Last updated: November 2, 2024

The coziest time of year has a lot to offer in Berlin. I used to view Berlin’s autumn season as little more than a time to chill before the Christmas market season — oh how wrong I was! Although this is the season to snuggle up and relax, Berlin is also home to plenty of entertaining fall festivities, from day trips to pumpkin patches to mushroom picking in Grunewald. Not to mention an abundance of inviting activities that are perfect for this time of year like board game cafés and the increasingly popular Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL). For your convenience, this post is divvied into free, budget, and treat yourself!

Let’s get cozy!

Free Berlin Autumn Activities

Get a view of fall foliage in Humboldthain

Get a quick workout in crispy fall weather and take the stairs to the top of Humboldthain’s Flak Tower, which once served as the largest bunker in Berlin. A walk up these steps will reward you with beautiful scenery of the surrounding park. Afterwards make your way through Volkspark Humboldthain and get a view of the colorful foliage up close. Bring a book and relax for a while, and when you’re ready to leave make your way to the southwest exit and check out Liesenbrücken, an abandoned historic bridge that completely transforms in autumn.

Mushroom Foraging in Berlin and Brandenburg

Ever gone mushroom foraging? There are so many options in and around Berlin. The Berliner has a great foraging guide noting spots to visit, hot tips (bring a wicker basket to give your mushrooms air flow), and which mushrooms to stay wary of. If you’re unsure bring your ‘shrooms over to one of Berlin’s Pilzberatungsstellen where you can get free mushroom advice. Optionally join a guided educational foraging tour with a local mushroom enthusiast who has years of Berlin and Brandenburg foraging experience.

Festival of Lights (Lichterfest)

Every autumn the Festival of Lights happens in Berlin, typically in September or October. In 2024, it’s set to take place October 4th through 13th. This festival involves lights, videos, and art being projected onto dozens of the city’s best-known monuments and historic buildings. This year the theme is ‘Celebrating Freedom’ to honor 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. You can check in with their program to see which spots are best to hit up, but the classic route I take involves starting at the TV Tower, before making my way to the Humboldt Forum, Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, Bebelplatz, and Brandenburg Gate.

Festival of Giant Kites (Festival der Riesendrachen)

At the annual Festival of Giant Kites, unique kites up to 40 meters (131 feet) in length are flown around Berlin’s largest urban open space and former military airport, Tempelhofer Feld. These kites come from all over the continent with a large variety, ranging from steerable kites maneuvered by professional stunt flyers to kites smaller than an arm’s length flown by visitors. Feel free to bring your own kite or alternatively buy one at the festival. In 2024, it takes place on September 21st.

Museum Sunday

On the first Sunday of each month, many of the best museums become free to enter. These museums include smaller art galleries, renowned science museums, and Museum Island, Berlin’s collection of five renowned historical and art museums located in the heart of Berlin. This autumn (2024) these dates take place on October 6th, November 3rd, and December 1st. Be sure to check in with their Museum Portal to secure a ticket up to a week prior.

Stroll through Berlin’s most beautiful parks

If you’re spending autumn in Berlin my top advice is simply to get to where the trees are. This won’t be hard because Berlin is home to around fifty million trees and over fifty types of tree species, most of which change colors in autumn and shed their leaves shortly afterwards. That’s a lot of color! Whatever neighborhood you’re in should offer some blend of lovely trees lining the streets, but Prenzlauer Berg is probably my favorite neighborhood for fall foliage. As for parks, Tiergarten, Park am Weißen See, and Schlossgarten Charlottenburg are just lovely this time of year.

Take a day trip to Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel)

A quick ferry (included in your Deutschland-Ticket) from Wannsee will get you to Peacock Island, an island along the Havel River home to a protected nature reserve, a small white castle, free-roaming peacocks, and lush trees that showcase a vibrant blend of fall colors.

