What to Do in Berlin on a Sunday • Nomads Picks

Berlin knows how to slow down on Sundays, offering a perfect mix of relaxation, culture, and local charm. Whether you’re a foodie, an outdoor enthusiast, or simply looking to soak in the city’s creative energy, Berlin has plenty to offer—rain or shine. Here’s your ultimate guide to making the most of your Sunday in the German capital.

Visiting the Brandenburg Tor during a Sunday walk in Berlin.

Berlin is huge, and so is its vibrant party, cultural, and gastronomic scene. Although many locals don’t let the weather interfere with their plans, most people and tourists consider it before making any plans, and so do we!

Start Your Day Right - Brunch and Breakfast

Sundays in Berlin often start with a relaxed breakfast or brunch. The city’s plant-based scene is exceptional, and there are plenty of spots to satisfy your cravings. For a cozy vegan breakfast, head to:

Fraülein Nimmersatt: friendly French coffee shop with very nice food for brunch, located in Kreuzberg.

Rocket & Basil: A hidden gem offering creative Middle Eastern-inspired breakfast options.

La Maison: If you love French pastries, you are in for a treat. This place has the best croissants, breakfast, and outdoor seating by the canal!

A bustling outdoor scene at a popular Berlin café, where people are enjoying their meals and drinks under the shade of trees, with a vibrant atmosphere.

For a comprehensive list of dining options, check out our guide to vegan restaurants in Berlin.

Explore Berlin’s Sunday Market

Berliner Kunstmarkt: small but beautiful art market with independent artists offering beautiful crafts. Opens only on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.

Concert in the Park: A large crowd gathered for an outdoor concert in Mauerpark.

Mauerpark Flea Market: Famous for vintage treasures, handmade crafts, and live music. Pair it with a walk through the nearby park.

Arkonaplatz Flea Market: A smaller, quieter alternative to Mauerpark, perfect for vintage furniture and unique trinkets.

For something even more casual, try neighborhood markets, where locals shop for fresh produce and baked goods.

Winterfeldt Market: If you’re visiting between the last week of November and New Year’s Eve, you should not miss the famous Christmas markets, usually open Monday to Sunday, the latter being the most packed and vibrant.

A colorful display of handcrafted Christmas ornaments and decorations at a Berlin market.

A picturesque wooden stall at a Berlin Christmas market, surrounded by festive decorations.

A beautifully lit, multi-level carousel at a Christmas market in Berlin, set against the blue sky.

A winter market stall in Berlin showcasing freshly baked bread and pastries, with a rustic wooden design.

A close-up of delicious baked goods, including bread and pastries, displayed at a market in Berlin.

These markets are great for enjoying wintertime delicacies, like mulled wine (Glühwein), hot chocolate, crépes, traditional pies, soups in bread, cherry licor, hand bread (handbrot), pastries, filled chimney cakes, fondue, nougat, flavored pretzels, and so much more.

Traditional chimney cakes being cooked over an open fire at a Berlin market stall.

A cozy stall serving traditional foods like Soljanka and cherry licour at a Berlin Christmas market.

A freshly baked handbrot filled with cheese and topped with herbs, a popular snack at Berlin markets.

Also, it is the right place to get a lot of unique and artisanal Christmas presents and decorations for every budget; not only are you giving something unique, but you are also supporting independent artisans.

A charming nativity scene at a Berlin Christmas market, complete with handcrafted figures and decorations.

There are many of them spread out in Berlin. Still, if you want to visit many without commuting, go to the Berliner Weinhnachtszeit, located close to Alexanderplatz. It is significant, with an ice skating court and a carousel for the kids. Just two blocks away, you will find the one next to the Konzert Hall and another next to Humboldt University.

Although they are lovely day or night, the lighting is beautiful at night. By the way, given how north Berlin is located, it will be fully dark after 4 p.m. by the last week of November.

Go Off the Beaten Path

Move beyond the tourist trail and experience a different side of Berlin:

Rent a Bike or a scooter: Explore the city on two wheels. Cycle along the Spree River or take the Berlin Wall Trail for a scenic and historical ride.

A person riding an electric scooter on a sunny street in Berlin, surrounded by trees and urban scenery.

A cyclist enjoying a ride along a tree-lined path on a sunny day in Berlin.

A man sitting and relaxing in a grassy area, soaking up the sun in a serene Berlin park.

Transportation Tip

Make your travels in Berlin a breeze by downloading the Jelbi app! It consolidates all transport options—U-Bahn, buses, trams, shared bikes, e-scooters, and even car-sharing—into one easy-to-use platform. Plan routes, buy tickets, and seamlessly switch between modes of transport, all in one app. Perfect for exploring the city efficiently and sustainably! Make sure to actiuvate your ticket 30 seconds before hoping into the transportation medium.

Rentable boat to make a journey through the river.

Take a Boat Ride on the Spree: Whether a guided tour or a relaxing ferry ride, the river offers a unique perspective of Berlin’s iconic landmarks.

Visit a Lake: Escape to one of Berlin’s serene lakes on the outskirts:

Lake Wannsee: Ideal for a Sunday picnic or a walk along its sandy shore.
Müggelsee: Perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding, or just enjoying nature.
Schlachtensee: A favorite among locals for its peaceful walking trails and clear waters.

Dive Into Art and Culture

Sundays are a great time to explore Berlin’s cultural treasures. Escape the crowds with these less-touristy options:

Boros Bunker: A private contemporary art collection housed in a former World War II bunker.

The Opera: If you are a fan of opera and your budget allows it, visit the Deutsche Staatsoper, which is close to Alexanderplatz.

