Berlin Pride 2025: Why This Is Europe's Most Unapologetically Loud & Proud Celebration

🔥 Sights, Flights & Boyfriends DESTINATION RATING:

Score: 🧑‍🤝‍🧑🧑‍🤝‍🧑🧑‍🤝‍🧑🧑‍🤝‍🧑🧑‍🤝‍🧑 (5/5)
Short Summary: Loud, Political, Techno-Fuelled Perfection ✈️

Why Berlin Pride Should Be Top of Your Travel List

The bass hits you first. Not from speakers, from your chest. We're standing 100 metres from our hotel door on Wallstraße, and the opening trucks of Berlin Pride are already shaking the pavement. It's 11:47am on a Saturday in July, and the city is about to spend the next eight hours being unapologetically, brilliantly, defiantly queer.

Here's what nobody tells you about Berlin Pride: you don't watch it. You're in it. Beer in hand, dancing between trucks, stepping out when you're knackered, rejoining when the perfect house track pulls you back. This year's theme, "Never be silent again," brought around 80 trucks with 100 different groups marching for diversity, human rights, and protection of minorities. And unlike other Pride events we've covered, including São Paulo, Berlin's parade feels less like a procession and more like a moving protest party that refuses to shut up.

We've been coming to Berlin for over a decade. Lost count of the exact number of trips, but it's somewhere north of 15. Every season, every reason—Christmas markets, club openings, long weekends, and yes, Pride. And after 10+ years, we're still not bored. That tells you everything you need to know.

Our Story: A Decade of Berlin Obsession
Berlin Pride Experience: Why It's Different
Gay Nightlife & Social Scene
Beyond the Bars: Berlin's Queer Culture
Where to Stay: Our Radisson Love Story
LGBTQ+ Safety & Practical Reality
Day Trips & Adventures
Food, Drink & People-Watching
FAQ
Quick Travel Guide
Final Thoughts

Our Story: First Pride, Tenth+ Visit

Let's be clear: we're not first-timers in Berlin. We're that annoying couple who knows which U-Bahn line connects to which late-night club, where to grab the best Currywurst at 4am, and exactly how long it takes to Lime scooter from Radisson Park Plaza to Berghain's door (17 minutes, for the record).

But this was our first Berlin Pride. The timing was tight—we'd burned through most of our holiday allowance already and were heading back to Berlin again in September anyway. A quick trip, but necessary. Because when you love a city this much, you find excuses.

We checked into our go-to spot: Radisson Blu Park Plaza on Wallstraße. It's not the fanciest hotel in Berlin, but it ticks every box that matters to us. Great U-Bahn access. Close enough to Tiergarten for hangover recovery lounging. Perfectly positioned for Lime scooter runs to Kreuzberg or Friedrichshain. And thanks to our Radisson Rewards VIP status, we scored a room upgrade and free breakfast on arrival—small wins that add up over a long weekend.

The morning of Pride, we stepped out the hotel door and immediately heard the music. The parade route literally started around the corner. We hadn't planned that. Pure luck. The best kind.

Berlin Pride: Why It's Europe's Best Parade (Fight Us) {#pride-experience}

Walking IN the Parade (Yes, Really)

Most Pride parades have barriers. Berlin doesn't care. You can literally walk alongside the trucks, weave between floats, join a group for 20 minutes, grab a Späti beer, leave the parade entirely, and rejoin three streets later. It's chaotic, democratic, and exactly what Pride should feel like: accessible to everyone, not just the people on the floats.

We spent most of the afternoon bouncing between trucks. Some were pumping hard techno (our love language). Others had drag queens throwing glitter and shouting political slogans. A few had protest signs bigger than the trucks themselves.

The political edge was sharp this year, with anti-fascist messaging front and centre. Signs reading "Queer against the right," "Love is resistance," and "No space for hate" weren't just decorative. They felt urgent. Berlin's queer community isn't performing activism—they're living it.

The Techno Factor

If you're into house and techno, Berlin Pride is your spiritual home. Multiple trucks featured DJs spinning absolute bangers, and the sound systems rivalled some of the clubs we've been to. At one point, we found ourselves sandwiched between two trucks—one playing deep house, one pumping hard techno—and the crossover was genuinely brilliant.

The vibe was sweaty, loud, colourful, and unapologetically horny. Exactly what Pride should be.

💡 TIP: Bring a portable phone charger. You'll be filming, photographing, and texting mates to find you in the crowd. Battery drains fast.

After-Parade Parties

Once the parade wrapped (around 7pm), the party moved to Schöneberg and Kreuzberg. Bars overflowed onto the streets. Impromptu dance circles formed on corners. Someone set up decks outside a Späti and just… kept going.

