Things to Do in Berlin in August

Updated: Januar 19, 2024

This post lists the top things to do in August in Berlin, updated for 2024.

This includes a top 10 list, free things to do, family-friendly activities, as well as things to do at night. 


TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS IN AUGUST

The following list covers some of the best ideas for fun things you can do in Berlin during the month of August, and it will include several concerts, sporting events, tours, festivities, and more.

Several of the items below are already included for free or at a discount with the purchase of a tourist discount pass

Berlin Walking Tours

1. See The Berlin Wall

August 13th is the 67th anniversary of the day that the East Germans began erecting a wall that cut Berlin in half.

Tens of thousands of families were torn apart for decades. Some were stuck in Communist East Berlin while others were lucky enough to be on the better side of the wall in Democratic West Berlin.

In 1991, Berlin was reunified and most of the wall was torn down.

No trip to Berlin is complete without visiting the remaining sections of this historic wall.

The two best points to visit are the Berlin Wall Memorial, which gives a deep insight into the wall's history, and the East Side Gallery, which presents the longest surviving strip of the wall, adorned with modern art.


2. Attend a Concert or Sports Event

If you'd like to see talented professionals show off their skills, you might find a concert or sports event to attend in Berlin in August.

Concerts

Ever since David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen performed on either side of the Berlin Wall, the city has had a bulletproof reputation as a haven of modern music.

Sports

And if you are a fan of football (soccer), you'll find a few teams with games in August.


3. Explore the Long Night of Museums

Berlin is known for its vast variety of museums.

One way to take get the most from them is through Berlin's Long Night of the Museums. Over 70 museums open their doors to guests for free!

Shuttle busses move guests from museum to museum, starting at Museum Island.

Artists and art historians are on hand to guide guests through exhibitions. There are talks, workshops, concerts, and special tours, with over 700 events taking place in one night.

In 2024 this happens on August 24th.

Tickets and additional information can be found here.


4. Swim In the middle of the Spree at Badeschiff 

Badeschiff is a public swimming pool, situated right at the heart of Berlin, atop the river whose trade was originally responsible for the city's existence.

It offers beautiful views of the city's landmarks, from the distant tv tower to the nearby 30 meters tall Molecule Man sculpture.

For information on tickets and time slots, visit the Badeschiff website.

After drying off visitors can walk to the nearby East Side Gallery to take in some history and modern art. 


5. See a Theatrical Performance

Although there are no major musicals or operas taking place in Berlin this month, there will still be plenty of opportunities to spend a night at the theater or enjoy a live performance.

Here are a few of the best options this August:

If you're looking for another alternative, consider a comedy night with free pizza!


6. Discover the Best Food in Berlin

There’s plenty of great food to eat in Berlin, but if you’re not familiar with the city or its cuisine, you might have trouble finding the best restaurants and dishes.

Thankfully, there are food tours covering both the Mitte and Kreuzberg neighborhoods.

During these 3 - 3 ½ hour tours, you’ll visit several different restaurants and try many delicious samples.

You can expect to try a variety of dishes such as Currywurst, fusion dumplings, homemade schnitzel, and drinks like German wine or beer.

If you’re not a meat eater, there is also an Evening Food Tour by Bike which allows you to explore the culinary history of Berlin and test a variety of foods while burning off some of those extra calories on a 5-hour outing.


7. Attend a Festival

There are a number of festivals in Berlin in August. You can find food, music, dance, and more

German-American Folk Festival | August 25th-27th

Over 100,000 people take part in this 60-year-old festival. It brings American-style food, drink, music, and family entertainment to Berlin.

SonneMondSterne | August 9th-11th

Over 40,000 folks attend this massive EDM music festival held in the countryside. There are several stages and art and light shows.

Pop-Kultur | August 28th - August 30th

Formerly known as Berlin Music Week, this 3-day music festival covering diverse music genres takes place at Kulturbrauerei.

Citadel Music Festival | August 1st, 3rd, 9th, 13th, 27th & 31st

Musical acts covering all sorts of music genres play in the Zitadelle Spandau. There are also food drunks, art exhibits, and other performances.

Tanz Im August Festival | TBD

Berlin hosts an enormous variety of dance performance styles, across many venues, with performers from around the world.

Young Euro Classic | TBD

This festival of youth orchestras from across the globe performs both classical and contemporary pieces in the stunning neo-classical Konzerthaus.


8. Take a Cruise or Boat Tour

Summer is the best time to get out on the water and enjoy the nice weather in Berlin, and there are several excellent cruises and boat tours to choose from.

In addition to traditional sightseeing cruises, there are also night and dinner cruise options you might want to consider.

If you want to save a few euros and you’re planning to take a hop-on hop-off bus tour as well, it’s worth noting that you’ll probably be able to save money on tickets by purchasing a combo package.

For more details about discounts and all of the best cruise options in this city, please read our post covering Berlin cruises and boat tours.


9. Experience Berlin's Street Art

Ever since Berlin’s reunification and the fall of the Berlin Wall was torn down and covered in inspirational and positive graffiti about unity, Berlin has been associated with street art.

Berlin is known by some as the "street art capital", with some seeing it as vandelous graffiti and others recognizing the political messages and artistic expression in the paintings.

If you want to experience this thriving culture whilst on a budget, try our self-guided Street Art tour of the city's highlights.


10. Save Money With a Tourist Pass

If you’re planning to visit several popular attractions while exploring the city, it’s important to note that many of the best sites and landmarks are actually included with some Berlin tourist passes.

