Berlin is a city that boasts an impressive number of green spaces and parks. The city is home to more than 2,500 public parks, making it one of the greenest cities in Europe. From sprawling urban parks to quiet neighborhood green spaces, Berlin’s parks offer something for everyone.
Here is a list of our favorite parks in Berlin to enjoy the Summertime. We from Fotostrasse are very proud of our city’s green spaces— big or small — which number more than 2,500! And everyone has something unique to offer, don’t limit yourself to this list.
I will start with just 13 of the most interesting parks in Berlin, in Fotostrasse’s opinion. Some of the names are probably familiar to you, but there will be surprises since we are talking about Fotostrasse.
A Visit to Tempelhofer Park
I don’t think I can ever get tired of including Tempelhof on my lists. It’s my favorite park by far. It’s so big and open.
Once an airport, this vast open space is a popular spot for kite flying, cycling, and jogging. The park also has a community garden and hosts various events, including open-air cinema screenings and music festivals.
Well, in my list, Tempelhof has a lot to offer, and it will always be on my list. Especially because they even have an abandoned airplane in it for no good reason.
Volkspark Hasenheide
Volkspark Hasenheide has one of the most lovely tier parks in the area. I’m not a big fan of locking animals in cages, but they all look healthy and happy. I haven’t decided if I love you or not yet.
Besides that, Hasenheide has a huge FKK area for all of you who like to feel free from time to time; it has hills, an amusement park, Südstern Brauhaus has a back door, and during summer, you can drink your beer and enjoy the nature.
Simply amazing!
Pfaueninsel isn’t just one of the parks in Berlin.
If you’re a hopeless romantic, this is the park for you! Pfaueninsel, which can be translated into Peacock Island, is located in the middle of the River Havel.
This island has it all: woodlands, a castle, a rose garden, and plenty of peacocks to complete the romantic mood.
November till February: Mon-Sun: 10 am – 4 pm
March and October: Mon-Sun: 9 am – 6 pm
April and September: Mon-Sun: 9 am – 7 pm
Mai and August: Mo – So: 8 am – 9 pm
Britzer Garten
The Britzer Garden is a Berliner park for families and was created for the National Horticultural Show in 1985. This amazing green space draws widespread praise for its exceptional maintenance standards. In addition to the numerous fields of flowers during summer and spring, a range of family activities is offered.
The 90-hectare park with 10 hectares of lakes offers concerts, garden art, major events with fireworks, gastronomy, sports, health facilities, animals, and a museum railway – but above all: indescribable beauty and unspoiled nature. The Britzer Garden is one of the most breathtaking parks in Germany!
Volkspark Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain Park has been a popular retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life for over 160 years. It is the oldest municipal park in the entire Berlin. And between the grill experts, the trendy hipsters, and the sun-worshipers, you can find Mont Klamott, two high green “bunker” mountains. You can enjoy a wonderful view of Berlin’s landscape from the top of the highest one.
My favorite spot over there is the Märchenbrunnen.
Görlitzer Park in Kreuzberg
Curious Fact: The grass smoked in Görlitzer Park is far more popular than the grass growing in it! I think this is a fair introduction to what “Görli” is. Well, let’s talk about history briefly here, shall we?
Görlitzer Bahnhof was a splendid example of mid-19th-century Italian Renaissance architecture once, a beautiful Bahnhof that served as the Berlin terminus for rail passengers traveling between Cottbus and Görlitz. Today, we only have the site and maybe some ruins of what it was. And like most things in Berlin, what is destroyed or not used anymore, they converted into a park (the best part of Berlin!).
Right now, especially during the summer, Görli is full of youngsters playing soccer, dancing, smoking pot, doing BBQs, having fun, playing music, and walking their dogs… It’s a fantastic multicultural experience.
My only advice here is: watch where you walk. Since there are so many dogs, many rude and careless dog owners do not clean up their animals.
Gärten der Welt in Marzahn
The whole world in one garden: Japan and Korea, the gardens of the Orient, Bali, and China, England in the form of a maze, and France as a labyrinth and of the Italian Renaissance. All in one place! Erholungspark Marzahn is one of those places you see on the map and think, “really? that far?” If you did that, I could only say, “I understand you! I would never choose to go to a place that far if it wasn’t worth it! And I want to GO BACK! It’s wonderful inside!”
