Many places have a particularly romantic charm in winter: the atmosphere is quieter. The sun is lower and there may even be a glistening layer of snow on the ground and in the branches. Discover Berlin from its enchanted side with our 11 tips for a winter walk: our walks will take you to medieval villages, through idyllic parks and along wintry riverbanks and lakeshores.
Tip 1: To the Grunewald Jagdschloss
The pretty and idyllic Grunewald hunting lodge is located directly on the shore of Grunewaldsee lake, surrounded by enchanting winter forest. A beautiful, cobbled path leads almost straight through the Grunewald forest. When you get off the bus at the Königin-Luise-Straße/Clayallee bus stop, you can already see the start of the path. After a few hundred metres, you will pass the Châlet Suisse restaurant on your left as you walk through the forest, and there is also a Rapunzel Tower hidden deep in the forest. However, this is a little off the main path. You can also extend the walk: For example, take a walk around the Grunewaldsee lake.
Where: Clayallee 91, Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Tip 2: Modern architecture and greenery: from Hansaviertel and Tiergarten to Kulturforum / Potsdamer Platz
In winter, the Tiergarten is at its most romantic. It is particularly beautiful when it is covered in a fine, shiny layer of snow that shines under the blue sky. Our walk begins at Bellevue S-Bahn station, surrounded by the tower blocks of the Hansaviertel neighbourhood. From there, you walk along the University of the Arts through Bellevuepark with the English Garden to the Siegessäule. Continue on the opposite side of the road through the Tiergarten: walk past the rose garden, the rhododendron grove and the Luiseninsel until you are greeted by the striking Austrian embassy at the park exit. Turn left into Tiergartenstraße and then immediately right again into Herbert-von Karajan-Straße. You are already at the modern Kulturforum, where the special architecture of the Chamber Music Hall and the Sony Centre catch the eye in the background.
Where: S Bellevue, Mitte
Tip 3: Around the Schildhorn on the Havel
The legendary Schildhorn lies quite deep in the Grunewald. However, it is also easy to reach by bus 218 from S Messe Nord/ICC for a picturesque winter walk. From the bus stop, first follow an idyllic cobbled path. Behind the almost leaf-free trees, you will recognise the marina on your right. Your path then bends to the right and continues along the Seehotel. Behind the Grunewald playground, turn right again onto the headland. A beautiful path along the banks of the Havel leads you to the Schildhorn monument, which commemorates the legend of the peninsula's history, and to the bathing area at the tip.
Where: Schildhorn, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Tip 4: Pankow Botanical Park
The Volkspark Pankow Botanical Park also welcomes you in winter with its 34 hectares for long walks in nature. Things are a little quieter here than in the summer months - perfect for enjoying the tranquillity of the park forest. And while the Weltacker lies deep in hibernation, life continues to bloom behind the large glass surfaces of the greenhouses. You can also observe fallow deer in the deer enclosure in the northern part of the garden.
Where: Botanischer Volkspark, Pankow
Tip 5: Volkspark Schönholzer Heide
The large Volkspark, characterised by an idyllic forest atmosphere, offers many opportunities for a winter walk close to nature in Berlin. It is just a 600 metre walk from Wilhelmsruh S-Bahn station. The first thing you will see right behind the football pitch is the impressive Soviet Memorial. This is followed by an extensive wooded area: Here you can follow well-maintained hiking trails or stroll along small, winding paths. A nature trail also leads through the park. The terrain is also somewhat hilly: when there is snow, children love to go sledging here.
Where: S Wilhelmsruh, Reinickendorf
Soviet memorial Schönholzer Heide
Tip 6: Along the Spree through Mitte
A particularly beautiful walk through Berlin in winter takes you along the Spree in one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods. You start where Klosterstraße ends at the Spree, opposite Fischerinsel and the historic harbour. From there, continue downstream along the riverbank. You will see the Mühlendamm lock on the left and walk under the Mühlendamm bridge. Behind it, the bank side of the historic Nikolai quarter awaits you up to the Rathausbrücke bridge, then on the other side of the Spree the new Humboldt Forum with the Schlossplatz. Just opposite, you can see another highlight, the Berlin Cathedral, where the excursion ends at Friedrichsbrücke. This walk is particularly picturesque in the late afternoon or evening, when the sun goes down and many historic buildings are illuminated.
Where: Klosterstraße, Mitte
Tip 7: Kolkviertel
This historic walk in Berlin is also particularly beautiful in winter: the medieval quarter in Spandau's old town exudes a fairytale charm, especially on snowy winter evenings. From the Altstadt Spandau underground station, you can already see the red St Mary's Church on Behnitz on the left. To the right is the entrance to the Kolkviertel neighbourhood. For a lovely winter walk in Berlin with a nostalgic flair, walk around the block of flats in the centre of the district in an anti-clockwise direction. In the north-eastern part, you will pass the Spandau lock. Here you can enjoy a beautiful view of the wintry Havel and the Zitadelle.
Where: U Altstadt Spandau, Spandau
Tip 8: Anger village and Alt-Marzahn windmill
The tram takes you from the centre of Berlin to another historic village in just a few minutes: the centuries-old village green in Alt-Marzahn is still well preserved and invites you to take a dreamy winter stroll in Berlin away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The entrance is opposite the tram stop. From there, you can walk around the village green from the neo-Gothic village church. Then it's on to the next attraction: in the north-east of the village you will find the Marzahn Bockwindmühle, a historic flour mill. Incidentally, flour for bread is still ground here.
Where: Alt-Marzahn, Marzahn
Tip 9: Fischerdorf Rahnsdorf
The over 600-year-old fishing village of Rahnsdorf invites you to take a winter walk on the eastern outskirts of Berlin. From the Grünheider Weg tram stop, turn left before the petrol station onto Ukeleipfad and then continue straight ahead. After about a ten-minute walk through a quiet area of detached houses with cobblestones, you will reach the historic village centre. At the edge of the village green, you will find a memorial plaque to brave fishermen who saved the lives of many people. From there, walk on to the village church and then to the Müggelsee fishery on the banks of the hibernating Müggelspree
Where: Grünheider Weg, Köpenick
Tip 10: Gutshof Britz
A nostalgic charm also awaits you at Gutshof Britz, in the centre of Neukölln, in winter. Your walk starts at the Fulhamer Allee bus stop and takes you past the Dorfkirche Britz with its idyllic church pond. Behind it, you will see Schloss Britz; to the right is the castle estate. The courtyard of the former manor, between the manor house and oxen stables, is sure to host events with historical themes again next year. Behind the estate, you can turn left into the palace park and continue your winter walk there.
Where: Fulhamer Allee, Neukölln
Tip 11: Schlachtensee
One of the most beautiful walks in Berlin in winter leads along the city's numerous bodies of water. The path around the Schlachtensee is particularly worthwhile when the water is frozen and the sun is shining. Your route along the picturesque, wintry shore starts at Schlachtensee S-Bahn station. From there, you can walk around the lake either clockwise or in the opposite direction.
Where: S Schlachtensee, Steglitz-Zehlendorf
