Teufelssee. IMAGO / Stefan Zeitz

Sweltering summer temperatures have arrived in Berlin, and what better way to cool off than by taking a dip in one of our countless lakes? With almost 100 of them within the city limits and thousands within a short train or bike ride, there are plenty to choose from. For those who don’t know which one to pick, we’ve put together this handy little guide of our favourite spots for a swim – go see for yourself how lovely they can be!

Teufelssee

The Wild One

IMAGO / Zeitz

Not far from the former Cold War spy station turned street art gallery at Teufelsberg, Teufelssee is a small, secluded lake in the middle of the Grunewald forest. It’s famous for being clothing-optional and can draw quite the crowds in summer due to its relatively clean water that’s ideal for swimming. It’s also famous for being the site of that viral incident involving a wild boar stealing somebody’s laptop bag back in 2020.

Krumme Lanke

The Easy-To-Access One

IMAGO / Christian Ender

The terminus of the U3 gets its name from the famous swimming spot that is Krumme Lanke. It’s the oppostie of a crummy lake, with clear, algae-free waters, plenty of little beaches along its shore and at least one good tree for kids to jump into the water from. The forest trail around Krumme Lanke offers a perfect place for a jog to warm you up before you plunge into the lake.

Schlachtensee

The Beautiful One

IMAGO / Sabine Gudath

If you can’t find a spot amidst the crowds at Krumme Lanke, don’t fret! Just a few minutes further south is its larger sibling, Schlachtensee. In 2020, CNN named it as one of the most beautiful swimming spots in the world – that’s just how pretty it is. Admittedly, Schlachtensee does also draw masses (honestly, who can blame them), but as the shoreline stretches for many kilometres, you should be able to find a place without too much trouble.

Wannsee

The Classic One

IMAGO / Stefan Zeitz

Beyond Schlachtensee lies one of the biggest lakes on this list: Wannsee, famous for having a huge (albeit paid) sandy beach, complete with lifeguards, a Pommes Bude and everything else you’d expect to have at a Freibad. But if you don’t like the idea of paying to swim in a lake, there’s also a free swimming spot directly south of the main beach.

Plotzensee

The Party One

IMAGO / imagebroker

On the opposite side of the city, Plotzensee has established itself a reputation as the “party lake” of Berlin, with DJs, drinks and pizza available to compensate for the €10 entry fee (unless you have Urban Sports, in which case it’s free). The lake is fenced off in other spots and swimming there is illegal, but a little birdie told us that authorities tend to turn a blind eye to wild swimmers by the Steingarten opposite the designated Strandbad.

Flughafensee

The One with the Biggest Glow-Up

IMAGO / Sabine Gudath

Located just north of the former Tegel airport, Flughafensee used to have a reputation as being dirty due to bacterial contamination. Nowadays, however, the water is as pristine as can be, plus there’s a nice sandy beach and plenty of peaceful woods to take a walk in. The northwestern shore of the lake offers the best swimming spots, both for FKK enthusiasts and those who prefer to keep some things covered.

Tegeler See

The One Without Crowds

IMAGO / F. Anthea Schaap

Tegeler See is Flughafensee’s bigger cousin. For a long time, the main beach was closed to the public and slowly decaying, but it was recently renovated and reopened. For those who don’t want to pay, there are plenty of other spots where you can access the water for free; most of these are located mostly along the northwestern shore, away from the city. It’s quite far away (taking your bike is recommended) and there can be algae in the water, but the crowds at Tegeler See are usually not as big as elsewhere.

Müggelsee

The Biggest One

IMAGO / Jürgen Held

At 7.4 square kilometres, Müggelsee is Berlin’s biggest lake and one of the city’s most beloved. The shallow water and plenty of sand at Strandbad Müggelsee make it the perfect place for those who want a real beach experience without having to leave Berlin. There’s also a dedicated FKK beach nearby and Seebad Friedrichshagen on the lake’s north-western shore, which you need to pay to enter, but offers umbrellas and a beer garden. Müggelsee is best in the early summer, because as the days get shorter, algae can become a problem.

Orankesee

The One With the Best Slide

IMAGO / Jürgen Held

Although the beach at Orankesee is another one where you have to pay to enter, it has a big slide which makes it worth those couple of euros. It’s a small lake, similar to the nearby Weißensee but nicer – and there’s a slide, did we mention?

Orankensee, Alt-Hohenschönhausen, location

Liepnitzsee

The Island Oasis

IMAGO / Emmanuele Contini

Want to really escape the crowds? Then grab your bike (or Deutschlandticket) and head north of Berlin, where the picturesque Liepnitzsee awaits you. For a truly unique experience, you can take a boat out to the island in its centre – just make sure to note when it goes back, so you don’t end up stranded!