11 Things to Do in Berlin in October

Are you already clear about all the activities you can do in Berlin? I'm here to give you a hand in planning your trip, as October is a special month in the German capital. If you were looking for an opportunity to get to know this city in a unique way, you couldn't have chosen a better month, since in October there are several events such as races, festivals and special days.

Surely the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Berlin in October is the Oktoberfest, and indeed this is one of the great occasions of the month. However, there are many more surprises in store for you, such as the opportunity to see the city illuminated and get a closer look at its history. Are you curious? Then read on and write down all the plans I have found for you.

Do you like beer? Then you have done well to choose Berlin as your destination, especially if you are going in October. During the first weeks of this month, the famous Oktoberfest is organized. Although its origin is in the city of Munich, the German capital is not far behind and celebrates it with hundreds of liters of beer.

There are different locations, but the most famous, and the one I recommend, is the Kurt-Schumacher-Damm. Admission is free and, in addition to beer (only Paulaner), has attractions for all audiences, markets and shows.

A tent of about 80 square meters stands in the middle of Kurt-Schumacher-Damm, a square somewhat away from the center of Berlin but which can be reached by public transport.

Beyond drinking

Don't think it's all about drinking, you can also eat some typical German dishes, such as Brez'n (salty bread in the shape of a bow) or Hend'l (roast chicken).

To feel even more integrated, have you thought about renting a Dirnd'l suit? It is the Bavarian dress that everyone will wear, as tradition dictates.

Interesting facts

• When: first weeks of October
• Where: Kurt-Schumacher-Damm
• Price: free admission (beers are paid for inside for about 10€ each)
• Bonus activity: and if you're left wanting more after Oktoberfest, you can always discover more about the quintessentially German drink on the Berlin beer tour.

In October in Berlin it's not that it's unbearably cold, but it's starting to freeze and during your trip there are bound to be days when you feel like taking shelter and avoiding outdoor activities. For those moments, there is no better plan than taking advantage of Berlin's museums and all they have to offer.

Here is a selection of what I think are the most interesting:

• Neues Museum: if you are interested in Egypt and its art, this is your museum. You can see unique archaeological finds, mummies, sculptures, jewelry .... And, of course, its crown jewel, the sculpture of Nefertiti.
• GDR Museum: the GDR (German Democratic Republic, East Germany or East Germany) was the German part that had a Socialist State during the Cold War, because at that time the country was divided in two. This museum aims to show visitors what life was like for the citizens in that part of the territory. There are also interactive parts that make it very entertaining and educational.
• Berlin Wall Museum: this is also an essential visit, as it allows you to understand the most recent past of Germany making a tour of the interwar period and the temporary division of the country.
• Pergamon Museum: it is dedicated to Islamic and Middle Eastern art and houses the wonderful Ishtar Gate. It is undoubtedly a must but it will be closed for several years and can not be visited.

Surely you have heard or seen how some people, when visiting New York, take helicopter flights to see the city from above and contemplate the skyscrapers from the air. Well, did you know that you can also do it on your trip to Berlin and that the experience is amazing?

This activity is available at any time of the year, but in autumn it is special because you can see the foliage of the season that will give a very nice touch to the landscapes from above, much more than at other times.

The helicopter flight over Berlin also has the peculiarity that includes limousine transfer and a flight certificate at the end of the tour. I certainly wouldn't miss it.

October 3rd is the Day of German Unity, as on the same date but in 1990 the country was reunited after the fall of the Berlin Wall. There are many ways to celebrate it if you are there, such as joining a historical tour around the city or participating in the events that are organized during that day and the two following days.

The most important event is undoubtedly the big concert at the Brandenburg Gate. And on Strasse 17 you will also find food and drink stalls. But that's not all, what families like most is the giant Ferris wheel that is installed in the Tiergarten, where there are also storytellers or theatrical performances.