We hit up several spots in the gay district (more on those below) before eventually Lime-ing to a proper club around midnight. The energy never dropped.

Berlin's gay scene is legendary. But here's the hard truth: gentrification is eating it alive. Over our 10+ years visiting, we've watched venues close, spaces shrink, and neighbourhoods shift. It's happening slowly, but it's happening.

Berghain & Panorama Bar

Let's start with the obvious. Berghain traces its roots to the influential gay club Ostgut, which closed in 2003, leading to Berghain's opening in 2004 in a former power plant. It's technically not a gay club anymore—it's morphed into something more polysexual and globally iconic—but its queer DNA is undeniable.

Getting in is famously unpredictable. We've been rejected in full leather and waved through in trainers. The door policy is theatre, intimidation, and crowd control all rolled into one surly bouncer. But when you do get in? The sound system alone justifies the effort. The huge main floor pumps hard techno, while upstairs Panorama Bar offers a slightly more civilised house music vibe with excellent city views.

We've spent countless mornings stumbling out of Berghain at 11am, blinking in the daylight like confused vampires. The Lime scooter ride back to Radisson, through empty Sunday streets, is always surreal.

Getting there: Lime scooter from Radisson Park Plaza to Berghain = 17 minutes. Do not attempt this journey on foot after 12 hours of clubbing.

Tom's Bar (Or Whatever It's Called Now)

Tom's Bar is a legendary gay cruise club in Schöneberg, known for free admission, techno and house DJs, and a very cruisy darkroom atmosphere. Officially, it's been renamed. To us? It'll always be Tom's Bar. Names change, but the vibe doesn't.

It's the kind of place where you show up at 2am, leave at 6am, and can't quite remember what happened but you're oddly OK with that. Sticky floors, cheap drinks, unpretentious crowd. If Berghain is Berlin's global face, Tom's is its grubby, beloved heartbeat.

Other Scene Staples

Connection Club: Mixed crowd, multiple floors, different music zones. Great if you want variety without committing to one vibe all night.

Ficken 3000: Satirical name, serious fun. Small, sweaty, unpretentious. Thursday nights are particularly popular.

SchwuZ: One of Berlin's oldest queer clubs. More mainstream, less cruisy, but solid DJs and a reliably good time.

Heile Welt: Tiny bar in Kreuzberg with a cult following. Not exclusively gay, but queer-friendly and full of regulars who've been coming for years.

⚠️ REALITY CHECK: Several venues we loved in 2015 are gone. GMF closed. Some parties moved, others disappeared entirely. Berlin's nightlife is constantly shifting. What's hot now might be history next year. Go while you can.

Beyond the Bars: Berlin's Queer Culture & Hidden Gems {#queer-culture}

Schöneberg: The Queer Heartbeat

Schöneberg is where Berlin's modern LGBTQ+ movement was born. The rainbow crossings are Instagram-famous for a reason, but the real magic is in the side streets—bookshops with queer lit sections, tiny cafés where regulars know each other's names, vintage shops run by drag queens.

David & David is our favourite spot for coffee, lunch, and shameless people-watching. It's a café-bar hybrid in the heart of the gay district with outdoor seating perfect for recovering from the night before. The staff are friendly, the coffee's good, and you'll see everyone from leather daddies to elegant older queens passing by.

Tiergarten: Hangover Recovery HQ

After Pride, we spent Sunday afternoon sprawled on the grass in Tiergarten. It's massive, central, and filled with locals doing the same thing: lying in the sun, eating snacks from a backpack, trying to remember their own names.

There are walking paths, lakes, monuments, and enough space that it never feels crowded. Perfect for when you've danced for 16 hours and need to stare at clouds for a while.

Teufelsberg: Cold War Spy Station Turned Street Art Gallery

Teufelsberg is a former Cold War listening station used by American intelligence to spy on East Berlin and the Soviet Union. The site is built on top of a half-constructed Nazi military school designed by Hitler's architect Albert Speer, making it one of Berlin's most layered historical sites.

Today, it's abandoned but accessible via guided tours. The site now hosts one of Europe's largest street art galleries, with breathtaking views of Berlin from the top. The graffiti-covered radar domes are genuinely eerie and beautiful. We spent an afternoon wandering through, taking photos, and marvelling at how Berlin turns even its most sinister history into art.

Getting there: Take the S-Bahn to either Heerstraße or Grunewald station, then walk roughly 30 minutes (just over 2km) to the entrance. Wear comfortable shoes. It's worth the trek.

Grünwald Beach (Wannsee)

Berlin has a beach. Sort of. Wannsee is technically a lake, but on a hot day, it might as well be the Mediterranean. Sandy shores, clear water, beach bars, and a distinctly relaxed vibe. We spent an afternoon here between Pride and our flight home, swimming and trying to avoid sunburn (unsuccessfully).

