12 Things to Do in Berlin in August

I have an endless list of activities and things to do in Berlin, but in August in particular that list seems to get even longer. During one of the most summery months of the year, the German capital is full of outdoor events- and the good weather encourages it! The best thing is that there's something for everyone, from beer festivals to music festivals.

Organising Berlin' s hectic August schedule can be tricky, but don't worry, I've found the must-attend cultural events. You might not have time to make them all, but I promise you'll be spoilt for choice.

Have you always wanted to experience hot air ballooning? August is one of the best times to do it in Berlin. Where? Near Checkpoint Charlie.

This is where the Berlin Hi-Flyerd, a tethered hot air balloon that you can climb into to soar more than 100 metres above the city, is set up. It's not a trip as such, but that makes it more accessible in every way; it costs around €29 and there are several 'flights' throughout the day.

In total, there's room for 30 people and, once you're up in the sky, the Hi-Flyer provides a pretty impressive panoramic view of Berlin and such landmarks as the Brandenburg Gate and the Tiergarten.

The best thing about this activity in August is that the weather is fine, so there's no danger of the climb having to be cancelled due to the weather or that you won't get a good view because of fog.

Want to get the best pictures of Berlin from above? You can book your ticket for the Berlin Hi-Flyeronline here.

Interesting facts

• When: throughout August
• Where: near Checkpoint Charlie (at Zimmerstraße and Wilhelmstraße)
• Price: approx. €29

During the first weekend in August you will have few excuses not to try the best craft beers in Berlin. Why? Because the Internationales Berliner Bierfestival is taking place. More than two kilometres of beer stalls with beers for all tastes in the Karl-Marx-Allee area. Which one will be your favourite? You'll have to go to find out. Access is free, although you'll have to pay for each glass you drink.

The Berliner Bierfestival brings together brewmasters from all over the world, although the majority (more than two hundred of the almost four hundred participants) are German. This will give you the chance to try some 2,000 varieties of beer, but you'll have to watch your step. So as not to drink on an empty stomach, I recommend you also try the typical German food on sale there (yes, sausages are the star dish).

To liven up the party , concerts are organised on the eighteen stages on the site. Local bands usually play, so you'll have a chance to catch up with Berlin's musical trends. If you like beer, you can also sign up for a beer tour with a tasting of the best German craft beer.

When you arrive in Berlin in August you'll find that temperatures in the high 20s encourage you to be outside all the time. My advice is to take advantage of the good weather and every ray of sunshine to see the city in a way you can't at other times of the year: by bike, on a cruise on the river Spree or even on an open-top tour bus.

Why not book a bike tour? Berlin can be an overwhelming city, as it has so many neighbourhoods, squares, tourist centres... The good thing about cycling is that you'll go faster and the mild temperatures will keep you company along the way.

Another option is to hop on a sightseeing bus around Berlin. The rest of the year it might not be a good idea because of the constant rain, as the advantage of these vehicles is that you can ride on the top deck, which is uncovered. August is the perfect time to hop on, hop on and off, hopping off at more than 15 stops, and discover such important sights as the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island and the Gendarmenmarkt.

Interesting facts

• When: all of August
• Where: Berlin city centre tours
• Price: approx. €25 (bike tour and sightseeing bus)

And taking advantage of the good weather and pleasant temperatures in Berlin during the month of August, you have the opportunity to embark on one of the best Berlin cruises. Specifically, you can book your dinner cruiseon the river Spree, and watch the beautiful sunset from the boat and wonderful views of the heart of Berlin and discover the most important sights of the city while enjoying a pleasant evening such as: the Reichstag building, the Berlin TV Tower or Das Bundeskanzleramt, nicknamed "The White House" of Berlin.

Interesting facts

• When: all of August
• Where: Starting point: Rosengarten, Wintersteinstraße 24, 10587 Berlin, Germany
• Price: from €65 (bike tour and sightseeing bus)

Is visiting Berlin's best museums on your bucket list? If you're travelling in August, you can do so at night, specifically on 27 August, when the Berlin Long Night takes place. From 8pm until 2am, after hours, many of the museums and exhibition halls remain open, with special activities. It's usually very crowded, so I recommend you book your tickets in advance. And if you are travelling on any other day of the month and want to know which are the best museums not to miss, take note!

