Berlin holidays

Despite being miles away from the sea, Berlin’s still home to a handful of waterfront beaches. Every summer, Berliners flock to the lakes in the south west of the city to swim in the clear water. Lots of the best spots are less than an hour’s drive from the city centre, so you can easily squeeze a visit into your itinerary.

Strandbad Wannsee, on the outskirts of Berlin, is less than an hour’s drive from the city centre, but it feels worlds away. The mile-long lakeside patch of sand’s popular with families thanks to its safe swimming area, deck chair rental service and children’s playground.

If you’re hoping for a beach trip without the crowds, make a beeline for Sacrower See. There’s only a tiny patch of sand here, but the lake holds some of the clearest water in the Berlin area, so it makes for a great paddling spot. Plus, it’s only around 45 minutes’ drive from the city centre.

Every weekend, a scattering of flea markets pop up across Berlin. If bargain hunting’s your thing, you won’t want to miss them. One of the most popular markets is held at Marheinekeplatz – vendors offer up everything from vintage fashion to antiques. And you’ll find some tasty street food on offer, too.

The Alexa shopping mall houses hundreds of stores over its five floors, making it one of the biggest in Berlin. This is the place to go if you’re looking for high street fashion brands, book shops and restaurants all under one roof. You’ll find it near Alexanderplatz in the east of the city.

For designer stores, head to Kurfürstendamm – Berlin’s most famous shopping street. It’s home to the likes of Armani, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as the city’s biggest department store. Don’t forget to mooch around the side streets, too – you’ll find chic boutiques and swish shops tucked away there.

In the summer, there’s no better place to be than in one of Berlin’s outdoor beer gardens. Prater Garten is said to be the city’s oldest, and it’s also one of the biggest – there’s room for up to 600 people here. So grab a cold drink, find a spot under the chestnut trees and enjoy a chilled-out evening.

Berlin’s vibrant clubbing scene’s been dubbed as one of the best in the world. For a taste of the action, head to one of the edgy watering holes housed inside abandoned old buildings, or hit the open-air clubs along the River Spree. You’ll find most of these in the Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain districts.

The currywurst is the ultimate German street food – it’s so popular there’s even a museum dedicated to it. Berlin’s packed with places serving up this delicious snack. It’s a grilled sausage, traditionally chopped into bite-size pieces, then topped with a combination of ketchup, Worcester sauce and curry powder.

The Berliner Weisse Mit Schuss is the local’s go-to summer drink. It’s a cloudy German wheat beer, mixed with a shot of red raspberry or green woodruff syrup to give it a burst of flavour and a splash of colour – best enjoyed in a beer garden.

Schnitzel is a must-try German dish. It’s served up in restaurants all over Berlin, so you won’t have to look far to find it. It’s made up of a thin piece of meat – usually pork, chicken, or veal – breaded, then fried, and served with fries or a potato salad.

This Berlin speciality is a hit with locals and tourists alike. The traditional dish consists of a cured, boiled pork knuckle, served with ​sauerkraut, potatoes and mustard. Some places serve it up with a dollop of pureed peas on the side, too.

The Berliner donut, or Pfannkuchen, as the locals call it, is a German pastry made from deep-fried dough, with a jam or marmalade filling and a hefty sprinkling of sugar on top. You’ll find them in bakeries and street food stands across the city.