Berlin Leisure

Berlin has a healthy selection of outdoor activities right in the city as well as a number of professional sports teams competing at the highest levels. If you venture a little way out of town, youll find a whole region of beautiful countryside filled with forests, rivers and mountains.

City parks

Tiergarten is a massive green oasis right in central Berlin, covering 2.5 square kilometres. There are over 23kms of meandering paths for walking, jogging or biking. Many events throughout the year take place in the Tiergarten such as the Love Parade in July. The Berlin Zoo is also within the park grounds. But this isnt the only place to escape the concrete of the city; there are several other smaller parks scattered around western Berlin. The citys many canals and rivers, such as the lovely Landwehrkanal, are flanked by wide swathes of green, leafy parks, perfect for a stroll.

The suburbs also provide a number of excellent lakes and forests dedicated to the public. Joggers, bikers and horseback riders share these natural areas with wild boar, foxes and deer. Grunewald Forest, Tegeler Forest, Lake Schlachtensee and Krumme Lake are just a few of the options. Therere also the expansive and idyllic lakes and forests in the surrounding Brandenburg region.

Biking

Berlin maintains an excellent network of bike paths, marked by red bricks on the walkways through the central part of the city as well as in the many parks and natural areas. The Tiergarten, right in the heart of the city, and Grunewald Forest, further out in the suburbs, are wonderful areas for a relaxing bike ride. Bikes can be rented at many locations around central Berlin.

Boat tours

For a truly special view of this city, consider a boat tour along central Berlins Spree River or Landwehr Canal. From the water, you get a unique perspective of Charlottenburg Palace, the Reichstag and the Berliner Dom among other buildings. Tours depart twice daily from most piers and bridges in the city such as the Schlossbrucke in Charlottenburg or Museum Island. The cost is very reasonable and a boat tour makes for a great afternoon outing.

Football and basketball

Berlin has a long history of sporting events and boasts the grand Olympic Stadium, built in 1936. The Hertha BSC football club competes in the Bundesliga at the highest level and the team plays their home games at the Olympic Stadium.

In the German mens basketball league, Alba Berlin is one of the best teams in the league and consistently competes in Europe. During the season, they play often at the Max Schmeling Halle in Prenzlauer Berg.