Spring is slowly arriving in Berlin, bringing with it a world of outdoor fun. The city's parks are bursting with life, perfect for a sunny stroll or a picnic. Beer gardens are opening up, offering a refreshing beer and a chance to soak up the atmosphere. Plus, there are plenty of festivals to enjoy. Here are some of the best things about Berlin in spring.

Enjoy the sun in the city's parks

Berlin has a lot of parks where, in spring, you can enjoy the new life sprouting from the earth and on the branches of the trees. The biggest and best known park is of course Tiergarten, sometimes referred to as the lungs of the city. It is the city's largest public park with landscaped gardens, large open spaces, a boating lake, cafés and beer gardens.

Other parks in the city centre district of Mitte include Monbijoupark, on the banks of the Spree River with a wide promenade and green spaces which are great for sunbathing or ball games, and on what was once no man's land between East and West Berlin you can now find Tilla-Durieux-Park with sloping lawns of grass it makes a great place to reflect back on the city's history.

Festivals

Throughout the season, the city hosts a diverse array of events to enjoy. From the pulsating beats of music festivals like Desertfest and Fête de la Musique to the captivating stories at film festivals such as achtung berlin Filmfestival and the Greek Film Festival, there's something for everyone.

Delight in unique experiences like ARTS meet WINE and the Carnival of Cultures. Berlin has grown to become a city with an eclectic mix of people from many different cultures. In spring, they all come together for the Karneval der Kulturen, a four day long street party with music, dance groups and a street parade.

The Karneval der Kulturen has promoted an open and multicultural society ever since its start in 1996. Today the festival, which has free admission, includes music from around the world, including Afrobeat, Japanese fusion rock, Anatolian jazz and mestizo music.

Cruise along the Spree

With the sun coming out, there is nothing quite like enjoying the feeling of the warm rays of sun on your face while you cruise along the water. If you want to relax while you enjoy the view, you can go on a cruise on the river. They'll take you from past the Museum Island, the Reichstag, the House of World Cultures and many more sights.

If you prefer to take a more active part in your travels, the capital city of Germany has plenty of canoe and kayak options as well. You can often rent a vessel to go out on your own or you can join a guided tour to discover the hidden gems of the city.

Gardens of the World

On the eastern edge of the city, you can leave the German capital to go on a world tour. The Garten der Welt is as big as 60 football pitches and is home to 10 nation themed gardens and nine international garden galleries where you can explore fields of flowers and plans from all over the world.

Not only can you immerse yourself in the gardens, you can also enjoy a Korean tea ceremony, a Japanese cherry blossom festival or Scottish Highland games. Children too will enjoy their time here with several playgrounds, a scavenger hunt and a maze.

Bike around town

To see the city from a different perspective and get some exercise in on your visit to Berlin, try sightseeing by bike. Follow the route of the former Berlin Wall, ride a bike through Tiergarten or cycle out to one of Berlin's lakes.

Berlin also has plenty of options for guided bike tours. From the more traditional routes which take you to top sights and attractions to themed tours such as a wine tour, street art tour, Third Reich & Nazi tour and evening tours.

A former kingdom comes to life

In and around Berlin you'll find many palaces from the former kingdom of Prussia, of which the city was the capital. These palaces take you on a journey through time, back to the days of kings and queens.

Most of the palaces have extensive gardens, many in different styles depending on the royal resident who spend their time there. Whether you visit Sanssouci Palace, Friederich the Great's summer retreat, or Charlottenburg Palace in the heart of Berlin, the splendour of these royal retreats are a joy to behold.