This park is probably the most extensive collection of international show gardens – planned and laid out by artists, architects, and artisans from the respective countries and regions.
The Erholungspark Marzahn is open year-round from 9:00 AM until dark, but the Oriental, Japanese, and Korean gardens are available only from April 1st to September 30th. The Chinese and Balinese Gardens are open from 9:00 AM until their ticket offices close between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM, depending on the time of year.
Admission is 3.00€ for adults and 1.50€ for your kiddies. (2014)Viktoriapark in Kreuzberg
The top of Viktoriapark, as I said here, is one of the most amazing panoramic views of Berlin. It’s free, in a park, there is a waterfall, you can find cute goats and ducks in this park, in the heart of Kreuzberg, and there’s amazing food around. What’s not to like?
“Wait.. you said waterfall?”
Yes!!! The 24-meter-high waterfall, located on the axis of Großbeerenstraß, is a mini replica of the Wodospad Podgórnej waterfall (now found in Poland), formerly a popular tourist destination of wealthy Berlin.
And, if you allow me, may I add that here is the Berg (In English: mountain) in Kreuzberg? Awesome, right?
Treptower Park
The Treptower Park, the 3rd largest park in Berlin, is from 1876. The park offers biergartens and boat facilities since it is by the water. Archenhold Observatory was one of the park’s buildings, and in 1909 it became what it is today: Germany’s largest observatory and where Albert Einstein presented his first lecture on the theory of relativity in 1915!!! Cool, huh?
Besides this, Treptower Park has a huge Soviet memorial inside; you can read more here.
Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg
What used to be a “death strip” became a life zone. MauerPark, which means Wall Park, dates back to the Berlin Wall (1961), which used to divide Prenzlauer Berg and Wedding. Because of relatively few green spaces in densely populated Prenzlauer Berg, Mauerpark has developed into a hip and popular place of recreation after German reunification.
During the summer months, many young people gather in the park. Weekends are well known for the flea market, sports players, jugglers, and for karaoke enthusiasts.
Lustgarten
Do you want to relax, picnic, and drink a beer while staring at the Berliner Dom and the other wonders of Berlin’s museum island? Lustgarten, the Garden of Pleasure, will be the perfect fit for you.
The biggest attraction at the Lustgarten is the granite bowl. It was considered a wonder of the Biedermeier era and was one of the main attractions in 19th-century royal Berlin.
Freizeitpark Tegel & Tegeler See
At the very end of U6, you can find Tegeler See. It is situated in the north of Berlin and, with a surface area of 4.6 square kilometers, is Berlin’s second largest lake—and one of the most beautiful. You can even find a Schloss in this park! And the oldest tree in Berlin, Dickie Marie.
You can read all about it here.
Schloss Charlottenburg
Schloss Charlottenburg is by far the largest palace in Berlin, and it’s the only surviving royal residence in the city, dating back to the time of the Hohenzollern family. This colorful residence offers a superb stage to which the beautiful baroque garden unfolds. This spot is perfect in the season or weather for admiring the wonderful view, relaxing, or just playing a game.
Summertime is easy. Berlin’s the nicest place to picnic with your loved one or friends. And when it snows in winter, you can go sleigh-riding on Trummerberg hill at the back of the park.
The fountain, carp pond, flower beds, and the solid stock of ancient trees all make up this park’s more classic and traditional part.
Modellpark Berlin-Brandenburg
You can see Berlin’s most famous landmarks on the 1:25 scale at the Berlin-Brandenburg Model Park. Cool as hell, huh? Go there and walk through the miniature city, study the details of its architectural monuments, or simply soak up the experience of seeing the city of Berlin on such a small scale. After all, it’s hard to see all of a city as big as Berlin.
TEMPELHOFER PARK
VOLKSPARK HASENHEIDE
PFAUENINSEL
BRITZER GARTEN
VOLKSPARK FRIEDRICHSHAIN
GÖRLITZER PARK
GÄRTEN DER WELT
VIKTORIAPARK IN KREUZBERG
TREPTOWER PARK
MAUERPARK IN PRENZLAUER BERG
LUSTGARTEN
FREIZEITPARK TEGEL
SCHLOSS CHARLOTTENBURG
MODELLPARK BERLIN-BRANDENBURG
Now that you know all about our favorite Berlin parks, what are your favorite ones?
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