Budget Friendly

Pick up a PSL

A pumpkin-spice-anything is hard to beat in autumn, but a few cafés make pumpkin spice lattes especially well. I can personally vouch for Spro, LAP (which has a few locations BTW), Café de Luna, and Señorita Ploff. Spro and Señorita Ploff are some of my favorite cozy cafés in Berlin so I particularly recommend those two! Spro also uses pumpkin puree in their PSLs which is very commendable, most places just use a spice mix or syrup but skip out on using actual pumpkin, which is such a cop-out — give us the real deal!

While you’re at it get your hands on a pumpkin treat

My favorite pumpkin treat in Berlin is probably a toss-up between the pumpkin cheesecake from Café de Luna, the pumpkin Oreo cheesecake from Señorita Ploff, or the pumpkin pie at Spro. If you’re not as big a fan of pumpkin flavor, but would like a seasonal sweet visit Brammibal’s (several locations) which offers a lovely cranberry pecan donut during autumn. They also have a pumpkin donut, but I’m not a fan, it was a bit too sour and not pumpkin-y enough for my liking.

See Tiergarten’s fall foliage at the Victory Column

Climb the 285 steps to the top of the Victory Column and be rewarded with a view of Tiergarten, as well as the surrounding monuments and neighborhoods. The trees gleam with inspiring hues of green, orange, and yellow and the view is yours for the price of an uphill trek and €4.

Take a day trip to Potsdam for drinking chocolate

A day trip? Just for hot chocolate? Yup! Well of course while you’re in Potsdam you might as well walk around the city center including the Dutch Quarter, perhaps take a visit to Sanssouci, or maybe walk around Babelsberg Park if you haven’t been — you get the idea, there’s plenty to do in Potsdam. However, this autumn day out requires you to make a trip to La Maison du Chocolat for their phenomenal drinking chocolate. If you’ve never had drinking chocolate before, it’s similar to hot chocolate, except richer and thicker. It’s meant to be drank slow and savored. It’s served with cream and if you opt for any of the add-ons I recommend amaretto. Almost surprisingly, it completely transforms the drink and adds a cool flavor, but my favorite variation is still the classic one.

Visit Berlin’s best chocolate shop

If you’re not as keen to take a day trip head to Rausch, home to the longest praline counter in the world, and located near Gendarmenmarkt. You’ll find hot chocolate in the café (which is on the third floor, I believe) but it’s always been full when I visit so I normally opt for getting a cup to go on the ground floor. There are two variations, depending one less chocolatey and more sweet, and the other more chocolatey and less sweet.

Enjoy a Russian-style tea ceremony at Tadshikische Teestube

This is my favorite tea house in Berlin. It’s cozy, unique, and eclectic with decorative art and ornamentation lining the walls. I always order the Russian tea ceremony, which at €8.80 per person is a bargain for the novelty and thoughtful details. The ceremony includes Samowar black tea served with plates filled with sugar, jam, rum raisins, cookies, fondant, and vodka. The latter is to have sips of between tastings to cleanse your palette. I always wind up visiting in the evening (because it’s so dang cozy) but the tea does have caffeine so if you’re sensitive to that perhaps a late morning or early afternoon visit would suit you better.

Keep in mind you’ll have to remove your shoes after entering. Most of the café offers only floor seating, but there are also a few standard tables along the wall. The tea ceremony is only available for groups of two or more. Cash only.

Try your hand at making sourdough with Frea’s starter

Did you miss the sourdough trend in 2020? Now’s your chance! Frea sells sourdough starters for €7 with little instruction rolls to make things easy peasy. Admittedly, I still have not made the plunge, but I haven’t been this motivated since 2021, shortly before I killed the starter my friend gifted me.

Buy a book. . . or two. . . or three

Bookshops are cute in every season, but something about visiting one when the walk there involves crispy air as colorful leaves gently grace the ground, making it an even sweeter experience. Shakespeare and Sons is one of the coziest English bookshops in Berlin, plus they’ve got great bagels. Curious Fox and Saint George’s are both pretty cute too.