Silent Green Kulturquartier: A former crematorium turned cultural venue, hosting exhibitions, talks, and film screenings.

Berlinische Galerie: Dive into Berlin’s modern art and photography scene.

A life-sized robot displayed in a futuristic exhibit at the Futurium in Berlin, showcasing cutting-edge technology.

Futurium: curious about how the future might look and what technologies are being developed to forge a more sustainable tomorrow? Fasten your seatbelt and visit this fantastic. The main exhibition is free and is unique.

Glass-made spheres portraying futuristic realities in the Futurium museum.

Don’t forget to get your wristband and the show's beginning and tap into all the options you will have in each exhibition. When you leave, you can drop it and get a code to check the future you would like to build based on the options you chose during your visit.

Man watching a yellow card in the Volkswagen Museum in Berlin.

Visit the Volkswagen Museum: For car enthusiasts and history buffs, a visit to the Volkswagen Drive Museum is a must on a Sunday in Berlin. Located near the iconic Brandenburg Gate, this sleek museum showcases the history and innovation of one of Germany's most famous automotive brands. Explore interactive exhibits, cutting-edge technology, and a variety of classic and modern vehicles that tell the story of Volkswagen's evolution. It’s an engaging experience for all ages, blending design, engineering, and cultural heritage. Don’t forget to check out the temporary exhibitions and grab a coffee at the stylish on-site café!

These spots provide a warm and inspiring escape if it's cold or rainy.

Enjoy Berlin’s Green Spaces

If you visit during Summer, you are in for a treat. Berlin has many outdoor options, so I suggest you plan a Sunday picnic.

Important Tip

Most supermarkets are closed on Sundays, so if you plan to cook or go on a picnic, you’d better shop beforehand!

Although you can always count on the famous Spatty’s (convenient stores), located almost every other corner, they supply the basics like beer, not-so-good wine, and snacks. You may also consider stopping by one of the multiple Donner fast-food spots for a falafel, vegan donner, or malaki!

Berlin’s parks and green spaces offer a refreshing break even in colder months. If it’s sunny, head outdoors:

Explore the Best Berlin Parks: Check out the best Berlin parks for spots like Tiergarten or Volkspark Friedrichshain.

Tempelhofer Feld: A former airport turned expansive park, perfect for walking, cycling, or kite flying on breezy days.

Statue in the Park: A large statue in a beautifully landscaped park with green lawns and trees.

Treptower Park: one of the largest and most iconic Berlin’s parks.

In winter, pair a park walk with hot drinks from a nearby café, or brew some tea and take it in a clean cantine.

End the Day with Dinner and Evening Fun

Close out your Sunday with delicious plant-based food and relaxed evening vibes. For cozy dining, explore the vegan restaurants in Berlin or try:

You can have vegan options everywhere, from the winter markets, where you can try vegan bratwurst, to any falafel or döner food stall where you need to find the word gemüse (vegetable), which will point you to the veggie version of any dish.

A food stall at a Berlin market offering vegan bratwurst and other plant-based delicacies.

Head to Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain and enjoy dining in one of their exquisite restaurant.

1990 Vegan Living offers Authentic and flavorful vegan Vietnamese cuisine. Ask for many small plates to get a good idea of their offerings. This is my favorite restaurant in Berlin!

A vibrant plant-based seitan dish with fresh greens, and nuts served at a Berlin vegan restaurant.

NYOM Restaurant is a great Vietnamese eatery just across from 1990 Vegan Living. It is not a vegan restaurant, but it offers many vegan options. I had a fantastic seitan and vegetable stir-fry and loved it!

After dinner, wind down with live music at Donau115 or enjoy a laid-back drink in one of Berlin’s hidden speakeasies, like Buck and Breck.

For Cold Days in Winter

Berlin knows how to make winter Sundays memorable. Here are some cozy ideas for colder days:

Thermen am Europa-Center: Relax in a luxurious thermal spa with saunas and pools.

Curling at Gleisdreieck Park: Try this winter pastime in a modern urban setting.

Indoor Climbing at Berta Block: A fun way to stay active indoors.

Cinemas: Watch a film in one of Berlin’s arthouse cinemas like Babylon Berlin or Moviemento.

Where to stay

My favorite neighborhoods to stay in are Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Neukölln, and Neukolln. This is because you would reduce your commuting time by a third or half since most of the attractions are located around these areas.

A colorful painted building in the Friedrischhein neighborhood in Berlin.

During my last trip last week, I stayed at the Stayery, and I loved their format. Small apartments, very well equipped, with foodies such as rosé wine, excellent coffee, and tea, and exceptional price and location in Friedrichshain, with a Bio Supermarket, a Spatty, and Vegan donner kebaps, less than a block away, and super close to my favorite restaurants in Boxhagener Platz.

They offer easy check-in and check-out without interacting with anyone. You just need a pin and a tablet at the entrance to self-check in. The staff is always a WhatsApp away and super friendly. I loved the concept!

I also stayed for a couple of days in Kreuzberg, a beautiful neighborhood near Victoria’s Park and many fantastic restaurants.

From cozy breakfasts and serene parks to boat rides on the Spree River and cultural discoveries, Berlin offers something for everyone on a Sunday. Whether you’re indulging in the city’s vegan options in Berlin, exploring its best Berlin parks, or venturing off the beaten path, Sundays here are a mix of relaxation and inspiration.

What’s your favorite Sunday activity in Berlin? Share it with us, and don’t forget to check out our guides for even more tips on the best vegan restaurants in Berlin and hidden gems!