The 23 best things to do in Berlin right now

Berlin’s most famous, biggest and busiest vintage scene is at Mauerpark. This Sunday flea market sees storeholders selling everything from clothes by local designers to eclectic collections of vintage items. It also hosts the immensely popular weekly outdoor singing session, Bearpit Karaoke. You can also try out the the flea markets on the RAW cultural site in Berlin-Friedrichshain, and for fresh fruit and vegetables or baked goods, head to Neuköllner Wochenmärkte on Tuesdays and Fridays.

🥙 Discover more of the best markets in Berlin

The Berlin clubbing scene is world famous, and rightly so. The most famous is Berghain, a techno temple whose fame as an 'out-there' venue sees queues as long as six hours, with possible rejection when you reach the front. If that happens, check out Sisyphos (famous for its 10 pm Friday to 10 am Monday hours), Renate, KitKatClub and rooftop Klunkerkranich. 

The best way of getting in? 1) If you don’t like techno, learn to love it. 2) If you go to a club 'just to see it' instead of genuinely liking the vibe, you probably won’t get in. 3) Learn the DJs' names in case you’re asked. 4) Obviously, don’t turn up drunk.

After Tempelhof Airport ceased operation in 2008, the city opened the runways to the public. Now you can stroll down the runways where Second World War Stuka dive-bombers took off and where, during the Berlin Airlift of 1948 after the Soviets blockaded West Berlin, the Western Powers dropped supplies for the city’s 2.5 million residents.

Today, the 368-hectare open space of runways and grasslands is much enjoyed by walkers, kite surfers, cyclists, runners, skaters, and goshawks. There are designated sections for dogs to run free, basketball courts, a baseball field, beer gardens, and even small allotments where Berliners can grow their own veg.

Frederick the Great’s summer grounds make for an unforgettable day out in Potsdam, the state capital of Brandenburg, just an S-Bahn ride southwest from central Berlin. As well as touring the Sansouci palace itself, guests can spend hours getting lost in its gardens and the ornate Bildergalerie and Neue Kammern (‘new chambers’). A trip to the lush grounds is welcome after a few days of pavement-pounding in urban Berlin. Not a fan of royalty? Discover the Golden Age of Berlin film at Filmpark Babelsberg, visit the Dutch and Russian quarters, and cross the Glienicke Bridge AKA the Cold War ‘Bridge of Spies.

Ask any local Berliner what their favourite thing to do in the city is, and you can bet your bottom euro that many of them will say that it's plentiful green spaces. Tiergarten by the Brandenburg Gate is the most famous and makes a refreshing break from your sightseeing. In its lifetime, it has been a hunting area for wild animals, a public park as created by Frederick the Great, and a site of destruction during and post-WW2, where much of the greenery was destroyed. Today, newer trees have been grown, and it is once again a relaxing park in which you can while away your summer days.

Time Out Tip: Check out Volkspark Friedrichshain to sunbathe with a pretzel and Treptower Park for one of the city’s prettiest outdoor beer gardens by the river. 

The Badeschiff pool in Treptow is a famous floating barge pool, right next to the River Spree. You can sip Aperol spritzes from its bar and lean back in the various deckchairs overlooking the Instagram-worthy pool in front of you. But don’t be tempted to take a quick snap. Badeschiff is one of the many venues where you are not allowed to take photos. Note, that booking is essential, particularly on those long, hot, and humid summer days. Just note it’s not open all year round, so check its website for opening times. 

The wider Brandenburg region has around 3,000 lakes. Many are accessible by public transport and are a gorgeous way to cool off in summer or exhilarating spots to ‘ice dip’ in winter. Overwhelmed? Wannsee to the city’s west and Müggelsee to the east are the classic destinations, but there are plenty of others to discover.

You can grab some cold radlers and take the S-Bahn to the Schlachtensee Lake in southwestern Berlin for forest vibes. Alternatively, Plotzensee in north-western Berlin charges you €8 for entry … but it’s worth it. From play equipment for children on the right, currywurst and pizza stores in the middle, and a dance floor, sofas, a bar, and a naked sauna on the left, it’s nothing if not left of field. Not your jam? There are more to choose from than you could swim in in your lifetime.

🛶 Discover more of the best lakes in Berlin

Going to the Jewish Museum can make for a challenging, and full-on experience, but a visit here should certainly be high on your things to visit in Berlin. Since 2001, the museum has showcased the vast experiences of the Jewish people, both their past and present, covering everything from the documentation of Jewish German families to Jewish history from the Middle Ages to today. Admission to the core exhibition is free. 

🏛️ Discover more of the best museums in Berlin

In pretty much every spa in Berlin, clothes are forbidden and are mixed-gender. While this might sound intimidating, it is perfectly normal in Germany, meaning almost all the time, people aren’t creepy. The exquisite and mind-blowing Vabali is a good place to start. For anything from two hours (from €23.50) to a full day (from €41.50), you can visit its sweat lodges, panoramic laconium saunas, infusion and herbal and birch saunas, as well as outdoor and indoor pools, an outdoor restaurant and a bar. Whether you’re simply wanting to lounge around or want to book a massage, you’re bound to see people from all over Berlin, in every shape and size, doing the same.

📍 Discover more of the best spas in Berlin

When it comes to breakfast places, it’s easy to break out of the ‘avo on toast’ expat scene. Take Kanaan in Prenzlauer Berg, a delicious and worthy collaboration for peace between Palestinian and Israeli chefs, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Opt for the multi-course brunch, with pomegranate salads, vine leaves, labneh, hummus, and Baba Ganoush, delectably salty roast potatoes, and more. 

🥞 Discover more of the best brunch in Berlin