Hamburg: Discover the charm of this port city and enjoy the Elbe beach during your summer city break
Summer vibes between sandy beaches, water and culture
Hamburg in summer offers numerous opportunities to enjoy the water. One of the most beautiful options is the Elbe beach. It is 12 kilometres long, and the most beautiful section is the Blankenese Elbe beach. Here, you can relax on fine sand on hot summer days. The New York Times has even named the Elbe beach one of the ten favourite places in Europe by the water. Behind the beach lies the very picturesque and romantic Blankenese staircase quarter. In the Övelgönne museum harbour, you can visit impressive sailing ships that are over 100 years old, and a walk along the captains’ houses rounds off the maritime romance. You can easily reach all of this by ferry from the Hamburg Landing Bridges in the Port of Hamburg.
Here’s another special tip: on the Elbe beach you will find the iconic Strandperle beach bar. Here you can end your summer day and chill out into the summer evening. On hot summer evenings, there is nothing better than enjoying the sunset over the Elbe here on the Elbe beach. There is no better way to end the summer in Hamburg.
Hamburg's water paradises: Inner and Outer Alster
The summer city of Hamburg offers you two more opportunities to spend part of your summer outing by the water in the middle of the city: the Binnenalster and the Außenalster. The Außenalster is a large lake with numerous sports and recreational opportunities. You can walk around it in 7 km and enjoy the sailboats against the backdrop of Hamburg. Here, too, you will find a small cult restaurant: the Alsterperle is located at the widest point of the Alster.
Tip: Hamburg is worth visiting not only in summer. Especially during cherry blossom season, the Outer Alster transforms into a sea of delicate pink and rose tones – a highlight for photographers and walkers alike. Find out more in our blog post Cherry Blossom in Germany.
Planten un Blomen: Hamburg's green oasis
The summer city of Hamburg also offers you a large green space for hot summer days: Planten un Blomen Park. For non-Hamburgers, this means ‘plants and flowers’. And that’s exactly what you’ll find here. In the 45-hectare, centrally located park, you’ll find extensive lawns, flowering plant beds, picturesque streams and beautiful lakes. During a city break in summer, this is the ideal place for a relaxing break.
Tip: In summer, concerts are held here in the music pavilion. If you are still here on a summer evening, you can admire the colourful water light concerts on the park lake.
Berlin: One of the best German cities for summer
Urban flair meets bathing and park culture
Berlin is one of the coolest German cities for hot days. Of course, there are countless sights to choose from. We would like to show you a few options for hot summer days. Charlottenburg Palace offers culture on the one hand and a beautiful palace garden with extensive green spaces on the other. You can stroll along small paths and follow in the footsteps of the former Prussian kings and German emperors. With the beautiful Charlottenburg Palace in view, you can enjoy your summer city break to the fullest.
Cooling off in Berlin: Halensee beach
You’re probably wondering: Where are the nearest outdoor pools or other places to swim? It’s a 5-minute drive or 20-minute bus ride to Halensee beach, where Ku’damm Beach is located. This beach is truly a highlight. In the middle of Berlin, you can relax and enjoy your summer outing in a dreamlike natural idyll. By the way: the initially very high admission prices have been reduced to the usual Berlin level.
Berlin's green lungs: Tiergarten and Lustgarten
Berlin naturally has a number of parks. The Tiergarten is the largest of these. Covering three square kilometres, it features extensive meadows and old trees. There are also many opportunities to relax during your summer city break. And the good thing is: the Tiergarten is right next to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. So you can easily take a short break here during your summer city break. For a lovely summer evening, we particularly recommend the Lustgarten in the centre of Berlin. Here you will find the perfect historical ambience. The Lustgarten is located on the Spree Island and is bordered by the Altes Museum, Berlin Cathedral, Berlin Palace and the Spree Canal. The imposing Berlin Cathedral in particular rises majestically before you – the perfect place for a summer picnic. You won’t be alone. Numerous visitors and small groups enjoy the atmosphere. But don’t worry, you’ll find a place. It’s not overcrowded. Before you settle down, you can combine your visit to Berlin’s city centre with a trip on the Spree. The best place to do this is the nearby landing stage in the Nikolaiviertel. There are several trips to choose from. We recommend the 1-hour Berlin boat tour. It is entertaining and you will see many of Berlin’s sights from the Spree.
Summer in Berlin: beach bars and Spree vibes
If you continue east on your sightseeing tour of summery Berlin, you will find some cool beach bars and clubs right on the Spree. Sage Beach Kreuzberg offers an interesting, alternative atmosphere. Various food trucks provide you with food, accompanied by cocktails in deckchairs. This is how to enjoy a summer city break. Well-known DJs from the Berlin scene regularly play here. Not far away is the East Side Gallery, a 1.3-kilometre-long section of the Berlin Wall that has been painted by more than 100 artists from over 20 countries. Another spot along the Spree is the Captain Beach beach bar. Here you can enjoy the beach feeling on a fine sandy beach. If you end the evening here in the summer city, you will have an enchanting view of the Spree and the Oberbaum Bridge. It has crossed the Spree since 1896 and is one of the most beautiful bridges in Berlin. A little further along the Spree you will come to the Badeschiff Berlin. It is one of the most original outdoor swimming pools in Berlin. A freshwater swimming pool is located in the Spree, with a large wooden deck in front of it. You have a fantastic view of the skyline. The Badeschiff Berlin is partially open until 10 p.m. At night, the outdoor pool is illuminated – a really cool sight.
Sunset on the Balduin Bridge
Your summer city break to Berlin can also take you to Berlin’s many swimming spots. There are 11 lakes, numerous outdoor pools and a total of 39 swimming spots in and around Berlin. In the south, you will find the famous Wannsee. It takes about 45 minutes to get there from the centre of Berlin. You can take various boat tours on the Wannsee. We recommend the lake boat tour through the Havel landscape, the Wannsee boat tour and the castle tour on the Havel. The trips each take 2–3 hours. The Wannsee also offers several bathing spots. We recommend the traditional Wannsee lido. It is one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in Europe located on a lake. Its sandy beach is 1,275 metres long and 80 metres wide. You can relax in a beach chair or simply lie on the sandy beach. The outdoor pool was built in 1912 and was a summer delight for many Berliners.
We hope you enjoy your city break in the coolest German cities for hot days.
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