Hikes in Berlin

A paradise for kite flyers, rollerbladers, skateboarders, joggers, and for everyone who needs plenty of space is the former Berlin Tempelhof Airport.

From the wildlife enclosure in Spandauer Forest, the route goes across the Kuhlake wetland with its numerous ponds and ditches to the former border strip, which today is a bike and hiking trail.

The Captain of Köpenick is well known – however, Köpenick has much more to offer than this famous story. Here, there is also plenty of water and forest to discover.

The highest "mountain" in Berlin, aside from the Müggelberge, is the Teufelsberg at 114.7 m above sea level. The Teufelsberg and its neighboring hill, the Drachenberg (84 m above sea level), consist of the war rubble from bombed houses and the post-war garbage from West Berlin. Dedicated mine railways brought the debris here. In recent decades (since 1972), grass and shrubs have grown over it, creating a recreational area with many paths and trails. On the summit is the abandoned NSA Field Station (US radar interception and surveillance station). The facility with 5 antenna domes carried out surveillance tasks during the Cold War, reaching far into the Warsaw Pact territory. Beautiful view from the highest antenna tower over the entire city and the Grunewald to the Wannsee. Back at the toboggan run with wooden bridge to the DAV Teufelsberg climbing tower. Up a short steep path to the Drachenberg (84 m above sea level) with a view to the Olympic Stadium and the TeufelsbergVia a stairway from the Drachenberg to the parking lot and then parallel to Teufelsseestraße back to Heerstraße S-Bahn station.

This hike takes us through the Tegeler Forest in the north with the tallest tree in Berlin and is never far from the water.

Hike past the most beautiful spots across the Grunewald. Over the Dachsberg, the Teufelsberg, the Teufelssee to the Grunewald Tower and then back via the Pechsee and the gravel pit.

The Pfaueninsel route takes you to the shore of the Great Wannsee and starts at the Berlin Wannsee S-Bahn station. Passing the marina, the Liebermann Villa, and the House of the Wannsee Conference, the waterfront path leads you to Pfaueninsel. After a tour of the island with its small castle, you continue walking along the Havel River through the beautiful Volkspark Klein-Glienicke to Glienicke Palace.

From Berlin-Buch, we hike through the castle park, the Röntgental nature reserve, and the former sewage fields. The return route goes via Bogensee, another Berlin nature reserve.

Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg – two of Berlin's most popular neighborhoods. We take a stroll to where Berlin is especially "Berlin-like".

Nice hike along the Havel, always on the cliff edge. The path is an endless up and down over stairs and roots. From the trail, there are repeated views of the Havel, Kladow, Gatow, and Spandau. Refreshments are available at the Grunewald Tower and at Schildhorn. Note: We took 3.5 hours for the hike with our children (4 and 6 years old). The classification as an easy hike is based on a relation also applicable to Alpine hikes. For flatlanders from my hometown Berlin/Brandenburg, some inclines might already present a challenge.