Reading time: 6 minutes
Value: What Berlin is really like

Camping in Berlin:

Why surprisingly many Berliners disappear on weekends

“Camping in Berlin” probably doesn’t sound like the search term you’d start a Berlin trip with.

Most people look for restaurants, attractions or hotels. But camping in Berlin gets searched more often than you’d think – and honestly, we get why.

Berlin isn’t just a big city.

Berlin is water, forests, the Havel, lakes, islands, old holiday traditions and surprisingly many places where you hear crickets in the evening and can still be standing at Alexanderplatz an hour later.

Which campsite in Berlin is actually worth it?

If you want to experience as much of Berlin as possible: stay closer to the city.

If you're looking for quiet, water and a weekend escape: head more towards the Havel or the southeast.

If what you really want is nature and Berlin is just a bonus: completely different places make more sense.

Can you actually camp well in Berlin?

Yes – much better than most people expect.

Berlin has several campsites directly inside the city. Some still feel like the capital.

Others honestly don’t anymore.

Foto von einem blauen Ruderboot aus Holz auf einem Berliner See.

Alright, friends,

we’re currently looking for a good campsite ourselves for a weekend away.

By the way, when I was growing up, we had a caravan at Bestensee that we drove to almost every week. But more on that in another blog about “campsites around Berlin”.

For many Berliners – especially in the east – this wasn’t anything unusual.

Not everyone flew away on holiday.

A lot of people had their regular spot somewhere by the water, between pine trees, folding chairs and an awning.

A lot of the time, it was simply the better alternative to expensive family holidays.

Maybe that’s exactly why I found the topic of camping in Berlin more interesting than I expected.

So we did the research.
Not rated from experience.

We collected, read, compared and asked ourselves:

Where would we actually go right now?

Our criteria:

  • in Berlin
  • easy to reach
  • reasonably priced
  • good reviews
  • barbecue allowed
  • water or atmosphere
  • public transport optional
  • ideally a relaxed camping feel

We know there are plenty of places missing here.

Part 2 with the Berlin surroundings, Brandenburg and maybe even a bit of caravan nostalgia will probably follow.

Discover real Berlin →
Foto von einem orangenen Zelt zwischen Bäumen und Büschen. Im Hintergrund ein See in Berlin.

Which campsite in Berlin suits who?

A quick guide before we go deeper:

→ You want to experience as much of Berlin as possible:Wohnmobil-Oase Wedding or Rummelsburg

→ You want water + peace and quiet: Breitehorn or Krossinsee

→ You’re travelling with kids: Gatow or Bürgerablage

→ You want nature without leaving the city completely: Kladow

→ You want city and camping at the same time: City Camping Nord

Foto von einem Holzsteg und Bojen auf einem Berliner See mit einem Waldstück im Hintergrund.

Which campsite in Berlin is by the water?

Short answer:

Surprisingly many.

The Havel, the Spree, Krossinsee, swimming spots, Wannsee – Berlin is far more of a waterside city than most people expect.

If that’s exactly what appeals to you, have a look later at our blog about walks in Berlin or Berlin lakes – a lot of places overlap more than people think.

Foto von einer Person in einem Wald, wo die Sonnenstrahlen durch die Bäume scheinen.

DCC Campsite Berlin-Kladow – camping, but somehow still Berlin

Kladow surprised me while researching.

Not because there’s anything spectacular there.
But because the mix is unusual.

You’ve got forest.
You’ve got water.
You’ve got former Berlin Wall history.

And somehow you’re still officially in Berlin.

The Berlin Wall Cycle Path runs directly past the campsite.

If you want to dive deeper into Berlin’s history later on: our blog about Wünsdorf fits surprisingly well with this feeling of the outskirts, history and change.

Nearby:

  • Sacrower See
  • Glienicker See
  • Pfaueninsel
  • forests

At the campsite:

  • restaurant
  • small shop
  • accessible sanitary facilities
  • caravans, motorhomes, tents
  • bus connection
  • boat pier nearby

Recurring impressions from reviews:

  • the location is often mentioned positively
  • peace and quiet are frequently praised
  • many people like the proximity to water and nature
  • people expecting the city centre seem more disappointed

🏕 Atmosphere: 5/5
🚆 Accessibility: 4/5
💶 Price feeling: 3/5
🌊 Water: 5/5
👨‍👩‍👧 Family: 4/5
🏙 Berlin factor: 3/5

Our impression: if someone searches for “Berlin campsite” and actually means Berlin AND nature – this is a pretty strong candidate.

