What to do in Berlin on Sunday: 15+ Ideas (2024)

It’s pretty common to hear how everything is closed in Berlin on Sundays. But this can be a bit misleading, especially for tourists who aren’t affected by the same things as us locals. Sure, Sundays are different than other days of the week, but there’s still plenty of options if you’re wondering what to do in Berlin on Sunday.

If you’re visiting Berlin and you want to do some sightseeing, you might not notice much difference between a Sunday and a Thursday, for example. Most museums and tourist attractions are still open on Sundays. But let’s take a look at some interesting things to do in Berlin on a Sunday.

Where to Go in Berlin on Sundays

Don’t let anyone scare you into thinking nothing is open on Sundays in Berlin (or the rest of Germany for that matter). For tourists, Mondays in Berlin are more of a problem since so many museums are closed on Mondays. The biggest thing you need to know about closures on Sundays is that grocery stores and retail shops are closed in most places. But restaurants are still open on Sundays, so you won’t have any problems finding food.

Visit a Museum

Weekends are important for tourist attractions, so most museums are open on Sundays.

Places like Museum Island, Palace of Tears, Charlottenburg Palace, Bernauer Strasse Berlin Wall Memorial visitors center, and many other museums are still open on Sundays. Since many of them close on Monday, make sure you plan ahead.

Free Museum Sundays

On the first Sunday of the month, museums all around the city participate in Free Museum Sunday. Nearly every museum is free to visit on this day, so it’s a great way to spend a Sunday in Berlin.

Popular ones like the ones at Museum Island still require you to book a time-specific ticket ahead of time. Check the official site here for more info and a list of participating museums.

Flea Markets

Sundays in Berlin are the biggest day for flea markets. There are a few that happen on Saturdays, but the vast majority of them are on Sundays.

Browsing the flea markets is a big thing for a lot of locals. If you’re visiting on a Sunday, check out a flea market or two, and you just might pick up some interesting souvenirs from Berlin. Here are a few flea markets worth visiting:

• Mauerpark: This is the most famous flea market, and it’s huge.
• Arkonaplatz: After the crowds at Mauerpark, walk over to this one for a calmer flea market experience.
• Boxhagener Platz: Located in Friedrichshain around a pretty park, this is a pleasant flea market for Sundays.
• RAW Gelände: This one is in the alternative and artsy RAW Gelände, walking distance from Boxhagener Platz.
• Rathaus Schöneberg: This one is actually open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Karaoke at Mauerpark

One of the most popular things to do in Berlin on a Sunday is outdoor karaoke at Mauerpark. It’s fun to watch, and if you’re brave enough, get up there and sing a song yourself. You’ll find it a little outside the flea market, right here.

Take a Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

Hop On Hop Off sightseeing buses can be a good way to get an overview of a city and visit a bunch of the easier-to-see attractions in a short amount of time.

The sightseeing buses in Berlin run nearly every day of the year so it’s a good option for a Sunday in Berlin. Book Big Bus Berlin here or City Sightseeing Berlin here. Or you can read my full article about which Hop On Hop Off bus to take in Berlin.

See the Parliament of Trees

The Parliament of Trees a unique Berlin sight and a creative memorial honoring people who were victims of the Berlin Wall. It uses 58 authentic parts of the Berlin Wall, and for each year the Wall stood, there is a number indicating how many people died. And it’s only open on Sundays.

This memorial includes 16 trees, one planted in 1990 by the state president from each of the 16 German federal states. Photos, flowers, memorial stones, and more round out this interesting Cold War site in Berlin.

Location: Schiffbauerdamm, 10117 Berlin, east bank of the Spree River, opposite the Reichstag Building
Opening Hours: April to October, Sundays only, 12 noon – 5pm
Entrance: free

Indulge in Brunch

Sunday brunch is like a sport in Berlin, and people spend hours relaxing at their table enjoying the experience. This is especially true when the weather is good and you can sit outside.

From traditional German style brunch with hard boiled eggs, bread, and spreads, to ones with decadent pancakes and bacon, you’re sure to find one you’ll enjoy. A few good ones to try include Allans Breakfast Club, 44 Brekkie in Prenzlauer Berg or in Friedrichshain, and Silo Coffee.

Enjoy the Beer Gardens

Sunday in Berlin has a more relaxed vibe to it, and a great way to enjoy that is by going to a beer garden. And Berlin has lots of excellent beer gardens. Even if you don’t drink beer, you can order wine or a non-alcoholic beverage at Biergartens. Check out some of our favorite Berlin beer gardens.

Eat lunch at Street Food Sundays

Street Food Sunday is a gathering of food trucks at Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg. It’s such a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon all year round, except for when the Lucie Christmas Market is running. Try delicious food of all kinds of cuisines.

Have a picnic in a park

Are you visiting Berlin in summer? Or even spring or autumn? Get some take out food and have a picnic at one of Berlin’s best parks on a Sunday. Or if you can plan ahead, go to the grocery store on Saturday to stock up on sandwich fixings to make your own picnic meals. Sundays in Berlin are made for relaxing, so what better way to do that than lounging in a park with a laid back picnic lunch.

Check out some Craft Beer Bars

If you’re interested in quality craft beer, you’ll be happy to know that Berlin has lots of good craft beer bars. Some brew their own, while others have beers from a variety of breweries. If you’re trying to decide where to go in Berlin on Sunday, here are some of our favorite places for craft beer in Berlin.

Take a boat tour

Sightseeing boat tours are a fun way to learn about the city, and they run every day of the week, including Sundays. There are lots of choices for boat tours on the Spree River. Note that some of the boat tours might have limited availability during winter.

Here are a few boat tours we recommend:

• Berlin One Hour City Tour by Boat with Guaranteed Seating
• Berlin 2.5 Hour Boat Tour Along the Spree River
• Berlin 2.5 Hour East Side Boat Cruise

And here are a few that go farther out to some of the nearby lakes:

• Berlin-Wannsee to Potsdam 3 Hour World Heritage Cruise
• Berlin Spree Boat Tour to Müggelsee

Enjoy the outdoors

I’ve already mentioned some ideas for what to do in Berlin on Sunday that involve getting outside, but there are so many other outdoor activities in Berlin.

Go for a hike in the Grunewald forest, go swimming at a lake, rent a bike, or take a sightseeing bike tour of Berlin to get expert info from a guide.

Take a day trip

Another idea for Berlin on a Sunday is to take a day trip. The palaces in Potsdam are closed on Mondays, so going from Berlin to Potsdam on a Sunday is a good choice. Or you could go to the Spreewald for an escape to nature. Check out my full list of day trips from Berlin for more ideas.

Shopping in Berlin on Sunday

On Sundays in Berlin, grocery stores and retail stores like malls are closed. So what do you do if you need something on a Sunday? Well, grocery stores in train stations are open, so you can go to Berlin Haubtbahnhof, Ostbahnhof, and many other train stations in Berlin to find an open grocery store. But be warned, the lines are usually long, and the shelves can get picked over quickly, so go early if you can.

Another place to grab a few items, including alcohol, is a nearby Späti. Spätis are unique Berlin convenience stores. They are generally open 24 hours a day, though sometimes a few hours less. Technically they are supposed to be closed on Sundays too, but many will open anyway, and some also function as a bakery or a Döner shop, allowing them to be open on Sundays.

You can buy alcoholic beverages, potato chips, chocolate bars, sodas, and other snacks. Some will also sell bakery items or quick sandwiches or even items approaching groceries.

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully list of what to do in Berlin on Sunday is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!