Camping in Berlin

Camping in Berlin is the perfect way to spend a holiday in the German capital. When camping by the lake, holidaymakers can relax on the beach. Thanks to good connections to the city centre, sights such as the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island and the Reichstag are just a stone's throw away from the campsites.

Camping in Berlin: holidays by the lake and city camping for city travellers

Berlin is an ideal destination for camping holidays. There are many lakes and green spaces in the surrounding area, while the Brandenburg countryside also offers beautiful nature and many quiet corners away from the hustle and bustle of the city. City camping is also possible in Berlin - perfect for city travellers and campers passing through who want to explore the sights.

The camping parks in Berlin are mostly located in the countryside on the outskirts of the city outside the environmental zone. Many nature campsites are located on the Havel or by a lake and have access to the water with a bathing area and their own beach. Especially in summer, you can spend a wonderful camping holiday in Berlin with the whole family by the lake, relax while sunbathing on the beach and enjoy water sports.

Campers can reach the city centre with its many sights in a short time by regional train and public transport. Berlin also has a number of motorhome pitches and city campsites in central city locations directly outside the environmental zone. There are also some well-developed campsites on the Großer Wannsee lake with a bathing beach and boat hire, but it gets very crowded here, especially in summer. Another nice alternative are campsites on the Havel, especially for water hikers.

Camping in Berlin with a dog

Berlin is the secret dog capital of Germany. That's why there are so many dog-friendly campsites in Berlin. Especially when camping by the lake, dog owners get their money's worth when their four-legged companion can refresh themselves in the cool water.

The area surrounding Berlin also offers a high recreational factor and many opportunities for long walks through forests, nature parks and river landscapes. Dogs should be kept on a lead to protect the natural environment when visiting nature reserves.

How to get to Berlin

Getting to Berlin is child's play thanks to the well-developed (and free) motorways. From Munich, holidaymakers drive around 590 km to the German capital. One of the most popular routes is via Nuremberg, Leipzig and Potsdam. From Stuttgart, the distance is around 630 kilometres. Campers from the west of Germany travel around 560 km to Berlin via Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Magdeburg and Potsdam, for example. Visitors from Hamburg have a comparatively short journey. They only have to cover just under 300 km on the A 24 motorway.

For longer distances, stopovers should be planned. When camping with children, a break is required after 500 kilometres at the latest. From Stuttgart and Munich, for example, the Selbitz motorway service station is a good place to take a break. There is a bistro, clean sanitary facilities and motorhome pitches. Another service area with great food and drink, slot machines, a petrol station, sky lounge and shop is the Autohof Nempitz near Leipzig.

Top 5 sights when camping in Berlin

• Brandenburg Gate: The city's most famous landmark is a symbol of the reunification of the GDR with the Federal Republic of Germany.
• Checkpoint Charlie: History comes alive at this location: This was once the most important border crossing between East and West Berlin.
• Holocaust Memorial: The memorial to the Jews of Europe murdered by the National Socialists is a poignant destination on a tour of the city.
• Reichstag: The seat of the German Bundestag is a must-see when travelling to Berlin. The walk-in glass dome is a highlight of a trip to Berlin, especially at sunset.
• Gendarmenmarkt: The capital's most beautiful square with the German and French Cathedrals and the Royal Theatre.

Activities and excursions in Berlin

Camping in Berlin is equally suitable for history buffs, trendy travellers and those seeking relaxation. Families with children feel just as at home in the German capital with its playgrounds and leisure facilities as students in the bars and nightclubs and older people in the museums and exclusive restaurants.

Berlin is also surrounded by marvellous nature. The many lakes, green spaces, woodlands and nature reserves are ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. If you want to discover the surrounding area and escape the hustle and bustle of the city, you should plan a trip to Brandenburg.

Water sports and stand-up paddling on the Spree

Outdoor pools, lidos and bathing lakes in and around Berlin invite campers to enjoy numerous water sports activities. At the Großer Wannsee, holidaymakers can not only swim but also surf and row. Water skiing and wakeboarding are offered in Zossen, among other places. If you want to practise the trendy sport of stand-up paddling, you can do so on the Spree, for example.