Most people experience Berlin the same way.
Sightseeing, long distances, endless Googling.
And in the end: they’ve seen a lot, but understood very little.

Berlin works differently.
The city doesn’t reveal itself through hotspots –
but through places you actually need to know.

I’m from Berlin and have been working in the hospitality industry for years, seeing every day how visitors experience the city – and often misjudge it.

That’s exactly why I’ve collected 500+ real places in Berlin.
No tourist traps. No generic lists.
Just places that actually work –
directly in your Google Maps, ready to use.

Explore 500+ places →
Foto von einem großen See bei Berlin mit Kajaks und blauem Himmel.

DCC Campsite Gatow – between Berlin and Potsdam

Gatow came up almost everywhere.

And I think I understand why.

The campsite sits right by the Havel and feels like this classic Berlin weekend mindset:

Get out.
Not far.
But far enough.

There’s a bus stop directly outside the campsite.

Around 45 minutes to City West.

Also:

  • swimming area
  • restaurant
  • family-friendly
  • accessible sanitary facilities

Something else that kept showing up in descriptions:

Gatow often isn’t seen as a city campsite.

More as a mix of: Berlin + water + Potsdam.

A golf course nearby was also mentioned several times.

🏕 Atmosphere: 4/5
🚆 Accessibility: 4/5
💶 Price feeling: 3/5
🌊 Water: 5/5
👨‍👩‍👧 Family: 5/5
🏙 Berlin factor: 3/5

FOTO VON EINER BRÜCKE IN EINEM KLEINEN WALDSTÜCK ÜBER EINEN FLIEßENDEN BACH UND NEBEL.

Krossinsee Campsite – officially Berlin, feels almost like Brandenburg

This might be the most honest section in the whole blog.

If you book Krossinsee expecting to quickly fit in the TV Tower and central Berlin every evening – I’d probably think twice.

If you want water, forest and peace and quiet:

suddenly it gets pretty interesting. The campsite sits directly on Krossinsee.

Also mentioned:

  • Tiny Houses
  • boat rental
  • Restaurant Seeterrasse
  • bus connection
  • open year-round

Dahme-Seenland also came up frequently as a day trip.

And honestly:

If you stay here and continue towards the Spreewald the next day, it suddenly makes a surprising amount of sense.

🏕 Atmosphere: 5/5
🚆 Accessibility: 3/5
💶 Price feeling: 3/5
🌊 Water: 5/5
👨‍👩‍👧 Family: 4/5
🏙 Berlin factor: 2/5

Foto von Campern an einem Lagerfeuer mit großem Sternenhimmel

Hotel & City Camping Nord – probably the best compromise

Peninsula.
Water.
Trees.

Kurfürstendamm is around 25 minutes away.

Honestly, I like the concept quite a lot.

Not completely out.
Not completely city.

Also:

  • hotel
  • breakfast room
  • beer garden
  • shaded pitches
  • open year-round

What I found interesting:

The proximity to Jungfernheide was mentioned several times.

🏕 Atmosphere: 4/5
🚆 Accessibility: 5/5
💶 Price feeling: 3/5
🌊 Water: 4/5
👨‍👩‍👧 Family: 4/5
🏙 Berlin factor: 5/5

Foto von einer grünen Wiese und einem großen Waldstück im Hintergrund.

Breitehorn Campsite – for everyone who actually just wants to be by the water

Right on the Havel.
Private swimming area.
Natural setting.
Old trees.

And also close to:

  • Großer Wannsee
  • Grunewald

This feels less like a holiday.

More like a Berlin summer.

🏕 Atmosphere: 5/5
🚆 Accessibility: 3/5
💶 Price feeling: 3/5
🌊 Water: 5/5
👨‍👩‍👧 Family: 4/5
🏙 Berlin factor: 3/5

Wandweg zwischen vielen Bäumen in Berlin-Kaulsdorf.

Bürgerablage Campsite – surprisingly classic

Right on the Havel.
Beach.
Restaurant.
Kiosk.
Playground.

Plus events like summer festivals or Whitsun celebrations.

And if you're already there:

Spandau Old Town is often underrated.

🏕 Atmosphere: 4/5
🚆 Accessibility: 3/5
💶 Price feeling: 3/5
🌊 Water: 5/5
👨‍👩‍👧 Family: 5/5
🏙 Berlin factor: 2/5

Foto von einem Mehrpersonenzelt auf einer Wiese mit Bumen und Sonnenschein.

