Nothing says spring quite like cherry blossoms, and luckily there’s no shortage of them in Berlin. You just need to know where to look! Here are the best places to experience those fleeting but wonderful white and pink petals, from quiet little streets to wide open parks. We’ve also created a map to make finding the city’s cherry blossoms even easier.
Norwegerstraße
In the same place where the Berlin wall once divided Wedding and Prenzlauer Berg, strips of cherry trees now bloom delicate petals that sway peacefully in the spring breeze. Flanking the Bornholmer Brücke, the first border crossing point that opened on November 9, 1989, this spot lets you immerse yourself both in the transience of the season and the enduring remnants of Berlin’s rich history.
- Norwegerstraße, Pankow, map location
Maybachufer and Lohmühlenstraße
At the place where the neighbourhoods of Treptow, Kreuzberg and Neukölln meet, beautiful blossoms overlook the glittering canal. Stroll down Lohmühlenstraße, use them for shade as you sit on the bank, or hop on a boat and watch the blooming branches wave in the wind as you float by.
- Lohmühlenstraße, Kreuzberg, map location
Lilienthalpark
Though its name brings lilies to mind, springtime brings a different kind of blossom to this park in Lichterfelde. Go for a stroll in Lilienthalpark to see thousands of pink petals pop against the bright blue sky.
- Lilienthalpark, Lichterfelde, map location
Lottumstraße
Post-Wende, it was a hub for squatters. Now it’s popular with people passing through to see the cherry trees. Watch this quiet street near Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz come to life this spring in a whirlwind of white blossoms.
- Lottumstraße, Prenzlauer Berg, map location
Volkspark am Weinberg and Zionkirchstraße
If you want to do a little tour of the area near Rosenthaler Platz, start off with a stroll through Volkspark am Weinberg. Cherry blossoms are all over the park, around the pond in the centre and near the cafés. Exit the park to the north, and you can catch some pink blossoms lining Zionkirchstraße leading up to the church.
- Volkspark an Weinberg, Mitte, map location
- Zionkirchstraße, Mitte, map location
Viktoriapark
In Viktoriapark, spring speckles the vast green slopes of the Kreuzberg with yellow, white and pink. Bring a picnic blanket and watch sunlight filter through the cherry blossom on one of Berlin’s few hills.
- Viktoriapark, Kreuzberg, map location
Wollankstraße
Next time you’re riding the S-Bahn through Wollankstraße, look outside and watch a blur of bubblegum-pink petals wash by through the window. For a more substantive spring fix, hop off and head over to the impressive old trees and sculptures at the nearby Bürgerpark Pankow.
- Wollankstraße, Pankow, map location
Sonnenburger Straße
Even on gloomy days, cherry trees cheer up commuters on Sonnenburgerstraße with their life and colour. Located right around the corner from Mauerpark, this is the perfect street for a stroll to get into the spring spirit.
- Sonnenburger Straße, Prenzlauer Berg, map location
Zeiss Planetarium
The vast greenery surrounding the Zeiss Planetarium has always been a sorely underrated park, but spring highlights just what a shame it is that it’s so often overlooked. After you see stars light up the solar system inside, step out to watch cherry trees bloom just as bright down here on Earth.
- Zeiss Planetarium, Prenzlauer Allee 80, Prenzlauer Berg, map location
Mehringdamm
The cherry trees in full bloom complete the picturesque tableau of tenements, cafes and cobblestone on the corner of Bergmannstraße and Mehringdamm. While you’re waiting in line for a kebap, you can pass the time by watching pink petals flutter in the breeze.
- Mehringdamm, Kreuzberg, map location
Parchimer Allee
Not far from Hufeisensiedlung, one of Berlin’s most famous (and charmingly designed) large-scale housing projects, you’ll find Parchimer Allee. Both sides of this street in are lined with numerous cherry blossom trees, each one more beautiful than the last.
- Parchimer Allee, Britz, map location
Oberbaumbrücke and East Side Gallery park
The Oberbaumbrücke, one of Berlin’s most well-known landmarks, makes for an especially scenic view in spring as it comes to life with candy-coloured blossoms. Not far from Oberbaumbrücke is the East Side Gallery, behind which you’ll find a charming park running along the Spree. The park is home to around 70 Japanese Kanzan cherry blossom trees, planted in 2001.
- Oberbaumbrücke, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, map location
- East Side Gallery park, Friedrichshain, map location
Gärten der Welt
Korean Graden in Gärten der Welt, Photo Credit: IMAGO/POP-EYE
Looking for a more curated experience? Take a tour of Gärten der Welt to admire the iconic cherry trees as they were meant to be experienced: among a backdrop of running water and beautiful East-Asian architecture. Those who want to know more about the significance of cherry blossom in Korean, Chinese and Japanese culture can also attend Gärten der Welt’s annual cherry blossom festival on April 11th and 12th.
- Gärten der Welt, Eisenacher Str. 99, c, map location
Ruppiner Straße and Mauerpark
With trees just outside the Serbian-orthodox church, you can enjoy both cherry blossoms and church bells on Mitte’s Ruppiner Straße. Mauerpark is just a short walk away, so you can make a day of it and pass by the flea market if you go on a Sunday!
- Ruppiner Straße, Mitte, map location
- Mauerpark, Prenzlauer Berg, map location
Monbijoupark
What it lacks in size, it makes up for in scenery: Monbijoupark boasts beautiful pink and white blossoms. Relax in the shade underneath them or get your blood pumping with some table tennis, basketball or some of the park’s workout equipment.
- Monbijoupark, Mitte, map location
Botanischer Garten
Taking a trip up to Dahlem is well worth it to see the beautiful cherry blossoms brighten up the streets around Freie Universität, as well as inside the botanic garden. The Japanese and Chinese woods within the botanic garden bloom with plenty of sakuras, but you can find plenty of other flowers within the grounds as well!
- Botanischer Garten, Lichterfelde, map location
This article was adapted from German by Seraina Birdsey
