Summer in the city – best beach bars, chill out places and parks in Berlin

You planning to visit Berlin now or in the coming weeks? Surely you will visit the main touristic spots, like Brandenburg Gate, Fernsehturm, Eastside Galaery and so on. But Berliners like to chill out after a full day at the riverside, or in nice open air location with cold beer and good music. Here are some of the best places you shouldn’t miss.

Sommer in Berlin

Bearchbars, Cafes or Sitting Outside:
Klunkerkranich

At the parking level of the shopping mall Neukölln Arcaden you can find not only a chill-out-café-bar called Klunkerkranich but also one of the best views over Berlin. You should definitely go there in case you are – by chance – one of these people in Berlin that are NOT blessed with their own gigantic roof terrace. You are not alone if you are one of them. Not alone at all.

Prinzessinnengarten

The Prinzessinnengarten is a mobile garden next Moritzplatz in Kreuzberg. In the shade of the trees you can have a relaxing beer, or try a snack of the homemade organic food.

Club der Visionäre

Club der Visionäre aka CdV is a bar swimming on the water of a sidearm of the river together with the bar Freischwimmer it’s the favourite place for people from Kreuzberg and Friedrichhain to chill out on a long long Sunday afternoon. At the CdV there are always really good Dj’s playing. There are no big gigs, it’s more like they go and play in their own living room. So often you get the chance to meet some high ranking Djs.

Yaam

Yaam is one of the oldest Beach Bars in Berlin. It’s like a little island of Jamaica right in the middle of Berlin. Here you always find a little peaceful beach and chilled reggae music. At night they do some good parties too. Right now the Yaam is under threat because of a luxury condo they want to build on this location. That’s why a move is already scheduled for 2013. The new location will be the area of the former Maria/Magdalena/Josef Club and Schilling Bridge.

Badeschiff

The Badeschiff is a very unique place. Since the river Spree isn’t particularly made for swimming. They transformed to old ships into a swimming pool on the river. Pretty awesome right?! A lot of people hanging out at the Badeschiff the whole day. Swimming, chilling, sun bathing and later on dancing since they also do a lot of open air parties in the summer months.

Lichtpark

Lichtpark is one of the newer Open Air Party locations. For the weekend they provide for a small entry fee nice electronic music and a chilled location on the river. This place is often crowded by people who either just come or go to Kater Blau Club or did not get in for the Sunday after hour party but still want to make party.

Monbijou-Theater

You’ve probably been to open-air festivals at  ://about blank or  Sisyphos already. But it does not always have to be all electronic beats for crazy dance moves. At Monbijoutheater for example, you can learn to dance mambo, tango or swing. Feels like Dirty Dancing!

Admiralsbrücke

During the summer the bridge and its grassy shores are alive with droves of Berliners, relaxing and chilling with some cheap späti beers. All whilst taking in the vibes from the buskers, acoustic groups, And any other manner of movers and shakers that swings by. Free entertainment at its best! Setting the groove all the way into the night.

Tempelhofer FeldWe also recommend the big and green parks in Berlin like:

Preußenpark
Tempelhofer Feld
Insel der Jugend Treptower Park
Volkspark Friedrichshain

 

 

Images © Sabine Alex

Top 5 Beach Bars and Chillout Spots in Berlin

Visiting Berlin in the summer? Sure we have a lot to see. Like the Brandenburger Tor or the Museum island. But what do you do after a long day of sightseeing? In Berlin we like to hang out on the water. The River Spree and all the little canals spreading all over Berlin. That’s why it is a perfect location for the afternoon. An ice cold beer, electronic music and chilled sunset. That’s how a day in Berlin ends. Sure, gentrification is a big issue in Berlin, that’s why many of these bars had to close down in the last years. We will miss the Bar 25, Kiki Blofeld and these entire little chill out spots on the river Spree. But still where once the Berlin Wall divided the two districts Berlin Friedrichshain and Berlin Kreuzberg , on the river you still find a few really cool locations.

Yaam

U inn Berlin Hostel yaam reggae beach barYaam is one of the oldest Beach Bars in Berlin. It’s like a little island of Jamaica right in the middle of Berlin. Here you always find a little peaceful beach and chilled reggae music. At night they do some good parties too. Right now the Yaam is under threat because of a luxury condo they want to build on this location. That’s why a move is already scheduled for 2013. The new location will be the area of the former Maria/Magdalena/Josef Club and Schilling Bridge.

Badeschiff

U inn berlin Hostel Badeschiff ArenaThe Badeschiff is a very unique place. Since the river Spree isn’t particularly made for swimming. They transformed to old ships into a swimming pool on the river. Pretty awesome right?! A lot of people hanging out at the Badeshiff the whole day. Swimming, chilling, sun bathing and later on dancing since they also do a lot of open air parties in the summer months.

