The Best Berlin Summer Activities

Summer in Berlin is an amazing time — the sun goes down late, people hang out in the parks until the wee hours and you are sure to find an outdoor event or body of water calling your name. For insight into the best Berlin summer activities, look no further than Archer Relocation’s summer guide.

Berlin Summer Activities in the Water – For the Family

Berlin has its fair share of public pools to help you cool down.  The pools will become overloaded with people by the afternoon, so it is best to stake your claim on a spot earlier in the day.

Image with thanks from berlinerbaeder.de

Bad am Spreewald (Wiener Strasse 59H, 10999)

Indoor pool with water slides, shooting water cannons and a nice 28-degree water temperature.

Sommerbad Kreuzberg (Prinzenstraße 113-119, 10969)

Outdoor fun and frivolity with paved areas, grassy areas and a kiddie pool.

Schwimm und Springhalle im Eurosportpark (Paul-Heyse-Strasse 26, 10407)

Large indoor swim center with separate areas for fitness swimmers and families.

Stadtbad Schöneberg (Hauptstrasse 39, 10827)

Large indoor pool with a big slide for the brave family members and a smaller slide for the rest of us.

Sommerbad Pankow (Wolfshagener Str. 91-93, 13187)

Outdoor pool with a lot of green areas to laze around on.   There are many pools of different sizes, making it a great option for families.

Klein Schwimmhalle Wuhlheide ( An der Wuhlheide 161, 12459)

Located in the same park as the FEZ kids center.  Spend the entire day here, and take the kids home tired.

Image with thanks from Badeschiff

Berlin Summer Activities in the Water – For the Adults Amongst Us

Stadtbad Charlottenburg (Krumme Strasse 10, 10585)

Take a leisurely dip within this gorgeous Art Nouveau building.  It is the oldest swimming pool in Berlin!

Stadtbad Neukölln (Ganghoferstrasse 3, 12043)

Gaze at the beautiful mosaic ceilings in this historic swim hall, walk in the garden or take in a romantic swim on Saturday and Sunday evenings with underwater music and low lighting.

Badeschiff (Eichenstraße 4 Berlin, 12435 )

A pool in the Spree River! Enjoy the view of the Berlin skyline, grab a drink at the beach bar, and listen to some music.  Quite the scene, so get in early!

Haubentaucher (Revaler Str. 99, 10245)

This pool for adults is housed in the RAW Gelände building complex in Friedrichshain. There is a DJ spinning most days, and the pool hosts many parties and events throughout the summer.

Berlin Summer Activities – Drink a Beer in a Biergarten

Biergartens in Berlin are the perfect place to spend a summer afternoon.  With most set under sprawling trees for shade, Berlin biergartens serve enormous beers and, most likely, a Bratwurst or Flammkuchen.  During the daylight hours, the biergartens are certainly family-friendly.  No reservations are necessary — just bring a relaxed attitude and a big thirst.

Image with thanks from Café am Neuen See

Prater (Kastanienallee 7-9, 10435) 

Huge biergarten in Prenzlauer Berg with a lot of food options, from sausage to pretzels outside to more formal Austrian food inside.

Strandbar Mitte  (Monbijoustraße 3B, 10117)

Sit back and relax in one of the many beach chairs and admire the view of the Berlin’s Museum Insel.  There are even open-air dance classes here in the summer!

Schleusenkrug (14a, Müller-Breslau-Straße, 10623)

Set beneath the beautiful trees of the Tiergarten.

Café am Neuen See (2, Lichtensteinallee, 10787)

This biergarten is also found in the Tiergarten, but it is set beside a pond with an option for renting a rowboat if you are ambitious.  There are quite a few food options here, ranging from pizza to roasted chicken.

Eschenbrau (Triftstraße 67, 13353 Berlin)

This Wedding biergarten is a classic, serving their locally brewed beer with a few choices of simple flammkuchens.  The authenticity and the amount of locals frequenting this biergarten give it real charm.

Zollpackhof (Elisabeth-Abegg-Straße 1, 10557)

This biergarten has lots of seating options, outside and even inside, and offers the typical biergarten cuisine.  There is a nice playground for the kids while the adults relax with views of the Spree.

Image with thanks from the English Gardens Summer Concert Series

Berlin Summer Activities – Outdoor Events

Waldbuhne im Olympiapark

Built for the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin, The Waldbühne (forest stage) has been used as a concert stage since 1962. This open-air stage hosts numerous music concerts from rock to classical to children shows.

Citadel Music Festival (Zitadelle Spandau)

15 June – 31 Aug, 2019

Would you like to see some live music in a preserved renaissance military fortress? Zitadelle Spandau is the place for you.  Hosting a number of live music acts and events this summer, this is a very special outdoor venue. (P.S. There is also a rather interesting museum, housing former castle artifacts and temporary art exhibits.)

Botanic Nights 2018 (Botanische Nacht)

19 & 20 July, 2019

The Berlin Dahlem Botanic Gardens and Museum hosts this wonderful outdoor event every year.  Enjoy the gardens at night with illuminations on the buildings and plants while listening to live music in the 43 hectares of gardens.  Stick around for the fireworks, too!

English Gardens Summer Concert Series

30 June – 1 September, 2019

Jazz, pop, rock, funk, soul, hip-hop — this open-air concert series has something for everyone. Every Sunday you can enjoy some live music whilst enjoying the English Gardens in the Tiergarten.   This series has been going on for over 20 years!

Berlin has so much to offer in summer, so get out there and make the most this beautiful weather!

Contributed by Charmaine.

Charmaine Gorman is an Australian writer and actress living in Berlin with her family. As a content writer and editor, she works for many clients around the world, and along with her husband, is the founder and content manager of the online travel guide My Guide Berlin.

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Archer Relocation has been providing relocation services to families, individuals and companies in Berlin since early 2015.  Managing Director, Emily Archer, founded the company desiring to use her first-hand experience as an expat to make the relocation process as smooth as possible for others moving to Berlin.  Read other useful information about moving to and living in Berlin, such as ‘How to Find a Berlin Apartment’, on our Berlin Blog.  

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