It's popular with queer crowds, especially on weekends, and makes for a brilliant contrast to the industrial grit of the club scene.

Where to Stay: Radisson Blu Park Plaza on Wallstraße {#where-to-stay}

We've stayed at Radisson Blu Park Plaza at least five times now. It's become our default Berlin base, and here's why:

Location

Wallstraße is perfectly positioned between Mitte and Kreuzberg. You're on a U-Bahn line that connects directly to Schöneberg, Friedrichshain, and most of the venues we care about. Five-minute walk to Museum Island. Ten-minute scooter ride to Kreuzberg bars. Close enough to Tiergarten for easy hangover recovery.

During Pride, we literally stepped out the door and heard the opening trucks. You can't plan that kind of luck.

The Radisson Rewards Advantage

Here's a lifestyle tip that actually saves money: join hotel loyalty schemes. Radisson Rewards is free, and hitting VIP status isn't that difficult if you travel semi-regularly. We got a room upgrade on arrival and free breakfast every morning—easily £30+ per day in value.

Loyalty programmes aren't sexy, but they're practical. Especially when you're spending Pride weekend recovering from four hours of sleep.

The Vibe

It's a business hotel during the week, but weekends skew more leisure. Staff are efficient and friendly without being overbearing. Rooms are clean, modern, quiet. Nothing fancy, but everything you need.

Price range: £100-150/night depending on season and availability.

Book here: Direct through Radisson Rewards for best rates and points accumulation.

LGBTQ+ Safety & Practical Reality in Berlin {#safety}

Is Berlin Gay-Friendly?

Short answer: yes. Longer answer: yes, but with complexity.

Germany has strong LGBTQ+ protections. Same-sex marriage is legal. Discrimination is illegal. Berlin, specifically, has been a queer cultural capital since the Weimar era (read up on Magnus Hirschfeld if you want your heart broken by history).

But. And there's always a but. The political climate is shifting. The far-right has been pushing back against Pride events, with some politicians restricting rainbow flags and making statements that queer life doesn't belong in Germany. This year's Pride theme—"Never be silent again"—wasn't chosen randomly.

In Schöneberg, Kreuzberg, and Friedrichshain, you'll feel completely comfortable holding hands, kissing, being yourself. In outer suburbs or certain neighbourhoods, maybe not. Use the same common sense you'd use anywhere: read the room, trust your gut.

Our Personal Experience

In 10+ years, we've never felt unsafe in Berlin as a gay couple. We've held hands on the U-Bahn. Kissed in parks. Been aggressively, obviously queer in public. Zero incidents.

That said, we're two white, cisgender men. If you're trans, non-binary, a person of colour, or otherwise more visibly marginalised, your experience may differ. Berlin is better than most cities, but it's not perfect.

Safety Tips for LGBTQ+ Travellers

Stick to known queer-friendly areas at night: Schöneberg, Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Neukölln.

U-Bahn vs taxis: We use Lime scooters constantly because they're fast, cheap, and fun. If you're not comfortable with that, U-Bahn runs 24 hours on weekends and feels safe. Taxis and Ubers are abundant.

Trust Berlin's queer community: If something feels off, locals will step in. We've seen it happen.

Download the Raddar and Grindr apps: Not just for hookups—they're useful for finding pop-up parties and seeing which venues are busy on any given night.

Day Trips & Adventures Beyond the Clubs {#day-trips}

Potsdam & Sanssouci Palace

40 minutes from Berlin, Potsdam is a different world—royal palaces, formal gardens, cobblestone streets. Sanssouci Palace is the main attraction, but honestly, we preferred wandering the gardens with a Späti beer and some snacks.

Spreewald

If you want nature without flying somewhere else, Spreewald is a network of waterways and forests about an hour south. Rent a kayak, paddle through channels, eat pickles (it's a thing), and pretend you're not still hearing techno in your head from three nights ago.

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial

Heavy, necessary, and profoundly affecting. Berlin doesn't shy away from its history. This site, about an hour north, is a sobering reminder of what happens when fascism wins. Given the current rise in far-right rhetoric, it feels more relevant than ever.

Food, Drink & People-Watching in Berlin {#food-scene}

We're not covering sit-down restaurants in this post—that's a separate guide. But cafés and casual spots? Absolutely.

David & David

Already mentioned, but worth repeating. Best people-watching in Schöneberg. Great coffee, solid brunch, outdoor seating. Go on Sunday morning and watch the parade aftermath unfold.

KaDeWe Food Hall

KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) is one of Europe's largest department stores. The top floor has a gourmet food hall that's genuinely worth the visit. Our tradition: hit up the cheese counter, order a ridiculous selection, grab a bottle of wine, and sit at one of the high tables overlooking Ku'damm.

