10 Delightful Things to Do in Autumn in Berlin

Is it Worth Visiting Berlin in Autumn?

Absolutely, it’s a big YES from me!

Berlin undergoes a mesmerizing transformation as the leaves turn to fiery shades of red, orange, and gold, creating a picturesque backdrop for your adventures.

The crowds thin out, allowing you to explore some of the best places in Berlin to visit like:

• the famous Checkpoint Charlie
• the 1.3 km long open-air East Side Gallery
• the famous landmarks along Unter den Linden

Then there are Berlin’s massive parks that are stunning places to visit to see the leaves start to turn colours.

Plus, there’s no better time to savour hearty German dishes of slowly roasted meats served with rich gravy, creamy potatoes and tangy red cabbage. Dishes that seem to taste better in the crisp fall weather.

Speaking of weather, here’s what you can expect:

• Late September: Temperatures hover between 12-18°C (54-64°F). Days are still relatively long with around 12 hours of daylight. Expect light rain with precipitation averaging about 45 mm. Mornings and evenings can be crisp, so pack layers.
• October: Temperatures drop to 8-14°C (46-57°F). Daylight decreases to about 10 hours by the end of the month. Rain becomes more frequent, with precipitation around 45-50 mm. The air gets cooler, especially in the mornings, so a warm jacket is essential.
• November: Temperatures fall to 3-9°C (37-48°F). Daylight dwindles to about 8 hours. November is one of the wetter months, with precipitation averaging 55 mm. Frosty mornings and damp afternoons are common, so prepare for chilly, damp weather.
• Early December: Temperatures range from 0-5°C (32-41°F). Daylight shortens to around 7 hours, with sunset around 4 PM. Snowfall may occur (it did for me!), but rain is still more common, with precipitation at 50 mm.

3. Tour Berlin Museums

Berlin is one big museum, With over 170 of them, and many of them being free, you’ll never fall short of what to visit.

There are information plaques all over the city marking historically significant events and memorials that you don’t even need to step foot in an actual museum.

But if the weather is not cooperating, it’s the perfect way to spend your time in the city. Find out if a Museum Pass and Berlin Welcome Card is worth it for your visit.

Here are my top 3 favourite museums that I recommend:

• Berlin Dom is a stunning architectural gem that is a cathedral, museum and viewing platform all in one place
• Jewish Museum Berlin is a thought-provoking museum that explores the history and culture of Jewish life in Germany
• The UNESCO World Heritage site of Museum Island is home to world-class museums such as Altes Museum and Neues Museum.

4. Explore Neighbourhoods in Berlin

As the leaves in Berlin’s neighbourhoods turn golden, it’s the perfect time to stroll the streets in the city’s unique districts, each with its unique charm. I might be a little biased, but living in the historical district of Mitte, I love this neighbourhood which is filled with iconic landmarks.

Here are my top 3 favourite neighbourhoods that I recommend you visit (beyond Mitte):

• Prenzlauer Berg: the trendy district filled with charming streets, cozy cafes, and boutique shops (and it’s close to my apartment in Mitte)
• Kreuzberg: is a vibrant and diverse neighbourhood known for its street art and cultural scene, and the best way to explore it is on a food tour like I did
• Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf: the quiet, yet lovely neighbourhood full of elegant homes and parks as well as some of the best shopping

5. Take a Boat and Bike Ride

Take a boat cruise along the Spree River to see Berlin’s iconic landmarks from a different perspective while sipping on hot mulled wine or hot chocolate.

I saved this somewhat touristy experience to early November and couldn’t have timed it more perfectly to see the stunning cityscape architecture views against the backdrop of the fall foliage.

Another fun thing to do is to rent a bike and pedal along the Spree River’s Berlin Wall Trail, tracing the former path of the wall that once divided the city. It’s a great way to take in the beautiful scenery and stop for traditional Kaffee und Kuchen at a riverside cafe.

6. Visit a Viewpoint

Seeing that Berlin is a predominantly flat city centre with very few hills, you’ll want to take advantage of seeking out some of the best viewpoints to get those beautiful fall views.