• Neues Museum: have you always wanted to see the famous bust of Nefertiti? You can do it in this museum. Also, during the Long Night of Museums, there are guides explaining the history and legends of the Queen. There are also other pieces that you can't miss, especially those in the rooms dedicated to Egypt: mummies, funerary sculptures... You can book your tickets in advance here.
• DDR Museum: Would you like to learn about Berlin's recent history? This museum exhibits everyday objects (from cars to cosmetics) that were used in communist Berlin after the Second World War. Be warned, it's a rather small museum that is always full, so be prepared to queue if you decide to go during the Long Night. You can book your tickets in advance here.
• Hamburger Bahnhof: the more contemporary visitors will really enjoy this museum with works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein or Joseph Beuys. During the Night of the Museums, there are often workshops for you to practice your artistic skills, as well as musical performances. And, the great treasures are usually in the temporary exhibitions, not the main exhibition. You can book your tickets in advance here.

Interesting facts

• When: 25 August
• Where: various museums in Berlin
• Price: approximately €18

Another great option during this time of the year is a helicopter tour, yes that's right! If you like heights this is your perfect tour and a different way to get to know the city. Spectacular and privileged views in an experience you will remember for a lifetime. For about 20 minutes you will get to know all the emblematic places of Berlin.

A new way of getting to know the architectural perspective of such important and historical monuments as the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, the TV Tower and the Cathedral.

Interesting facts

• When: all of August
• Where: Starting point is Willy-Brandt-Platz, 2
• Price: from €198

Fancy touring Berlin by night in a totally different way? If you're going to be in the city during the month of August, you have to sign up for one of the Skate by Night skate tours, which start every Sunday at Alexanderplatz.

The best thing is that the organisers propose a different route every week, so you'll have the chance to visit Berlin's old town, the banks of the river Spree and many other places as the evening falls. If you don't have skates, that's OK, as you can get a free pair with your ticket (approximately €2 per route).

If you like to skate, the 12 kilometres or so of each route will be a blast. You'll join a group of people (Berliners and other tourists like you) on these sporty yet entertaining tours. If you're not an expert, that's OK, as long as you know how to stand up and brake, that's enough. There are also easier routes for beginners.

It's very easy to sign up on their website, where you can also consult the routes beforehand to choose the one you like best. If you want to go on more than one, I recommend buying a season ticket (approximately €5). Once you have your ticket, just meet up with the rest of the group near the Alexanderplatz clock.

Interesting facts

• When: Sundays in August
• Where: The starting point is always Alexanderplatz.
• Price: approximately €2

Do you like dancing? Whether you're dancing or watching it, you've got a date during the first two weeks of August in Berlin. That's when Tanz Im August takes place, a performing arts festival where different contemporary dance groups perform at various locations around Berlin.

Admission for each show is around €20, although there are discounts for specific groups (such as students) and if you buy more than one ticket.

The best thing about Tanz Im August is that it showcases the choreographic talents of artists from all over the world, both local and international. In fact, some of the best companies present their new creations at this festival.

There is more than one stage, so check the programme in advance. Most of these venues are cultural buildings in Berlin, such as the Deutsche Theater or the St. Elisabeth-Kirche. If you were thinking of visiting any of these places, this is your chance to do it in a different way.

Interesting facts

• When: first two weeks of August
• Where: different buildings and cultural centres in Berlin
• Price: approximately €20 (each show)

Although Berlin is a very modern city, the birthplace of techno, it also has a great concert hall, the Konzerthaus, where every August an international competition of youth orchestras is held.

You may not be able to go to the concerts during the rest of the year (prices can be high), but you can take advantage of this more "amateur" event to get a ticket at a more affordable price (approximately 20€), see the famous hall inside and listen to performances and creations of the participating ensembles.

The aim of the Young Euro Classic is not simply to reward the best orchestra, but to give them visibility and let them present both a performance of a classical work and their own composition representing the music of their home country. For 16 days Berlin experiences a multicultural event in which, through musical notes, the whole world comes together.

