Last updated on 06/23/2026
Yulia Veksler
For this list, I set off on a journey around the world through Berlin and looked for places that evoke a holiday feeling, from the Balinese Vabali Spa in Tiergarten to the Turkish Hamam in Reinickendorf and the Ethiopian Bejte Ethiopia in Schoeneberg. I paid attention to how convincingly the little break from everyday life succeeds. Here are my tips for getting away.
On the edge of Fritz-Schloss-Park in Moabit, the Vabali Spa transports its guests into another world across more than 20,000 square meters. Balinese architecture, infusion ceremonies, and an expansive outdoor area quickly make you forget the nearby main train station.
At Buckower Damm in Neukölln, Charme d’Orient combines oriental decor with massages, natural cosmetics, and plenty of tranquility. An afternoon there feels like a short trip, with Britzer Garden right next door.
Only accessible via the old Abteibrücke bridge: The Island of Youth in Alt-Treptow offers a green escape from the asphalt. A beer garden, boat rental, and an evening cultural program turn this small Spree island into a holiday destination without having to leave.
In Tiergarten, just a few steps from Potsdamer Platz, the Felleshus unites the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden under a copper band. Inside, Smørrebrød, jazz, and changing exhibitions await, all without a plane ticket.
Wellness without travel stress: The centrovital in the brick building of the former Schultheiss brewery offers a spa, six saunas, and pools directly on Spandau Lake. From the room to the lakeside path, the whole experience feels more like a short getaway than being in Berlin.
Europe's oldest Buddhist temple stands on the northern outskirts of Frohnau. The Buddhist House is located on a wooded hill, surrounded by a well-tended garden, and is so quiet that the city completely disappears for a few hours.
Ethiopia in Schöneberg: At Bejte Ethiopia on Zietenstraße, people have been eating with their hands for over two decades, and coffee beans are freshly roasted in the room at 8 PM. You rarely get further away from Berlin with a dinner.
45 minutes from the city and your own boat vacation is already at the dock: In Werder an der Havel, charter yachts without a license set off towards Potsdam, the Havel lakes, and Müritz. Reeds, open spaces, and water instead of Berlin's pavement.
Half an hour from Berlin, Biosphäre Potsdam offers summer temperatures 365 days a year. 20,000 tropical plants, a waterfall, and hourly thunderstorms leave the grey everyday outside the hall.
In Wedding's Nordhafenpark, where the shipping canal borders green banks, charter ships depart. From here, trips go on the Spree and Havel rivers up to Hennigsdorf, for a few hours exchanged for waves and panoramic views.
