Tips · Germany
Berlin in Spring: What to Prepare for March to May
Berlin in March-May: climate normals, what to wear, palace hours from April, the Pergamonmuseum reopening, transport, budget and a checklist.
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The short answer
Berlin's daytime highs of 20–25°C from May to September make that the most comfortable time to explore. Of the spring months, May falls in that window; March is still chilly, with average highs of 9°C and lows of 1°C, and April starts to warm up with highs of 15°C and lows of 5°C.
Three things matter for a spring plan. Charlottenburg Palace and Sanssouci Palace open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:30 from April to October; the Pergamonmuseum is officially set to reopen on 4 June 2027, so it is not open yet in March-May 2027; and many museums and palaces close on Mondays.
March-May weather at a glance
The figures below are rounded 1991–2020 normals from Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), Berlin-Tempelhof station. Each line shows average high / average low / monthly precipitation.
From March to May, average highs climb from 9°C to 15°C to 20°C and average lows from 1°C to 5°C to 9°C. Monthly precipitation is 41 mm in March, 29 mm in April and 52 mm in May; April's 29 mm is the lowest of all twelve months.
- March: 9°C / 1°C / 41 mm
- April: 15°C / 5°C / 29 mm
- May: 20°C / 9°C / 52 mm
What to wear
March has highs of 9°C and lows of 1°C, so pack a warm, almost wintry coat, a scarf and gloves. April ranges from 5°C in the morning to 15°C in the day, so layers under a jacket work best. May has highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C, so a light jacket and a long-sleeved top for mornings and evenings are enough.
May's monthly precipitation is 52 mm, so pack a folding umbrella too. Many days involve walking from Museum Island to the Wall sites, so bring shoes that stay comfortable all day.
Keep your bag small. Bags larger than A3 and suitcases are not allowed inside Berlin Cathedral, and large luggage is not allowed in the Reichstag glass dome, which has no storage. Some small shops and cafés accept cash only, so carry some euro notes and coins.
Spring notes: opening hours, sights and events
Charlottenburg Palace is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:30 from April to October. Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam is also closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:30 from April to October; entry is by timed slot with limited daily numbers, so buying online in advance is recommended. If you go in March, check the official information for both palaces' hours before you go.
Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the Pergamonmuseum is officially set to reopen on 4 June 2027. The Neues Museum (bust of Nefertiti) is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Berlin Cathedral is open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 12-6 p.m. (last admission 5 p.m.). The Reichstag glass dome is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. (last admission), with times varying around parliamentary business, and online booking is required.
Check the official visitBerlin information for spring event and festival dates before you go. Check official info around Easter too, as it can get busy, and shop Monday to Saturday, because shops are closed on Sundays apart from a few exceptions such as airports and railway stations.
Planning your spring days
Three to four nights suit Berlin. The day-by-day route is in 'How Many Days in Berlin?' and in the Berlin travel guide's itinerary, so here are only the points to keep in mind for a spring trip.
- Mondays: the Neues Museum, Charlottenburg Palace, Sanssouci Palace and the Wall Memorial's Documentation Center are closed. Plan the Brandenburg Gate (open 24 hours) or the Wall Memorial's outdoor exhibition (daily 8 a.m.-10 p.m.) instead.
- A palace day: from April both palaces open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:30. Take an ABC ticket to Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, or bus M45 to Charlottenburg Palace and the Ku'damm.
- Outdoor time: check the forecast to pick days for the Brandenburg Gate and Pariser Platz, a walk along Unter den Linden, and the East Side Gallery, which is free to visit.
- Book ahead: reserve the Reichstag glass dome online, and buy a timed ticket for Sanssouci Palace in advance.
Airport, city transport and budget
According to the airport, the FEX airport express runs every 15 minutes from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. from the station under Terminal 1, taking about 23 minutes to Hauptbahnhof and about 19 minutes to Potsdamer Platz. Until December 2026 the FEX and RE20 together run four trains per hour, so check the official information for spring 2027 service before you go. The S-Bahn S9 and S85 run every 20 minutes, and if you arrive late at night the N60 and N7 night buses serve the airport. The airport is in fare zone C, so you need an ABC single ticket (€5.00).
Within the city an AB ticket is enough. An AB single ticket costs €4.00 and is valid for 120 minutes one way with changes, and the AB 24-hour ticket costs €11.20. The Berlin WelcomeCard, with unlimited public transport and partner discounts, costs €39.50 for 72 hours (AB). Paper tickets from machines must be validated before you ride.
For a budget, start from transport (€4.00 per AB single ride, €11.20 for an AB 24-hour ticket) and add paid sights such as the Museum Island ticket at €24 (free up to 18), Berlin Cathedral at €15, Charlottenburg Old Palace at €12 and Sanssouci Palace at €14. The Berlin Wall Memorial is free. Accommodation is most of the budget, and paid overnight stays carry a 7.5% city tax, so compare prices for your dates on booking sites.
Pre-departure checklist
Go through these items one by one before you leave.
- Entry requirements: check the official information before you go
- Clothes: a warm coat, scarf and gloves for March, layers for April, a light jacket and folding umbrella for May, and comfortable walking shoes
- Bags: smaller than A3 for Berlin Cathedral, no large luggage for the Reichstag glass dome
- Bookings: the Reichstag glass dome online, a timed ticket for Sanssouci Palace
- Days of the week: plan around Monday closures of museums and palaces and Sunday shop closures
- Transport: an ABC ticket for the airport, validate paper tickets before riding, check official info on spring 2027 FEX service
- Events and Easter: check dates and opening on the official visitBerlin information
- Safety: check your government's current travel advice for Germany
Plan your Berlin trip
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FAQ
When in spring is best for Berlin?
Berlin's daytime highs of 20–25°C from May to September make that the most comfortable time to explore. March still has average highs of 9°C and lows of 1°C, so bring a warm coat.
What is the weather like in Berlin from March to May?
In normals of average high / average low / monthly precipitation: March 9°C / 1°C / 41 mm, April 15°C / 5°C / 29 mm, May 20°C / 9°C / 52 mm.
Can I see the Pergamonmuseum in spring 2027?
The Pergamonmuseum is officially set to reopen on 4 June 2027. In March-May, visit the other museums with the Neues Museum ticket (closed Mondays) or the Museum Island ticket (€24).
Where can I check spring festival and Easter dates?
Check the official visitBerlin information before you go. Check official info around Easter too, as it can get busy, and remember that shops are closed on Sundays apart from a few exceptions such as airports and railway stations.
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ⓘ Photo credits
- Reichstag building · Jörg Braukmann / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lisbon and the Tagus from São Jorge Castle · NorbertNagel / CC BY-SA 4.0