Berlin weather,
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May-September. Long days (sunset 21:30 in June), warm (15-25°C), perfect for the city's outdoor culture — beer gardens, Tempelhofer Feld, lake swimming. May and September are sweet spots: less crowded, mild, fewer tourists. June-August can have surprise 35°C heatwaves — many older buildings lack AC. December for Christmas markets and snow magic. Avoid January-February (cold, dark, gray); March-April are variable.

Summer (Jun-Aug): t-shirts, light shorts, sneakers (Berliners walk and bike everywhere), light jacket for evenings. Winter (Nov-Feb): proper coat (it gets to -10°C), warm boots, scarf, hat. The wind off the eastern plains is bitter. Spring/autumn: layers, waterproof jacket, sturdy shoes. Berlin gets rain spread thinly across the year (~580mm) — bring an umbrella but expect to use it briefly. The city's brutalist concrete feels colder than the temperature suggests in winter.

A surprising amount. The Christmas markets (Gendarmenmarkt, Charlottenburg Palace, Alexanderplatz) run late November to December 23 — mulled wine, sausages, handicrafts. Museum Island stays open year-round. The Bauhaus Archive, the Jewish Museum, the DDR Museum. Spa culture is huge — Vabali (Northern European spa) is a half-day experience. Berghain area for serious clubbing (year-round, naturally). Tempelhofer Feld for crisp cold walks. End every day at a kneipe (corner bar) with Glühwein.

Berlin sits inland on the North European Plain — no ocean to moderate temperatures. Continental climate means hot summers, cold winters, with extreme swings. 2019, 2022, 2023 all saw 38-40°C heatwaves; 2024 hit 36°C. Many flats lack AC because heatwaves are recent (urban planning still based on 1990s climate). Practical: stay in apartments with cross-ventilation, plan museums for hot afternoons, head to a lake (Wannsee, Müggelsee) early in the day. Heat-related hospital visits spike during these spells.