Discover Berlin

The best summer tips for Berlin

Summer events

In summer, life in Berlin moves outdoors with street parties and concerts. Right on time for the official start of summer, the Fête de la Musique brings a wide choice of music - ranging from pop to reggae and choral music - to practically every street corner (21 June 2010). The Sandsation Festival on the banks of the river Spree (at O2 World), featuring metre-high sandcastles and giant sand sculptures by artists from all around the world, is an unmissable spectacle (6 June – 29 August 2010). For open air concerts the place to go is the Concert Summer at the Englischer Garten (3 July – 29 August 2010). And before the Autumn of Art kicks off, the 6th berlin biennale will be showcasing the world’s leading contemporary artists and most exciting art (11 June – 8 August 2010).

Fête de la Musique Sandsation Konzertsommer berlin biennale



The Fan Mile and Public Viewing for the Football World Cup

The ever-popular Fan Mile on the Straße des 17. Juni opens on 23 June to coincide with the last preliminary round fixture of the German squad. Incredibly popular during the World Cup 2006, the 2010 Fan Mile is expected to attract many hundred thousand fans, who will be coming here to watch the matches live on giant screens. Ever since the World Cup kicked off, the city has been transformed into a massive party zone, with around 50 public viewing screens and countless pubs and beach bars showing the matches. Venues with giant screens include the Playground at the Invalidenstraße, Admiralspalast in Berlin-Mitte, the Bundespressestrand and the Haus der Kulturen der Welt.

The hottest beach bars

If sipping a caipirinha under palm trees at a beach bar is your thing, then look no further than Berlin! No need to travel all the way to the Copacabana – you’ll find trendy beach bars with a relaxed holiday atmosphere right at the heart of Berlin. Lounge in a deckchair in flip-flops and enjoy your cocktail in the sun. The Bundespressestrand opposite the Reichstag, Strandbar Mitte in Monbijoupark, the Badeschiff Arena and Capital Beach at the main station are only four of the 15 waterfront beach bars you’ll find throughout Berlin.

Bundespressestrand Strandbar Mitte Arena Berlin Capital Beach



Open-air cinema under starry skies

Warm, long summer film nights are one the highlights of every summer. Armed with popcorn, ice cream and a rug, lie back and enjoy new and old film classics. Film fans have a choice of eight open-air cinemas, including the Amphitheater in Friedrichshain, which is situated in the middle of the park, the former Naturtheater in der Hasenheide in Neukölln and the open-air cinema Kulturforum with its impressive backdrop of the Potsdamer Platz.

Freiluftkino Berlin Freiluftkino Hasenheide Yorck

The best bathing lakes

If you’re in need of cooling down after sightseeing or clubbing or just want to escape the heat of the city, then pack your trunks or swimsuit - as the case may be - and head off to one of Berlin’s many attractive bathing lakes. We recommend Freibad Plötzensee in Berlin-Mitte, Großglienicker See in Berlin-Spandau, Teufelssee or Strandbad Müggelsee.

Berliner Bäderbetriebe



The cosiest beer gardens

Another great way to enjoy a hot summer’s day is to unwind at the end of the day in one of Berlin’s numerous beer gardens. Try a Berliner Weiße beer, which is served with sweet woodruff or raspberry syrup, and you’ll find yourself wishing that summer could last for ever. At the Schleusenkrug you can watch the boats manoeuvring at the Tiergarten locks. The traditional pub Haus Zenner, located in the Eierschale right on the banks of the Spree in Treptow, opened a hundred years ago. Other cosy places to sit and sip are Prater and Pfefferberg in Prenzlauer Berg.

Schleusenkrug Eierschale Zenner Prater Garten