Taste test DM’s pumpkin-flavored food line

Y’all, DM popped off this autumn. My favorite finds this year have been their pumpkin agave syrup, pumpkin chai (tea bags, not concentrate), and pumpkin pancake mix. This might not be too impressive if you’re reading this from North America, but trust me, Germany has been dragging their feet when it comes to seasonal pumpkin products so to see so many pumpkin-flavored items in stores and pumpkin drinks at cafés has been riveting, to say the least.

Watch a €2 movie at Babylon Berlin

Babylon is a hundred-ish year old theater in Berlin’s centermost district. It acted as a specialty cinema throughout the DDR and these days it’s still known for hosting film festivals and showcasing a plethora of unique and historical films, as well as for the show that shares its name. In 2024, they’re remembering 75 years since the start of the German Democratic Republic (DDR) with thirty historical film showings that are priced at just €2.

Get ready for Christmas market season

Christmas market season is nearly here! Start the celebration early by picking up Glühwein or Kinderpunsch from the supermarket and fashioning yourself a mug of mulled wine. Bonus points if you have a Christmas market mug from a previous year to drink out of. Heat it on the stovetop, bring your wine to a simmer (don’t let it boil!), add fruit and cinnamon sticks, and you’re good to go! You can also make your warm winter drink from scratch with red wine (add sugar to taste) or apple juice.

Hang with friends at a board game café

Another cushy thing to do with pals on a chilly fall evening! I’ve yet to visit, but friends of mine recommend Brettspielplatz in Moabit and declare it “the best board game café in Berlin.” Their prices seem pretty reasonable, they provide the games, as well as light snacks and refreshments. Visitors pay by the hour: €2 per person per hour Monday through Thursday, and Friday to Sunday this becomes €3 per person per hour. No matter which day you visit prices cap at five hours (so €10 or €15 depending) and you can consider the rest of your time on the house.

Browse flea markets

Flea markets are a lovely way to start your weekend and throughout autumn many of them tend to be more relaxed, giving you room to properly browse the stalls without too much busyness. Arnswalder Platz, Boxhagener Platz (they’ve got a food/craft market on Saturdays and a flea market on Sundays), and Mauerpark are home to my favorite markets, especially since the latter can be quite crowded in summer. If you want more flea market recs, my friend Claire wrote a great guide. If it’s too chilly visit your neighborhood Humana instead, a secondhand clothing shop with a few locations in Berlin.

Visit Berlin’s pumpkin street festival

These pumpkin festivities only take place a single weekend in Berlin so mark your calendars! In 2024, this festival will happen on October 5th and 6th in Schöneberg. You can pick up a couple of pumpkins, try pumpkin-filled food, and browse the market stalls selling local goods.

Treat Yourself (€15+)

Take a day trip to the Spargelhof Klaistow Pumpkin Market

If you do miss the Schöneberg pumpkin festival, never fear, Spargelhof Klaistow is here, at least until November 10th. Spargelhof was born from the idea of a partner duo (one a farmer, the other a businessman) who wanted to do their part in bringing asparagus back to East Germany. Interestingly, asparagus lost popularity during divided Germany because it took too much effort to grow for the calories and couldn’t sustain the population well enough. It’s funny to think there was ever a time when Germans weren’t celebrating Spargelsaison (asparagus season). They were simply an asparagus farm for their first three years, but over time, they added berries and pumpkins.

And let me tell you, they excel at pumpkins. You’ll find a large outdoor farmer’s market that sells plenty of tasty produce, with the star of the show being pumpkins, of course. There is also a warehouse market and indoor market with even more pumpkin goods, as well as a restaurant, café, goats, fairgrounds, and an outdoor pumpkin exhibition. Everywhere is free to enter except the pumpkin exhibition (around €4), which is home to pumpkin sculptures aligned with that year’s theme (2024 is fire centric so keep an eye out for pumpkin Charmander), as well as a collection of Brandenburg’s prize-winning pumpkins, gourds, and other vegetables.

