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The Best 25 Things to Do in Berlin in September

Updated: 18 enero 2024
 By Anne Wittig

Even though the summer is over, there are still a lot of fun events happening in Berlin during the month of September. 

We’ll start off with our top 10 list and move on from there to include free attractions, things to do at night and family-friendly activities.

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN SEPTEMBER

This top 10 list will help you narrow down your options in Berlin for the best concerts, events, and attractions to see and participate in during September. 

You can find even more ideas on our other popular Berlin posts: 

Be sure to check out our tours in Berlin post for activities any time of year.

1. Go to a Concert

September is a quiet month for concerts in Berlin, but a few big-name artists are scheduled to play. 

Concerts

Festivals

For even more concerts, visit Stubhub for a list of September concerts in Berlin.

2.  Attend a Football Game

If you’re looking to check out some of the local sports, consider attending a football game in Berlin.

There are two 1st league teams that have games during September and both are sure to put up a fight. 

Even if you’re not a fan of this sport, you might want to see a live game just to experience how this city celebrates and supports its teams.

Keep in mind that going to a game can be fun for the whole family!

And for more family-friendly activities, check out our suggestions below.

3. Enjoy a Drink During Oktoberfest

Despite the name, this beloved festival actually begins in September.

During this event, there will be food stalls, games, and even rides to enjoy. This means that while beer is a central part of the festival, there are plenty of other fun things to do.

Although you can come throughout the week, the party really starts to get hopping on Fridays and Saturdays.

There are a number of Oktoberfest events throughout the city. A few of them are:

  • Oktoberfest at Spandau Citadel | September 20th-October 26th
  • Oktoberfest at Hofbräu Berlin | dates TBA
  • Spreewiesn Oktoberfest | dates TBA

TIP: If you want to find the best beer in the city, make sure to check our post about craft beer in Berlin.

4. 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.

5. Take a Walking Tour

No matter what time of year it is, our pay-what-you-wish walking tours are always a great option. We offer a few different tours per day which cover a variety of different topics and locations in Berlin.

  • Classic Berlin will take you to sites such as Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall, and Brandenburg Gate.
  • Alternative Berlin will reveal some of the more noteworthy street art and graffiti in the city. You’ll also see landmarks of rock, reggae, punk and electronic music.

If you’re looking to cover more ground, hop-on-hop-off bus tours are popular, as well as fun bike tours. 

Check our Berlin tours post for more information. 

6. Attend the Berlin Marathon

The 50th Annual Berlin Marathon will begin on September 29th. With over 40,000 runners, this is one of the largest marathon events in the world.

In addition to the main event, there are also special activities for kids and families. You can also expect live musical performances and other fun things to do during the day.

The best thing about the marathon activities is that all the entertainment is free! 

For more details, check the Berlin Marathon website. For more free things to check out, we have suggestions below.

7. Check Out an Art Festival

As you walk around the streets of Berlin and see the graffiti on display in certain places, it will quickly become apparent that this is a very artistic city.

Berlin Art Week celebrates contemporary art and its major players. Galleries, museums, exhibition hours, and more all make space for art and visitors.

This year the festival runs from September 11th - 15th.

TIP: If you’re interested in seeing some of the most famous artwork in this city, consider taking our Alternative Berlin tour.

8. See the International Stadium Festival

If you’re not interested in seeing a football game, consider attending this festival instead.

During the event, 180 world-class athletes compete in 15 sports at the Berlin Olympic Stadium

This is a great opportunity to see world champions and Olympic medalists competing against one another on a massive scale.

Join 50,000 spectators at one of the best sporting events in Berlin on September 1st.

For tickets and more information, visit the IStAF website.

9. Enjoy Berlin’s Best Classical Musicians

If you’re not interested in the typical rock concert and classical music is more your style, Musikfest Berlin will be a must. 

Several great musicians and orchestras will be on hand to perform memorable shows for their audiences.

Musikfest Berlin runs from August 24th - September 17th, 2024.

10. Save 50% Off Attractions with a Tourist Discount Card

With so many things to see and do in Berlin, it can be easy to go over budget unless you have a tourist discount attraction pass.

These passes work by offering bulk discounts on multiple attractions when you purchase just one card up front. They often save you time as well, with skip-the-line passes that allow you to bypass the box office. 

Attractions Include: 

  • German Spy Museum
  • Jewish Museum of Berlin
  • The Wall Museum
  • Madame Tussauds Berlin
  • Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
  • River Cruises

To see our in-depth guide to Berlin’s tourist passes, check out the full post. 

Drink up at Berlin Beer Week

If you don't get enough beer at Oktoberfest, you can find it at Berlin Beer Week.

This celebration of all things beer takes place throughout the city.

There is a beer, bourbon, and BBQ Festival, Brews Cruises tasting sessions, and more.

Events take place September 1st-10th. Tickets and information can be found on the Berlin Beer Week website.

Attend the International Literature Festival Berlin

This annual literary takes place in Berlin, one that pulls authors and readers from around the world.

There are readings, workshops, performances, panel discussions, and more.

The festival often focuses on contemporary political and social issues and works to include many literary traditions.

