Berlin winters are cold and gray, but there are plenty of fun things to do regardless! This guide shares the top winter activities in Berlin, no matter the weather or time of day.
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Winter in Berlin can be tough. The days are short, the skies are gray, and we rarely get any snow.
But even though the city feels like it goes into hibernation, there’s still SO much to do and see in Berlin in the winter.
Whether you’re a local just wanting to get out of the house or a visitor braving the cooler temperatures in return for cheaper hotel rates and fewer crowds, this extensive guide to Berlin’s best winter activities and attractions will help you make the most of your time in Germany’s capital city.
Table of Contents
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Need Help Planning Your Trip to Berlin? Use These Itineraries!
If you’ll be visiting Berlin in the winter, I also suggest referencing my 1-Day Berlin Itinerary and 3-Day Berlin Itinerary. They’re both good jumping off points for planning a trip to Berlin, no matter the season!
Indoor Winter Activities
Whether it’s snowing, sleeting, or just plain cold, staying indoors is always a good plan during a Berlin winter. The activities listed below include a bit of everything — from museums to cute cafes to the city’s former underbelly, you’re bound to find something that will keep you busy!
Hole Up at a Museum
I read somewhere that Berlin has over 170 museums — considering winter officially lasts from the end of December through mid-March, there should be enough museums to keep you busy for a while!
Rather than list each of my favorite museums individually, I summarized their highlights in the list below. You can easily spend 3+ hours at most of these museums!
- Museum Island — Berlin’s crown jewel. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with five world-renowned museums. Buy a day pass for all five if you plan on spending the whole day indoors (you’ll get the best deal that way!).
- German History Museum — Free to enter. The two-floor exhibit walks you through Germany’s entire known history. There’s lots of text, so I encourage you to pick and choose which specific eras you’re most interested in learning about if you easily get museum fatigue.
- Jewish Museum — Also free to enter. The largest museum dedicated to Jewish history and culture in the world.
- Natural History Museum — This is great for kids and adults alike. Be sure to visit the Wet Collection, a room with 276,000 jars holding one million specimens.
- Hamburger Bahnhof — A contemporary art museum housed in the former Berlin-Hamburg railway terminus.
- Gemäldegalerie — European paintings from the 13th through 18th centuries.
- DDR Museum — Interactive museum that transports visitors back to the Soviet-controlled German Democratic Republic.
- Topography of Terror — Free history museum detailing the rise and fall of the Nazi regime. Lots of text to read and very sad, but excellently done.
- Museum of Decorative Arts — Displays European arts and crafts from the Middle Ages to the present day. If you love home interiors, you’ll love this museum!
- Museum of Things (Museum der Dinge) — A quirky museum showcasing mass production in Germany in the 20th and 21st centuries. It feels like you’re sifting through a garage sale, in the best possible way.
Claire’s Tip: Traveling on a budget? Check out my complete guide to Berlin’s best FREE museums.
Tour One of Berlin’s Palaces
Berlin’s many palaces look beautiful even on gray winter days!
The interiors are packed with priceless treasures and engaging exhibits, and most of the city’s palaces are also surrounded by gardens or parks. So long as you bundle up properly, you can enjoy a turn around the gardens no matter the weather!
My favorite palaces to visit in the winter include:
- Charlottenburg Palace — Originally the summer palace of Queen Sophie Charlotte. Much of the palace has been restored and refurbished, with the Silver Vault and Porcelain Cabinet being two of the most sumptuous rooms. Give yourself at least three full hours to explore the interior of the palace.
- Köpenick Palace — A hidden gem on the outskirts of the city! It’s a stunning waterfront palace situated on a tiny peninsula in the Dahme River that now houses furniture and decorative arts from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo periods.
- Castle Britz — A gorgeous mansion designed in the Neo-Renaissance style. It was never a true castle, but rather the home of a noble family. Today the interior has been refurbished to reflect what life was like during the Wilhelmine era (1890 – 1918).
- Jagdschloss Grunewald (Hunting Lodge) — A brisk walk through the Grunewald forest will lead you to Berlin’s oldest palace building. The Jagdschloss boasts a Renaissance hall (original!) plus works of art from the famous German painter Lucas Cranach.
Visit the Reichstag
No visit to Berlin is complete without touring the seat of the German Bundestag. Tickets to the iconic glass dome are free, but you must book them in advance. Upon arrival, you’ll be asked to present an internationally recognized form of ID (such as a passport), and after passing through the security checkpoint you’ll be provided with an audio guide.
As you make your way up the ramp of the dome, the audio guide will automatically recognize your position and explain the history of the building and highlight the surrounding attractions to you.
