Getting Active During the Berlin Summer

11 Oct 2024

Badeschiff © Levi_7

Teufelsberg © Patrick Grüterich

Say it loud, say it proud: the summer is here! The sun is shining high above Berlin and the German capital is gearing up for yet another summer of excitement, colour, vigour and more. There will be a lot of decadence over the coming months so it pays to get some exercise in. Luckily for you (and us), Berlin is full to bursting point with fun ways to get the blood pumping and heart-rate up. Here are just a few suggestions.

A Round of Golf

With endless forests, lakes and pretty countryside in all directions, Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg offer plenty of opportunities to get out of the city and play some golf in a calm green setting. Gatow, Wilkendorf and Prenden are the best of the bunch, but you can’t really go wrong no matter which course you choose.

Swimming in the City

If the sun gets a little bit too hot, why not slap on the trunks and head for a dip? Berlin has a host of great swimming pools with Stadtbad Neukölln worthy of singling out. But it doesn’t get much better than a swim at Strandbad Wannsee, Berlin’s open-air lido.

Pedal to the Metal

Some of our favourite Berlin memories have been created on the saddle, and there are few cities in Europe more endearing to cycle around than the great German capital. Sure, it isn’t perfect, but you can’t argue with loping alongside the Spree or through one of the city’s many parks. Just rent a bike from one of the many kiosks in town and away you go.

Run to the Hills

Don’t literally run to the hills, that would be exhausting. There are a number of hikes around Berlin but there is something about the mysterious history of Teufelsberg that really excites. A man-made hill in West Berlin, the so-called ‘Devil’s Mountain’ was built to cover a Nazi school that couldn’t be blown up, which is about as crazy as it gets. You need to pay to enter the site, but the walk, views and history are well worth it.

Stand Up and Paddle

We’re not entirely convinced by Stand Up Paddling (SUP) but that probably has more to do with our cowardice than anything else. This extremely modern way to view a city is certainly catching on, and we can absolutely see the appeal of taking in Berlin from the centre of the Spree. There are a number of SUP organisations in the city, with Stand Up Club the cheapest and most established.

Adrenaline Pumping in the Park

Found in Charlottenburg-Nord, the Volkspark Jungfernheide is full of adventure and excitement for all the family. This is the second biggest park in the city, a mix and match of open stretches of grass and hidden gems in the forests. There is a sizeable playground for the kids, a toboggan run and a number of climbing frames and zip lines.

Surfing, Berlin Style

Yes, surfing in Berlin. Born out of a winter’s trip to Bali, Wellenwerk is a dream project in the German capital that brings the waves to the heart of the city, with plenty more coming along with them. Surfing in Berlin might sound like a wild dream, but dreams often come true. We all have to wait just a bit longer until the last Covid regulations disappear and the surf is up!