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The 19th-century Botanical Garden is a paradise of flowers and plants in the centre of town. The vast area with 15 greenhouses was built in the late 19th century around gentle hills and picturesque ponds. In the Great Palm House by Alfred Koerner you can see spectacular orchids and giant Victoria water lilies, reaching a diameter of over 2 m (6 ft). The museum introduces visitors to the world of microbiology.

The Palace in Britz, dating from 1706, has been furnished with historical furniture from the Gründerzeit (after 1871). It is situated in a lovely park that invites visitors for a rest.

Covering 766 ha (1,900 acres), Berlin’s largest lake is situated in the far southeast of the city. Berliners have nicknamed it the “large bathtub” – a good description, for thousands of Berliners congregate here in the heat of summer for a refreshing dip. You can also row, sail or surf on the lake (see Berlin’s Southeast) .

Tiergarten – the green lungs of Berlin – is the most famous park in the city. It covers an area of 203 ha (500 acres) and is situated right in the centre of town. Originally designed, in 1833–40, by Peter Joseph Lenné as a hunting estate for the Elector, in the latter half of the 19th century the park became a recreation ground for all Berliners. Today it attracts a happy crowd of cyclists, joggers, sunbathers and Turkish families having barbecues, especially at weekends.

Wannsee has long been a popular destination for Berliners, and it is well worth visiting Strandbad Wannsee. Europe’s largest inland beach, it attracts some 40,000 visitors a day who sunbathe on its beautifully white, artificial beach and swim in the lake. This is also a great place for people-watching, and in the summer you will see yachts, wind surfers and jet skis. In the middle of the large lake is Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island), which can be reached on the whale-shaped “Moby Dick” ferry.

The Grunewald, or “green forest” as the public woods in the southwest of Berlin were known originally, is the least built-up area of woodland in the city. Parts of Grunewald are very quiet and isolated indeed, and there are even wild boar in the woods – which can be a nuisance to people who have gardens in the nearby district of Zehlendorf. Grunewald is excellent for hiking and horse-riding.

Although Krumme Lanke is commonly thought not to be clean enough for bathing, some people now think otherwise. In fact, it seems cleaner (though also colder) than the water in Schlachtensee.

Built in 1845–50, this is Berlin’s oldest artificial waterway. The canal connects the Upper and the Lower Spree, running east to west through the western part of the centre. Take a boat trip along the canal and you will see some of Berlin’s most attractive bridges. At some places, it is possible to lie on the green banks of the canal in the middle of the city, for example at the Paul-Lincke-Ufer in Kreuzberg.

The Bohemian population of Charlottenburg considers this their “local lake”. It is not suitable for swimming, but idyllic meadows around the lake are ideally suited for sunbathing and snoozing. The shaded lakeside walks in the middle of the city are also popular with dog owners. In the evening, the few cafés on the east side offer a great view of the illuminated Funkturm.

Visitors will be surprised to discover the tranquil New Lake in the middle of the city, well hidden at the western end of the vast Großer Tiergarten park. On its banks is the Café am Neuen See (see Restaurants & Cafés) . A boat trip or a walk around the lake is a pleasant way to while away the day.