Summer Tip: Cool down in Berlin

Summers in Berlin are hot. Very hot.

It can be so warm that you just want to jump into the water with clothes and all.

Luckily, there are a lot of spots where you can do that (although I would suggest putting on a swimsuit instead of keeping on your clothes ;)).

Berlin has no less than 180 kilometers of waterways, which is more than Amsterdam, Venice and Stockholm combined. In addition, there are more than 20 lakes in the city and no fewer than 60 indoor, beach and summer pools. So you never have to look far to take a dip in the water. Not a water rat? No problem, these places provide the perfect atmosphere to relax both in and next to the water!

In the Berlin Guide for Instagrammers, you can find ten awesome spots for waterlovers!

In this blog you can find five hotspots, check the book for more! :)

Hotel Oderberger Pool

Oderberger Strasse 57 - Prenzlauerberg

Berlin Guide for Instagrammers - page 76

In the early 20th century, bathrooms were uncommon in Berlin homes. Only 10 percent of Berliners could bathe or shower at home. The other residents had to rely on 'Volksbadeanstalt' (public bathrooms), such as Stadtbad Oderberger, which opened in 1902.

Nowadays you can enjoy the swimming pool if you stay at Hotel Oderberger (@hoteloderbergerberlin), but even if you are not staying at the hotel, you can just buy an entrance ticket for the Stadtbad! Swimming here is like swimming in a movie set or in an old bathhouse. After your swim you can enjoy a delicious cocktail or locally brewed beer in the beautiful Oderberger bar.

Badeschiff

Eichenstrasse 4 - Kreuzberg

Berlin Guide for Instagrammers - page 124

In the 19th century it was very common to swim in the Spree. There were about 30 bathing areas in the river, which had to close one by one in the course of the 20th century due to the pollution of the water.

Badeschiff (@badeschiff_berlin) has brought this tradition back by converting an old freighter that used to transport coal into a floating pool moored in the Spree. From the pool you have a great view over the river, the Oberbaumbrücke, the Molecule Man and the TV tower, all while the ships sail by. A very special experience.

Weissensee

Berliner Allee 155 - Pankow

Berlin Guide for Instagrammers - page 92

The Weisser See is a lake in the Berlin district of Weissensee. By Berlin standards it is a fairly small lake. You only have to swim 300 meters to get from the east bank to the west bank, or 350 meters from north to south.

At the lake you can visit the Weissensee Strandbad (@strandbad_weissensee). The building with the large white letters that welcome you from afar dates back to the GDR era. Once you've walked through the building, you suddenly seem to end up on a Caribbean island. You can enjoy sunny cocktails at the beach bar. The sandy beach with cheerful beach chairs, swaying palm trees and thatched umbrellas complete the southern atmosphere. The beach pool is a popular venue for outdoor performances (with a stage on the water), volleyball tournaments, or watching the sunset next to a fire pit with a beer in hand.

The lake and bathing area can be reached from the city center in less than 20 minutes by tram from the Alexanderplatz and is therefore a beloved place for an after-work splash.

Stadtbad Neukölln

Ganghoferstrasse 3 - Neukölln

Berlin Guide for Instagrammers - page 164

When this swimming pool opened in 1914, it was one of the largest and most beautiful in Europe. There were up to 10,000 visitors a day. Since then, the pool has undergone some renovations, but the beautiful appearance is still the same as it was in 1914.

The pool complex consists of two pools: one large and one small. The neoclassical design is inspired by the thermal baths of ancient Greece. Just like in the ancient Greek temples, both pools are under a dome with a skylight. Around the pool are columns and sculptures and the walls are finished with beautiful mosaics.

In addition to the two beautiful swimming pools, you can also find a Finnish sauna, a herbal sauna, a marble steam bath and a caldarium (warm water bath) in this complex. The swimming pool is one of the many public swimming pools, which are united under the 'Berliner Baederbetriebe' (@berliner_baederbetriebe).

At Stadtbad Neukölln you can 'bathe in luxury' for a super affordable price.

Wannsee Beach Bath

Wannseebadweg 25 - Wannsee

Berlin Guide for Instagrammers - page 212

By 1900, the number of residents in Berlin had grown so rapidly that city dwellers had to live crammed into tenements. Longing for space and freedom, city dwellers flocked to the Berlin lakes over the weekend.

At that time, however, it was unheard of to bathe outside and anyone caught had to pay a fine of at least 5 Deutsche Mark (converted to this time, that's about 100 euros). At the Wannsee, they began to secretly operate a bathing area. More and more Berliners moved to the banks of the Wannsee, so that the laws were eventually amended. In 1907, a coastline of 200 meters on the Wannsee was officially designated as a public bathing place.

Today, the Wannsee beach bath is also part of the "Berliner Baederbetriebe" (@berliner_baederbetriebe) and continues to be a popular destination for Berliners. Over the years, it was expanded into a sandy beach 80 meters wide and 1,200 meters long. There is room for no fewer than 50,000 bathers. This makes it the largest bathing beach in Europe that is not located by the sea.

More Berlin tips?

You can find these and more images and tips on my Instagram account (@bonnesilvie) and of course in the book 'Berlin guide for Instagrammers' (published by Luster).

Are you visiting Berlin?

During some school holidays, you can book a 'Berlin Photo Shoot Walk': a walk along a photogenic route, where I will provide a spontaneous photoshoot of you and your family. When returning home, you can find a series of unique images and memories of your trip in your mailbox.

Feel free to send me an email for more information: hello@silviebonne.be

Would you like to join me on a Beautiful Berlin Photo Trip?

Feel free to send me an email to receive more information.

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