Cycling tours in the countryside or in the city centre

The impressive sights and picturesque landscape can be perfectly explored on a bike tour. For nature lovers, a tour of the Spree is just as suitable as a tour to Schwielowsee or Müggelberg.

Holidaymakers who prefer to cycle along the historical highlights of the city can marvel at Berlin Cathedral, Unter den Linden, the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column on a 21 km route. For a longer tour, there is the Berlin Wall Trail, which follows the former course of the Berlin Wall around West Berlin for almost 160 kilometres.

Excursions to Brandenburg

There is a lot to see in Brandenburg. Those interested in technology can plan a detour to the visitor mine in Lichterfeld. A boat trip in the Spreewald with lard sandwiches and traditional pickles is a favourite with young and old alike. A trip to the enchanting Rheinsberg Castle on the eastern shore of Lake Grienerick is a romantic experience.

Hiking in the nature parks around Berlin

There is an almost endless abundance of nature parks and nature reserves around Berlin, most of which are easily accessible by public transport. Highlights include the romantic Schlaubetal valley, the Märkische Schweiz nature park, Westhavelland and the Schorfheide-Chorin biosphere reserve.

The sparsely populated Norduckermärkische Seenlandschaft and the unspoilt Müritz National Park, which is located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, are a little further away but no less attractive for campers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

events

February

• Berlinale: Every year, the best films from all over the world are honoured at the international film festival. Alongside the film festivals in Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale is one of the most important events for European film.

May

• Carnival of Cultures: A colourful and entertaining event in which people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds enthusiastically take part in a street parade and give artistic expression to their concerns. Over four days, concerts, a colourful hands-on oasis and a wide variety of food and drink are on offer.

June - July

• Fête de la Musique: Every year at the summer solstice, live music concerts take place all over the city. 48 Stunden Neukölln: Numerous exhibitions and creative activities take place at this exciting art festival.
• Berliner Volksfestsommer: The central fairground is home to fairground stalls and fast-paced rides. After a ride on the merry-go-round, the numerous catering outlets at the Berliner Volksfestsommer provide refreshments.

December

• Christmas markets: In winter, it's worth discovering the city's many large and small Christmas markets. The largest is held every year at Alexanderplatz. The Christmas market at Gendarmenmarkt is even more beautiful.

Gastronomy and catering for campers in Berlin

Typical Berlin cuisine is hearty and down-to-earth. Classic dishes include currywurst, Kasseler or pork knuckle with sauerkraut as well as fried liver with apple, onions and mashed potatoes. Probably the capital's most famous drink is the Berliner Weisse. It consists of a wheat beer that is brewed exclusively in summer. This is mixed with woodruff or raspberry syrup and drunk from special bowls.

In addition to traditional dishes, Berlin also has Michelin-starred gastronomy and modern restaurants and cafés. People also enjoy barbecues and picnics in the city's many green spaces. If you get hungry late at night, you can order rollmops, pickles and meatballs in the pubs without closing time.

Kebabs are also cheap and delicious and can be found in countless stalls throughout the city. Another speciality of Berlin are the "Spätis". Some of these kiosks are open around the clock and offer a good opportunity to eat outside normal hours.

Best time to travel for a camping holiday in Berlin

The summer months of July and August are the ideal time for campers who want to combine a city break in Berlin with a beach holiday. The months from May to mid-October are ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and water sports. Temperatures are usually above 15 degrees Celsius then.

In general, the climate in Berlin is a mixture of maritime and continental weather. In summer, the thermometer can easily crack the 30-degree mark, while temperatures in January average just 2.1 degrees Celsius.

December is the wettest month with around twelve days of rain. Severe easterly winds can also occur in the already cold winter. The peak periods on the campsites are mainly during the summer holidays and on important public holidays such as Easter, Whitsun and Christmas. It is worth booking in good time, especially during the peak season.