Activities take place from September 5th-18th. Visit the Internationales Literaturefestival Berlin website for more information.

Go Shopping at the Giant Flea Market

In honor of German Unity Day, a surprisingly large flea market will be held in Karlshorst, just Southeast of the city. 

There will be over 800 dealers on hand from all over Germany and neighboring countries to provide a plethora of different items for sale. Over 100,000 visitors are expected for this massive event. 

If you’re on the lookout for an interesting and memorable memento to bring home with you, this will probably be the best place to find it!

The flea market is open September 9th and 10th.

Visit the Giant Flea Market Berlin website for more information.

\TIP: One of the easiest ways to get here is by using Berlin’s metro system. Use our guide to navigating Berlin public transport in order to find your way to this giant flea market. 

THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN SEPTEMBER

This section will provide a few ideas for things you can do after dark in Berlin during the month of September. 

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

Visit the Reichstag Dome

Although you can visit this landmark pretty much anytime throughout the day, the Reichstag Dome looks even more impressive at night and provides a wonderful view of the city after dark.

The Reichstag and its incredible dome are open until midnight on most nights with the last entry being at 10 pm.

The best part about this activity is that it’s actually free. Unfortunately, you do need tickets and you must apply for them ahead of time.

We suggest filling out an application at least a few days prior to your trip, but you can also apply for tickets at the service desk up to 2 hours before your desired visit.

Read our post on getting tickets to the Reichstag Dome for more information. 

Go on a Pub Crawl

In addition to our more prevalent walking tours during the day, we also provide information about a selection of night tours you can take in Berlin.

There is a variety of pub crawls to consider and even a twilight tour which will reveal a side of the city that few travelers ever get to see.

For more details on the types of tours, you can take after dark, check our post about Berlin Pub Crawls and Night Tours.

Take an Evening River Cruise

Taking a river cruise in any city can give you a unique perspective, and Berlin is no exception. One of the more charming activities in the city is to take a sightseeing dinner cruise. 

You can enjoy a multiple-course dinner, including drinks while listening to live commentary about Berlin from English and German-speaking tour guides.

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.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN SEPTEMBER

The following section will include activities that you can enjoy for free in Berlin throughout the month of September.

For even more ideas, read our master post on free things to do in Berlin.

Visit Tempelhof Field

What was once an airport has since been transformed into a public park for recreation. Even if you don’t feel like taking a tour, this is a great place to visit if you want to celebrate the anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. 

In addition to celebrating that moment in history, this is also a great place to fly a kite, go skateboarding or enjoy a bike ride.

Many of the companies who provide bike tours in Berlin will also offer bike rentals for much less, and you might want to consider renting a bicycle for a trip around Tempelhof Field.

Go to a Flea Market

There are several interesting flea markets throughout Berlin that reflect the culture and history of the city. 

In addition to a variety of fresh produce from local grocers, you’ll also find bookstores and cafes where you can relax and take a break from all the shopping. Some flea markets also include jewelry shops and second-hand clothing stores, as well as live entertainment in the form of karaoke shows.

For more information on this activity, make sure to read our post about the best flea markets in Berlin.

Take a Self-Guided Tour

If you don’t feel like joining a group of people for a guided tour, consider going on your own self-guided tour instead. We offer several free self-guided tours in Berlin which will allow you to explore and discover many different areas in this historic city.

For even more ideas, read our master post on free things to do in Berlin.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN SEPTEMBER

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids, this section will provide some ideas for interesting family-friendly activities taking place in Berlin during September.

Celebrate Heritage Day at the Monuments

In Berlin, Heritage Day is also known as the Day of the Open Monument, because several historic locations will open their doors to all visitors.

In addition to free guided tours of museums, memorials, theatres, churches, and other locations, there are also bike tours and other activities.

If you’re looking for an educational experience for the whole family, head out to some of these monuments on September 9th and 10th, benefits of this Heritage Day activity.

For more information, visit the Berlin Heritage Day website.

Take the Kids to the Berlin Zoo

This is probably a no-brainer, but there aren’t too many bad times to take your family to the zoo.

September is a particularly good month for the activity. Not only will the weather be nice, but there are also a number of events you can attend.

One recurring event is an after-work tour which will allow you to see the zoo after the gates close, but there are also photography walks and other activities you can attend.

For more details on everything you can see and do, read our post about the Berlin Zoo.

Make a Trip to LEGOLAND

No matter how big or small your family members are, chances are they’ll all jump at the idea of visiting LEGOLAND. After all, who doesn’t love LEGO?

This amusement park features a number of fun activities for fans of all ages, including rides, playrooms, building workshops, and even a 4D cinema.

TIP: LEGOLAND tickets are actually included with the Berlin Pass. For more information, read our post about Berlin discount passes.

Attend the Fantasy FilmFest

If you have any older kids in your family, this film festival might be an excellent activity. Many of the movies included are intended for older audiences, but several titles are perfect for teens and young adults.

This year the festival runs from September 13th - 20th.

Needless to say, this is an excellent event for the movie buffs in your family.

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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: enero 18th, 2024
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