Easy Guide to 5 Great Parks in Berlin

Berliners always seem to be one step ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to sustainability and green ideas. The city is covered with vegetarian and vegan eateries, urban gardens, sustainable lifestyle shops and ethical and sustainable-driven organizations that effectuate connection and education making this city a thriving green metropolis. If you want to escape the cities chaos, you can find the best parks in Berlin within easy reach. More than 30% of the city consists of green spaces with an abundance of idyllic waterways and lakes where you can swim. Here’s a list of well-known names and lesser-known green spaces in this once industrial city.

Treptower Park and harbor

The small boulevard of Treptower park radiates holiday spirit. And the best thing is … almost no tourists to be seen! Treptower Park is a large park of 84 hectares (207 acres) along the banks of the river Spree. Inside the park, you can find a rose garden, a Sovjet memorial and an observatory but the best thing about the park is the boulevard along the river. Buy a beer and a delicious halloumi burger or Venezuelan arepas at one of the food stalls and look for a cute spot to do some chillin’ by the river. The houseboats docked at the harbor make for some impressive sights.

If you follow the riverside path, slightly further on is the Insel der Jugend, a small island in the river that you can reach by crossing a bridge. Here you can hire pedal boats, have a swim in the river or enjoy a beer in one of the beer gardens. Kulturhaus Insel Berlin hosts regular open-air events on the island.

If you continue a little further along the riverside path you arrive at Spreepark. This abandoned amusement park is a popular spot for quizzical daredevils and urbex photographers. Do you dare to go in?

Treptower Park

Puschkinallee , 12435 Berlin (Alt-Treptow)

S-bahn: Treptower Park S

Volkspark Friedrichshain

Volkspark Friedrichshain is Berlin’s oldest park and definitely one of the best parks in Berlin to pay a visit. The park has an eventful history and many walking trails. In the center of the park, there are two small hills from which you have a magnificent view across the city skyline. The hills are not just hills, they date back from World War II and are actually old bunkers who were demolished and filled with debris.

Inside the park, you can also find an open-air cinema and many facilities to practice different sports like skating, wall climbing and beach volleyball. The park has countless monuments and sculptures with “The Märchenbrunnen” being the most enchanting one. This fountain consists out of more than a hundred sculptures modeled after the characters from the famous fairy tales of the German Grimm brothers.

Inside the park, you can find another fountain next to the restaurant Schoenbrunn and the pond. If you are looking for a great spot to unwind, walk up the stairs next to the fountain. You will find a lot of benches tucked away between the bushes and trees when climbing the hill. Sit down and listen to the splatter of the fountain blocking out the city noise. A perfect place to relax.

Volkspark Friedrichshain

Between Prenzlauer Berg & Friedrichshain, 10249 Berlin

Many entrances

Schöneberger Südgelände

Natur-Park Schöneberg Südgelände is lesser-known among the tourist crowds and a kind of a hidden gem. You can find this park at the southern end of Berlin. Although it is called a park, this location has so much more to offer. The park is constructed in and around an old railyard that was closed in 1952. After the railyard closed, nature took over, creating a German jungle for many rare plants, trees and endangered species to flourish.

In 1999, big parts of the site were classified as landscape and nature conservation areas and it became a park. The mix of railway history and the particular nature is truly unique. It is very easy to observe squirrels and spot praying mantises along the tracks.

The site also serves as a museum, with many artworks created out of steel by a group of Berlin artists called ODIOUS. You can have a drink and a bite at the lovely terrace of the former “Bruckenmeisterei” which is now called Café Paresud.

Natur-Park Schöneberg Südgelände

Prellerweg 47-49, 12157 Berlin

Entrance: € 1

S-bahn: Priesterweg

Grunewald

If you really want to escape the city for a day and immerse yourself in natural surroundings then Grunewald is the perfect place. Just a few S- Bahn stops outside the city center you can find this 3000 hectares (7413 acres) large forest.

Entering the forest is like stepping into another world. The hustle and bustle of the city suddenly feels like a far-flung memory. The big draw inside this park for many visitors is the Teufelsberg, a former US listening station during the cold war. A visit to this iconic sight is indeed a great idea and costs only € 5 if you want to explore it on your own. Historic tours are normally also provided but at the time of writing, tours had been canceled temporarily due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It’s also a good idea to take a walk through the forest to Drachenberg. This platform provides a viewpoint both to the tower and towards the city, making it the best spot for photographers to take pictures. To cool down after all the hiking, head to Teufelssee for a refreshing dip in the lake!

Grunewald

West-Berlin

Many different entrances

S-Bahn: Grunewald or Heerstraße

Tempelhofer Feld

It is kind of hard to believe when you first read about it but yes, it’s true, this park is a former airfield. The site no longer serves as an airport since 2008 and has become a beloved spot for many Berliners. The size of the place is spectacular and walking over the landing strips feels extraordinary. It feels like there is suddenly more room, not only around you but also inside of you, which ignites a feeling of endless freedom and inspiration.

Specific areas of the park are used for different sorts of activities such as community gardening, a dog walking field, a BBQ area and sports like for example cycling and wind skating, something I never saw before in my life!

You can just wander around Tempelhofer Feld and feel amazed by this open space or find a great spot to hang out with friends and have a picnic. There are a few public toilets on site.

Tempelhofer Feld

Between Neukölln, Schöneberg and Kreuzberg

U-Bahn Tempelhof (1 entrance), U-Bahn Paradestrasse (1 entrance), U-Bahn Platz der Luftbrücke (2 entrances at Columbiadamm), U-Bahn Leinestrasse or Boddinstrasse (6 entrances on nearby Oderstrasse)

Tip

Do you plan on visiting Berlin parks after reading this article about the best parks in Berlin? GREAT! If you are still in search of accommodation, read this article about some great sustainable places to stay in Berlin.

And if you get hungry while touring the parks, let me help you out with a great food guide to the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Berlin!

ENJOY!

Fancy more Berlin travel advice?

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October 16, 2022

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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!

On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!