23 Spectacular Things to do in Berlin in Spring

Berlin in spring is truly a wonderful time to be here. The weather is finally starting to get warmer, the days are getting longer, and everyone is ready to break out of hibernation mode.

It’s also still the shoulder season, so visiting Berlin in spring means there are fewer tourists and smaller crowds at Berlin’s major landmarks and attractions. With so many things to do in Berlin in spring, this is definitely an enjoyable time to be here.

Berlin weather in spring

Spring in Berlin can be all over the place. The weather varies a lot, and you could have a warm day in March or a cold day in May.

But you’re unlikely to deal with extremes in either direction. It’s important to include layers on your Berlin packing list and be prepared for weather variations when you travel to Berlin in spring.

Let’s take a look at the month-by-month weather in Berlin in spring so you know how to prepare.

Weather in Berlin in March

March can often still feel like winter. You might have more sunny days and more days that are warming up, but the temperatures can definitely fluctuate during this month.

The average high and low temperatures in Berlin in March are about 48F/34F, so an average day can fall between the high 40s and low 30s. But you could get even colder or warmer days, depending on how things are going that year.

Always check the weather forecast a few days before your trip. You might need to pack for winter in Berlin, even though it’s March.

Weather in Berlin in April

April in Berlin starts to feel a bit more like spring. The days are longer, there are more sunny days, and things are starting to come back to life.

It could still rain quite a bit though, so make sure you have an umbrella or rain jacket on your spring Berlin packing list.

The average high and low temperatures in Berlin in April are 57F/40F, so the weather is more mild than in March. But again, always check the forecast before you leave for your trip to Berlin in case you end up here during a late cold snap.

April is usually the best month to see cherry blossoms in Berlin. The Berlin Half Marathon also takes place in April.

Weather in Berlin in May

In May in Berlin, you’re almost guaranteed nice weather. I say almost because I have definitely seen snow flurries – that didn’t stick – in May, which is quite upsetting when I’m just so ready for warmth and sunshine by this point in the year.

Most likely you will have warm, sunny days in May, and hopefully it won’t get too hot. Because yes, that happens too.

The average high and low temperatures in Berlin in May are 67F/49F. So unless something unusual happens, this is a great month weather wise to come to Berlin.

>>Read: When is the Best Time to Visit Berlin?

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Have questions about planning your trip to Berlin?

Join the Facebook group here to chat with Ali (she runs this site) and other people who have been to Berlin for tips.

What to do in Berlin in spring

With the winter chill behind you, Berlin comes back to life full force. With so many great things to do in spring in Berlin, you’ll certainly enjoy exploring the city as nature blooms around you.

There are so many things to do in Berlin any time of year, but these activities are more specific to a springtime visit to Berlin.

See the cherry blossoms

Did you know Berlin has lots of gorgeous cherry blossom trees? The exact timing changes every year, but you have a good chance of seeing them in April or May.

There are lots of excellent places to see cherry blossoms in Berlin, and these are a few good ones:

Kirschbaumallee

This is a park southwest of Berlin, along the line that separates Berlin from the surrounding state of Brandenburg. The cherry blossom trees were gifted to Berlin after the Wall fell, and they’re planted along the former border between West Berlin and East Germany.

The closest transport is the Lichterfelde Süd Sbahn station.

Bornholmer Strasse

Right near the Bornholmer Str Sbahn station is the 9th of November 1989 Memorial, which commemorates the day the Berlin Wall came down.

Not only is this an excellent and little known memorial, but it’s another area where you’ll see lots of gorgeous cherry blossom trees planted where the Wall once stood. Don’t miss the nearby park filled with cherry blossoms, too.

Schwedter Strasse

On the edge of Mauer Park is another local favorite for seeing cherry blossoms. The Berlin Wall once divided East and West Berlin here, and now some of the best cherry blossoms in Berlin bloom here each spring.

Check out this list of places to see the Berlin Wall.

Go to a beer garden

Beer gardens in Berlin start opening up again in the spring when the weather gets nicer. This is a great time for relaxing with a beer and enjoying being outside again.

Take a break from sightseeing, and enjoy a relaxing beer. When you’re sitting at a beer garden on one of the first nice days of spring, you’ll feel the energy of Berlin coming back to life after a cold winter.

