Part 1: The Main Event – The Berlin Festival of Lights (October 8 – 15, 2025)

The Festival of Lights is the undisputed highlight of the Berlin calendar in October, transforming the city annually into a luminous masterpiece. From October 8th to 15th, 2025, iconic landmarks, historical buildings, and modern squares will shine with elaborate illuminations, 3D video mappings, and vibrant projections.

The 2025 event, often themed "Let's Shine Together," frequently focuses on sustainability, mindfulness, and the preservation of cultural diversity. Daily, from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, you have the opportunity to experience the city from an entirely new, glowing perspective.

The Luminous Hotspots:

• Brandenburg Gate: Berlin's ultimate landmark turns into a giant projection screen for challenging and artistically sophisticated works.

• Berliner Dom & Museum Island: The venerable Baroque and Classicist architecture serves as a majestic backdrop for opulent, colour-intensive illuminations.

• Potsdamer Platz: Both modern skyscrapers (Kohlhoff-Tower, Forum Tower) and historical sites (Haus Huth) are integrated into the light art.

• TV Tower (Fernsehturm) & Victory Column (Siegessäule): These serve as prominent, towering light beacons visible across the city.

• Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg): A key highlight in the western part of the city, often featuring a spectacular 3D video mapping show.

Insider Tip: LightSeeing Tours

To experience the festival optimally, a guided LightSeeing tour is highly recommended. Choose from various options:

• Walking Tours: Ideal for observing the details of the projections up close, particularly around Gendarmenmarkt and the Nikolaiviertel.

• Bus Tours: The most comfortable way to move quickly between more distant locations (e.g., Brandenburg Gate and Funkturm).

• Boat Tours: A particularly romantic experience. From the water, the illuminations along the Spree River offer a unique, mirrored view.

Part 2: Beyond the Lights – Berlin in October

October in Berlin offers much more than just the Festival of Lights. The mild autumn weather invites further exploration before the cold winter sets in.

Cultural Richness and Art

• Museum Visits: Berlin’s museum landscape is world-famous. Visit the Humboldt Forum in the reconstructed City Palace or the Pergamon Museum collections (check for closures due to renovations).

• Street Art in East Berlin: Explore the giant open-air gallery of the East Side Gallery (remnants of the Berlin Wall) and the vibrant street art scene in Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain.

• Film and Concert Scene: Besides the Festival of Lights, the cultural calendar is bustling. Check the schedules for the Berlin State Opera (Staatsoper) or the Konzerthaus at Gendarmenmarkt.

Autumn in Nature

• Tiergarten: Enjoy a relaxing stroll through the golden-yellow avenues of Berlin’s largest inner-city park.

• Gardens of the World (Gärten der Welt, Marzahn): An insider tip that shines in autumn with especially beautiful Asian and English gardens.

• Forest Walks in Köpenick: Escape the city hustle and bustle and explore the forests and lakes around the historic Köpenick Town Hall (Rathaus Köpenick), which is also often part of the Festival of Lights.

Part 3: Planning Your Trip with Blissair

Arrival and Departure: Berlin Airport

• Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): The central and only major airport in Berlin, offering the best connections for your journey.

  • City Connection: The FEX (Airport Express) and regional trains (RE7, RB14) quickly take you to the Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and other key central points. Alternatively, you can use the S-Bahn (S9, S45).

Accommodation Recommendations: Hotel Tips

Berlin offers suitable accommodation for every taste and budget.

Part 4: Culinary Delights and Insider Tips

Berlin’s cuisine is a mix of tradition, international avant-garde, and street food.

Restaurant Recommendations:

Berlin Insider Tips: The Best Kneipen (Local Pubs)

While London has pubs, Berlin has Kneipen. These are often rougher, cosier, and promise the real Berlin flair.

1. Die Rote Harfe (Prenzlauer Berg): A classic corner Kneipe where time seems to stand still. Ideal for an unpretentious after-work beer.

2. Die Hafenbar (Friedrichshain): Retro charm with a jukebox and red velvet seating. A place for dancing and nostalgia.

3. Ankerklause (Kreuzberg): Located directly on the Landwehr Canal, this is a cult bar with maritime décor. Perfect for a drink by the water.

4. Speakeasy "Becketts Kopf" (Prenzlauer Berg): For cocktail enthusiasts. Hard to find, but the creations are first-class, and the atmosphere is elegantly intimate.

5. The "Trinkhallen" in the Scheunenviertel (Mitte): The area around Auguststraße offers many small, stylish bars and galleries that are ideal for a relaxed bar crawl.

Book your flight with Blissair to Berlin now and experience the unique charm of the capital in October—amidst brilliant light art, cultural highlights, and the cosy atmosphere of Berlin's Kneipen.