Planning to holiday on the balcony this year? Or are you still looking for the perfect inspiration for a weekend trip in and around Berlin? Don’t worry, we have something perfect for you – here comes part 2 of our summer tips, selected for you by the Konzerthausorchester!

The Dahlem Botanical Garden was established at the turn of the 20th century and is one of the largest in the world. Cellist Andreas Timm has found his “personal nature paradise” there: “There is hardly any other place in Berlin where can you escape the hustle and bustle of the big city and immerse yourself in a completely different world. The organic farm Domäne Dahlem is in the neighbourhood.” Oboist Daniel Wohlgemuth enjoys going there: “A country estate in the midst of the city – and Grunewald Forest with its numerous lakes is not far away either.” Grunewald Forest and Grunewald Lake are also recommended by violist Pei-Yi Wu and cellist JaeWon Song as a refuge in the big city.

Principal oboist Michaela Kuntz likes to keep an outlook from the Teufelsberg. This hill of debris and rubble climbs over 100 metres high in the west of Berlin: “I enjoy the beautiful views of Berlin from up there on one side and the green sea of Grunewald Forest on the other.”

Principal timpanist Mark Voermans comes from the Netherlands and feels right at home in Spandau’s Little Venice: “It’s just beautiful there, particularly in the summer. Although this nature reserve, criss-crossed by canals, is only an hour’s cycle from Mitte, you have the feeling of being in a completely different world.” Concertmaster Andreas Finsterbusch also enjoys biking on tours along the Panke: “On its short path from its source near Bernau to its mouth in the Spree at Schiffbauerdamm, the Panke flows through precious natural refuges and open, inviting landscapes. Where people settled close by, a ribbon of paths and trails has emerged that invite you to walk, hike, cycle or linger and enjoy the silence.”

And when the new season gets underway again in late August, principal cellist Friedemann Ludwig has another special tip: “After our concerts, I often walk over to Hackescher Markt with my cello on my back. Unter den Linden, the Altes Museum and the Berlin Cathedral are frequently deserted then. They radiate a great sense of calm, like ancient trees. Especially in the rain, this path is like a power centre for me. Then I move on and join the party at Hackescher Markt.”