BEST TIME TO VISIT BERLIN

Best time to visit Berlin

The German capital city is a stunning mix of history and culture that you must explore to the max. Find the best time to visit Berlin and book your trip!

Best time to visit Berlin

  • The best time to visit Berlin: May to October. In the spring and summer months, the weather is pleasant, even though airfare and accommodation is expensive. 
  • Best Time for Sightseeing: The in-between seasons, late spring to early summer and late summer to early autumn are ideal. Queues are shorter, it’s less crowded at this time and the weather is mild.
  • Best Time to Visit for Good Weather: In the warmer months, between May and October. It gets humid in the summer, though. Also, there’s less chance of rain in July, September and October.
  • Best Time to Visit the Reichstag: A popular sight, the German parliament offers a panoramic view of the city from its glass dome. Entry requires registering online. Visit on a sunny day if you can, for clear city views.
  • Best Time to Visit the Brandenburg Gate: Visit anytime. For a really pretty sight visit as it’s getting dark to see the Brandenburg Gate lit up.

Berlin Travel Seasons

  • High Season (mid-June to August, Oktoberfest & Christmas): These are all peak season for tourists. The summer season is full of festivities and, of course, crowds. Oktoberfest, around 2 weeks at the beginning of fall, is also very busy, and the Festive Season (December until early January) is also hectic. At these times, prices for everything (holidays, food, tours, you name it) are more expensive.
  • Shoulder Season (April to mid-June, September to Oktoberfest & mid-to-late-October): Spring is an uncertain time, when the weather could be glorious or chilly. The later in the season you travel, the better the weather is likely to be. Early June is a beautiful time in Berlin just before the crowds descend and when prices are still reasonable. September is usually warm, but it’s less humid than in the summer. Another good time to visit is just after Oktoberfest, although it may be rainy. Airfare and accommodation is discounted at this time.
  • Low Season (November to March, except the Festive Season, mid-December to early January): European winters are never pleasant, unless you’re a ski fanatic. In Berlin, it’s raining and cold, but prices for hotels, airfares and tours are cheaper and it’s less crowded.

Festivities and events in Berlin throughout the year

January

  • New Year’s Day January 1: A public holiday and businesses are closed. For the energetic, there’s a New Year's run from Brandenburg Gate that goes through the city.
  • Days of Dance Mid-January: 10-day contemporary dance festival with various performances.
  • International Green Week Second half of January: The world’s largest exhibition for agriculture and sustainable food offers plenty food and drink, talks and presentations.

February

March

  • ITB Berlin March 10-14 2021: The world’s largest travel trade fair features 180 countries exhibiting their travel products for the year.
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17: Yes, Berlin loves the Irish, and to prove it, there’s a parade of around 5,000 people dressed in green, a free concert, films and sporting events. Celebrate with a Guinness in a pub if you like.
  • Spring Festival at Kurt-Schumacher-Damm TBA: Fun spring fest involving lots of food and kids entertainment. 

April

  • Festival Days Berlin: Mid-April: 10-day festival of classical music and opera.
  • Easter Weekend April 2-5 2021: In Berlin, you can enjoy Easter markets, including a traditional market on Kurfürstendamm with its charming kids carousel and giant Easter eggs as well as a performance. There’s also live music in Britzer Garden in the evenings.
  • International Games Week Mid-April: 7-day gaming event with live entertainment. 
  • Walpurgis Night April 30 to May 1: Legend has it that witches  fly to the Harz Mountains to celebrate spring on this night. Berlin offers bonfires, dancing, night-time processions and club openings.

May

  • re:publica Early May: Immense digital culture conference with global professionals visiting, talks, workshops and events.
  • International Museum Day TBA: Special activities and tours at museums around the city.
  • Formula E Race Berlin ePrix TBA: Berlin hosts all-electric Formula E Championship at Tempelhofer Fedl.
  • Carnival of Cultures May 21-24 2021: Major event that takes place every year to celebrate Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter. Includes a procession, street festival and plenty of music and dance.

June

  • Fête de la Musique June 21: Celebration of the start of summer with an open-air live music festival. 
  • Citadel Music Festival June 4 – 30 August 2021: Summer music festival at the citadel in Berlin-Spandau.  
  • Fashion Week June 28 to July 5: The second biannual Berlin Fashion Week showcases trends for 2021. 

July

  • Classic Open-Air Festival July 4-8: Night-time musical performances held in beautiful Gendarmenmarkt square, including classical, jazz, pop, rock and opera. Includes fireworks and light shows.
  • German American Folk Festival Mid-July: 3-week long festival celebrating the relationship between Germany and the USA, with all sorts of attractions, entertainment and American fast food.
  • Lesbian and Gay City Festival (Stadfest) TBA: Europe’s largest street party draws around half a million people, lots of performances, entertainment and food.
  • Christopher Street Day July 27: Berlin’s Pride celebration involves thousands demonstrating for the rights of LGBTQ people and includes music, a procession and floats.

August

  • International Berlin Beer Festival Early in August: A 3-day festival celebrating beer from more than 90 countries.
  • Pop Kultur Mid-August: 3-day international music fest with music, movies, networking events, lots of concerts and other fun activities
  • Pyronale – Late August: International fireworks competition with lots of noise and plenty of fun.

September

  • Lollapalooza Early September: Held outside Olympic Park and Olympic Stadium with celebrity artists.
  • IFA Berlin TBA: Annual consumer electronics fair displaying the latest trends at Messe Berlin.
  • Berlin Art Week Mid-September: Galleries around Berlin display works of local and international artists.
  • Oktoberfest September 18 to October 3 2021: The first barrel of beer is tapped and the party begins, with live music, an open-air beer garden, robust German food, lots of funfair rides and a large festival tent.  Takes place on Alexanderplatz as well as at  Kurt-Schumacher-Damm.

October

  • Day of German Unity Celebrations  October 3: Commemorates German reunification in 1990 with a 3-day festival around Platz der Republik including live bands, food and drink. 
  • Festival of Lights Mid-October: 10-day festival decorating Berlin’s iconic historical monuments and landmarks with light projections and video art.
  • Halloween October 31: Berlin loves to party and this is another celebration complete with scary costumes and pumpins.

November

  • Berlin Jazz Fest November 5-9 2020: 4-day celebration of jazz with international stars and bands performing. 
  • International Short Film Festival Berlin November 10-15 2020: Important film festival over a week featuring short and medium-length international films. 
  • Christmas Markets Last weekend of November December 25: Berlin’s 60 legendary Christmas markets start.

December

  • Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day December 24, 25 & 26: The Festive Season is 3 days of public holidays where most attractions are closed, public transport is limited and restaurants, bars and clubs remain open.
  • New Year’s Eve December 31: Enjoy one of the world’s most exciting New Year’s Eve parties, with more than a million people heading for ‘Party Mile’ which starts at Brandenburg Gate. The party is never-ending fun.