of beer tents and live bands performing.
Head to the water
When the weather heats up and you feel the need for a dip in the pool, Berlin has you covered with some truly unique swimming locations. The most well known is Badeschiff, a pool located in a repurposed shipping container, which is itself located in the Spree river. You’ll find Berlin locals here in the early morning, refreshing after a night spent clubbing at the nearby hotspots.
For more of a spa vibe, head to Liquidrome. It’s a pool filled with warm salt water that lets you float while gentle sounds echo through the hall and coloured lights gently illuminate the pool.
Beyond the pools
Pools aren’t the only places you can swim. With around 3,000 lakes in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg, quite a few of the city’s lakes are also suitable for swimming. Strandband Wandsee is an open-air lido that tops lists of summer activities in Berlin due to its gorgeous views and sandy beach. Lake Muggelsee is another lake with a beachfront perfect for both swimming and sun-soaking, where you can swim wherever you like. Some lakes only have certain areas where you can swim, like Lake Teufelsee, which is a gorgeous getaway located in the centre of the Grunewald forest, where wild animals often approach visitors, hoping for snacks.
Picnic in the park
Berlin has some beautiful parks that you’ll likely find yourself wandering through as you move from attraction to attraction, but consider spending a few hours soaking in the parks themselves. Monbijoupark is popular due to its large size, view of the Berlin Cathedral dome and proximity to the Spree river. Also on the Spree is the Stralau peninsula, a 3 km (just under 2 mile) long path with plenty of neighbouring greenery. It lets visitors watch passing sailboats under the shade of leafy trees.
Rainy day activities
When rain inevitably falls during Berlin in the summer, there are plenty of indoor activities to fill your day. One of the best options is to visit Museum Island, a complex of five historic museums located on the north of Spree Island. They house ancient artefacts and artworks, including large archaeological structures. You can purchase tickets to the museums individually or get a day pass for the whole complex for around €19 for adults and around €9.50 for students. The Berlin Aquarium is an excellent attraction, particularly for those with young children, where you can see a range of sea creatures such as sharks, jellyfish and turtles. There’s free entry for children under 4, whilst it’s around €17.50 for adults and roughly €9 for children.
Don’t skip the classics
Whether you get warm pleasant days or heavy rain and thunderstorms, you can always do the classic sightseeing in Berlin. The Reichstag, Berlin’s parliamentary building, is a fascinating place to tour – make sure to book ahead to beat the queues. The Topography of Terror is a permanent exhibition in what was once the headquarters of the Secret State Police; it offers an informative and important look at the terrors and persecution that occurred during the Third Reich. The Berlin Wall Memorial and Brandenburg Gate are symbols of the city’s divided history during the Cold War and offer visitors an insight into the city’s past.
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