17 Alternative Things To Do In Berlin That Are Actually Worth It!

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Are you looking for some cool things to do in Berlin that don’t involve visiting a museum? Here are 17 alternative things to do in Berlin that are actually worth your time.

A common question that is typically asked is what is there to do in Berlin that is not a museum? Well, if you are one of these people, I can assure you that you have come to the right place! Berlin is SO much more than its history. Don’t get me wrong, Germany has the most fascinating history in the world (at least I think so) but when visiting, people often forget that there are so many cool things to do in Berlin. This other rugged side of berlin is often nicknamed Alternative Berlin.

In this guide, I will show you all the hidden gems that people may not realize exist here! Most of the activities will be places that are technically free to visit, however, they will usually include some type of paid activity. If you are interested in more guides from Berlin then check out the links below. I have a post up with the best places to see street art, as well as one with all of the must-see historical sites in the city.

When to Visit and For How Long?

Before jumping into all of the alternative things to do in Berlin, I will quickly go over when it is the best time to visit, and how many days you should spend in Berlin. Technically you can visit Berlin all year round. If you love all things Christmas, then this is the perfect December destination. I have to admit that Germany is one of the best countries to be in around Christmas time! While you can visit the historical sites in the city at any given time, if you want to experience the alternative side of Berlin, you should come around May – October. This is because a lot of cool outdoor events, beer gardens, and general experiences are only open when the weather is good.

When planning your trip, I would recommend around 4 days if you are only going to be in the city. However, I encourage you to consider coming for a week so that you can enjoy some day trips as well. Such trips could include places such as Dresden, Potsdam, and Spreewald Biosphere!

This post is all about 17 alternative things to do in Berlin that are actually worth it.

17 Alternative Things To Do In Berlin

1. Dead Chicken Alley

While this spot is fairly known, it is extremely special and not one to be missed! It might even be my favorite spot on this list.

The name of the alley comes from the group of artists (the dead chickens) who found it. After the Cold War, there were many buildings in Berlin (especially in the east) that were completely abandoned. The artists found this alley in between the abandoned buildings and used it as an outlet for their political thoughts and creativity. At one point, they found documents showing that the Otto Weidt workshop for the blind Jews had been set up here during the Second World War. Due to this, the city council decided the preserve the alley and even opened up a free museum about the Otto Weidt workshop.

The main draw of the alley is the everchanging murals found on the walls. While some are permanent (such as the portrait of Otto Weidt), other huge paintings can change overnight, making it exciting to visit several times. The other side of the alley is filled with smaller works and graffiti anyone can add to. With so much to see, you can easily spend many hours looking at it all. There is also a nice staircase at the back of the alley leading to several galleries. The stairs are very special, with the entire walls and ceiling covered in different stickers, so do not miss it. Lastly, during the warmer weather, there are two cafes/ bars you can relax in and enjoy the atmosphere of this unique alley in the middle of busy Berlin.

2. Hackescher Höfe

Hackescher Höfe is a courtyard complex in Mitte right by the Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station. This complex is comprised of 8 interconnected courtyards, which can be accessed from Rosenthaler Straße, right by the entrance to the dead chicken alley.

While the courtyards were originally designed in 1906, it was damaged during the war and was restored in 1993. Today they house different shops and restaurants for tourists and locals to enjoy. Although there is not much to do inside, the courtyards are a must-visit due to their beauty! In addition, there is a Tunisian specialty coffee shop that makes for a great coffee stop. Since I last visited, it appears that they no longer serve coffee with milk, but I am not sure of this, so make sure to check it for yourself before you visit.

3. Open-air Cinema

Unfortunately, this is only something you can do if you visit during the summertime. The outdoor cinemas in the city typically open in May and are open throughout summer! During my time in the city this summer it was my first time trying an open-air cinema, and I absolutely loved it. There is something in the atmosphere that makes the whole experience so much cozier.

There are several open-air cinemas throughout the city. Personally, I always go to the one in Kreuzberg, since the setting is really beautiful, and they have chairs (which not all cinemas provide). The movie selection is really good and there are a lot of movies in English offered here. Make sure to order the tickets ahead of time to ensure entry! Here is a link to the open-air cinema in Kreuzberg which I highly recommend over the others.

