photo: steffimarla
Urban parks are more than just stretches of green amidst buildings and traffic. Entering a good park can change your whole sense of place, leaving you feeling like you just went away without leaving the city. We’ve compiled a list of 10 of our favorite parks, which run the gamut in size and features. Sprawled across the city, these urban oases all have something unique to offer, whether you’re in the mood for a picnic, a bike ride, a party or simply an afternoon stroll. Click on to start planning your next urban escape.
Alt-Stralau
Alt-Stralau is a peninsula on the river Spree between the districts of Rummelsburg and Treptow. If you go all the way to the end of it it’s like standing on the tip of the tounge. You have some great views over to some smaller islands (such as the so called Island of Love) as well as to the old abandoned amusement park called Spreepark. The green tongue is perfect for a picknick or a stroll along the water front. There is also a little boat rental where you can rent paddel boats – maybe for a little cruise over to the Island of Love?
Uferweg, 10245 Berlin-Friedrichshain
photo: sarahmallera
Körnerpark
The Körnerpark in Neukölln might not be one of the most famous ones, but it certainly is one of the most picturesque ones. When you walk around the slightly urban neighborhood you would never expect the Victorian style garden with a waterfall, fountain, rhododendron bushes and a little gallery with arches and staircases along with some little angel statues. It really is one of the most romantic looking spots in the city. The gallery also hosts a little cafe and there are also some music events taking place there every now and then.
Schierker Straße 8, Berlin-Neukölln
photo: clareholmes
Tempelhofer Feld
Closed in 2008, this gigantic airport now hosts concerts and exhibitions. The surrounding area was rearranged into the Tempelhof Entertainment Venue. The remarkable fact is that despite €60 million of state budget allocated for Tempelhof, it is a perfect example of Berliners’ independence in choosing leisure activities. Cyclists, skaters, bikers, kitesurfers, skateboarders, frisbee fans, runners, football players, kite flyers and soap bubble blowers coexist in harmony on the landing field. You can even join the community of truck-farmers, who plant small vegetable gardens to grow fresh vegetables. They even scheduled Gardeners and Truck Farmers Festival at Tempelhof for 2017, and strive to turn the enormous roof of the airport building into a planting area.
Tempelhof, 12099 Berlin-Tempelhof
photo: edumattos
Erholungspark Marzahn (Gärten der Welt)
Use a chance to escape the noise of the city at the Gardens of the World (Gärten der Welt), a recreational park in the heart of Berlin district Marzahn consisting of nine exotic garden worlds designed and built by architects from the respective countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, Bali, Marocco and others. The park is the perfect location for relaxing on a warm and sunny day and pretend you are not in one of the world’s great cities. Get lost in the maze of the beautiful gardens, relax by the lakes, or enjoy a picking in the shade of a leafy tree and let yourself be transported to different cultures and time periods.
Eisenacher Straße 99, 12685 Berlin-Mahrzahn
Tiergarten
Tiergarten (a German word for ‘Animal Garden’) is a park stretched for 210 hectares in the very heart of Berlin. You can go boating down the Spree River which runs through the park. A 500-year-old Tiergarten looks like an enchanted forest – wild and a bit scruffy. There are wilds and sunlit meadows, flower beds and vines, stubs and moss. The park is adjoined by the famous Berlin Zoo.
Straße des 17. Juni 31, Berlin-Tiergarten
photo: Rosmarie Voegtli CC-BY-2.0
Viktoriapark
The park is set on Kreuzberg Mount, which gave the district its name. The top of the mountain is crowned by the monument commemorating the victory over Napoleon with a magnificent view over Berlin. In summer you can relax by an artificial waterfall there.
Kreuzbergstr. 70, 10965 Berlin-Kreuzberg
photo: capnfabs
Humboldthain / Rosengarten
Humboldthain is one of the biggest and most beautiful parks in the district of Wedding. There are a lot of opportunities for fun activities — there is a public pool, playgrounds for kids, climbing centre on the facade of on old bunker, wine gardens and more. There is a lot to do and to explore in this huge green oasis. The Rose Garden at Humboldthain Park is probably one of the most precious gardens of the city and due to its secluded location on the side of the park surroundend by thick forest and with only one gated entrance it’s pretty much a hidden gem that a lot of people in Berlin don’t even know about. Only accessible in the summer time the garden hosts a wide range of different roses arranged in beautiful Victorian garden structures with as many romantic scenarios you can dream of. There are also other types of flowers on a little hill facing the Flak Tower.
Brunnenstraße 108A, 13355 Berlin-Wedding
photo: friedemann.rulf
Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg
Embedded between the Belforter and Knaackstraße this little stretch of green is one of the most picturesque places of the district Prenzlauer Berg. The water tower is located on a little hill that is surrounded by green gardens, a sports field and playground. On top of the hill there i a little park with some smaller towers and a view to the big water tower that is occupied by luxurious apartments now, and in the distance you can also see the TV tower. It’s such a beautiful little place, perfect for a picnic or just to take a little break from the surrounding streets.
Knaackstraße 23, 10405 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg
photo: jadehasaspade
Hasenheide
The Hasenheide is the biggest recreational park of the district Neukölln. All the hip young Berliners will stroll down the street of the same name from Hermannplatz and stretch out on the green grass for picnics and some beer. If you go deeper into the park you will also find a little lake and a cute zoo.
Hasenheide 19, 10967 Berlin-Neukölln
photo: ira.gibert
Görlitzer Park
Once an old railway station and home to anarchist art communes, this park has since transformed into a local hangout. With its graffiti embellished walls sitting on wide open stretches of greenery, this run-down urban escape is a Berliner’s dream. The cafés, swimming pool, gardens and children’s petting zoo attracts a mixed crowd to the park, and its location makes it the perfect place to unwind after a long day in the city.
Görlitzer Str., 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg
photo: k_aska
Do have a favorite park that’s not on our list? Let us know in the comments below 🙂