>>Read: 17 Top Sights in Berlin From a Local Who Knows

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Have a meal outside

When the temperatures start to rise, even a little, Berliners start eating outside at restaurants again. We’ve been cooped up inside for months during the long Berlin winter, so even if it’s not quite warm enough, eating outside in the sun is a treat.

You won’t have to look too far to find a restaurant with outdoor seating. Almost every restaurant has at least a few outside tables.

>>Read about more outside activities in Berlin.

Go for a hike

Spring in Berlin is the perfect time for a hike since the weather isn’t too cold or too hot. There are tons of great hiking trails around the city, just a quick train ride away.

Try a section of the Mauer Weg (Berlin Wall trail) or go hiking in the Grunewald Forest in the southwest or hike the Wuhletal-Wanderweg in the east.

>>Read our list of the top World War II and Cold War attractions in Berlin.

Browse the flea markets

Shopping at flea markets, or even just browsing, is a favorite past time in Berlin. There are dozens of them spread out around the city, and when the weather starts warming up in spring, people love to spend their Sunday outside at a flea market.

Mauerpark is the most well known flea market in Berlin, but there are plenty of other good ones. Try Boxhagener Platz, Maybachufer, Ostbahnhof, or Arkonaplatz, just to name a few.

Have a picnic in a park

With so many beautiful parks in Berlin, it would be a shame not to check out a few while you’re here. Pack up some food from a grocery store or even get takeout from a local restaurant, and head over to a park to eat.

Don’t forget to bring a couple of beers. And yes, drinking in public spaces like parks (and even on the street) is legal in Germany.

Some popular parks to try include Tempelhofer Feld, Tiergarten, Boxhagener Platz, Gleisdreieck, and Volkspark Friedrichshain.

Go to Gardens of the World

Also known as Garten der Welt Berlin, this sprawling green lung in the city is home to 10 international gardens. Each garden is imbued with the traditions and plant life of a certain region or country.

For example, you could take a stroll to England, hop over to Japan, bask in Balinese beauty, enjoy some Middle Eastern charm, or perhaps some Korean horticulture. And spring is an excellent time to visit a garden!

There’s also an impressive cable car that takes you above the park. When visiting Gardens of the World, make sure you bring appropriate footwear: it’s spread across an area of 250 acres.

Visit Britzer Gardens

Another gorgeous park for flower lovers is Britzer Gardens. This huge garden is located south of the city center in Neukölln.

It’s a great place to see most of the year, but spring in Berlin is the perfect time to see the beautiful roses and tulips as they bloom.

>>Read: 75 Famous Landmarks in Germany

Check out the Botanical Gardens

For when you need a breath of fresh air away from the urban streets of Berlin, its Botanical Gardens offer up a revitalizing space. Here you can get tranquil in among the tropical plants, succulents, flowers, and calming waterways.

Here you can see flora from around the world in its arboretum, tropical greenhouse, and Italian garden. Again, this is a year round destination, but the Botanical Gardens really shine in the spring.

Wander in the Charlottenburg Palace Park and Gardens

Haven’t had enough of gorgeous parks and gardens? How about one with the best castle in Berlin?

The gardens of the Charlottenburg Palace are at their peak in the spring. And you don’t even need a ticket to enjoy them. The park and gardens surrounding the palaces are free to enter.

Can’t make it to Berlin in spring? Don’t worry, Berlin in autumn is fantastic, too.

Go for a walk in Tiergarten

Tiergarten is located in Mitte (central Berlin) and it’s a sprawling leafy park loved by locals and tourists alike. It has big open areas and sections that are shaded by trees, so it’s perfect on a warm spring day or even a cooler day if you want some shade.

This is a great spot for taking a break from the city streets without having to venture too far. It’s just minutes from Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Building, and several other important Berlin landmarks.

Go to the zoo

Especially if you’re traveling with kids, the Zoological Garden is a fun place to go in spring in Berlin. You can enjoy the nice weather while also seeing the variety of animals. As an alternative, Tierpark, the zoo in the east, is also a fantastic zoo to visit.

Hop on a bike

Cycling is a great way to enjoy the spring weather in Berlin. It’s a fairly bike friendly city, though I do recommend sticking to quieter side streets if you’re not an avid city cyclist because there is a lot of traffic.