More than 20 years have passed since the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, something the Germans celebrate every year. After the peaceful revolution of the inhabitants of the GDR (the Soviet zone of Cold War Germany), it took another year to sign the Unification Treaty, which is what is commemorated with the holiday on October 3.

Interesting facts

• When: October 3
• Where: Brandenburg Gate and Tiergarten
• Price: free admission

Want to take the best pictures of Berlin? If you go to the city in October you are in luck because for ten nights, in the middle of the month, the Festival of Lights is celebrated. In this festival the most emblematic buildings of the German city are illuminated from 8 pm until midnight.

As it is outdoors, there is no entrance fee, so it is a unique opportunity to walk around Berlin and see it in a totally different and magical way. Don't think it's just a matter of putting up a few lights, but the installations are full-fledged works of art and attract millions of people every year.

Although you can walk from place to place to see all the installations, my advice is to hop on a Berlin sightseeing bus. These usually have an open top, so you'll have a great view of the illuminated buildings.

Interesting facts

• When: mid-October
• Where: different locations in the city
• Price: free admission

Are your running shoes never missing from your suitcase? Then you might want to sign up for the Bridgestone, a 10-kilometer race held in Berlin every October. Join more than 7,000 participants on a route that crosses the Tiergarten, one of the most important, famous and beautiful parks in the German capital, where you will also find the zoo.

It's not a very long distance and the best thing is that it will help you get around Berlin. In addition to passing through the Tiergarten, you will also start and finish at Charlottenburg Palace, which could not be a better goal.

Do you prefer to just watch the race? You can do it for free, but be careful, if you want to see it from the zoo you will have to pay the corresponding entrance fee (approximately 17€).

Interesting facts

• When: mid-October
• Where: different locations in the city
• Price: approximately 25€ registration fee

On the last night of October, the 31st, terror comes to the streets of Berlin, but so do fun, costumes and partying. If you are there on those dates, don't be surprised to see zombies, ghosts or characters from famous movies running or walking around the city.

Berliners seem to like to be scared because Halloween night has several activities that you won't want to miss either. My advice is to wear a costume, especially if you are going to participate in any of the plans I propose.

Halloween Run Berlin

Don't worry, even if you are not an expert runner you can join the Halloween Run Berlin, a race of only half a kilometer. Of course, you will need a good outfit to be as scary as the rest of the participants. In this short distance they manage to include small challenges that make everything even more fun.

When you finish, at the finish line a big celebration will be waiting for you with live music and candy stands because can Halloween be celebrated without candy? All this with the Waldhochseilgarten Jungfernheide tower illuminated and creating a somewhat mysterious and perfect atmosphere for the occasion.

Halloween Zombie Walk

If running isn't your thing but you wouldn't say no to a walk to get to know the city of Berlin, have you heard about the Halloween Zombie Walk? I think you'd like it. It's a great walk that takes place a little before Halloween night (just the weekend before) and has a lot of followers in the city.

At about 5pm, hundreds of zombies begin what looks like an apocalypse. The characterization of the participants is impressive, so you will really feel that you are facing an undead threat if you approach Klosterruine, the area where they come out.

Horrornächte

Fancy something a little quieter? The Horrornächte is an evening film festival that takes place every Halloween night in the Filmpark Babelsberg amusement park, where years ago there was a film studio. Activities and shows are organized there, which are somewhat terrifying but great fun, as they are also an opportunity to get to know the site.

The whole space is decorated for the occasion, with artificial blood and costumed actors to make you get even more into the experience.

The Berlin Burlesque Festival may not be suitable for everyone, but it is certainly a great plan for October nights in the city. For several years now, dozens of acrobats, magicians and dancers come together in Berlin during one of the last weekends of the month, demonstrating their talents to the public.

In total, more than 10 German and international artists participate to give a vintage and fun touch to the Berlin nights.

The reputation of this festival has gone around the world, so if you want to attend I recommend you to book your ticket in advance from the official website of the event.

