Berlin has no sea, but it has lakes, and summer with kids happens on their shores. Some are lidos with sand, lifeguards and a small entry fee; others are free forest lakes, some a short walk from the S-Bahn. Closer to home, outdoor pools add slides and paddling pools. Here's what we checked, from the sand at Wannsee to the slides at the Prinzenbad.
Strandbad Wannsee is the largest inland lake lido in Europe: 1.2 km of sandy beach on the Wannsee, backed by listed modernist buildings.
Families rent wicker beach chairs (Strandkörbe), and the sports and play area has a playground, beach volleyball courts and a football pitch. There is a snack bar, and a separate nudist (FKK) section.
Schlachtensee is a long, narrow lake at the edge of the Grunewald forest, known for its clear water. Kids wade in from grassy meadows and small sandy patches along the shore, while stand-up paddlers glide past. A path runs all the way around under the trees.
The Alte Fischerhütte on the east bank is a historic inn with a beer garden, a playground and boats for rent.
An 830-meter sandy beach on the northeast shore of the Großer Müggelsee, the city's largest lake, backed by forest. Wooden jetties lead into the water, a buoy line keeps boats out of the swimming area, and there are toilets, a snack bar and sports facilities. A separate section is a nudist (FKK) beach.
The historic bath buildings are being restored, so expect some fenced-off works.
Strandbad Plötzensee is a privately run lake beach on the Plötzensee in Wedding. Sand slopes into the water, a long wooden jetty is the spot for jumping in, and there's a water slide. On land, kids get a playground with a big rope climbing frame, a bouncy castle, volleyball courts and table tennis. A lake café, beach restaurant and pizzeria cover lunch, and lifeguards watch the water.
Liepnitzsee is a spring-fed lake in the Barnim forest, with water clear to about 5 meters and beech and pine woods down to the shore. The Waldbad on the west shore has a sandy beach and boat hire: rowboats, canoes, kayaks and pedal boats.
A seasonal ferry crosses to Großer Werder, a wooded island with a campsite, and a paved forest path circles the lake in about 8 km.
The Prinzenbad is a big public pool between the Landwehrkanal and Prinzenstraße station, with two 50-meter pools for lap swimmers. Kids head for the large non-swimmer pool with its slide and water mushroom, the shallow paddling pool, and a playground with a splash area.
Wide lawns leave room for a picnic, and the snack bar is a local institution.
Sommerbad Pankow is a public summer pool with a 50m lane pool and a diving pool with 3m, 5m and 7.5m towers. Kids head for the two slides, a high-speed slide, and a leisure pool with a current channel and water cannons, while toddlers have their own paddling pool.
Sunbathing terraces on six levels sit under three shade sails, and there are ping-pong tables and a snack bar.
Britzer Garten is a landscaped park built around a lake, with rolling lawns, themed gardens and big seasonal flower shows of tulips and dahlias.
The adventure playground at the Tauernallee entrance has a 10-meter slide tower, a climbing net and ground-level trampolines, and both main playgrounds have a water play area. Sheep and goats graze in pastures around the park, and the Britzer Mühle windmill stands on the grounds.
Berlin has no sea, but it has lakes, and summer with kids happens on their shores. Some are lidos with sand, lifeguards and a small entry fee; others are free forest lakes, some a short walk from the S-Bahn. Closer to home, outdoor pools add slides and paddling pools. Here's what we checked, from the sand at Wannsee to the slides at the Prinzenbad.
Strandbad Wannsee is the largest inland lake lido in Europe: 1.2 km of sandy beach on the Wannsee, backed by listed modernist buildings.
Families rent wicker beach chairs (Strandkörbe), and the sports and play area has a playground, beach volleyball courts and a football pitch. There is a snack bar, and a separate nudist (FKK) section.
Schlachtensee is a long, narrow lake at the edge of the Grunewald forest, known for its clear water. Kids wade in from grassy meadows and small sandy patches along the shore, while stand-up paddlers glide past. A path runs all the way around under the trees.
The Alte Fischerhütte on the east bank is a historic inn with a beer garden, a playground and boats for rent.
An 830-meter sandy beach on the northeast shore of the Großer Müggelsee, the city's largest lake, backed by forest. Wooden jetties lead into the water, a buoy line keeps boats out of the swimming area, and there are toilets, a snack bar and sports facilities. A separate section is a nudist (FKK) beach.
The historic bath buildings are being restored, so expect some fenced-off works.
Strandbad Plötzensee is a privately run lake beach on the Plötzensee in Wedding. Sand slopes into the water, a long wooden jetty is the spot for jumping in, and there's a water slide. On land, kids get a playground with a big rope climbing frame, a bouncy castle, volleyball courts and table tennis. A lake café, beach restaurant and pizzeria cover lunch, and lifeguards watch the water.
Liepnitzsee is a spring-fed lake in the Barnim forest, with water clear to about 5 meters and beech and pine woods down to the shore. The Waldbad on the west shore has a sandy beach and boat hire: rowboats, canoes, kayaks and pedal boats.
A seasonal ferry crosses to Großer Werder, a wooded island with a campsite, and a paved forest path circles the lake in about 8 km.
The Prinzenbad is a big public pool between the Landwehrkanal and Prinzenstraße station, with two 50-meter pools for lap swimmers. Kids head for the large non-swimmer pool with its slide and water mushroom, the shallow paddling pool, and a playground with a splash area.
Wide lawns leave room for a picnic, and the snack bar is a local institution.
Sommerbad Pankow is a public summer pool with a 50m lane pool and a diving pool with 3m, 5m and 7.5m towers. Kids head for the two slides, a high-speed slide, and a leisure pool with a current channel and water cannons, while toddlers have their own paddling pool.
Sunbathing terraces on six levels sit under three shade sails, and there are ping-pong tables and a snack bar.
Britzer Garten is a landscaped park built around a lake, with rolling lawns, themed gardens and big seasonal flower shows of tulips and dahlias.
The adventure playground at the Tauernallee entrance has a 10-meter slide tower, a climbing net and ground-level trampolines, and both main playgrounds have a water play area. Sheep and goats graze in pastures around the park, and the Britzer Mühle windmill stands on the grounds.