Is camping in Berlin worth it without a car?

Short answer:

Often, yes.

A lot of campsites work because you can use buses, public transport or sometimes even waterways.

Kladow, Gatow, Wedding and Rummelsburg especially seem interesting for that.

Can you stay overnight in Berlin with a motorhome?

Short answer:

Yes. And surprisingly centrally.

Of course, it always depends on availability and the size of the motorhome.

Most places either charge a flat electricity fee or bill based on actual usage.

Wohnmobil-Oase Wedding & Citymarina Rummelsburg

I wouldn’t compare those two with Krossinsee.

They’re different categories.

Wedding:

  • motorhomes up to 14 m
  • electricity
  • sanitary facilities
  • central location

Rummelsburg:

  • right on the Spree
  • close to Friedrichshain
  • good transport connections

If you want to experience Berlin: interesting.

If you’re looking for nature: probably not.

Foto von einer großen Feuerstelle auf einem Campingplatz

Tips for camping in Berlin

A few things from our research:

  • headlamp or flashlight – especially useful for walks at night
  • flip-flops
  • coins – for showers or laundry
  • mosquito spray
  • enough water
  • don’t bring too many clothes – laundry facilities
  • slippers in the camper
  • pick a spot towards the edge of the lawn

And one more thought:

Campers help each other. That sounds cheesy at first.

But anyone who’s ever stayed at a campsite probably knows what I mean.

A bit like in Berlin’s prefab housing estates.

Someone has salt.
Someone has tools.
Someone knows how to get the bike tyre working again.

Foto von mehreren Personen vor einer Feuerstelle beim Camping.

Final thoughts on campsites in Berlin

If barbecues or open fires matter to you: check directly with the campsite beforehand – rules change regularly.

And maybe that’s exactly why camping fits Berlin surprisingly well.

Not everything is perfect.
Not everything is polished.

But often more relaxed than expected.

By the way, this kind of research was one of the reasons why we built NO TOURiST INFO blogs.

Not more places.

But orientation.

Berlin isn’t a tourist attraction. Berlin is a city.

See you in the honest side of Berlin – or here in the next blog.

Take care 🖤

Unlock 500+ places now →

MOST IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SAMPLE IMAGES AND WERE NOT TAKEN AT THE PLACES FEATURED.

Frequently asked questions about campsites in Berlin

What should you consider when choosing a campsite in Berlin?

Campsites in Berlin vary more than most people expect.
Some are right in the city, others are closer to lakes or on the outskirts.

Before booking, it’s worth checking transport connections, access to water, noise levels, sanitary facilities, public transport and whether motorhomes, tents or barbecues are allowed at all.

How do I find the right campsite in Berlin?

First, think about what you’re actually looking for: city or nature.
If you want to experience Berlin, more central campsites are often the better choice.

If you're looking for peace, water and relaxation, you’ll often be happier around the Havel, Krossinsee or the western outskirts.

Which campsites in Berlin do we recommend?

For water and nature, we found Kladow, Breitehorn and Krossinsee especially interesting.

If you want to experience as much of Berlin as possible, look more towards Wedding, Rummelsburg or City Camping Nord.
Families might want to take a closer look at Gatow or Bürgerablage.

Is camping in Berlin actually worth it?

Yes – surprisingly often.

Berlin has more water, forests and camping options than most people expect.

Especially for a weekend, camping can be a relaxed alternative to hotels and classic city trips.

Can you camp in Berlin without a car?

Partly, yes.

Several campsites in Berlin can be reached by bus or public transport.

Places with good connections are especially interesting if you want to explore the city during the day.

Which campsite in Berlin is by the water?

Several campsites are directly by the water or have access to swimming areas.

Kladow, Breitehorn, Krossinsee, Bürgerablage and Rummelsburg are mentioned particularly often.

Camping or hotel in Berlin – which is worth it more?

That depends on the kind of trip you want.
If your goal is to see as many sights as possible, a hotel is often easier.

If you want to combine Berlin with water, peace and a weekend feeling, camping is worth trying at least once.

When should you book campsites in Berlin?

Especially on long weekends and during summer, booking early is worth it.

Many campsites are much smaller than people expect from Berlin.

Is wild camping allowed in Berlin?

No, wild camping with a tent is generally not allowed in Berlin.
If you want to camp in Berlin, you should use official campsites or designated pitches.

Different rules may apply to motorhomes for short rest periods – but permanent camping or typical camping behaviour in public spaces is generally not allowed.

Check out our blogs on the history of Berlin.

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