This is actually one of my favorite things to do in Berlin during the winter because the Reichstag is impressive by day and night! During the day you’ll be treated to a spectacular view of the surrounding cityscape, but by night (which starts around 4pm in the middle of winter!) the glass dome is lit up and the building itself steals the show.
Claire’s Tip: You can also pay for guided tours of the Reichstag dome as well as tours of the plenary chamber and surrounding government district. Just keep in mind that you must submit your request to join those types of tours well in advance of your visit.
Visit a Former GDR Border Crossing Station
The Tränenpalast (literally “Palace of Tears”) is a former check-in hall near Friedrichstaße station that was used by the GDR government to control the flow of people entering and exiting East Berlin.
The hall was given its sobering nickname due to the many tearful goodbyes shared between loved ones who were forcefully separated by the Berlin Wall. The Palace of Tears was the last point at which they could embrace before returning to their respective homes in East or West Berlin.
The check-in hall has been preserved and now has an informative free permanent exhibition called “Site of German Division.” The exhibition details how the border crossings within a divided Germany worked. I particularly enjoyed watching the interviews with former East Berliners and hearing their firsthand accounts of what life was like in the GDR.
Unwind at a Day Spa
There’s no better way to warm up in the winter than by relaxing at one of Berlin’s day spas!
The best known day spa is Vabali, which is a textile-free facility with 10 sauna rooms, three steam baths, four pools, and additional services like massages.
I’ve not yet been to the Liquidrom, but it’s high on my Berlin winter bucket list. It has a saltwater floating pool that plays music underwater, as well as an outdoor hot onsen pool area.
Claire’s Tip: Day spas are one of the most popular Berlin winter activities, especially in the evenings and on weekends. I highly suggest making a reservation in advance to secure a time slot.
Attend a Concert or Performance
One of the best things to do in Berlin during the winter is see a concert or performance of some kind.
Whether you want to laugh your way through a stand-up comedy routine, see a traveling musical, or listen to a classical symphony, there’s truly something for everyone in this city!
Some of the most popular venues in Berlin include:
- Operas and ballets: Deutsche Oper, Staatsoper, and Komische Oper
- Classical concerts: Philharmonie and Konzerthaus
- Variety shows: Friedrichstadt-Palast and Wintergarten
- Musicals: Theater des Westens and Theater am Potsdamer Platz
Claire’s Tip: If you live in Berlin and are 30 years of age or younger, consider signing up for the ClassicCard app to score heavily discounted tickets on opera, ballet, and classical music performances.
Get Lost in the Stacks of a Bookstore
One of the best parts of living in an international melting pot like Berlin is the multilingual bookstores here. I’m from the US, so I specifically seek out English language bookstores, or bookstores with a solid English section.
Here’s a full list of the best English bookstores in Berlin. A few of my all-time favorites that I regularly frequent during the winter include:
- Saint George’s English Bookstore — Small but mighty used bookstore in the hip Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood.
- Dussman — Massive bookstore near the Friedrichstraße station with a big English section. Dussman only sells new books, and since they’re imported they are a tad pricier.
- Another Country — Part library, part bookstore, this unique space is a bibliophile’s heaven!
Cruise Down the Spree River
Cruising down the Spree River on a boat tour is such an underrated winter activity! In the colder months, you can book tours on boats with domed glass ceilings so you can watch Berlin pass you by without having to freeze in the process.
You’ll definitely want to book a day cruise if you’d like to see the city’s unique architecture in detail, otherwise an evening river cruise would make for a romantic winter date idea. (Book your tickets here!)
Tour Berlin’s Hidden Bunkers and Tunnels
This winter, get to know Berlin’s lesser-known historic sites on a Berliner Unterwelten tour.
The tour company has been researching and exploring the city’s underground urban infrastructure since 1997 (think: public transportation networks, sewage, water, etc.), and they now offer guided tours of some of Berlin’s most fascinating hidden gems.
Some of the places you can tour include a former Nazi flak tower, “ghost stations” from the Cold War, and WWII air raid shelters. Note that Berliner Unterwelten offers tours in a variety of languages, not just English and German.
Warm Up Over a Mug of Hot Chocolate
Berlin doesn’t get that cold in the winter, but the damp grayness definitely seeps into your bones after a few hours. My solution? A steaming mug of hot chocolate!
Some of the best hot chocolate in Berlin can be found at:
Rausch Schokoladenhaus — Situated near the gorgeous Gendarmenmarkt, Rausch is the largest chocolate house in the world. Head to the top floor to order a mug of their creamy hot chocolate at their chocolate cafe. Customize your order by selecting the cacao percentage you’d like, and add an optional shot of something stronger to warm yourself up the old-fashioned way.