4. Take an alternative/street art tour

While a lot of people take tours around the city to learn about the rich history, there are also some other cool tours every visitor should consider taking! The first tour is a free alternative walking tour, which is tip-based. These tours are usually offered daily, however, you will need to reserve a spot in advance. Here is a link to the website. While they will mostly be based around activities that I mention here, it is always nice to get more background information from these tour guides who know Berlin like the back of their hands.

Another tour that I highly recommend is a street art tour. This tour is not free and costs around 16 euros. Although this, I think it is a great opportunity to learn more about the graffiti and street art that play a huge role in the culture here. Even if you aren’t the biggest fan of this topic, you learn about a lot of things that you may not have considered before. This includes understanding the artwork, why it is so difficult to stop graffiti in Berlin, and how Germany’s history may play a role in the creation of a lot of street art. Here is a link to the tour so you can check it out for yourself.

5. R.A.W. Gelände

This spot is located very close to the East Side Gallery, just ahead of the Warschauer station. This complex used to serve industrial purposes for more than 100 years. Since then, it has been transformed into a creative space, used for artistic, cultural, and commercial activities. These include a beer garden, a digital art installation, an outdoor swimming pool, a skatepark, and many more. Click here to read more about the R.A.W. and things you can do here. I highly recommend getting a beer at Cassiopeia while here.

While there are lots of activities to check out here, my favorite part is walking around and admiring the street art. There are so many fascinating paintings and sculptures, as well as a good mix of random pieces all over the walls. Once again, this is a place you could spend hours walking around, to indulge in all of the interesting artworks. If you happen to visit on a Sunday, then make sure to check out the fleamarket for some second-hand clothes, jewelry, vintage items, or just some good food.

6. Karaoke at Mauerpark

This activity is so unique to Berlin that it simply can’t be missed. If you happen to visit during the summer months, make sure to be in the city on Sunday. As mentioned above, Sundays are the day for flea markets here. The most popular market by far is the flea market in Mauerpark. The vibe here is really special, and you could spend some hours checking out the different booths. In addition, there are large parts of the park outside the market place which are the perfect hangout spot on a lazy Sunday.

Arguably the best part of the Mauerpark flea market is the karaoke. Every week, as long as the weather is good, there is a large public karaoke show happening. This activity brings just as many locals as it does tourists. However, it is usually the tourists that get up and sing, while the locals enjoy a good show. The karaoke starts at 15 PM at the amphitheater, but make sure to come well in advance, as the seats get filled up very quickly. I would recommend taking into account around 2 hours here since the show is lots of fun!

7. Tiergarten Park

I know you may be thinking that this park does not fit in an alternative things to do in Berlin guide, but hear me out. I am going to be showing you some secret spots I am sure you may not have heard of before! Starting out with some biergartens, the first one is lesser known and more popular among the locals, so if that’s your vibe, check out Schleusenkrug. If you are looking for a beer with a view, then the biergarten outside Cafe am Neuen See is the place for you. Even though it is huge, it gets filled up in the summer, so try to avoid peak hours.

The garden overlooks a serene lake, which has small boats you can rent. I believe it costs around 12 euros per hour and is the perfect date activity or just a nice way to enjoy nature. After this, make sure to check out rosengarten (the rose garden). This little garden is so well kept and not many people know about it. In the garden you can find lots of blooming roses (in the summer), shaded gazebos, and overall a relaxing place to be. I personally love bringing a book here and sitting in one of the gazebos!

8. Humbolt Forum Terrace

If you love hidden gems and rooftops with a view, then this spot is for you! On the museum island, you can go up to the rooftop terrace of Humbolt forum, for free. The only thing to keep in mind is that you have to book a time slot in advance. This is done to make sure it never gets too crowded. There is also a cafe up here if you would like to sit down, however, it is quite pricey.

The views from this rooftop are some of the best in Berlin! You have direct views over the Berlin Cathedral and TV Tower. Click here to book your ticket to enjoy one of the best spots on this alternative things to do in Berlin guide!

9. Walk Along The Spree River

One of the cool things to do in Berlin is to take a walk along the Spree in Mitte. This is also one of the best free things to do in Berlin. The reason I am adding this activity to my alternative things to do in Berlin guide is that there is so much stuff to see along this walk.

