A nice piece of nature right in the middle of the city. Great spot to hangout. Lake gets frozen in…read moreWinter.

What can I say...... beautiful trails and dog friendly beach with lots of doggie friends to play…read morewith, dog-friendly cafes to enjoy a snack and a wonderful chalet restaurant to also enjoy a delicious meal with helpful and friendly staff. Love it!!!

Beautiful little lake in Berlin's Tiergarten where you can sit in a beer garden next to the water…read moreand down some brew, or grab bite, and where you can hire little row boats and cruise out on the water. Be sure to bring your cucumber sandwiches, champagne and parasol for the boat ride; it's chill and distinguished at the same time :)

Summer has finally decided to grace Berlin with its presence. To celebrate such a joyous occasion,…read moreI decided to head out to Krumme Lanke. An afternoon spent with a good book and a bag of crisps by the water--what more could a girl, plagued with the unavailability of an air conditioned apartment, want? Unfortunately--half of the city felt the same way. Therefore, half of the city was also plopped on the banks of the lake. Note to self for the next time? Arrive early to beat the crowd. By the time we got to the lake (around 12:30 on a Friday afternoon), most of the prime real estate was pretty much already settled in. The silver lining? We had the opportunity to enjoy a nice stroll around the circumference of the lake. We eventually found a nice shady spot a good 10 minutes from the entrance. Coming from the beachy state of California, the banks of the lake were far harder than I expected, but it wasn't anything that I couldn't get used to. As for the water, it was cold enough to shock you upon submersion, but not cold enough to dissuade you from staying submerged. On a 90F/32C day like today? It was an absolute blessing. As for the environment? I'd say the area we were at was pretty child-dense. It was rowdy and rambunctious in the most youthful and innocent kind of way. I wouldn't recommend bringing any serious reading or work, as you probably won't be able to rack up enough minutes of undisturbed focus to get any of it done or read, but leisurely light reading was absolutely perfect. I'm speaking from experience. We managed in a good few hours of water-play, journaling, reading, and casual-conversing, before the sun shifted and shone directly on us. It was essentially our cue to go. If you absolutely abhor the crowds, feel free to stay in the comfort of your own home. If you can't stand the heat--try the shopping centers. If you're more than willing to not only tolerate, but also embrace the crowds, in other words, if you're one with that more-the-merrier mentality, follow half the city to Krumme Lanke. The good times will be worth your while!

Very accessible lake in Zehlendorf for swimming and hiking/running around. I've run and biked…read moreseveral times there in all weather and seasons and the trails hold up to bad weather quite well. It's never too crowded, but usually always someone within eyesight. Can get a little crowded in the summer on the beaches, though almost always fewer people than at Schlachtensee next door. The water at the beaches on the side of the lake furthest from the Schlachtensee side is clear and clean... it looks to get a little murkier in the W or SW side of the lake. The big downside is the trash at the beaches, especially on weekend mornings during warmer weather. Clearly the area offers a sense of remoteness without being too far away from public transportation, so it's a gathering place for late night grilling and drinking... by people who have no intention of cleaning up after themselves. If you get to the area before BSR does, expect a field of beer bottles and pizza boxes to greet you -- but arrive a little later in the day and you can usually avoid this unpleasantness.

Often overshadowed by larger, more well-known parks/lakes, Lietzensee is an accessible, charming,…read moreand soothing urban retreat, with a cafe on the north end, a walking/jogging/riding path around the entire lake, several play areas, and plenty of grass for sunbathing. The weeping willows and other trees lining the lake are particularly notable and, in the fall, quite stunning. Close to the ICC S-bahn and the Neuekantstrasse bus stops. If it's cold enough, it's a popular place to ice skate. When it's warmer, the grass in front of the monument on the east side (I forget the name) seems to be the accepted area for topless or "smaller-bottomed" sunbathing.