Whitsun in Berlin
Holidays in May
At the end of May, Berlin celebrates Whitsun at street festivals, festivals and open-air folk festivals. On Whit Sunday and Whit Monday, 19 and 20 May 2024, and of course throughout the weekend, the capital offers its visitors numerous events for young and old, whether carnivals, markets or fairs - there is something for every taste. Here we show you the best Whitsun tips for your short trip to Berlin. You can find an overview of all the events at Whitsun in our events calendar.
The Highlight: Carnival of Cultures
The Carnival of Cultures celebrates the diversity of Berlin's lifestyles and communities. For four days from 17 to 20 May, the street festival on Blücherplatz invites you to enjoy delicious street food from all over the world. On Whitsunday, the colourful parade then makes its way through Kreuzberg, where Berlin's communities show just how colourful and diverse the city is.
Whitsun concerts
Enjoy outstanding concerts of various genres on this long Whitsun weekend:
- The Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin invites you to selected chamber concerts at Heimathafen Neukölln on 17 May
- Compositions by Louise Farrenc, Jan Václav Vorišek and Ludwig van Beethoven will also be performed at the Philharmonie on 17 May.
- Kirill Petrenko will conduct the Karajan Academy's summer concert in the Philharmonie's Chamber Music Hall on 17 May.
- Nina Chuba will delight her fans with her Glas Tour 2024 in the Max-Schmeling Halle on 18 May.
- One of the most successful bands on the European fokl-rock scene will also storm SO36 on Good Friday: Fiddler's Green
- With the animated film Fantasia by Disney, the Konzerthaus invites you to a family concert on 18 May: film with live music
- Francois-Xavier Roth dedicates himself to Bruckner's impressive symphonic music and a new work by Vito Zura at the Philharmonie on 18 and 19 May.
- Works by American composers and composers from immigrant backgrounds will be performed by the Berlin Academy of American Music at the Konzerthaus Berlin in the Werner-Otto Saal on 18 May
- Along with some of VNV Nation's most popular orchestral interpretations and pieces from the upcoming album "Music for Orchestra Vol.2" at the Admiralspalast will be premiered on 18 May
- Song and poetry: Heinrich Heine - pianist and curator Julius Drake and baritone André Schuen will dedicate themselves to Robert Schumann's famous Heine cycles at the Pierre Boulez Saal on 19 May.
- Brass music, a wide view over the Havel, as well as numerous speciality and snack stands invite you to linger and enjoy the Spandau Whitsun concert at the Scharfe Lanke.
- The Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche in Kreuzberg invites you to various concerts this weekend.
- With an Ode to the cultural diversity of Europe, the ufaFabrik opens its open-air stage this summer.
- The Blackbird Café Orchestra surprises its audience with a colourful repertoire in the 51 -P - Passionskirche.
Festivals & Markets
Festivals and markets are part of Whitsun. Let yourself drift and enjoy.
- In addition to the traditional Carnival of Cultures from 17 to 20 May
- the traditional Steglitzer Wochen also take place from 24 May to 9 June and the colourful fairground rides in Bäkepark take place directly after the Carnival of Cultures.
- At the Berlin Flea Market at the Karlshorst harness racing track at Whitsun, you'll find a huge flea market with everything that retro fans will love: antiques, furniture, art and second hand.
- At Whitsun, the Berlin churches open their doors for the Long Night: the programme is colourful and varied.
- The 2nd Westend Wine and Vintners' Festival - a festival for all wine fans and connoisseurs.
- The Irish Raceday at the racecourse in Hoppegarten on 19 May. May high here.
- Run of Spirit - the inclusive running event on Whit Monday: running enthusiasts with and without disabilities of all ages meet here for a sporting event for a good cause.
Children and families
And another long weekend in May where families can spend time together in Berlin. There are exciting things to do in Berlin for the whole family - no matter whether they are small children, schoolchildren or teenagers. Attractions, theatres, cafés, museums, events, guided tours - Berlin has it all especially for children.
- Whitsun at the Strandbad Wendenschloss lido with a beautiful beer garden on the waterfront.
- Family guided tour at the Deutschen Oper with a look over the stages and into the stage design magazine.
- The FEZ starts on Saturday with the new programme for children between one and five: I can do it all by myself!
- Tierpark Berlin has its own Dinoworld on its grounds until October.
- A nice destination for your family outing on the long Whitsun weekend is the Museumsdorf Düppel (Düppel Museum Village). Here you can travel back in time on a Whitsun excursion and experience what it might have actually looked like in a medieval village around 800 years ago.
- A musical about a divided society, families of choice, blood ties and the basest impulses of humanity: Maskerade - Ein Musical at the Atze Musiktheater recommended for ages 11 and up.
- more events für children in Berlin.
Castles and gardens
At Whitsun, the whole of Berlin is ablaze with colourful blossoms. Visit the Botanical Garden, the Britzer Garten or the Gärten der Welt (Gardens of the World). The palace gardens in and around Berlin also invite you to a particularly splendid Whitsun excursion.
Use our sanssouci + day ticket for your excursions to nearby Potsdam:
Museums and attractions in Berlin
Many attractions and museums in Berlin, including the world-famous Museumsinsel and the Fernsehturm (TV Tower) are looking forward to seeing you. Use the long weekend over Whitsun for a trip to the museum or an exciting exhibition - there is something for everyone in Berlin!
Open-air cinemas in Berlin
The first open-air cinemas have already opened. The open-air cinemas offer current blockbusters, films in OmU and old classics. Enjoy films under Berlin's starry sky.
Boat and Spree trips
The sun deck of a Spree ferry is a particularly relaxing way to discover Berlin from the water. Choose between sightseeing tours, swimming trips or exploration tours out to Wannsee and as far as Potsdam.
Tickets for boat and Spreetrips