It's bougie, it's expensive, it's absolutely worth doing once per trip.

Späti Culture

Berlin's Spätis (late-night corner shops) are institutions. Open late, stocked with cheap beer and snacks, and staffed by people who've seen it all. We've had some of our best Berlin conversations standing outside a Späti at 3am, drinking €1.50 Pilsner with strangers who became friends.

Currywurst

Look, it's a sausage with curry ketchup. It shouldn't be this good. It is. Our favourite spot is Curry 36 in Kreuzberg, but honestly, most places do it well. Essential post-club fuel.

FAQ: Berlin Pride & Gay Berlin {#faq}

Is Berlin Pride the best Pride in Europe?

We think so. It's loud, political, unapologetically queer, and you can walk IN the parade with a beer. Cape Town Pride is incredible too, but for sheer techno-fuelled chaos, Berlin wins.

When is Berlin Pride 2025?

The 47th Berlin Pride took place on July 26, 2025. Future dates are typically the last Saturday in July, but check the official CSD Berlin website closer to the time.

Do I need to speak German?

Nope. Berlin is extremely English-friendly, especially in queer spaces and central areas. That said, learning a few phrases ("Danke," "Bitte," "Ein Bier, bitte") goes a long way.

What's the dress code for Berlin clubs?

Berghain: dark clothes, leather, minimal branding. Somewhere between "I might be going to a sex party" and "I just came from a funeral." Other clubs are more relaxed. When in doubt, all black.

Can I take photos in clubs?

No. Cameras are taped over at most venues. Berghain will literally kick you out. Respect the no-photo policy—it protects everyone's privacy and keeps the vibe uninhibited.

Is Berlin expensive?

Compared to London, it's cheap. Compared to Eastern Europe, it's moderate. A beer costs €3-5. Club entry is €10-20. Dinner for two is £40-60. It's affordable if you're not staying in five-star hotels and eating Michelin meals every night.

How's the weather in July?

Usually warm (20-28°C), but unpredictable. We've had blazing sunshine and random thunderstorms. Pack layers, sunscreen, and a light rain jacket just in case.

Quick Travel Guide to Berlin {#quick-guide}

Money & Costs

Currency: Euro (€)
Average daily budget: €80-120 (accommodation, food, transport, drinks)
ATMs: Everywhere. Cards widely accepted.
Tipping: Round up in cafés, 10% in restaurants if service was good

Getting Around

U-Bahn/S-Bahn: Efficient, runs 24 hours on weekends
Lime scooters: Our go-to for late-night club hopping (17 minutes from Radisson to Berghain!)
Walking: Berlin is massive but surprisingly walkable if you pace yourself
Taxis/Uber: Available, but unnecessary most of the time

When to Visit

Pride: Last Saturday in July
Best weather: May-September
Christmas markets: December (magical and camp)
Clubbing season: Year-round, but summer brings open-air parties

What to Pack

Comfortable shoes (you'll walk miles)
All-black club outfit (mandatory for Berghain attempts)
Sunscreen (German sun hits harder than you think)
Portable charger
Reusable water bottle
Light jacket for unpredictable weather

Language & Culture

English proficiency: High, especially in tourist/queer areas
Berlin attitude: Direct, efficient, no-nonsense. Don't expect fake smiles, but do expect honesty and competence
Punctuality: Germans are stereotypically on time. Berliners… less so

Must-Try Experiences (Top 5)

Walk IN the Pride parade with a beer
Lose yourself in Berghain (if you get in)
Späti beer at 3am with strangers
KaDeWe cheese board overlooking Ku'damm
Sunrise on Panorama Bar's terrace

Final Thoughts: Why Berlin Keeps Pulling Us Back

We've been to a lot of cities. Loved a lot of places. But Berlin is the only one we've returned to 15+ times and still aren't bored.

It's not the prettiest city. It's gritty, graffitied, occasionally chaotic. But it's real in a way most major cities aren't. The queer community here isn't performing for tourists—they're living their lives, making art, throwing parties, protesting fascism, and refusing to be silent.

Berlin Pride encapsulates everything we love about this city: loud, political, inclusive, messy, and unapologetically itself. The 2025 theme, "Never be silent again," felt urgent and necessary—a reminder that Pride isn't just a party. It's resistance.

If you're looking for the best Pride in Europe, come to Berlin. If you're into techno and house music, come to Berlin. If you want a city that lets you be exactly who you are without apology, come to Berlin.

We'll be back in September. And probably December. And definitely next Pride.

Travel with us, always with love and a little luxe 🌈✈️

Related Reading:

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YouTube: Watch our Berlin Pride 2025 vlog [coming soon]

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