If you are visiting Berlin over the Easter holidays you are in for a treat. The city uses the holiday to welcome spring, celebrate the warmer weather and head outside. Here are some fun things to do in Berlin over the Easter weekend.

Go shopping at the Easter markets

Germany may be known for its Christmas markets but at Easter many German cities also host special local markets. One of the biggest Easter Markets in Berlin is the Ostermarkt at Alexanderplatz. Wine stands and beer gardens welcome you to the Easter market at Alexanderplatz, along with dozens of stands selling traditional crafts and local food, as well as live music and a petting zoo for the little ones.

There are several other Easter markets to visit in Berlin, including the Kunsthandwerklicher Ostermarkt at the Karl-August-Platz, where local painters, designers and potters present their work, the Easter- and spring-market on Breitscheidplatz invites the whole family for a walk, and the Easter market on Alice-Salomon-Platz offers classic fairground fun for all ages.

Enjoy the flowers and spring weather

With the spring weather, flowers all over Berlin come in bloom. The city’s parks come alive and are the perfect place for a fun Easter walk. The Gärten der Welt celebrate both Easter and the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Other parks to visit include Gutspark Britz, with its own Tree Blossom Festival, Tiergarten, where the carillon’s bells will play a concert, and Mauerpark.

The spring weather cannot only be enjoyed in the city’s parks but also on the water. Traditionally the Wannsee lido starts its bathing season on Good Friday, when brave swimmers can jump in the cold water and enjoy a programme filled with entertainment. If you prefer to keep dry as you enjoy the water, try a cruise on the Spree and breath in some fresh air.

Celebrate at an Easter bonfire

Bonfires are a beloved tradition for Easter in Germany and Berlin is no exception. Throughout the city there are different Easter bonfires you can attend on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, also known as Easter Saturday. In the Britzer Garten in Neukölln, the Easter bonfire is accompanied by live music and rich hearty German food.

The Wendenschloss Lido also welcomes in the spring season with a blazing fire. Kids can enjoy an exciting treasure hunt and get their face painted, while the whole family can enjoy a musical programme and delicious treats. Other bonfires can be found in Spandau, Marzahn, Späth'schen tree nurseries, Frohnau, Weißensee Lido and Lichtenrade.

More Berlin Easter activities

Other events that you may want to add to your list for this Easter in Berlin include the Easter Knight Festival at the Spandau Citadel. Here you can enjoy historical live music, theatre, acrobatics, as well as a fire show, a fakir show, and of course jousting matches between horse mounted knights.

The Berlin State Opera, meanwhile, plays host to the Opera Festival “Festtage”. During the festival visitors can expect outstanding musical theatre and first-class concerts with international opera stars, as well as new stage adaptations of opera classics.