The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Berlin In Autumn

With gorgeous colours, an incredible atmosphere outdoors, lively local traditions, amazing events, great nightlife, fabulous attractions, and welcoming restaurants, there’s nothing quite like autumn in Berlin. Use our ultimate guide to Berlin in autumn to make the most of your time in this awesome, ancient city. We cover:

• Things to do in autumn
• Outdoor activities to do in autumn
• Indoor things to do in Berlin
• Berlin nightlife in autumn
• What to pack for autumn in Berlin
• What you can’t do in autumn in Berlin
• Where to stay in Berlin

Things to Do in Autumn

October and November are part of the shoulder season between the busy summer holidays and the vibrantly busy Christmas season. However, you’ll still find plenty of things to do in Berlin throughout the autumn season, you can easily enjoy your extended stay in Berlin. Take a look at these fabulous events and attractions:

Day of German Unity – Every year 3rd October: A national holiday celebrating the 1990 reunification of Germany, the Day of German Unity sees all sorts of events take place throughout the capital. Celebrations here are especially meaningful, given the powerful symbolism of the Berlin Wall’s fall and what that meant for Berlin culture.

Festival of Lights - 7-16 October: The longer autumn evenings provide the perfect setting for the spectacular light and video projections that illuminate the city’s most famous sights and monuments during the festival. Highlights include the Berlin Cathedral, the Bode Museum, the TV Tower, the Brandenburg Gate, and Potsdamer Platz.

Zeughausmesse Decorative Arts Fair - 13-16 October: Meet artists and designers, see their wares, and shop to your heart’s content at one of the world’s leading fairs for applied contemporary art.

Spreewiesn Oktoberfest - Until 29 October: What’s Berlin in October without an Oktoberfest celebration? Head to the Spreewiesn party tent at Postbahnhof for beer, eisbein, pretzels, music, and more.

Jazzfest Berlin - 3-6 November: Enjoy diverse styles of the genre at Berlin’s well-established clubs.

Theater der Dinge - 1-7 November: The International Festival of Contemporary Puppet and Object Theatre gives you the chance to see theatrical projects in shows, performances, and exhibitions at Schaubude Berlin.

Berlin Winter Park - From 11 November: Enjoy a carnival atmosphere and funfair rides at a new folk festival that aims to inject light and colour into Berlin culture in the long evenings. A perfect outing in autumn in Berlin.

Interfilm Berlin International Short Film Festival - 15-20 November: Choose from approximately 500 short- and medium-length films from all over the world. Screenings at numerous participating cinemas around the city.

Christmas in Tierpark - From 18 November: Take a two-kilometre circular walk around Europe’s largest zoo and admire more than 30 light sculptures. You’ll also find a range of traditional festive season treats available.

See the view from the Reichstag: This neo-Baroque building that is home to the German Parliament is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Fill in the online form at least three working days before you plan to visit and see the view from the top.

Explore Sanssouci: Located in Potsdam, a short S-Bahn ride away from central Berlin, the famous palace and its stunning grounds invite exploration.

Outdoor Activities to Do in Autumn

Although autumn in Berlin can be cold, there’s still plenty to do outdoors. Take a look at these suggestions:

Go on a bike tour of the city: Berlin is flat and has many clear routes, canal parks, and paths, making the city perfect for exploring by bicycle. If you’re brave enough to do it alone, go for it – although you will need to exercise caution and, preferably, wear a helmet. The safer option is to join one of the many bike tours available.

Hike around the famous Brandenburg Lakes: Brandenburg, the north-eastern state that surrounds the city, is known as the Land of 3,000 Lakes. There are plenty of hiking trails you can follow and immerse yourself in the autumnal beauty of the area surrounding Berlin in October. Five amazing trails include Sperenberger Gipsbrüche, Herrensee, Straussee and Liepnitzsee,

Watch a football match: Football plays an important role in Berlin culture, so why not soak up the sporting atmosphere and take in a game or two while you’re in the city?

Indoor Things to Do in Berlin

If you aren’t too enamoured with the idea of braving the chilly outdoors while you’re visiting Berlin during October and November, you’ll love these indoor things to do:

The best time to visit Berlin is May through September when the weather is ideal for sitting at cafes, lazing in parks, and leisurely strolls through the city. Winter, on the other hand, is chilly. Temperatures tend to range from 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s -6 to -1 degrees Celsius).

Check out a few exhibitions: There are plenty of art and photography exhibitions in autumn in Berlin. A few that are worthy of your attention include Luondu Luonddus – As a Part of Nature, We Are Nature at the Nordic Embassies from 7 October, Caroline Wong’s Cats and Girls at Soy Capitán until 29 October, Thomas Hoepker’s My Way at Buchkunst Berlin until 20 November, and Anna Uddenberg’s Fake-Estate at Schinkel Pavillon until 31 December.