Start the walk around Museum Island, and pass by the Berliner Dom, Humbolt Forum, and the Bode-Museum. This will be the beautiful and historical part of your walk. After a little bit, you will reach Nikolai Viertel and Alte Münze, which start to be more interesting areas to explore. Continue down until you reach Holzmarkt 25, which I will talk about separately below! Then, after a break here, you can continue further to some other activities mentioned in the guide such as East Side Gallery and Badeschiff. If you don’t mind the walk, continue all the way to Oberbraumbrücke.

10. Rosenthaler Straße

This street is one of the best in Berlin. Many people love window shopping on this street due to it being lined with cute stores. Most of the stores here are boutique concept stores, which will include all kinds of knick-knacks and boutique clothes. These stores are quite expensive, but it is definitely fun to walk around and examine all of the fun things they sell. In addition, Rosenthaler Straße connects to both Dead Chicken Alley and Hackescher Höfe.

11. Holzmarkt 25

Holzmarkt 25 is one of those places that immediately come to mind when thinking of alternative things to do in Berlin. Located on the Spree river a few minutes’ walk from the East Side Gallery, this is the perfect hangout spot. This spot is very similar to R.A.W. Gelände, as it has also been transformed into a creative space. Holzmarkt 25 hosts all kinds of events throughout the year which you can stay up to date with here. Even if there isn’t an event going on, it is always worth coming down here for a drink and to enjoy the artworks.

12. Bite Club

The Bite Club happens every Friday during the summertime. The location may change from time to time, so I recommend finding them on Facebook or Instagram to make sure of the details before going. Typically the Bite Club starts at around 17 PM and continues until pretty late. You can enter for free if you arrive before 18 PM, otherwise, it will cost a few euros to enter.

The Bite Club makes for the perfect summer night, where you can enjoy a variety of drinks and food from different food trucks around the premise. Should you happen to be in Berlin on a Friday, make sure to grab dinner here!

13. Badeschiff

The Badeschiff is the perfect solution for those who would love to go swimming in a big city. Unfortunately, the Spree river is too polluted to allow for safe swimming, so instead, they built a floating swimming pool on the river. This way, you still get the same views, but with more comfort. There is also a sun deck where you can get a tan on a warm day. Entrance costs around 7 euros and the opening times may change seasonally so check out their website here.

14. Visit the Treehouse

The famous treehouse in Kreuzberg has a really interesting backstory. Today it stands as yet another symbol of the city’s reunification.

The story is that when creating the Berlin wall, the soldiers operated at night, and made a mistake right by Saint-Thomas Church. This meant that when the wall was seen the next morning, they had left a small piece of land in West Berlin, which didn’t have any use and was technically a no-mans land. As time went on, a Turkish resident in West Berlin called Osman Kalin decided to build a treehouse for his kids and neighbors to play in. While he built the treehouse, the soldiers in East Berlin watched and created stories about how the West was so poor that they had resorted to building houses out of rubbish. Whereas in the West the story showed how much freedom they had. This treehouse eventually became a symbol of the Cold War and is today a really cool spot to visit.

15. Freischwimmer

There is not much to this spot other than it fits the theme of alternative things to do in Berlin. This restaurant sits right on a small canal off of the Spree and makes for a cool stop for a beer and some local German food.

16. Street Art

Nothing screams out alternative things to do in Berlin more than some great street art. There are six places that are the best if you want to see all of the street art that Berlin has to offer. I will quickly mention the places I haven’t covered in this guide in a list below. However, if you want to check out street art in Berlin, then I highly recommend that you read the blog post I dedicated to the topic.

East Side Gallery
Teufelsberg
Urban Nation
Kreuzberg

17. Arise Show

This is the best show I have ever seen. Arise is a little bit similar to Cabaret shows in Paris, however, in my opinion, it is so much better. The Arise show includes these famous dances but adds a storyline, extra characters, and more WOW factors that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos from the show, but I will link their YouTube trailer here, where you can get a sense of what the show is about. In addition, if the trailer has convinced you to get tickets, click here to check them out. This is one of my favorite things in the city so be sure not to miss it on your trip!

I hope this guide helped you in planning your upcoming trip to Berlin! If you have any questions or think I missed a spot then let me know in the comments below!