More about: 12 Things to Do in Berlin in June
Berlin is famous for being one of the most vibrant cities in Europe all year round. But it's in summer, when the weather is good, that events fill its streets and make it a particularly pleasant city to walk around and explore.
If you're already planning to visit in June and need ideas on how to enjoy it, this article is for you. What's more, June is the best month to visit Berlin. You'll find something for everyone: indie, rock, opera, classical music... Read on to find out more!
1. Take advantage of the good weather: take a cruise or tour Berlin by bike or bus
June is one of the most pleasant months in Berlin. Temperatures are comfortable (highs often reach 20 degrees Celsius) and there are significantly fewer cloudy days. That's why there are few months better suited to exploring Berlin while enjoying the good weather.
You have two basic options: take a cruise on the River Spree or explore by bike. The latter is a good option, as Berlin can boast of being one of the most bike-friendly cities in Europe. Here is more information about cruises in Berlin and how to explore Berlin by bike.
There is also another way to explore Berlin that is a great option in good weather: the tourist bus. Many of them allow you to enjoy the views from an open-top area, which, despite sounding great, is not always practical. Especially in winter, when cloudy or rainy days are practically the norm.
Useful information
- Dates: During the warmer months.
- Location: The River Spree and central Berlin.
- Price: a bike tour of Berlin from €37, a sightseeing bus tour from €23, and a dinner cruise from €65.
We compare the different options
- Berlin Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Tour
- From $34
- Up to 2 hours
- Audio guide in several languages
- Different route options
- Rhine cruise (Deluxe pass)
- Walking tour with local guide and currywurst (Premium and Deluxe pass)
- With guide (Premium and Deluxe)
- Book now
- Berlin Hop-on Hop-off City Sightseeing Bus Tour
- From $26
- 2.5 hours
- Audio guide in several languages
- Different route options
- 24- or 48-hour bus tour
- Hop-on, hop-off stops
- No guide
- Book now
- Berlin Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
- From $38
- Valid from first use
- Audio guide in several languages
- 18 stops available
- 24- or 48-hour bus tour with stops available
- One-hour cruise on the Spree (optional)
- No guide
- Book now
- Berlin Bike Tour
- From $43
- 3.5 hours
- Bicycle and safety equipment
- Rain poncho in case of light rain
- Stops to take photographs
- With guide
- Book now
- Berlin Dinner Cruise
- From $91
- 2.5 hours
- Welcome with a complimentary drink
- 3-course Berlin dinner with vegetarian menu option
- No guide
- Book now
2. Enjoy Berlin from above
June, with its excellent weather, is the ideal time to discover the German capital from above. How, you ask? With a helicopter flight over Berlin, where you'll enjoy breathtaking views of the city: the Berlin Wall, the TV Tower, the Brandenburg Gate, the TV Tower, and the cathedral are some of the most iconic landmarks that you'll see from a completely different perspective than you could ever have imagined.
Throughout the entire tour, which lasts approximately 20 minutes, you will have headphones to communicate with the professional pilot who will accompany and guide you so that you don't miss anything essential. And best of all, after this flying experience, you will receive a tourist flight certificate.
In addition, you will travel by limousine to the heliport's take-off platform.
3. Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience: a hot air balloon ride through the skies of Berlin
Another way to see the German capital in June is with a Die Welt balloon ride, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of Berlin's key monuments from a height of approximately 150 meters.
What's more, you won't miss a thing, as the team of pilots and guides who will accompany you during the 15-minute experience will give you all the details about what you are seeing at all times.
And, as with the helicopter ride, you will also receive a personalized flight certificate.
4. Immerse yourself in the streets of the city with the Music Festival in Berlin
In Berlin, they welcome summer in the best possible way: with the Berlin Music Festival. The event kicks off on June 21 and brings together a host of musical artists of all styles for a week.
This event, which has been held for 40 years, is one of the liveliest music festivals in the German capital. Each year, the festival is dedicated to a particular instrument or group of instruments, so I recommend checking the program to see if you are lucky enough to come across an edition that highlights something that particularly interests you.
Useful information
- Date: June 21.
- Location: No fixed location, as it takes place in different squares and streets throughout Berlin.