See a show at a theatre: There’s always something exciting playing at Berlin’s many theatres. If you’re into avant-garde theatre, head to the Schaübuhne am Lehniner Platz. Are you an opera fan? Check out amazing productions of Semiramide (20, 22 October), Rigoletto (5, 9, 24 November), or Carmen (6, 12, 19 November) at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Looking for ballet in Berlin? The Staatsballet Berlin has an exciting programme for October and November.

Delve into history at the best museums: Take a closer look at ancient and modern history at the best museums in Berlin. A few of our favourites include Hamburger Bahnhof, Puppentheater Museum in Neukölln, Jüdisches Museum Berlin, Schwules Museum, Museum für Naturkunde, and the new Samurai Museum.

Enjoy live music: Berlin is a veritable hotbed of live music venues. Get your toes tapping at iconic places such as Kallasch and Moabiter Barprojekt in Unionstrasse, Quasimodo Club just off Kurfürstendamm, Astra Kulturhaus near Boxhagener Platz, Huxleys Neue Welt in Neukölln, and Hoppetosse (located in a static boat on the Spree River).

Visit the best indoor markets: Exploring the best covered markets in Berlin is an immersive sensory experience. You’ll find regional delicacies, traditional foods, fabulous souvenirs, gorgeous art, and much more. Check out Kreuzberg’s Markthalle Neun and Marheineke Markthalle, Arminiusmarkthalle in Moabit, and Tegel indoor market in Gorkistraße to the north of the city.

Go shopping: Looking for a little more than the markets can offer? Have a wander through Berlin’s best shopping areas. Some of our favourites are the Mall of Berlin, Kurfürstendamm (it’s the Champs-Élysées of Berlin, darling!), Hackesche Höfe (a great choice for arty concept stores), and Potsdamer Platz Arkaden.

Berlin Nightlife in Autumn

Autumn in Berlin doesn’t bring much of a change to the city’s nightlife, other than the crowds being smaller and fewer outdoor events. Unlike most cities, Berlin doesn’t have an official closing time for restaurants and bars. Most restaurants close when the last patrons leave (in most cases, that’s around midnight). Bars and clubs are known for staying open until the early hours of the morning, if not until sunrise.

There are great restaurants all over the city, although Kreuzberg and Neukölln do enjoy a reputation for being among the best areas for foodies. When it comes to bars and clubs, head to areas such as Friedrichshain (especially if you’re looking for alternative venues), Kreuzberg (for non-conformist and hipster vibes), Prenzlauer Berg in East Berlin, and Wrangelstrasse near the River Spree.

What to Pack for Autumn in Berlin

Berlin in September is relatively warm, so you can comfortably stroll around the city on most afternoons and evenings without worrying that you’re going to get cold. October, however, is noticeably cooler, and it often gets breezy in the late afternoon and early evening. This month also sees a fair number of wet days. Most November days are cold and grey, and they often are damp and foggy. September has an average maximum temperature of 19 °C/66 °F and an average minimum temperature of 10 °C/50 °F. Berlin in October has an average maximum temperature of 13 °C/55 °F and an average minimum of 6 °C/43 °F, and in November has an average maximum of 7 °C/45 °F and an average minimum of 2 °C/36°F.

Your packing list for autumn in Berlin should include a pair of boots and a pair of comfortable shoes (for walking), a few pairs of warm socks, a few pairs of trousers as well as jeans, a few tops/shirts (long sleeves are best), a couple of warm coats (as well as one made from thinner material if you’re travelling in September), a pair of gloves (especially for later autumn), a warm hat, a scarf, a jumper or cardigan, a good raincoat, and a durable umbrella. Include more formal wear if you’re planning on eating in good restaurants and going to the theatre, opera, or ballet.

What Can’t You Do in Autumn

Considering the cold, damp weather for most of autumn in Berlin, there are a few activities famously associated with the city that you won’t be able to do. Although beer gardens are open in Berlin in September, most (if not all) of them close in November. You also won’t be able to go swimming in lakes or sunbathe in parks. As mentioned above, you also won’t be able to find the type of open-air events you would be able to enjoy in summer. That said, there are seasonal open-air events you can go to, although you’ll need to dress warmly.

Where to Stay in Berlin

It’s important to choose your accommodation wisely for autumn in Berlin. Choose Capri by Fraser Berlin.

Whether you’ve soaked up the German capital’s history or explored its world-class museums, our Berlin location provides everything you need to rest and rejuvenate after a busy day in the city. Located on Museum Island, our serviced apartments have fully equipped kitchenettes, but if you’re not in the mood to prepare your own meals, you can head to our hotel restaurant. We also have a stylish lobby bar, a fully equipped gym, and an on-site laundrette. What’s more, we offer bicycle rentals, so you can do some exploring on two wheels with ease.