Interesting facts

• When: mid-October
• Where: Karl Marx Strasse and another in Potsdamer Strasse
• Price: approximately 30€.

One of the words that could define the character of Berlin is "open". There are few taboo subjects left in the city and eroticism is not one of them, which is why every October the Venus Berlin is organized, an event to showcase the latest erotic novelties.

Only suitable for adults, this festival is open for professionals but also for the general public.

Not everyone is willing to attend this festival, but the truth is that it is very famous in Berlin and, if you want to open your mind and know the most modern and avant-garde side of the city, you may find it interesting. Above all, the event that attracts more public is a great fashion show, in which emerging designers expose their lingerie creations.

Interesting facts

• When: end of October
• Where: Hammarskjöldplatz
• Price: approximately €35

Join the more than 100,000 people who come to the Karlshorst flea market in the first days of October. As an annual tradition, this neighborhood in the south of Berlin sets up stalls selling clothes and second-hand goods.

If you like to bargain, this is the place for you, but you can also just go for a stroll. In total, there are more than 800 vendors, you are sure to find something! If you plan to buy something, I recommend you to bring some cash (you can't always pay by credit card).

In general, this kind of markets are very common in Berlin, although the Karlshorst market is only organized during the first days of October. Although it is not as centrally located as others, you can easily reach it on the S3 line of the Berlin subway.

Interesting facts

• When: all October
• Where: Karlshorst
• Price: free admission

Feel like getting out of the city for a while? Just half an hour by public transport from the center of Berlin is Grunewald, a forest that in October, in the middle of autumn, is more beautiful than ever.

In total there are more than three thousand hectares that you can explore on foot or by bike. It is a very relaxing place, especially because in the west it borders the Havel River, where you can have a picnic or ring a bell for a ferry to take you to the island of Lindwerder, full of linden trees and hikers.

In October this whole area is covered with a blanket of golden and brown leaves, which give it a fairy-tale forest look. For an even more breathtaking view (and to get a good photo), I recommend you climb the Grunewaldturm. You will have to climb more than 200 steps, but from up there (55 meters high) you will have a total panoramic view of the forest, the Havel River and the surrounding area.

Interesting facts

• When: all October
• Where: Grunewald
• Price: free access

When autumn arrives, shades of gold, brown and yellow stain Berlin and the surrounding area. While anywhere is a good place to take in the new landscape, especially in October, my recommendation is to book an excursion from Berlin to Potsdam, which many people know as the German Versailles for its gardens and palaces.

Potsdam is less than an hour from Berlin, so it's a good idea to spend a day there. You won't find anyone to advise you against it, as this city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Above all, its streets, palaces, outdoor spaces... They look like something out of a fairy tale.

I recommend a walk through the city center and along the banks of the Havel River, but you can not miss the Sanssouci Gardens. There you can not only walk around the grounds, full of statues and plants, but you will also have the opportunity to visit the palace complexes that belonged to Frederick II the Great, third king of Prussia.

Interesting facts

• When: all October
• Where: Potsdam
• Price: approximately 20€.

The good thing about going to Berlin in October is that the temperatures, although cold, are not extreme. This means that highs will not exceed 15ºC, but will not drop below 6ºC either. Rainy days arrive this month, but they won't spoil too many of your plans either, as the forecast is for rain for about 10 days.

All in all, October is one of the last months to enjoy the milder and even warmer weather in Berlin. However, you will need to bring some warm clothes as it will start to get cooler, especially in the evenings, which come earlier and earlier (around 6pm).

Depending on when you travel in October you will find higher or lower prices. Why? Because if your visit coincides with very important events, such as the Oktoberfest, it is possible that the prices of accommodations go up, as well as flights. In that case, book in advance.

The rest of the month prices are more affordable, since October is not high season and the cold starts to arrive in the city, which does not attract as many tourists.

Do you need to organize something? Remember to write down the dates and events so you don't miss anything.