- Price: Free.
5. Wrap yourself in the rainbow with Gay Pride celebrations
Parades in support of gay diversity have been held in Germany at the end of June since 1979. But it wasn't until more recently (around the 1990s) that this celebration gained the momentum it enjoys today. In fact, the duration of its events has been extended.
The CSD Berlin runs from the end of May to the end of June. This is known as "Pride Month." There are many activities surrounding it. Here are a few:
- The CSD Parade: This is the parade itself. Tens of thousands of people take part, marching through the streets of the city center. The route may vary depending on the year, but it always takes place in central Berlin. It usually ends at the Brandenburg Gate.
- Transgenialer CSD: A more alternative event that takes place in Kreuzberg, the city's multicultural neighborhood.
- Gay Night at the Zoo: A curious event that takes place at Berlin Zoo, a space that is enlivened by concerts and various festive events.
Useful information
- Dates: CSD at the end of June. All events take place throughout the month of June.
- Location: Central Berlin, Kreuzberg, Berlin Zoo.
- Price: Free.
6. A trip around the world without leaving Berlin: the Carnival of Cultures
The Carnival of Cultures is a spectacular event whose mission is to break down cultural barriers and xenophobia through parades in which thousands of people from all over the world participate.
The streets of Berlin fill with people dancing in different costumes from every continent in the world. Four days of fun take place in Kreuzberg, the city's multicultural neighborhood, well known for its large population of Turkish origin. You can enjoy the following:
- Main parade (usually takes place at 12:30 p.m.).
- Up to four stages with world music.
- Acrobatic and dance performances.
Sounds good? Then take note: it starts in early June. And best of all, there's no admission fee! If you feel like exploring the neighborhood further, here's an article on what to see and do in the Kreuzberg neighborhood.
Useful information
- Dates: First half of June.
- Location: Kreuzberg neighborhood and the parade at Hermannplatz.
- Price: Free.
Take a stroll through the international market at Blücherplatz
A perfect complementary activity to the Carnival of Cultures. Located in Blücherplatz, coinciding with the multicultural carnival, hundreds of food and craft stalls offer their products to anyone who wants to stop by for a while.
Blücherplatz is located in Kreuzberg, the same district where most of the Carnival of Cultures celebrations take place, so... it costs nothing to take a stroll around the stalls!
Useful information
about the Blücherplatz market
- Dates: Early June.
- Location: Blücherplatz.
- Price: Free.
7. Listen to your favorite bands at Tempelhof Sounds
Berlin is a very musical city in June. Proof of this can be found in the open-air concerts, but also in the festivals for which you have to pay an entrance fee. Without a doubt, the best of the month is Tempelhof Sounds. Its lineup is spectacular and brings together rock and indie bands that could fill stadiums on their own.
It usually takes place in the second week of June near Tempelhof Airport. The tickets, however, are not exactly cheap. But I can assure you that the lineup of artists performing at this festival is spectacular: Muse, The Strokes... and the list goes on! In short, if you want to enjoy it, you'll need to set aside at least €70 in your budget if you want to attend for one day. If you don't want to miss out on this three-day event... then the cost could start at €170!
Useful information
- Dates: Second week of June.
- Location: Near the airport, at Flughafen, Platz d. Luftbrücke.
- Price: From €70 per day.
8. The party continues at the Citadel Music Festival
This is another music festival in Berlin (how unusual, right?). The Citadel Music Festival is unique in that it is probably one of the longest festivals in the city. It is therefore an opportunity to enjoy rock and pop music in good weather. The advantage of visiting the city in June is that this month has the most activity and the largest number of concerts.
It also has the added attraction of being held in the Spandau Citadel, one of the best-preserved Renaissance fortresses in Europe. Concert prices vary depending on the artists, but you can get tickets starting at €30.
Useful information
- Dates: From the end of May to the end of August.
- Location: Spandau Citadel.
- Price: Concerts from €30.
9. The most multicultural and neighborhood-oriented Berlin: 48 Stunden Neukölln
If you missed the fabulous Carnival of Cultures that takes place in early June, Berlin gives you another chance to immerse yourself in its multicultural atmosphere. And it does so with an event that celebrates diversity, albeit in a more neighborhood-oriented and low-key way. This is 48 Hours Neukölln, whose name refers to Berlin's Neukölln neighborhood. It is one of the most multicultural neighborhoods in the city, with an estimated 160 different nationalities living there.