Although mostly free to visit, you’ll likely want to take a few treats home with you. I will say that the produce is pretty fairly priced, with certain items being a full-on bargain. Most of the pre-packaged items are pricier though. You can get there by taking the RE1 train from Berlin Central Station and switching to the 641 bus the rest of the way (all Deutschland-Ticket friendly), but we always end up driving.

Celebrate Oktoberfest

In 2024, Oktoberfest officially takes place from September 21st to October 6th. While you’ll have to head down south to Munich for the full experience you can have quite a fun time within Berlin too. Hofbräuhaus is the obvious choice, but if you’re looking for something a little more local head over to Fischerhütte, a quaint restaurant adjacent to Lake Schlachtensee. Order a hearty meal and a stein of beer, and enjoy the ride as the crowd gets rowdier and people hop up on their tables. The band does a great job, the music becomes more diverse throughout the night, making the experience even more engaging. In 2024 they’ll be celebrating September 26th to October 19th every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Be sure to book your ticket ahead of time to ensure you secure a spot!

Walk along an elevated treetop walkway

While you’re in the area consider visiting Baum und Zeit, an elevated walkway with a viewing platform, located within the Beelitz forest, which is home to over sixty tree types. Grab a coffee from one of the snack stands below and walk along the walkway while being immersed in the vibrant surrounding foliage. Delight in the bird’s eye perspective and if you’d like to extend your trip stroll around the forest park or learn about the neighboring historical buildings. Tickets are €13.50 per person and they offer family discounts.

Embrace Germany’s sauna culture

If you’re looking to treat yourself this autumn, there’s nothing like a spa day. Remember German saunas require you to remove your clothes (even the fabric scrunchy in your hair), but you’ll be able to enter with a clean towel to sit on. You can wear clothing outside of sauna areas, but it is optional. Vabali and Liquidrom are the two most popular sauna spaces in Berlin. Vabali is more of a wellness resort, whereas Liquidrom offers a mix of saunas and pools, as well as food options.

Take it easy with a weekend brunch

An easy one, but quite nice nonetheless. Rocket + Basil and Two Trick Pony are two of my favorite brunch spots right now, but you can see my full list here.

Cozy up at a homey bar

Autumn is the time for living room bars: the kind of spots that have low lighting, an eclectic layout, and warm energy. Van Gogh Bar is a nice spot for this, especially if you catch the live piano music. Vincent Piano Bar (also Van Gogh-themed) is more upscale than eclectic, but still small and cozy, certainly worth a visit so long as you can snag a table. I absolutely adore Käserei Camidi in Neukölln, it goes without saying but try the cheese.

Test your skills at trivia night

I had a fun time at Belushi’s trivia night when I visited a few months ago. You can register your team online before the evening (a theme-relevant name is always fun — we were the Smelly Cats at our Friends trivia night) and tickets are €15 per person. Ticketed patrons can join their raffle which had quite a few generous prizes the evening I participated. Plus, prizes for the top three teams!

Shop along Rosenthaler Straße

Pick up a coffee and pastry at LAP then make your way down Rosenthaler Straße, stopping at concept stores and second-hand shops along the way. My favorites in the area are 738 KREMA, Schee, Kauf Dich Glücklich, Humana, H&M Home, and Pick’nWeight which has another location across the street, BTW. You, of course, don’t have to buy anything when you visit these spots (window shopping for the win!), but if you do, it’ll start to add up quickly.

Mellow down at a listening bar

Heard of listening bars? I didn’t until recently; essentially they’re bars where you can silently listen to an album with other patrons while sipping craft cocktails and immersing yourself in the music. After the album is done you can chill with friends or get to know the bar’s patrons. Migas is one such place, they’re located in Wedding. They’ve got an acoustic sound system and will also occasionally have live music. Bar Neiro in Mitte plays all their music on vinyl and with a high-quality vintage sound system.

The Best Things to Do in Autumn in Berlin