If you're tired of lying on the beach and don't feel like going back to work, why not try an educational trip? And if you want the kids to enjoy the trip too, Berlin is a great place to start. With its museums, parks, children's attractions and family events, Berlin is a fun destination for everyone.
Is it worth going to Berlin in August and will the weather hold out? What about festivals and celebrations? Read all about it in our article.
Holidays in Berlin in August: pros and cons
Berlin in August is a memorable experience. The weather is warm and clear, so there's no need to overpack for the colder, rainy months. This month is one of the best times to visit the German capital, as evidenced by the many reviews of stays in Berlin in August. Here are just some of the main reasons:
- August is the driest month of the summer, very sunny and warm;
- The weather is ideal for outdoor walks and excursions, fun in water parks and amusement parks;
- Long Night of Museums offers a low-cost tour of Berlin's most interesting sites;
- The three-day Beer Festival offers visitors an abundance of the national brew and a varied cultural programme;
- Hotel prices in August are much lower than in June and July.
- Top family-friendly hotels in Berlin
- The 10 BEST Berlin Things to Do with Kids
To make the most of your trip, there are a few things to consider:
- The Berlin WelcomeCard saves you money on entrance fees to museums and on public transport;
- The city is a good place to get around on a bike — there are places where you can hire one for a small fee;
- Be careful when choosing a hotel or apartment — August is festival season and some parts of the city can be very noisy;
- Berlin has streets with the same name, so always check the map to make sure you are in the right place;
- Summer is the hottest time of the year, so make sure you bring sunscreen.
The weather in Berlin in August
August-September is one of the best months of the year to travel with children. It rarely rains during these months and the heat is less of an issue. The weather in early August can still give the city a few refreshing showers, but the moisture evaporates almost immediately when it hits the hot asphalt. Fortunately, even the high temperatures in Berlin in mid-August don't affect the greenery of the parks. On a hot day, it's so nice to find shade under the trees, and the little ones sleep better in the park than in a hotel room.
The weather in Berlin at the end of August is one of the hottest of the year, with temperatures sometimes reaching +30°C, but if you wear a cap or a panama hat, even the youngest tourists have no problem staying out in the sun.
Unusually high temperatures (+35°C and above) are rare, but it's worth checking the forecast, especially if you're travelling with young children.
Air temperature
Daytime temperatures in Berlin in August are quite high, but it usually cools down after sunset. The region's climate is suitable for travel at any time of year, and late summer and early autumn are some of the most pleasant tourist seasons.
Air temperature in Berlin in August
The average day temperature in Berlin this month is +24.4°C and the average night temperature is +16.5°C. The weather is stable for most of August, with only occasional rises or falls of a few degrees.
August is also the sunniest month of the year. Towards the end of the summer there are very few sunny days in a row and the temperature can reach 30 degrees. This lasts for a few days at most, after which it can get cloudy. Even on cloudy days, don't spend too much time outdoors; it's best to spend the midday hours in a museum or a park.
Amount of precipitation
In August, rainfall is almost halved compared to July, falling to 33.7 mm. On average, there are only two rainy days in August, with most of the rain falling at the beginning of the month. The big advantage of August is that you don't need to carry an umbrella — if you are caught in the rain, it won't be long before you can wait it out in a nearby café over a delicious dessert.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
August has the highest number of sunny days. There are as many as fifteen in the month. The weather is clear for 47% of the month, cloudy for 40% and overcast for the remaining 13%. Sunny and cloudy days alternate. This peculiarity allows the city's pavements to cool down a bit, giving residents and visitors alike a chance to catch their breath before the heat wave hits again. Daylight hours in August range from 13.7 to 15.5 hours.
Tour Holidays
Berlin, like any other European capital, has a lot to offer tourists in the way of sightseeing and entertainment. The symbol of the city is the bear, whose image can be found everywhere in different interpretations. Far from being menacing, Berlin's bears are quite the opposite: sometimes in an unusual, funny pose, sometimes in a cheerful outfit.
To make the city more fun for the children, they can be instructed to count how many bears they meet along the way.
If you arrive in early August and find yourself caught in the rain, take the City Circle Tour Bus to escape the weather and explore the city. If you don't have much time for sightseeing, the Little BIG City Berlin can help. It presents many famous landmarks in miniature.
In mid-August, take a trip back in time at the Düppel ethnographic open-air museum in Zehlendorf. It's hard not to get caught up in the atmosphere of a bygone era as you stroll among the old objects of everyday life. At weekends, visitors are also treated to food from the past — it may not taste as good as today's food, but it is interesting and educational!
