Issue #6 Urban Adventures Finale: Berlin After Dark, or Bright and Wild? You Choose.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN THIS ISSUE:

• Forest walks, wild lakes, and abandoned places to explore

• Where Berliners go to escape the noise without leaving the city

• A 3-day sampler itinerary for LGBTQ+ locals and travellers

• One bike route and one queer-friendly lake to bookmark

• A poll to tell me if you want more posts like this

1. Bike to Teufelsberg — The Abandoned Spy Tower

What do you get when you bury Nazi ruins, build a Cold War listening station on top, then let it crumble into graffiti-covered silence?

Teufelsberg. It's weird, cinematic, and deeply Berlin.

Start your ride from Charlottenburg and head west through the Grunewald forest. The route is flat, shady, and surprisingly quiet. When you reach the hill, lock your bikes and hike the final stretch.

At the top: an eerie, graffiti-covered dome that once monitored Soviet radio waves. Now it’s an open-air museum of street art and strange vibes.

Pro tip: Bring headphones for the climb — and snacks to enjoy at the top.

2. Swim in Schlachtensee (or Plötzensee if You’re Lazy)

Berlin’s lakes are where the city unwinds.

Schlachtensee is clean, swimmable, and lined with forest trails. You’ll find locals picnicking, reading, or floating quietly in the water like it’s church. It’s also known as one of the more queer-friendly lakes — relaxed, unpretentious, and calm.

Want something closer in? Plötzensee is a popular lake with grassy banks and a local vibe, reachable by tram or bike in 20 minutes from Mitte.

Both are ideal for a half-day reset or a full-day hangout with friends.

Packing tip: Bring a sarong or light towel, water, and a little cash — many lakeside cafés don’t take card.

3. Get Lost in Grunewald Forest

Grunewald is Berlin’s wild lung — a sprawling forest on the city’s edge that stretches for miles.

You can walk. You can bike. You can even find spots to skinny dip or nap under trees.

Start from S-Bahnhof Grunewald, head toward the Teufelssee, and loop past old bunkers, hidden clearings, and war memorials reclaimed by nature. It’s peaceful, grounded, and often eerily quiet.

This is where Berliners go when the noise gets too loud.

4. Sunset Ride Along Tempelhofer Feld

Once an airport, now a public park the size of a city — Tempelhofer Feld is flat, open, and full of character.

Rent a bike or bring your own. Ride the old runways, join a pickup volleyball game, or find a spot to watch the sun dip below the horizon while planes glide far overhead.

It’s also a queer-friendly hangout, especially near the community gardens and open-air art installations.

Mood tip: Bring a speaker and play your own soundtrack. The openness begs for a little drama.

5. Queer Groups Doing Outdoors Differently

Berlin’s LGBTQ+ outdoor scene is casual and varied — less structured, more vibes.

Some groups to check out:

• Queerberg – community-focused events including hikes, drumming circles, and park days

• Queers & Allies on Bikes – joyful chaos on wheels

• Outdoor Lads Berlin – more classic group hikes (less wild, more organized)

Join one, or start your own with a WhatsApp group and a picnic blanket.

3-Day Adventure Plan (No Train Needed)

Day 1:

• Morning bike ride to Teufelsberg

• Picnic on the hilltop or in Grunewald

• Optional dip at Teufelssee on the way back

Day 2:

• Lazy lake day at Schlachtensee

• Evening BBQ in a local park (Volkspark Friedrichshain is a fave)

• Catch a sunset ride at Tempelhofer Feld

Day 3:

• Forest hike + book time in a riverside sauna (like Vabali)

• Reflect, stretch, and head home feeling different