Review: Treptower Park

Let’s start big picture. What’s the vibe here?Summer in Berlin is a sunny afternoon whiled away in Treptower Park along the banks of the Spree River. Berliners head here en masse after winter’s hibernation to picnic and drink Spati beers in the park’s wide expanses—and there’s plenty of room to hold them all, with 207 acres of green space. Those feeling a little more active head to the park for running or walking; tourists come to catch a Stern und Kreis City Tour by boat that departs from the food-stall-lined riverside jetty. This being Berlin, there’s some serious history behind it (the Soviet War Memorial is a cemetery for 5,000 Soviet soldiers), and stargazers should check out the Archenhold Sternwarte, which boasts the world’s longest refracting telescope.

Any standout features or must-sees?The one thing not to miss? A sunny lunch of flammkuchen (a type of flatbread) and vividly green Waldmeister beer (a Berliner Weisse with woodruff syrup) from the biergarten on Insel der Jugend, accessible from the park by a charming towered bridge—or rent a boat, complete with barbecue, for a few idyllic hours on the water with friends.

Was it easy to get around?The park is large and sprawling, but accessible at multiple points thanks to great bus connections and a dedicated S-Bahn stop. Pathways are fairly well-marked, but it might be easiest to have a friend drop a pin to find them. When you need a break, it's easy to find a spot to spread out a picnic blanket or put your feet up at a cafe or at the Insel's biergarten.

All said and done, what—and who—is this best for?It's a great place for families, who can spend an afternoon playing and picnicking in the park. It's also a hit with those on a budget: Just swing by a grocery store or Spati on the way here for some cheap beers and snacks. Those who are older or have trouble walking might find the park a bit tiring in terms of getting from the transit access points into its interior, but there are benches and places to rest along the paths.