Here are my top 3 favourite viewing platforms that I recommend:

• Humboldt-Box: located on Museum Island, the Humboldt-Box provides a viewing platform for admiring the surrounding landmarks and fall colours (cost 3 euros)
• Victory Column: with its sweeping views of sweeping views Tiergarten Park up to Brandenburg Gate
• Humboldthain Park: one of the highest points in Berlin and a former World War II bunker offers a great vista

7. Savour German Cuisine

There’s no better time to indulge in some hearty German cuisine than the autumn season. Try traditional hearty dishes like schnitzel, cheesy spaetzle, and dumplings.

Berliners love the weekend ritual of going out for brunch. Blankets are draped over chairs inviting you to still sit outside, I only wish there were outdoor heat lanterns to keep you warmer.

Here are my recommended places to eat:

• where to find a good English breakfast
• my favourite weekend vegan brunch spots
• places to eat the best schnitzel
• traditional German restaurants serving classic dishes

8. Attend Oktoberfest or Visit a Biergarten

One of the fun things to do is to attend Oktoberfest celebrations in late September (if you can get a ticket). If not, visit one of Berlin’s outdoor biergartens to sample local beers under a canopy of trees.

Here are my top 3 favourite biergartens that I recommend:

• Prater Garten: Berlin’s oldest beer garden, oozes charm with its leafy chestnut trees and traditional German brews
• Café am Neuen See: nestled in the idyllic Tiergarten park, this beer garden boasts a serene lake, rowboats, and an extensive beer menu with a view
• Zollpackhof: located riverside by the Spree River it offers a picturesque setting near the Reichstag

10. Do Some Berlin Shopping

Stroll along the glamorous Kurfürstendamm boulevard and indulge in some shopping therapy or the flagship department store of Ku’Damm or Bikini Berlin. Irresistible cozy sweaters, scarves and hats fill the shops. Take advantage of the American tradition of Black Friday shopping deals too!

Here are my top 3 favourite shopping areas that I recommend:

• Hackesche Höfe: a series of connecting courtyards full of unique local shops as well as on Rosenthaler Str
• Prenzlauer Berg: find some boutique shops on the charming streets near Prenzlauer Allee like Rykestraße
• Oranienburger Str: independent shops, galleries and boutiques on this street as well as Linienstraße

Best Places to See Berlin Autumn Foliage

Admiring the fall colours of course is a must-do!

Here are all my favourite locations to see the fall leaves in Berlin (that weren’t already mentioned above).

• Spree River: stroll along riverbanks from James Simon Park to Monbijoupark up to the bridge called Ebertsbrücke
• Lustgarten: the cluster of Linden trees makes for the perfect backdrop to the Berliner Dom
• Courtyard of Bibliothek der Berlin: this hidden gem can be found off Unter den Linden Boulevard where the ivy-covered building turns a vibrant orange and red
• Spreebogenpark: the entire area from this waterfront park that extends in front of the Reichstag Building is full of gorgeous fall foliage trees of yellow, orange and red
• Straße des 17. Juni: this iconic street in Berlin is lined on both sides with linden trees casting a long line of gold stretching to Brandenburg Gate
• Schlossgarten Charlottenburg: if you think the view leading you to Charlottenburg Palace is stunning in the fall, be sure to visit the expansive gardens behind the castle
• Gendarmenmarkt: the beautiful public square where the Konzerthaus, Französische Friedrichstadtkirche and Neue Kirche are surrounded by golden yellow Linden trees (note: 2023/2024 there are massive renovations underway)
• Reichstag: the rooftop of Berlin’s Reichstag (parliament) building is the perfect bird’s-eye view of the city, and why not linger over breakfast at Käfer Restaurant Reichstag
• And, lastly Grunewald forest! It is on the city limits of Berlin, but worth going.

Final Thoughts

I will always have fond memories of Berlin especially in autumn having lived here. I can’t think of a better time to visit this capital city.

For more articles about Berlin and help planning your trip, visit my Germany page. You’ll find some great day trip options from Berlin and more helpful articles, or join my mailing list for weekly travel tips and news.

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