Club der Visionäre

U inn Berlin Hostel Club der VisionäreClub der Visionäre aka CdV is a bar swimming on the water of a sidearm of the river together with the bar Freischwimmer it’s the favourite place for people from Kreuzberg and Friedrichhain to chill out on a long long Sunday afternoon. At the CdV there are always really good Dj’s playing. There are no big gigs, it’s more like they go and play in their own living room. So often you get the chance to meet some high ranking Djs.

Lichtpark

U inn berlin Hostel LichtparkLichtpark is one of the newer Open Air Party locations. For the weekend they provide for a small entry fee nice electronic music and a chilled location on the river. This place is often crowded by people who either just come or go to Kater Holzig Club or did not get in for the Sunday after hour party but still want to make party.

Admiralbrücke

During the summer the bridge and its grassy shores are alive with droves of Berliners, relaxing and chilling with some cheap späti beers. All whilst taking in the vibes from the buskers, acoustic groups, And any other manner of movers and shakers that swings by. Free entertainment at its best! Setting the groove all the way into the night.

Berlin’s Top 5+1 Beach Bars for the Summer

Beach Bar’s in Berlin

Check out our updated version for 2013 Top 5 Beach Bars and Chillout Spots in Berlin

Goin` for the beach in Berlin? Oh yes! The Spree river that curls through the city is about 46 kilometers long. Enough space for a vaste variety of beaches and beach bars. Which of those spots is the best, coolest or most relaxing place? – You´ll have to define for yourself. Here is our 5+1 list of recommendations for Berlin beach action. (The „Club der Visionäre“ [‘club of visionaries’] is not a real beach bar, yet it has to be on the list, as it is one of Berlin´s finest chill-out locations.) All locations are not far away from the U inn Berlin Hostel

Club der Visionäre

U inn Berlin Hostel Club der Visionaere Cvd

The „Club der Visionäre“ is no beach bar as such. The sand is replaced by wooden planks, which makes the bar partly floating on the water. Sitting with dangled legs in the cool water, sipping on your drink while trees all around the club provide you with shade. This is the perfect place to relax. On the weekends the CdV turns into a floating party with cool techno beats by well known DJ’s of the scene.

Homepage: www.clubdervisionaere.com

Address: Am Flutgraben/Lohmühlen Insel

Kiki Blofeld

U inn Berlin Hostel Kiki BlofeldThe ‘Kiki Blofeld’ you´ll find right opposite of the Bar25 at the river Spree. The place is cozy and relaxed with more green and less sand around. On the premises is also an old (sea-) bunker from the times of GDR border-police. Nowadays this is where the music plays after nightfall. There is also pool and table tennis and for the culinary well-being you can order pizza or grilled sausages. By the way: Kiki Blofeld is the daughter of Ernest Stavros Blofeld the villain from the early James Bond movies. Kiki wanted to redeem her name and so she gave us this compound of nearly1 hectar.

Homepage:  www.kikiblofeld.de

Address: Köpenickerstr. 48

Yaam Reggae Beach Bar

U inn Berlin Hostel yaam reggae beach bar

The Yaam has earned itself quite a reputation over the years as „Berlin`s finest place in reaggae culture” and most Berliners know it of course. Here one can hang out and relax to reaggae vibes. On the premises you´ll find fields for basketball, a halfpipe and the obligatory table tennis. At night the beach bar is magically transormed into a hot club where one can dance and party till dawn.

Homepage: www.yaam.de

 Address: Stralauer Platz 35

 Bar 25

U inn Berlin Hostel Bar 25

You´re jus´ looking for a break, silence and relaxation? You jus´ wanna hang out in the sun with your feet in the ice-cool water, while nothing bothers you? Then definitely avoid Bar 25! as this is the location for afterhours in Berlin. Though it´s not really clear, when the afterhour starts or ends, but most certainly you can dance and party on even on a monday night.

Homepage: www.bar25.de

Address: Holzmarkt 25

Badeschiff – Arena

U inn berlin Hostel Badeschiff Arena

Berlin’s swimming pool in the river Spree. Here you can drop by – to see and be seen. Students reading books, DJ’s spinning the records and Checker checking. Paddling lonely is not a townie’s thing, so do not be surprised if it gets tight. Sitting lonely at the lake is quite a back number.

Homepage: www.arena-berlin.de

Address: Eichenstrasse 4

Oststrand

U inn Berlin Hostel Oststrand

The ‘east beach’ is situated in the former border strip of the berlin wall, right behind legendary east-side-gallery, just next to the O2-World arena. Since going to see the east-side-gallery is on top of most visitor´s checklist, attending ‘Oststrand’ is definetely worth the small detour. Just give yourself the time to hang out for a cool beer or a fruity cocktail. They also make fresh pizza! In july the 8th Völkerball – worldchampionship will take place here.

Homepage: www.oststrand.de

Address: Mühlenstrasse 24-26