10 Best Parks in Berlin

Tiergarten is a sprawling, 210-hectare park in the heart of Berlin. As with other great capital cities – think London and Hyde Park, or New York and Central Park – Tiergarten is the jewel of Berlin. This enormous park is full of spectacular greenery and you’ll also find walking and cycling paths, statues and flower gardens. There are lakes too, and you can rent canoes or rowing boats to relax on the water.

Locals love this park for its calmness and serenity in the middle of a bustling city. They come here to read, sunbathe on the spacious, green lawn areas or go jogging. With all the open spaces, it’s a great choice for families to picnic and play ball games.

Treptower Park is a beautiful and immaculately maintained park in southeast Berlin. It runs alongside the River Spree. Locals and tourists alike love to visit and stroll along the riverside path, admiring the pretty houseboats lining the river. A fun activity here is to hire pedalos and pass a gentle afternoon relaxing on the river admiring the scenery.

There are over 80 hectares of mature trees and landscaped areas in this lovely park, as well as a large Soviet War Memorial in the centre. It resembles a traditional English park with its carefully sculpted areas and rose garden, and you’ll love the quiet and beauty here.

Tempelhofer Feld is an immense park on the former site of the city’s Tempelhof Airport, and the runways and airport building are still intact. Visiting this huge airport-turned-park is an incredible experience. You’ll see locals cycling or skating down the paved ex-runway areas and tourists strolling gently along the history trail. In summer, the delicious aroma of barbecues fills the air as people picnic in the three designated areas.

You’ll see regular events held here, such as theatre performances and kite festivals. It’s a good idea to come by bike or public transport though, as it’s very difficult to find a parking space in the area.

James-Simon-Park runs alongside the River Spree in central Berlin. It was named after the German art collector, James Simon, who donated most of his private collection to the city’s museums. This is a quieter, more intimate park than some of the more sprawling ones in the city, and locals come here mainly to relax with friends or on a romantic date.

Bring your picnic and head here for a carefree afternoon in the shade of the beautiful trees. This is a great spot for amazing views of Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island. In summer, free deckchairs are available, so arrive early and settle in for a peaceful afternoon watching the people and the river flow by.

Volkspark Friedrichshain is the oldest park in Berlin. It lies in the east of the city, next to the Friedrichshain hospital complex. This is a beautiful park with a central lake, and it’s known for its magnificent fountains and sculptures. The highlight is Märchenbrunnen (the fountain of fairy tales) which is extremely pretty and includes sculptures of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. You can take amazing photos here.

This is a fun park for all the family, and there are lots of activities including a children’s play area, a skatepark and even a fitness boot camp area. In summer, you can sit out and enjoy the large, open-air cinema, and in winter you can watch locals racing down the toboggan run.

Mauerpark is packed with history and you can even see a section of the Berlin Wall running through the park. On weekdays, it’s quiet and the park is used mostly by locals for jogging, petanque or a game of basketball.

If you’re looking for a lively park at weekends, this is it. On Sunday mornings, locals and tourists flock here for its fantastic flea market. Head to the Prenzlauer Berg corner of the park and you’ll see dozens of stalls selling everything from pots and pans to bikes and books. If you want to show off your singing skills, you can also join in the open-air karaoke here on Sunday afternoons. It’s a huge event that draws a big crowd.

Körnerpark is next to Tempelhofer Feld in the southeast of the city. It’s a spectacular, landscaped park set out with meticulous detail and resembles palatial gardens. Head down the steps here to discover water cascading down into a beautiful fountain, next to immaculate lawns and flower gardens. You’ll love the elegance of this park.

Whilst locals tend to use the colossal Tempelhofer Feld next door for sport and recreation, this idyllic park is more popular with tourists who come to take stunning photos and visit the art gallery and café. The gallery concentrates on contemporary art and you’ll see a wide variety of temporary exhibits throughout the year.

Viktoriapark is known for its stunning views over the city. This small Berlin park was built around a steep hill and you can take some great photos of the panoramic views from the top. Here, you’ll see an imposing statue towering over the park – the Prussian National Monument for the Liberation Wars.

Visitors don’t just come for these photos though. The spectacular waterfall flowing down from 24 metres high is a must-see. It’s astonishing to see such beautiful nature in the heart of a city. The best-kept secret of this park, though, is its beer garden. Locals come to sit out on the terrace late into the evening, enjoying the fine beer and wonderful views.

Rudolph-Wilde-Park is a long stretch of lush greenery in southwest Berlin. It’s a fairly small park with a big character and some unique features, and it links directly with a second park – the Volkspark Wilmersdorf. It’s known for its serene lake and stunning fountain with a striking golden deer perched on top of a column.

You’ll love the original surprise here. At the eastern end of the park, you’ll find a building resembling an orangery and the superb windows allow you to see right in. This is the Rathaus-Schöneberg underground station which is actually situated above ground. It’s a stunning architectural feat in a beautiful and calm park.

Schlossgarten Charlottenburg forms part of the Charlottenburg Palace, in west Berlin. These stunning baroque gardens are very popular with locals as well as tourists. The large park area is meticulously maintained, and you can stroll peacefully, admiring the beautiful lake and manicured lawns. Visitors love to take photos of the delightful fountain, colourful carp pond and the variety of pretty statues dotted around the gardens.

The adjoining, majestic palace is well worth a visit too and you can spend hours taking in the ornate, gilt decor, and the beautiful artwork and tapestries covering the walls. You’ll need to pay for this visit, however, whereas admission to the gardens is free.