Berliner Kaffeerösterei — This Berlin coffee company has a few locations around the city. Although they’re best known for their coffee, ignore the siren call of caffeine and order their drinking chocolate (echte Trinkschokolade). Your order will come with spices like chili flakes, cardamom, and ground ginger which you can mix in yourself to flavor your chocolate.
Tour the BMW Motorcycle Plant
Not many people know that Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) actually produces its motorcycles right here in Berlin!
For a winter excursion that’s a little more off the beaten path, take the U7 to Spandau for a guided tour of the plant. The 90-minute ‘Basic’ tour explains the production process as a whole, and takes you along the assembly line so you can see the bikes being created in real time.
Explore the Spandau Citadel
The sleepy borough of Spandau has lots of hidden gems that will keep you busy this winter!
The Spandau Citadel is a well-preserved Renaissance fortress with exhibitions detailing the history of the fortress and Spandau as a whole, as well as a collection of historic cannons.
If you’ll be in Berlin in December, definitely check out the Christmas Market in the Citadel’s courtyard as well. The usually imposing fortress makes a cozy backdrop for the historic Christmas market. It’s unlike any other Christmas market in Berlin!
Sing Like No One Is Listening at Monster Ronsons Karaoke
When Berlin’s winter weather has got you feeling blue, get the gang together to belt your favorite tunes — horrifically off-key — at Monster Ronsons Ichiban Karaoke near Warschauer Straße.
Karaoke goers have the option to book private cabins in advance (far in advance! This place fills up fast).
Or, try to squeeze through the door on Friday or Saturday nights to participate in open stage karaoke. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go onstage and sing … but you totally should!
Assemble the Squad for Trivia Night
Get that WhatsApp group chat going and gather the finest minds to compete at trivia night.
In a city the size of Berlin, I’ve no doubt that many places host trivia or game nights. However, I’m most familiar with Quiz, Please! which regularly hosts trivia nights at Belushi’s near Alexanderplatz. Quiz, Please! holds general and themed trivia nights; we competed in the Friends trivia and despite my having watched the series three different times, I still found it tough!
Whether or not you have a competitive spirit, this is one of my favorite things to do with friends during the winter.
See the Light Installations at “Dark Matter”
Tucked away inside a former factory in Lichtenberg, Dark Matter is an audiovisual lights installation spanning seven rooms. Each room has a unique design and most are interactive.
When you book your tickets (book online in advance!), you’ll be assigned an entry time. However, once you’re inside the exhibit you can take your sweet time going through every room. Turn off your phone and enjoy getting lost in the lights!
Co-Work at a Cafe
This one’s for the locals! After the world events of 2020 – 2022, many more Berliners are working from home now. In the winter, working from the home office can really wear you down quickly (as a freelance writer, I know the feeling all too well!).
If you’re unsure what to do in Berlin this winter but know that you just have to get out of the house, shake up your everyday routine by co-working at one of the city’s many cafes.
My friend Natalie has a full guide on Berlin’s best laptop-friendly cafes, which I reference on a regular basis and will definitely be using in the winter!
Outdoor Winter Activities
I know going outside in the winter is generally avoided by many, but do as the Germans do and enjoy some fresh air! If you’re blessed with sunshine or simply need to get outdoors, here’s what I recommend doing in Berlin in the winter.
Take a Walking Tour
If the winter weather is truly awful, a walking tour might sound like a bad idea. But if you want to squeeze the most history and attractions out of Berlin without having to spend a long period of time outdoors, a guided walking tour is the way to go!
A local guide will get you from point A to point B seamlessly, and after 2 hours in the cold you can scurry to the nearest cafe, museum, or other indoor activity mentioned in this guide for the remainder of the day!
Try one of the following walking tours:
- Berlin Street Art and Alternative Tour
- Third Reich and Cold War Walking Tour
- Hidden Backyards Walking Tour
- Berlin Wall Walking Tour with Lookout Tower
- Highlights of Berlin Walking Tour
Go Ice Skating
Berlin has a few great ice skating rinks, so you can enjoy this favorite winter pastime no matter the weather! (I do NOT recommend ice skating on any of Berlin’s lakes because it rarely remains cold enough for enough time to properly freeze the surface of the lakes.)
Some of my favorite places to go ice skating in Berlin are:
- Eisbahn at Neptunbrunnen (part of the Town Hall Christmas market)
- Eisstadion Neuköln
- Horst Dohm Ice Stadium
Rinks typically have an entry fee, and most also offer skate rentals for an additional charge. Note that lines can be long directly after work and on weekends.
