7 of the Best Sites for Camping in Berlin

Of course, you can’t just pitch a tent anywhere in Germany, where wild camping is strictly prohibited. However, Berlin’s setting in the breathtakingly beautiful Spree valley means there’s no shortage of stunning campsites. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful woodland place to set up your tent or a fully equipped lakefront campground with everything you need for a fun-filled family RV holiday, discover some of the best camping Berlin, Germany has to offer.

If the idea of lake camping in Berlin appeals, Campingplatz Flakensee is a great choice. Located on the eastern shore of the Flakensee, on a sandy beach with safe swimming and nearby pedal and row boat rentals, it’s 50 minutes southeast of the city centre. Don’t have a car? You can walk to nearby Woltersdorfer tram stop and connect to Potsdamer Platz in the same amount of time. The campsite offers 120 grassy pitches for tents and motorhomes, with electricity and waste disposal available. It’s ideal for summer holidays spent kayaking, fishing or sailing, with a kids’ playground right on site and a season that runs from April 1 to October 31. 

Location: Flakensee

Amenities: Beach, playground, bathroom and laundry facilities, electricity, waste disposal

Type: Tent, motorhomes

Dogs allowed: Yes

Also located 50 minutes southeast of the city centre, Campingplatz Krossinsee offers camping near Schmöckwitz, Berlin – a region renowned for its lush lake and forest scenery. This campsite is ideal for water sports enthusiasts, with its own boat harbour and a rental facility for motorboats and kayaks. Choose from 400 lakeside, meadow or pine forest pitches, and benefit from a whole host of amenities ranging from a bakery and restaurant to a leisure club and children’s adventure playground. Tents and motorhomes are welcome, and there are holiday homes available as well. Looking for winter camping in Berlin? This site is open all year round.

Location: Krossinsee

Amenities: Harbour, playground, leisure club, restaurant, WiFi, bathroom and laundry facilities, electricity, waste disposal

Type: Tents, motorhomes, holiday homes

Dogs allowed: Yes

Located in the same beautiful, lake-bound area as Campingplatz Krossinsee, Campingplatz Kuhle Wampe sits on the shores of the Grosse Krampe inlet. A top spot for Berlin tent camping, it’s a seasonal site exclusively for those under canvas, making it a quieter alternative to many on this list. And, with a volunteer-run, traditional vibe, it still feels a lot like the summer camp for kids that it was for many years following the end of WWII. There are basic shower and toilet facilities, a beer garden and restaurant, and grills available for rent. Finally, though there’s no free camping in Berlin, this is the closest you’ll get with some very reasonable rates. 

Location: Große Krampe

Amenities: Restaurant, bathroom facilities

Type: Tents only

Dogs allowed: Yes 

A 50-minute drive southwest of the city takes you to DCC Campingplatz Kladow, Berlin’s top choice for cycle tourers thanks to its location directly on the Berlin Wall Cycle Path. The site offers the solitude of the forest, as well as easy on-foot access to two idyllic bathing lakes. A communal kitchen (with free dishwashers) and a Berlin camp shop stocked with groceries make life easy for those who like to self-cater, while the restaurant provides meals whenever you don’t feel like cooking. Other useful amenities at this year-round campsite include an accessible sanitary building complete with a baby room, laundry facilities and showers.          

Location: Kladow

Amenities: Bathing lakes, restaurant, grocery shop, kitchen, WiFi, bathroom and laundry facilities, electricity, waste disposal

Type: Tents, motorhomes

Dogs allowed: Yes

This picturesque site on the edge of Mahlow village gives you the best of both worlds – a rural idyll surrounded by rolling fields, and the ability to reach Brandenburger Tor within 30 minutes. Tents and motorhomes are welcome at Camping bei Berlin am Mahlower See, on large grassy pitches with neat hedge borders. With fewer than 100 available, the campsite has an intimate, family-run atmosphere, but still offers all the amenities you’d expect of a bigger operation. These include a modern sanitary building with cooking and cleaning facilities, a sandy playground and free WiFi. You’re less than 100 metres from the local bathing lake and restaurant. 

Location: Mahlow

Amenities: Playground, camp kiosk, kitchen, WiFi, bathroom and laundry facilities, electricity, waste disposal

Type: Tents, motorhomes, holiday homes

Dogs allowed: Yes

For an option north of Berlin, try Berliner Camping-Club e.V. Bürgerablage. It’s situated 45 minutes by car from the city centre, in a gorgeous setting on the shores of the Havel river in the Spandau Forest. There’s a nearby bathing beach, while many of the grassy pitches boast shade-giving trees. This site is only suitable for tents and towed caravans, since parking is in an adjacent public car park. It’s also relatively rustic in terms of facilities due to local nature conservation laws. Highlights include a jetty, a kids’ playground, and a local restaurant serving German home-style cuisine. The site stays open from April to September. 

Location: Bürgerablage

Amenities: Beach, jetty, playground, bathroom and laundry facilities

Type: Tents and caravans

Dogs allowed: Yes

For a peaceful retreat within the city, consider Campingplatz Berlin-Gatow. It's located about 40 minutes west of Berlin's city centre, beautifully positioned along the banks of the Havel River. The site offers both tent and caravan pitches, some of which are nestled under the shade of leafy trees. Despite being within the city, you're guaranteed a rustic camping experience due to the preservation of its natural surroundings. The site is well-equipped with modern amenities and offers numerous recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing, and a playground for the little ones. The campsite is open from March to October.

Location: Berlin-Gatow

Amenities: Playground, bathroom and laundry facilities, boating, fishing

Type: Tents and caravans

Dogs allowed: Yes            

No matter which of these sites appeals to you, be sure to book in advance because spaces can fill up quickly in summer. If you can’t secure a pitch in time for your next trip (or if the weather forecast just isn’t cooperating), you could consider a room at a Berlin hotel with some of the same benefits. ibis Styles Berlin Treptow offers affordability on the banks of the River Spree, while Mercure Hotel Berlin City West has a leafy swimming pool and terrace and is ideally located for exploring Grunewald Forest.