If you have a sweet tooth, we recommend a visit to the Ritter Sport chocolate shop. There's so much variety in the different fillings, you could even get the kids a bar for every bear they count in Berlin. They'll love the idea.
For celebrity photos, head to Madame Tussauds, where adults and children alike can find wax versions of their heroes, from Shrek to Brad Pitt.
If you want to spice up your holiday with some fresh air, head to the Gardens of Peace. It's in a quiet area away from the historic centre of Berlin, so there aren't too many tourists. Adults can enjoy the beauty of the local fountains and children can take pictures with the characters from the Grimm fairy tales.
The garden is divided into thematic areas dedicated to different cultures around the world. There are signs to help visitors find their way around.
At the end of August, the garden is scented with exotic flowers, reminiscent of a French perfume shop.
All of these places are just a drop in the bucket of Berlin's fascinating sights. The city boasts many serious museums, galleries and historical monuments that will appeal to adults and older children alike.
So what are some of the surprises for the little ones? Here are some of the places Kidpassage recommends you take your children:
- Sea Life Berlin Oceanarium;
- Spectrum Science and Entertainment Center;
- Communications Museum;
- German Museum of Technology.
Holidays, events and festivals
Berlin's festivals in August offer a variety of festivities. A three-day festival celebrating Germany's most popular drink, beer, kicks off the month. The festivities have even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records because of their scope. It is not just adult beer drink lovers who can enjoy themselves but also children as the organisers put on a wide variety of attractions, concert stages and goodies tents.
The delicious aromas of pastries and sausages are wafting everywhere, making sampling them irresistible.
In the middle of the month there's the Hemp Parade. Twenty thousand people dress up in colorful costumes, and there's a concert near the Brandenburg Gate. And the highlight of August is the Long Night of Museums festival. It involves a hundred or so cultural institutions across the capital.
The city's restaurants also play an active part, offering residents and visitors a special menu and extended hours of operation, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., for the duration of the festival.
Concert venues, theatre stages and interesting lectures and presentations are set up all over the city. Special buses run from the museum to the museum. Children love driving through Berlin at night, because it's like an adventure. And for adults, it's an opportunity to learn the most interesting things at low cost.
Cost of vacation
Berlin is a European city, so you can't expect a cheap trip every month. But you can still save money by booking your flights in advance, or by choosing a cosy apartment instead of a hotel.
Airfares
Prices in Berlin in August are lower than the annual average. Compared to July, airfares increase by 2-3%. This is a small difference that can be avoided by booking in advance or using a low-cost airline. In September, airfares fall by an average of 20%.
Accommodation and transport
Given the number of events taking place in the city in August, the average price of a hotel room is 10% higher than in July at €144. In September, accommodation in Berlin is significantly more expensive (on average, a hotel room costs 59% more than in August). You can save on travel costs by purchasing the Berlin WelcomeCard, which is valid for 2 to 3 days, depending on the type of card.
Food
Meals in Berlin are not cheap and are one of the biggest expenses in a tourist's budget. A meal per person in a decent café or restaurant will cost 20 euros, and dinner for two will cost at least 70 euros. To save money, you can eat at fast food outlets. This will help you get to know the local cuisine and bring the cost of dinner down to 10-12 euros per person. Germans are very strict about hygiene, so it's almost impossible to get an intestinal disease.
Tips for travellers with children
August is a great time to travel with children of all ages. Firstly, you don't have to worry about the weather and temperatures — it's the driest, warmest and most pleasant month of the year. Second, school is still in session and parents don't have to worry about their children falling behind. Thirdly, there's plenty of entertainment for children of all ages.
And fourthly, the German capital has an incredible number of parks, green spaces and areas where you can run in the fresh air in anticipation of the school days and the bad autumn weather. Travelling around Germany in general, and Berlin in particular, is a very pleasant experience for children, as you can feel the care and concern for little tourists everywhere.
The city has many playrooms, playgrounds, entertainment centres, cafes and restaurants with children's menus, and there's so much to do that a week's trip can't cover it all.
If you're planning a longer trip to Berlin with the kids, make the most of the weather to enjoy the beauty and diversity of one of Europe's great cities. August is the perfect time to do so. And to make your travel arrangements a little easier, here's a collection of some of the best hotels in Berlin where you and the kids can feel right at home.