With this cultural capital, an art festival is organized in which events, concerts, and exhibitions proliferate. 48 Hours Neukölln also has the appeal of its strongly local focus. Associations and groups that are part of the neighborhood's social fabric are invited to participate. If you want a real taste of cosmopolitan Berlin, don't miss it!
By the way, if you liked Berlin's neighborhood life, I recommend exploring as many as you can. Here's more information about the best neighborhoods in Berlin.
Useful information
- Dates: End of June.
- Location: The streets of the Neukölln neighborhood.
- Price: Free.
10. The best free music at the Open Air du Staatsoper
The Open Air du Staatsoper festival brings together two German passions: classical music and outdoor performances. This event is usually led by the prestigious Argentine conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim and the equally prestigious Staatsoper orchestra.
Best of all, admission is free. Above all, because we get to listen to some of the best musical and operatic performers without paying a single euro. The time usually varies depending on the year, so I recommend checking the website. And don't hesitate to bring a picnic basket with you—Berliners love to do that!
Useful information
- Dates: Second half of June.
- Location: Unter den Linden.
- Price: Free.
11. The classic getaway: more music at the Leipzig Bach Festival
If you feel like escaping the hustle and bustle that floods Berlin during the month of June, you have an unbeatable opportunity to do so with the Leipzig Bach Festival in Leipzig. If you like the music of the Baroque composer, considered by many to be the best in history, you can't miss this event.
This festival is the world's most renowned for listening to Bach's music. It lasts for 10 days and brings together the best performers of Baroque music in general and Bach in particular. In addition, many of the concerts take place in the church where Bach worked, so you can be sure that you will hear the music with the acoustics for which the great composer conceived his works. And, for the most mythomaniacs, Bach himself is buried in this church.
Useful information
- Dates: Second week of June.
- Location: Leipzig (2 hours by car from Berlin).
- Price: Concerts from €70.
12. Take advantage of the good weather and enjoy Potsdam
June is one of the best months for weather in Berlin, so it's worth taking advantage of it and visiting one of Germany's most iconic towns: Potsdam. This city is home to monuments that have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Its 18th-century architecture, promoted by one of the most important figures in the country's history, Frederick II the Great, is undoubtedly noteworthy. If you like history, you will also have the opportunity to visit the town that hosted the last peace conference held in the context of World War II.
Potsdam is located very close to Berlin, just 35 km away, so it can be a good way to spend a day or even half a day. It is a city of just 150,000 inhabitants, so visiting its monuments will not take you long. You can go by train, with tickets available from €4, or by booking one of the many excursions to Potsdam from Berlin.
Useful information
- Location: Potsdam, 30 km from Berlin.
- Approximate journey time: 50 minutes by car and 30 minutes by train.
- Approximate duration of the visit: About 5 hours to see everything in depth.
- Excursion prices: from €20.
What is the weather like in Berlin in June?
The best month in terms of weather is August, when temperatures in Berlin can reach 25 degrees Celsius. As you can see, it's warm but not muggy. June is a little cooler in this regard, with highs usually reaching 20 degrees and lows 11 degrees.
However, you should bear in mind that Berlin is a city prone to cloudy skies, which is also true in summer. The most that can happen in summer is that the cloud cover reduces. Even so, the probability of clear days in June is approximately 50%.
How busy is Berlin in June?
As you know, there is a long list of things to see and do in Berlin, as it is a city whose charms are not seasonal. However, let's not kid ourselves, it is also true that they are best enjoyed in good weather. That's why you'll find more visitors in June than during the rest of the year, especially during winter, the harshest season in the German capital.
What's more, it's not just the good weather that attracts more visitors. There are also large-scale events such as Gay Pride, which has attracted hundreds of thousands of people, and the Carnival of Cultures. Therefore, you should expect a city full of people, at least in the areas where many of these events take place. However, the Kreuzberg neighborhood will undoubtedly be the most crowded. This is something you should keep in mind when deciding where you want to stay.