What to Do in Berlin in Spring

“When the flowers bloom in the Tiergarten, the city cafes open up their terraces and life returns to the streets after a long winter, you know that spring has arrived in the German capital. This is a great time to visit the city, with lots to see and do. Here’s our guide to Berlin in spring.

Dance along with the Carnival of Cultures
————————————————

Spring is celebrated with a bang with the annual Carnival of Cultures, a three-day celebration of diversity and multiculturalism. Alongside live music events and a street festival held on Blücherplatz, the highlight is undoubtedly the Sunday parade, where you can see thousands of performers, elaborate costumes and intricate dance moves on show as the procession moves through the streets of Kreuzberg.

The Carnival of Cultures takes place on Pentecost weekend (29 May-1 June 2020).

See the City from the Water on a River Tour
————————————————–

The River Spree runs through the heart of the city and an open-top boat tour is a fine way to see Berlin from a different angle. Spring is a great time to take a river tour as it’s not yet too hot for the top deck. Most cruises will take in Berlin’s most famous landmarks and attractions, including the Reichstag, Museum Island and Alexanderplatz. If you’ve got more time, there are longer day trips to the lakes south of Berlin and even to Potsdam.

Book it: City Centre Sightseeing Cruise

Join the May Day Street Party
————————————

May Day is a public holiday in Germany and, as well as the famous political demonstrations that mark this workers’ holiday, there are plenty of other things going on as well. The Straße des 17. Juni that runs through the central Tiergarten park is turned into a family-friendly festival site, while the neighbourhood of Kreuzberg hosts a giant street festival with live music and food stalls from around the world.

Take in the Cherry Blossom Spectacle
——————————————-

One of the signs the spring has arrived is the cherry blossom spectacle along the route of the Berlin Wall, where 9,000 trees were planted as a gift from the Japanese people to celebrate German reunification. A great place close to the city centre to see this natural phenomenon is the stretch by Bornholmer Straße station, or else head to the Gardens of the World in the district of Marzahn for its annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Cherry Blossom Festival at the Gardens of the World takes place on 19 April 2020.

Explore the Art of Berlin during Gallery Weekend
——————————————————-

Springtime for the Berlin art scene means only one thing and that’s Gallery Weekend. This is your chance to explore over 50 of the city’s most renowned art galleries, which open their doors with extended opening times, special events and carefully curated exhibitions. The highlight is the Friday evening, when most galleries celebrate their exhibition openings and you have the chance to discover the rising stars of the city’s artistic scene.

Berlin Gallery Weekend takes place 1-3 May 2020.

Drink in the Spring Sunshine at the Beer Garden
——————————————————

It’s a Berlin tradition that as soon as the weather is warm enough, with or without a coat, the cafes and restaurants open their outdoor spaces for alfresco drinking and dining, while the city’s beer gardens open their gates for another season. Top beer gardens in Berlin include the Prater, the city’s oldest in the Prenzlauer Berg district, and Cafe am Neuen See in the Tiergarten, Berlin’s central park.

Berlin’s beer gardens usually open April-October.

Run the City at the Berlin Half Marathon
———————————————–

For sightseeing with a difference, why not grab your running shoes and sign up for a springtime highlight of the city’s sporting calendar, the Berlin Half Marathon. The 13-mile route through the city centre takes in Berlin landmarks from the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church to Karl-Marx-Allee and Alexanderplatz, and also gives you the chance to run through the Brandenburg Gate cheered on by the adoring crowds.

The Berlin Half Marathon takes place on 5 April 2020.

Stroll into Springtime in Berlin’s Parks and Gardens
———————————————————–

Berlin is a remarkably green city, and as the flowers come into bloom and the leaves return to the trees, spring is a great time for a stroll in one of the city’s many parks and gardens. Walk through the Brandenburg Gate to explore the Tiergarten, or enjoy the sense of space at Tempelhofer Feld – once an airfield it’s now Berlin’s biggest public space. If you fancy a day trip, head to the lakes and forests on the edge of the city at Wannsee or Köpenick, or discover the parks and palace gardens of neighbouring Potsdam, including the luxurious Sanssouci and its grounds.

Plan your Escape to Berlin in Spring
——————————————-

Looking to head to the German capital in spring? Find a hotel in Berlin with Expedia.”