The sun is (mostly) shining brightly and the whole of Berlin is enjoying itself on the streets, in cafés and restaurants. Are you bursting with energy and wondering how you can make your summer programme more environmentally friendly? We have 11 tips to help you get off to a sustainable start this summer. Your adventure will take you to inspiring places, lively markets, nature and cool urban settings. Whether you want to learn something, have fun or get active - our tips have something for everyone.
Tip 1: Gather inspiration on the Green World Tour
Let's start the summer from the back: The Sustainability Fair Green World Tour is coming to Berlin again in September. On the grounds of the Malzfabrik Schöneberg, you can find out about pretty much every topic related to sustainability. And since sustainability has an impact on everything, you can find out about, well, everything. That means nutrition and health, fashion, design, building and living, career opportunities in the field of sustainability, scientific innovations, mobility and much more. If you miss it, it's your own fault
When: 7 and 8 September 2024
Where: Malzfabrik Schöneberg
Tip 2: Visit the KO market in the House of Statistics
Just a few steps away from Alexanderplatz you will find the House of Statistics and the House of Materialisation. A model neighbourhood is being built here, which goes back to a citizens' initiative from 2015. The initiative campaigned for the GDR buildings, which were originally earmarked for demolition, to be put to use for the common good - with success! Renovations have been underway in the House of Statistics for several years now, while the House of Materialisation has already committed itself to sustainable and circular material management.
The KO Market offers you the opportunity to get in touch with the pioneers of the project. Take part in a guided tour of the Haus der Statistik, listen to panel discussions and discover what studios and workshops have to offer. Not just on this day, by the way, but throughout the year at workshops, material exchanges, exhibitions and more.
When: 5 July and 7 September
Where: Karl-Marx-Allee 1, Mitte
KO-markt im Haus der Statistik
Tip 3: Enjoy flea markets and weekly markets in summer
Weekly markets give you the best opportunity to buy food from regional production. If you also look out for organic or organic markets, you are sure to find products from local and organic production. For example, vegetables, fruit and flowers, whose colourful splendour simply puts you in a good mood. The organic market at Hansaviertel also offers textiles, care products and handicrafts. The organic market on Kollwitzplatz is also always worth a visit. When is it more fun than in summer and when the weather is nice?
At Berlin's countless flea markets, there is a festival atmosphere every weekend, especially in the warmer months of the year. You can find all the tips - including for quieter flea markets - in our blog article Top 11 flea markets in Berlin.
Tip 4: Visit the green neighbourhood of Lollapalooza Berlin
The Lollapalooza music festival is known as a mega event with international appeal. But did you know that it received sustainability certification according to DIN ISO 20121 in 2023? One measure to implement the sustainable standards is, for example, the comprehensive use of LEDs at the festival, whether stage spotlights or fairy lights. In the area of waste management, Lollapalooza pursues a circular approach. No single-use plastic is served at food and drinks stands and visitors are allowed to bring their own reusable 0.5-litre bottles to the festival.
Every year, Lollapalooza has a Green Kiez, which has been serving exclusively vegan food since 2022. Sustainability and climate protection topics are also at the forefront here. NGOs, start-ups, projects and associations can present themselves. By the way, you can still apply until 18 June!
When: 7 to 8 September
Where: Olympiastadion Berlin, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
To Lollapalooza Berlin
Tip 5: Eat delicious street food on warm summer nights
In summer, one street food market follows the next. There are food trucks and stalls at every street festival. Berlin is also the city of street food, where you can find something tasty at almost any time of day or night. Whether it's hearty classics like kebabs and currywurst or exotic snacks, most snack bars and street vendors also have a vegan or vegetarian option up their sleeves.
Tip 6: Get on your bike and explore the city
The best way to explore summery Berlin in a sustainable and sporty way is by bike. You can either bring your own bike or hire bikes from rental shops or with the help of an app at bike sharing stations. We have put together a wide range of different bike tours for you that will take you to the city centre and all 12 districts of Berlin. Bathing lakes, nature, industrial architecture or the most famous sights of Berlin, everything is included.
By the way: Even if we like to do without it in photos for aesthetic reasons - be safe on the road, wear a helmet.
Tip 7: Go to the auction of the second-hand department stores' NochMall
The NochMall run by BSR (Berliner Stadtreinigung) is a second-hand department stores' where you can find everything from furniture and toys to old records and household goods. But did you also know that the NochMall regularly hosts auctions with the greatest treasures? On the first Saturday of every month, valuable individual items, rarities and collector's items go under the hammer. It's worth it just to experience the atmosphere at the auction and take a tour of the second-hand store afterwards. You can see some of the items up for auction in advance on the NochMall website.
Tip 8: Take a trip to Potsdam to see the exhibition "re:generation"
There are numerous guided tours, workshops and events taking place in Sanssouci Palace Park to mark the exhibition "re:generation - Climate Change in the Green World Heritage Site". Every weekend, for example, you can take part in free hands-on activities in the beautiful Chinese tea house. Shape pellets with flower seeds or learn how to make seed trays for your plants from packaging waste. If you explore the park at the weekend, look out for the "climate guides" who will explain the exhibition to you in word and deed.
Hands on action in Sanssouci Park
Tip 9: Look into the sky above Tempelhofer Feld
On this guided tour of Campus Stadt Natur you will get to know the largest inner-city open space in the world from a completely different perspective. Tempelhofer Feld is particularly interesting for measuring weather data due to its vastness and is even home to its own weather station. On the tour, you will learn about the importance of Tempelhofer Feld for the urban climate and make weather and cloud observations together.
Throughout the summer, Campus Stadt Natur organises interesting guided tours on various topics at interesting places in Berlin that make urban nature tangible: for example in the Britzer Garten, in the Gärten der Welt, in the Park am Gleisdreieck and in the Spreepark. It's worth taking a look!
When: 4 and 14 July, 4 August
Where: Tempelhofer Feld
Luft & Wolken über Tempelhof
Tip 10: Join World Clean Up Day
The annual World Cleanup Day is a day when we all come together to clean up our environment. Whether private groups, companies, associations or public organisations - anyone and everyone can take part. If you are planning a campaign, you can register it on the World Cleanup Day website so that it is listed on the official map. You can also have the result of the action recorded there. In this way, many tonnes of collected waste are added to the statistics every year.
World Cleanup Day should by no means remain a symbolic day, but should motivate people to keep the environment clean all year round. Maybe you'll pick up a bag of crisps in the park on your next jog or take the initiative to clean up the grass verge in your street.
When: 20 September
Where: Worldwide
Tip 11: Learn more about the challenges facing the fashion industry
How can fashion become more sustainable? This lecture at the Kulturforum sheds light on the background of the international fashion industry and how it affects the pollution of the environment. The speaker Eugenie Schmidt will discuss alternative concepts such as circular economy, upcycling or one-of-a-kind fashion design. The event is free to attend. Eugenie Schmidt herself works as a fashion designer - the event is not intended to spoil your fun with clothes and accessories. Rather, it's about new opportunities for the fashion industry.
When: 19 June
Where: Kulturforum, Matthäikirchplatz, Mitte
From Crap to Candy - making fashion without waste
Find more event tips on the topic of sustainability in our Events calendar.
