Surrounded by lush green trees, manicured lawns and landscaped gardens, Park am Gleisdreieck is spread across an area of 26 hectares (64 acres). This popular park is a delight for visitors of all ages. It features a jogging track, a skatepark, volleyball court, table tennis tables and a playground for children. Other attractions in the park are the science and technology museums.
When you think of Berlin, the first word that likely comes to mind is the Wall. A decade after being torn down, there is not much of the Berlin Wall which remains intact. The longest section of the Wall to be spared, which is 1.3 kilometers (0.81 miles) runs parallel to the River Spree between Kreuzberg in the West and Friedrichshain in the East. In the months following the fall of the Wall in 1989, 118 artists from all over the world flocked here to pay their artistic tribute to the historic event. The result is an open-air gallery containing a host of colorful and imaginative images, some satirical, some shocking and others puzzling. The East Side Gallery is a must for first-time visitors to the city. The area which surrounds the Wall is oddly fitting and gives a good idea of how the Wall would have appeared several decades ago. An important part of Berlin's cultural heritage, this landmark is one of the largest open-air galleries in the entire world.
Volkspark Friedrichshain is perfect for relaxing after work or for chilling out on the weekend. The park has attractive grounds, a number of lakes, ponds and fountains as well as several different children's playgrounds. The Märchenbrunnen is the park's most original element, with the fountains featuring sculptures of German fairy tale characters. The park is Berlin's oldest, as it was first constructed in 1840.
Treptower Park was designed in 1880 and is nowadays split in two by the Puschkinallee which runs through its centre. One side of the park contains the imposing Soviet Memorial and the Archenhold Sternwarte, an observatory with the longest refracting telescope in the world. The other side of the park borders onto the river Spree, where there is a quay for boat trips on the river. Further along the Spree, the Eierschale café is a good spot to stop and relax.
The botanical garden and botanic museum's large and sedate park in the southwest of Berlin provides the perfect respite to a hard day's slog through the hectic inner-city. One can admire the English gardens and a collection of flora from all over Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The many greenhouses here are home to many rare plants from around the globe. Visitors shouldn't miss the unique Botanical Museum at the entrance.
Situated on the edge of Grunewald forest, Schlachtensee is one of Berlin's most idyllic lakes. Within easy reach of the city centre (20 minutes train ride), the lake has crystal clear water which is perfect for swimming. The lawns and woodlands which surround the lake are wonderful for relaxing or having a picnic. An outdoor restaurant and snack bar offer a choice of refreshments, and there is also boat hire. A great place to spend a hot summer weekend!