Of course, with a stage like the Konzerthaus, which is located on the Gendarmenplatz, everything sounds even better. When you're inside, you'll be surprised that it looks relatively "new". This is normal, as the interior was left in ruins after the bombings of the Second World War, so it had to be built in its entirety.

Interesting facts

• When: mid-August
• Where: Konzerthaus
• Price: approximately 20€.

Körnerpark is located in one of Berlin's best neighbourhoods: Neukölln. Don't you know it? The great thing about visiting in August is that there are plenty of free, open-air activities, including concerts.

Every Sunday afternoon a jazz, rock or blues band performs in an impressive garden complex designed in the 20th century by Hans Richard Küllenberg.

The concerts, which are free, take place in front of the Körnerpark gallery which, while you're there, I recommend you visit; it exhibits works by national and international contemporary artists. When you've finished, it's time to lie down on the grass facing the stage and enjoy the music.

Between the "Sommer im Park" (Summer in the Park) and the cultural centre that is the gallery, the Körnerpark has been revived after the Second World War, which had left it looking somewhat desolate.

Interesting facts

• When: all of August
• Where: Körnerpark
• Price: free admission

The open-air amphitheatre at Mauerpark has been the stage for many a concert - it could even be the stage for one of your own! Relax, I'm not saying you have to go out and sing in the middle of one of Berlin's biggest and best known parks (only if you want to), but I do encourage you to take part in the collective karaoke that is organised there every Sunday in August.

As an appointment, on Sunday afternoons many Berliners and tourists flock to Mauerpark with a few beers, which always helps to overcome embarrassment, and join in with their voices to sing. There is a microphone on the stage and you can climb up if you dare, but you can also just sit there and sing along.

How did it come to this? The origin lies in a messenger who rode around Berlin on his bicycle with loudspeakers. He encouraged people to sing along with him and one Sunday he decided to set up in Mauerpark, establishing a new tradition that has been supported by many.

Interesting facts

• When: Sundays in August
• Where: Mauerpark
• Price: free admission

Who doesn't want to take a dip in summer? August is a hot month even in Berlin, where temperatures can reach 25°C. To cool off, Berliners have a clear plan: a visit to the Badeschiff swimming pool. This open, floating facility is in the centre of the city, offering incredible views over the river Spree.

Beyond the pool, which is positioned over the river, there is a beach area perfect for sunbathing while spotting Berlin's famous TV tower in the distance. This initiative has always been celebrated by the locals, as the water of the river Spree is too polluted to go in. In any case, the Badeschiff has become an urban centre, as it is also part of the Arena Berlin complex, where events are organised throughout the year.

Access to the pool is free every day during the summer season, from 8pm until about midnight. It tends to fill up, so I recommend going early in the morning and during the week, when it is less crowded.

Interesting facts

• When: all of August
• Where: Badeschiff (Arena Berlin)
• Price: free admission

Of all the summer activities in Berlin, most are concentrated in August, which is the month with the highest temperatures (between 14ºC and 24ºC). The sun is the main protagonist and rain only makes a brief appearance (nothing that can't be solved by packing a small umbrella in your suitcase just in case).

There are almost 15 hours of daylight, although as the month progresses, the number of daylight hours decreases. For the same reason it is possible that in the evenings, from 9pm onwards, it may get cooler. You don't need a coat, but you should bring a jacket and long trousers.

Berlin's mild temperatures and sunshine in August attract a lot of tourists, which is especially noticeable in the price of accommodation and flights. It also happens to be a month when most people go on holiday and travel more. To avoid a much higher cost than expected, try to book your hotel and flight in advance.

As there are more tourists, you will notice that Berlin is more crowded, which means queues to enter landmarks such as the German Parliament. At this time of the year is when having a card like the Berlin Pass becomes almost a necessity, as it includes tickets to different monuments and you can skip some lines, or at least reduce the time you spend in them.

In any case, and although it is clear that there are places that deserve to be seen inside, I recommend you take advantage of the good weather to enjoy the green areas and outdoor events in Berlin in August.

Are you all set for your trip to Berlin? There's no shortage of things to do in August, so let me know how it goes!