Want to combine cycling with sightseeing? Try a Berlin sightseeing bike tour like this one where a guide will show you the sights and tell you the history while cycling from one sight to the next.

Eat some ice cream

When the weather warms up, Berliners want ice cream. Not only is it too cold in the winter, but many ice cream shops actually close for some of the winter.

Spring in Berlin is also when Ice Cream Week takes place, though the exact dates change each year. Different ice cream shops around the city participate by having a special flavor, and it’s a fun way to try some creative ice cream treats.

Eat Asparagus

I know, this one might throw you off a little, but Germans love asparagus (Spargel in German), especially white asparagus. It’s one of the German foods you should try, if you’re here at the right time of year.

Asparagus season is in the spring, and when it hits, you’ll see asparagus everywhere. It becomes the feature of the dish, not a side item, and I’ve seen all sorts of strange things.

I’ve seen asparagus on pizza, asparagus flavored ice cream, asparagus cheese… Apparently there are no limits for this vegetable.

Shop at the fresh markets

Fresh markets are a fun way to learn about another culture when you’re traveling, and there are lots of them in Berlin. They run all year round, but spring is one of the more enjoyable times since it’s not too hot and not too cold.

They’re held on different days of the week depending on which market you’re going to. For example, the one at Boxhaganer Platz is on Saturdays, while the one at Maybachufer is on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Spring is a great time for local fruits and vegetables, like fresh in-season strawberries from local strawberry farms or asparagus, as I mentioned earlier in this post. Not only can you buy local produce, meats, cheeses, and fish, but you can often find other non-food products that are locally made.

Have a cocktail at a rooftop bar

As with many things, as the temperatures start to rise, the rooftop bars in Berlin start opening. And what better way to celebrate the nice weather than by sipping a tasty beverage with a fantastic view!

Join some Easter celebrations

Even if you’re not religious, it can be fun to join in on some Easter and springtime festivities. These can be especially fun for kids.

Similar to Christmas markets, Berlin has a few Easter markets at Alexanderplatz and Kurfürstendamm. Spandau Citadel hosts a Knights Festival in April.

Celebrate at the Carnival of Cultures

Also held in Berlin in spring, Carnival of Cultures is a big celebration of the many cultures that coexist in Berlin. Different nationalities are represented with music, dance, visual arts, costumes, and other types of performances.

The festivities take place on floats as the parade makes its way through the western section of Kreuzberg and into the northern section of Neukölln. This year it’s May 26-29, 2023.

Hunt for street art

Berlin is one of the best cities in the world for street art. While you can see these artistic expressions any time of the year, Berlin’s springtime weather is the perfect time to go outside for a walk.

You’ll find many famous and lesser known pieces in Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, but a great way to learn about street art in Berlin is with a tour. I’ve taken this one, and it was wonderful.

Take a day trip to Potsdam

Are you visiting Berlin for at least a few days? Then you might want to take a day trip to see something a little different. A day trip to Potsdam is one of the most popular, and for good reasons. Also check out how to get to Potsdam from Berlin.

Explore the palaces and parks in Potsdam, and in the spring, you’ll see plenty of lovely flowers blooming in the ornate gardens.

Go on a day trip to Spreewald

Another popular day trip from Berlin is the Spreewald. This is the protected forest south of Berlin, and it’s a gorgeous escape into nature.

You can go hiking, cycling, boating, and more. This is also a region well known for pickles, so be sure to try a few while you’re there.

Visit Pfaueninsel on a day trip

Note: The castle is currently under construction until late 2023/early 2024, and it’s covered in tarps and scaffolding so you can’t even see the outside. The island is pretty, but if you’re main reason for visiting is the castle, I’d skip it until the renovations are completed.

In the southwest corner of Berlin, almost at the border between Berlin and Brandenburg, is Peacock Island, or Pfaueninsel in German. This pretty little island is gorgeous in spring when things are coming back to life.

The island boasts roaming peacocks and an interesting castle (currently closed and completely covered up for renovations, but the island is still gorgeous). Accessible only by boat, Pfaueninsel is a peaceful destination.

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this list of what to do in Berlin in spring is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!