Walk Around a Frozen Lake
There are so many fantastic lakes in Berlin, and you can walk around just about all of them!
I know winter walks might not be high on your priority list, but I’m a big believer in getting outdoors no matter the weather, and I love seeing the lakes transform throughout the course of the seasons.
For a brisk winter walk, I suggest heading to Schlachtensee, Krumme Lanke, or Grunewaldsee. All are smaller lakes located within the Grunewald forest, and you can comfortably walk around the entirety of these lakes without having to retrace your steps.
Follow the Path of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall Trail (Mauerweg) is a 160-km walking and biking path and is all that’s left of the former border of East and West Berlin.
The path is split into 14 sections. Some sections pass through the city center and take you by popular tourist attractions like Mauerpark and the Topography of Terror, while others hug the outskirts of the city limits and give you a look into modern suburban life in Berlin.
Visit the Berlin Wall Trail website to read about the sites within each section and choose whichever interests you most. I’ve now walked 12 / 14 sections of the trail and have taken away something from each for different reasons!
Get Lost Amidst Berlin’s Hidden Courtyards
A fun way to pass a winter in Berlin is by getting to know the city’s many hidden courtyards. They’re hard to spot unless you know where to look!
To maximize your time spent in the cold, sign up for a walking tour of the Berlin’s hidden courtyards.
Otherwise, do some research and create a DIY itinerary for yourself. A few good places to start include:
- Hackescher Höfe — A popular series of courtyards near the Hackescher Markt station filled with local boutiques and cafes. There’s also a movie theater here!
- Sophienstr. 18 (Handwerkervereinshaus) — Hidden around the corner from the Hackescher Höfe. This is where Karl Liebknecht, leader of the communist party in the Reichstag, called for a peaceful revolution in 1918.
- Rosenthaler Str. 51 — Served as a GDR film set in the 1970s (read more about it here).
Window Shop Along Berlin’s Prettiest Streets
I’m not sure if window shopping counts as an indoor or outdoor activity, but it’s definitely high on the list of my favorite things to do in Berlin in the winter!
There are so many great shopping streets in the city, all of which have their own unique charm:
- Oranienstraße (shown above) — One of Kreuzberg’s main arteries, this is a great place to find vintage and second-hand clothing or shop at local boutiques. I also love Modern Graphics, which sells a wide variety of manga and comic books in both English and German.
- Rosenthaler Straße — Shop your way down this street from Rosenthaler Platz to Hackescher Markt to discover some of the quirkiest boutiques in Berlin.
- Kurfürstendamm — Berlin’s premier shopping street. You’ll find mostly luxury brands closer to Adenauerplatz, and more affordable chain stores as you approach Wittenbergplatz.
- Suarezstraße — The “Antique Mile” of Charlottenburg. This charming street is lined with antique stores; items can be pricey, but you can find some amazing pieces here!
Search for Hidden Gems at a Flea Market
Berlin’s flea markets operate year-round, rain or shine! My favorite flea markets to visit in the winter are at Boxhagener Platz, Rathaus Schöneberg, and Mauerpark.
You’ll freeze your tushy off at any of the flea markets you visit, but the three I’ve just mentioned are located within densely populated “cafe zones” so it’s easy to pair your thrifting with a warming cup or coffee or tea directly afterwards.
Bonus: Christmas Activities in Berlin
The list of Berlin’s winter attractions shared above will get you through late November through March. However, if you’re visiting in December and are specifically looking for Christmas-related activities to keep you busy, be sure to read my complete guide on What to do in Berlin at Christmas!
Looking Forward to Visiting Berlin This Winter?
I know “enjoying winter” is an oxymoron for many Berliners, but if you go into the season with a list of fun things you want to do, you can have a wonderful time!
Feel free to drop me a question or comment below, otherwise I hope you make the most of your winter in Berlin!
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my daily adventures in Berlin and beyond!
Comments & Reviews
Hi Claire – love the blog!
I’ll be in Berlin for a couple of nights late November before heading to Braunschweig to spend some quality time with my family.
It is my second time visiting, but first in the chillier months, so I appreciate your tips 🙂
Thanks for the kind comment, Stephanie! I visited Braunschweig for the first time this year and have been meaning to write my guide to the city. I really enjoyed it there! Enjoy your time with your family 🙂 As for exploring Berlin in the winter, it’s very easy to do so long as you’re bundled up! If you have any questions closer to your trip, don’t hesitate to leave me another comment or send me an email.