5 Cute (& Free) Date Ideas in Berlin
Are you broke af? You still deserve to go on cute dates. Determined cheapskates can do a lot of fun stuff for free in this city!
Here are 5 poor but sexy ideas for your next date:
Hike to Viktoriapark and see the waterfall
Did you know there’s an idyllic mountain waterfall tucked away in Kreuzberg?
Kreuzberg is not just the name of a district, it’s also the name of the 66 meter hill. Pack a picnic and ‘hike’ to the top to enjoy the romantic park and views of the city.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the waterfall is manmade. How did it come to be there? In 1888, Kaiser Friedrich II ordered the construction of the waterfall to pretty up the park. The waterfall is based on a real one from the Krkonoše mountains (between Poland and Czechia), which was a luxury spot for rich Berliners in the 1800s.
If you want to make an evening of it, the beer garden Golgatha is located at the bottom of the hill, and you are just a short walk away from Bergmannstrasse, Mehringdamm and several other popular spots to get food and drinks.
Visit Futurium and enjoy views on the skywalk
Futurium is the opposite of a historic museum: it’s all about the future. The free exhibition space explores how society, nature and technology are evolving to solve vital issues for our planet. They regularly host themed events and open new exhibits, so make sure to check Futurium.de for the latest details.
Don’t miss the laboratory in the basement where you can try out 3D printers, laser cutters and other exciting ‘futuristic’ technologies yourself!
At the end of your visit, head up to the skywalk where you can relax and enjoy beautiful views of the city and the Spree.
Notes: Futurium is closed on Tuesdays. Entrance to the museum and skywalk is free, but the skywalk can be closed if the weather is bad. The museum is striving to be fully accessible for everyone, including people with reduced mobility, visual impairment or hearing difficulties. Find out more here.
Flea market & karaoke
Mauerpark – karaoke location here
Mauerpark is a place that hardly needs introduction. The bustling market is a treasure trove for vintage clothing, furniture, antiques, bicycles, jewelry and more.
The park has plenty of live entertainment, with musicians, comedians, magicians and more pitching up to entertain you every Sunday. You may not know that there’s also free karaoke in the amphitheater, starting at 15:00.
If you don’t think hearing you sing will scare them away, why not suggest this for your next date? Pre-booking isn’t possible, so just relax in the sun and watch others perform until it’s your time. There are plenty of eateries and cafes near the park if you want to make a day of it.
Visit Urban Nation – the Street Art Museum
Berlin is the street art capital of Europe.. But did you know it even has a street art museum?
This completely free museum showcases street art, graffiti and other urban art in a beautiful Altbau. The gallery hosts plenty of cool events featuring well-known contemporary artists from across the world. See urban-nation.com for the latest info.
Bonus: if you’d like to do a self-guided street art walking tour, check out Urban Nation’s ‘Art Map’, which shows you where to find outdoor street art by well known artists.
What else should you check out in the neighborhood? The museum is one stop away from Gleisdreieck, and close enough to Tiergarten. It’s also one stop away from Nollendorfplatz, which is home to diverse eateries, bars and queer nightlife.
Notes: Museum is open 10:00 to 18:00 Tuesday and Wednesday, 12:00 to 20:00 Thursday-Sunday, and closed Mondays. It is wheelchair accessible.
Forest walk and sunset at Teufelsberg
Am Bahnhof Grunewald, 14193 Berlin
Going for a walk as a first date doesn’t have to be a ‘boring’. Head to S Bahn Grunewald and take a revitalizing walk in the 3,000 hectare forest, which includes a handful of lakes. This is an extremely cute first date idea for dog parents as the forest is popular with dog walkers and there’s even a dog park tucked away near one of the lakes!
If you want to get some nice views, head uphill to Teufelsberg. At 114m, this hill is manageable for people with lower fitness levels. Not only do you get panoramic views of the city, you see the expanse of the forest, lakes, and rolling countryside in the distance.
If you are open to spending a little money, you can pay (cash or Paypal only) to visit Teufelsberg’s old spy station. The station was used by American soldiers during the Cold War and was one of the USA’s most important bases for intercepting radio and telephone broadcasts from the Eastern bloc.
Today, the station does have some exhibits on the Cold War, but it’s primarily a creative space featuring over 400 works of street art and modern art from around the world.
How to find a date
There are plenty of cute date opportunities in this city, no matter what your budget. What can be a little hard is finding a date! If you’re tired of toxic dating apps and want to try something new, why not join one of our Slow Dating Events?
Unlike speed dating, we don’t do awkward 1-on-1s and icebreakers. We host chill meetups and activities where you can get to know cool new people in small groups over just a few hours. Head to our Events page to find out where we’ll be next.