Depending on how you use these services, you can expect to save anywhere from 20% - 50% off general admission prices by using a tourist pass.

Here are a few of the most popular tickets included with various Berlin Tourist Discount Passes:

For more details about how to use these services and how much money you can save, please read our post covering Berlin tourist attraction passes.


FREE THINGS TO DO IN AUGUST

This section provides a variety of free activities you can enjoy in Berlin during the month of August.

Be sure to read our guide to free things to do in Berlin post for even more ideas. 


Discover German politics on "Federal Government Open Day"

With an enormous glass dome that allows visitors to watch government in session, in real-time, the Reichstag is one of Berlin's most fascinating buildings.

It symbolizes the center of the German government.

From August 19th - August 20th, you can visit the Reichstag and other several government buildings as they are opened to the public for Federal Government Open Day.

You can get an inside view of how Germany is run and political figures such as the Chancellor are present to talk with visitors.

There are also children-focused activities provided for families. 

To visit the Reichstag on any day, you can take a free tour. But you must book in advance.

Read our post on How to get Reichstag Tickets and Visit the Dome to learn about the three different ways you can book in advance. 


Check out the locals' world with a Self-Guided Tour

Berlin is broken up into various areas with their own identities and points of interest, but each of them comes with a lot of empty space, so setting off on an independent exploration isn't always the best idea.

Areas such as Friedrichshain offer a fascinating mix of modern life and Soviet architecture to the casual walker. 

East Berlin is where you can get a sense of Berlin during the Cold War. 

To see some of Berlin's older sites and famous buildings, take a self-guided tour of Berlin Mitte.


Check out a Fantastic View

You might consider heading to the Reichstag Dome. Even though it’s only 47 meters high, it’s still one of the best views in Berlin, and it’s entirely free to enjoy!

For other ways to see Berlin from above, although some have a cost, you can read our post about the 11 Berlin Observation Decks | Best Views of Berlin, or find out more about individual decks below.

Admission to some of these attractions is included on at least one major Berlin discount pass, so you don’t even have to pay full price!


THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN AUGUST

This section throws focus on Berlin's nocturnal activities during the month of August.

Visit our master post on things to do at night in Berlin for extra ideas. 


Take a Night Tour

If you know where to go, you can see Berlin come alive at night. It's not always easy to know where to go, so it's worth taking a night tour to help you!

For those who missed the German Rum Festival (see #7 in our top 10 above), there are a whole host of pub crawls and craft beer crawl options, catering to those at each end of the party spectrum.

Those interested in experiencing Berlin from the calm waters of the Spree may be attracted to options such as the Night Boat Tours (which are often included in tourist card packages).

Check out this Post to get a fuller idea of the options available. 


Experience royalty at Potsdam Palace Night

On the 18th and 19th of August, Frederick the Great's grand palace on the edge of Berlin is opened to the public for Potsdamer Schlössernacht, allowing you to walk among its gardens and temples just as German noblemen did in the 1700s.

The surrounding town of Potsdam is worth a visit any time to enjoy its calm, regal atmosphere. Be sure to read our post on Potsdam Tours


Dine amongst the clouds at the TV Tower

Standing 368 meters tall, Berlin's TV Tower is visible from almost any road in the city, and on a cool summer’s evening, the views are astonishing.

The great metal sphere suspended at its top includes an observation deck with a bar and a restaurant which can be booked in advance, so you can relax while enjoying the breathtaking views.

For more information on visiting the TV Tower at any time, check out our post Tickets and Tips for the Berlin TV Tower.


FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN AUGUST

This section includes a selection of ideas for family-friendly activities that you can enjoy in August.

For extra ideas, take time to look at this page's other sections, and consider options such as Tanz Im August, Berlin's Street Art, and Badeschiff. 


Go back in time to the DDR Museum

Parents may feel challenged to experience the history whilst keeping their children’s attention.

Berlin DDR Museum

Thankfully, with a large variety of interactive exhibits which allow visitors to experience life in Communist East Germany, the DDR Museum is a great choice for families.

Take a look at our Post about planning your visit to the museum. 


Burn Off Energy at Legoland Discovery Center

It will be impossible for your kids to be bored with the number of activities available at Legoland.

This indoor and air-conditioned play area features 2 rides, 10 build & play zones, and a 4D cinema.

Kids can also choose to take part in ninja training, dinosaur exploration, dragon rides, a model-making workshop, and more.

To plan your trip and purchase tickets, visit the Legoland website.


See the Blue Man Group

Playing in Berlin throughout August, the Blue Man Group is a surefire ticket for anyone hoping to experience a distinctly modern performance, whilst still having a lot of fun! 

The trio of actors/musicians dressed in black and painted in blue amazes and entertains the audience with music, lights, and comedy.

It’s a combination of rock concert atmosphere and sharp technology, giving it a very Berlinesque vibe. 

Get showtimes and ticket prices here

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About The Author

Anne Wittig

Anne was born in East Berlin and came of age in the unified city. She has an intimate relationship with her city of birth and still calls Berlin home. For the past 10 years, she has managed and written Free Tours by Foot's Berlin blog, detailing the best places to go, where to stay, and what to do in her hometown. This blog has been featured on Berlin's official website, mainstream press like Berlingske, and local blogs like Berlinforallthefamily.com. Over 14,000 visitors to Berlin have taken a tour from Free Tours by Foot.
Updated: Januar 19th, 2024
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