Seasons
Berlin in summer: lakes, open-air cinema and long evenings
In summer Berlin lives outdoors. The days are long, the parks full, and anyone who can spends the afternoon at one of the lakes that lie surprisingly close to the center. Here is where Berliners swim, what goes on in summer and how to get through hot days in the city.
01 Going for a swim
The classic
Strandbad Wannsee
Sandy beach, wicker beach chairs, an entrance fee, and very busy on hot days.
Kieznah tip
Schlachtensee and Krumme Lanke
Two forest lakes with swimming spots along the shore, and Schlachtensee S-Bahn station right by the water.
A shore path of about 5.5 kilometers runs around the Schlachtensee, where you pick your spot. In the southeast lies the Müggelsee, Berlin's largest lake: Bölschestraße in Friedrichshagen, with cafés and small shops, leads straight to the shore. And if you want to be on the water rather than in it, take the BVG ferry F10 from Wannsee to Kladow on a normal ticket.
02 Open-air cinema
From May to September Berlin's open-air cinemas show films under the sky. The best known is on the open-air stage in Volkspark Friedrichshain with room for around 2,000 people, plus cinemas in the Rehberge park in Wedding and in the Hasenheide in Neukölln. Bring a blanket and a jacket, it gets cool after sunset.
03 Wine on the Rüdi
Since 1967, winemakers from the Rheingau have poured their wine on Rüdesheimer Platz in Wilmersdorf in summer. On warm evenings hundreds of neighbors sit on benches under the trees, a scene you only find in Berlin. The square's full story and a Sicilian kitchen right next to it are in our neighborhood walk. Check the season and times in advance.
04 Summer events
- Fête de la Musique on 21 June: every year at the start of summer there is music in all twelve districts, on stages in parks, courtyards and cafés, free of charge.
- Long Night of Museums in August: once a year dozens of museums stay open late into the night; in 2026 it was 29 August. You need a ticket.
- Sundays in the Mauerpark: flea market and Bearpit Karaoke, more in Sunday in Berlin.
05 Getting through hot days
- Do outdoor things early in the day, and at midday head for the shade or a museum.
- The forests in the west and southwest are noticeably cooler than the center on hot days.
- Even the Reichstag dome can close in extreme heat, so check the Bundestag website first.