When the leaves slowly change colour and the temperatures no longer feel like summer, autumn gradually makes its way to Berlin. But when it turns grey outside, it's time to get cosy inside. Look forward to cosy hours in beautiful cafés, delicious treats at the Berlin Food Week and celebrate the beautiful autumn days with the whole family at the big Autumn Carnival. Festival of Lights, Jazzfest, Pumpkin Festival and Halloween - Berlin's autumn is rich in beautiful festivals and exciting events. Here are our 11 tips:
Tip 1: Experience colours, light & stories at the Festival of Lights
When it gets dark earlier again, Berlin begins to glow. As every autumn, the Festival of Lights bathes the city in colourful light. Under the motto "Colors of Life", the colourful projections tell of how multifaceted life in Berlin is - and how beautiful diversity is. This time you will find numerous light installations, especially around Bebelplatz and Potsdamer Platz.
When: 6 to 15 October, 7 - 11 p.m.
Where: All over Berlin
Tickets zum Festival of Lights
Tip 2: Take to the skies at the Berlin Autumn Carnival (Berliner Herbstrummel)
Let yourself be carried up into the autumn sky on the chain carousel, wander through the mirror maze and enjoy the view from the 35-metre-high High Sky Ferris wheel. In addition to all kinds of fun rides, you can also expect carnies and game booths at Berlin's traditional autumn fair. Enjoy currywurst, churros and candy floss. On the second and penultimate day, a high-altitude fireworks display lights up the sky above Berlin. Perfect for a family outing.
When: 22 September - 15 October (fireworks on 23 September and 14 October)
Where: Central fairground, Kurt-Schumacher-Damm 207, Tegel
Tip 3: Find the perfect pumpkin at the Schöneberg Pumpkin Festival
Delicious pumpkin is available in autumn in everything from soups to casseroles. In Berlin, we don't just carve pumpkin heads at Halloween, but celebrate the pumpkin with a festival of its own. On 1 and 2 October, the Schöneberg Pumpkin Festival is planned for Akazienstraße. There will then be pumpkins of all kinds and variations. Autumn can't taste any better!
When: 30 September & 1 October
Where: Akazienstraße, Schöneberg
Tip 4: Look forward to the start of the season at Berlin's stages
The start of the stage season also brings colour into grey autumn days. Theatres, opera houses and concert halls have opened their doors and surprise with new interpretations of classics and premieres of new plays. So make yourself comfortable in the theatre chair and be entertained.
When: from September
Where: Everywhere in Berlin
11 Tips for the new classical music Season
Tip 5: Take an autumn walk
When the light falls softly through the leaves, a walk in the forest is particularly beautiful. The classic in Berlin is the Grunewald, the large forest area on the Havel. Here you can take a four-kilometre circular walk along 11 information islands of "Forest. Berlin. Climate. The exhibition in the forest" about climate change in Berlin's forests. Or you can climb the Teufelsberg. Here you can discover Berlin's largest street art gallery on a guided tour or learn more about the history of the former spy stations. You'll also be rewarded with a magnificent view.
11 tips for beautiful autumn walks in Berlin
Tip 6: Fly a kite
When the autumn winds start blowing, it's time to fly your kite. On the Drachenberg, very close to the Teufelsberg, there is always a fresh wind blowing, and the magnificent view is a reward for the climb. The plateau on the Volkspark Prenzlauer Berg is also a perfect place for kite artists. The huge Tempelhofer Feld with its seemingly endless expanses is also popular.
Tip: For the Festival of Giant Kites on 16 September, gigantic fantastic creatures fly over Tempelhofer Feld. A typical Berlin autumn pleasure for the whole family.
Top 11 places to fly kites in Berlin
Tip 7: Get together for cosy living room concerts
The open air season is slowly coming to an end. But that doesn't mean you can't hear any more concerts in Berlin. Bands big and small play all year round. From electro, pop and rock to classical, jazz and world music, you'll find it all. An insider tip is the Piano Salon Christophori in Wedding. Concerts are also held regularly in the rooms of the workshop, where mainly historical keyboard instruments are repaired. Many jazz bars in Berlin have jams almost every day. You can find more nice concerts in our event calendar.
Tip 8: Celebrate Thanksgiving
Autumn is harvest time - and therefore the perfect time for delicious and warming dishes. Get inspired at the Berlin Food Week and enjoy the variety that Berlin's gastronomic scene has to offer. Or you can serve up your own: How about an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner? Traditionally, the US Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie are served. In our visitBerlin blog, we tell you where you can celebrate Thanksgiving in Berlin.
When: 9 to 15 October
Where: all over Berlin
Tip 9: Celebrate the 50th birthday of Kunstraum Bethanien
This autumn you can look forward to a very special birthday. The Bethanien is turning 50 and is looking back on an eventful past with Voicing Bethanien - the Bethanien turns 50. To mark the occasion, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien is showing a cross-room video installation by artist Sonya Schönberg. From over 40 video interviews with contemporary witnesses, the artist has created a tangible narrative in which you can learn more about the art space and all the people who were active here. An exciting project that also uses the Kunstraum as an example to show the urban and socio-political developments and upheavals in Berlin.
When: until 5 November, party on 22 November from 8 p.m.
Where: Mariannenplatz 2, Kreuzberg
Voicing Bethanien
Tip 10: Take an autumn walk
When the light falls softly through the leaves, a walk in the forest is especially beautiful. The classic in Berlin is the Grunewald, the large forest area on the Havel. Here you can take a four-kilometre circular walk along 11 information islands of "Forest. Berlin. Climate. - The exhibition in the forest" about climate change in Berlin's forests. Or you can climb the Teufelsberg. Here you can discover Berlin's largest street art gallery on a guided tour or learn more about the history of the former spy stations. You'll also be rewarded with a magnificent view.
11 Tips for beautiful autumn walks in Berlin
Tip 11: Get spooky at Halloween
Berlin's autumn gets spooky around 31 October. While the little ones go out dressed up in the afternoon to collect sweets, the big Halloween fans start the scary party when night falls. Traditionally, Filmpark Babelsberg also welcomes witches, monsters and ghosts. We'll tell you where to find the spookiest places and scariest parties in Berlin in our blog.
When: 31 October
Where: All over Berlin
You can find even more tips for autumn in our events calendar.
