By Anne McCarthy
Spring is a wonderful time to embrace travel–to places like Berlin and beyond–to take advantage of the nice weather in other countries, revel in the beauty of blossoming flowers, and enjoy occasional rainy showers.
Berlin is steeped in fascinating history, and history buffs will love exploring it. Our Berlin Wall Bike Tour is a great way to learn more about Berlin’s history and how a divided Berlin was the epicenter of the Cold War.
The day-long tour takes you from the city center and away from more common sights to learn about how the Berlin Wall made Berlin what it is today. This epic tour takes you along the route of the Berlin Wall and has you crossing between East and West Berlin to see the different parts of the city that remain today. Your expert guide will shepherd you around the city, sharing history and answering your most burning questions. You’ll also have the option to upgrade from a regular bike to an E-bike for an extra fee.
The Berlin City Bike Tour is a fan-favorite, and it’s the perfect way to experience the highlights of Berlin when you want to maximize your time. This tour takes you around the city on a cruiser-style bike and includes a climb to the top of the Victory Column. It also includes a stop for lunch at a traditional German beer garden. Highlights of this adventurous tour include the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Tiergarten, Museum Island, and more.
And now, here are some other things to do and explore in Berlin while you’re there this spring!
Attend the Spring Festival at Späth’sche Baumschule
The Spring Festival at Späth’sche Baumschule is a festival of over 100 exhibitors and vendors with an abundance of different types of plants, tulips, and flower varieties from all over the world. If you or your travel partner(s) love flowers and natural beauty, this festival should be at the top of your list!
Here, you’ll also find floral workshops, expert horticulturalists speaking on plants and flowers, gardening events, children’s workshops, theater shows, and even live music! And of course, lots of food and drinks will be offered, too. It runs May 4-5, 2024.
Address: Späthstraße 80, 12437 Berlin
Revel in the Merriment at Berlin Beer Gardens
During springtime (and later, into summer), German beer gardens in Berlin are positively bursting with life and fun as locals and visitors enjoy some German beer. These beer gardens exist all over the city and are not in short supply. Enjoy the lovely spring weather with a cold beer in hand and the sun shining down on your face. It’s a great way to spend a delightful Saturday or Sunday (or any day, really). Berlin’s charming beer gardens are fun, rain or shine, and the city offers an array of different styles of beer gardens, from the trendier beer gardens to more traditional places.
Most beer gardens also serve filling snacks, such as pretzels and sausages, so you can enjoy a meal here, too. Fun beer gardens to explore include Prater Garten (Kastanienallee 7-9, 10435 Berlin), Golgatha (Viktoriapark, Dudenstraße 40-60, 10965 Berlin), and Cafe am Neuen See (Lichtensteinallee 2, 10787 Berlin).
If you’re a foodie and love to sample different beers, be sure to check out our Berlin Food Tours! Our Private Berlin Street Food Tour By Bike is an incredible way to experience the city through your stomach with an expert guide.
Visit Zoo Berlin
Love animals? Don’t miss a visit to Zoo Berlin to see all the new baby animals out and about in their zoo habitat. Berlin’s zoo is a fun way to get a dose of wildlife in the city environment and see some lions, tigers, and bears –– oh my! While it’s thousands of miles away from Australia, you can even find kangaroos at this zoo. Zoo Berlin has loads of things that appeal to both adults and children, so this is an especially good place to go if you’re traveling as a family and want to bring the whole gang.
Visit the Carnival of Cultures
Another fun and lively festival to check out during spring in Berlin doesn’t revolve around flowers this time but rather countries from around the world. At Carnival of Cultures, just as the name suggested, you’ll get to experience many diverse nationalities in Germany and see them present some of their most notable cultural offerings, including music, food, dances, and more. This is a lively affair, complete with parade and acrobatics.
This four-day festival welcomes locals and visitors alike to explore the sights from across the world and celebrate the diversity found in Berlin. Carnival of Cultures also includes a lively street parade with thousands of dancers from across the globe. This is one event not to be missed! Admission is free, and the festival runs May 17-20, 2024.
Enjoy Street Food in Thaipark
It doesn’t get much better than savoring street food in Thaipark, where you can experience exquisite Thai food in a gorgeous atmosphere. Head here on a sunny day and delight in all the Thai cuisine and snacks found at Thaipark, then find a beautiful spot on the grass to enjoy your purchases in the sun. You can find this experience at this address: Preußenpark, Württembergische Straße, 10707 Berlin.
Anne McCarthy is the Editor in Chief of the Fat Tire Tours Blog. She is a contributing writer to the BBC, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Variety, Wired, and many more. She splits her time between the U.S. and Europe.
