Great things to do in Berlin in autumn

The lungs of the city

Tiergarten is to Berlin as Hyde Park is to London and Central Park is to New York. The perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, even with Straße des 17. Juni running straight through the park. In autumn the trees of the 519 acres park, slightly bigger than Hyde Park, turn it into a magical place full of colours and soft light.

Aside from the tree lined paths and lawns, the park is also home to many memorials and cultural sights. Near the Brandenburg Gate, there is the Soviet war memorial, the Global Stone project and the Memorial to the persecuted homosexuals under National Socialism. At the heart of the park stands the Victory Column, which commemorates the Prussian victory in the Second Schleswig War and which has a lookout point at the top of the 69-meter-high tower.

If you want to give your feet a break you can find Café am Neuen See, on the shore of one of the lakes of the park. It offers a scenic beergarden and if the weather gets just a little too chilly you can warm yourself by the fire inside. Some time in Tiergarten in autumn is sure to be rewarded with beautiful sights of autumn foliage.

The unofficial national dish

There is no escaping the currywurst in Berlin with over 800 million plates served every year across the country, over 100 million of them in Berlin alone. While currywurst is a year-round delight, the spicy sauce options make it an especially comforting snack during autumn. The dish was invented in the Charlottenburg neighbourhood after World War II and has since become an iconic Berlin experience.

For some of the best currywurst, head to Curry 36 in Charlottenburg, or if you're in Mitte, give Curry Wolf near Madame Tussauds a try. In Berlin, it's nearly impossible not to find a place to savor this mouthwatering delight.

A meal with a view

Whether it is breakfast or dinner, who doesn’t want a beautiful view of Berlin while enjoying delicious food. In Berlin you can do so on a unique location: on top of the historic Reichstag building. The German Bundestag is the only parliamentary building in the world with a public restaurant.

The Käfer Dachgarten-restaurant serves modern German cuisine with fresh, regional products for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Autumnal produce in Germany is especially good, so there is no excuse to miss out on a visit to this place. Make sure to book at least 48 hours in advance and bring valid ID, due to the security measures for the Bundestag.

A shining light

As autumn sets in and the days grow shorter and darker, the city has a solution to brighten up those days. Since 2005, the Berlin Festival of Lights brings beautiful light art installations to the city. Landmarks, streets and squares from East to West Berlin tell magical stories through the use of light.

One of the best ways to enjoy this festival is with a tour that takes you to all the city’s most famous sights and includes multiple stops so you can take photos. Our Tour of Lights is just what you’ll want for this fun event. Join us at Neptunbrunnen/Alexanderplatz at 7 pm, where we’ll start the tour with a surprise.

Museum Island

Not only does this island have five museums that you can visit with a single ticket, but the place itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first museum to be built on the site is the Altes Museum, which opened in 1830 to give the general public access to the art collections of rulers and princes.

The second was the Royal Prussian Museum, which was destroyed during the war. Restoration of the museum only started in 2003, and when the museum reopened in 2009 it was renamed to the Neues Museum. It is the home of the famous bust of the Ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti.

In 1876 the Alte Nationalgalerie was added, its architect was inspired by the Acropolis in Athens. The last two museums to be added to the island were the Bode Museum in 1904 and the Pergamon Museum in 1930. There's no better place to spend a rainy autumn day immersed in art and history.

Bargains and caffeine

Get off the beaten track for a visit to the authentically restored Marheineke Market Hall. Inside the 2500 square meter hall, you’ll find stalls with organic and regional fresh food, such as meat, cheese, milk, bread, fish, juices, fruit and vegetables, as well as flowers, specialities from the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula.

There are also restaurants, a bookstore and crafts and services such as tailoring, shoemaking and locksmithing. On Saturdays and Sundays, there is a flea market right next to the Market Hall on Marheinekeplatz with great bargains on practical items, books, records, jewellery and toys. When you are done shopping be sure to visit one of the many neighbouring cafés or restaurants to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.