Early Berlin Blossom🌸
The Berlin blossom season is finally here!
In this blog post, I’m going to tell you where you can find the first blooms of spring in Berlin and how to photograph them best :) Let’s go!
1. Crocus Field - Biesdorf Palace
Spring in Berlin always starts with the crocus flowers on the ground. Mostly at the end of February, the little yellow or purple flowers are the first sign that the bloom season is around the corner. I always check for flowers first in my neighborhood. Once I spot them, I make my way to the crocus field at Biesdorf Palace.
Biesdorf Palace is located to the east of Berlin. You can take the S5 or S7 and get off at Biesdorf. After that, just follow the signs along the way, and as you enter through the gates, a mild flower scent greets you :) I didn’t know crocuses had a scent! Since I usually see them in small groups, I never noticed the fragrance, but when there are thousands of them, they smell really nice. Yes, thousands! This place is so magical, with the whole ground colored purple. If you're lucky, the sun will shine through the big trees, creating a beautiful light on the flowers. It seems heavenly.
Crocus Flowers @Biesdorf Palace shot on Canon EOS R6 24-105mm
The flowers are mostly around 10 cm tall, and to photograph these little babies, you need to get down low.
Since the soil is usually wet, your knees and elbows will get dirty, so maybe avoid wearing your favorite jeans :) But making yourself dirty to create art feels great, I promise!
2. Pink Cherry Blossom Street - Schwedter Straße
About two to three weeks after the crocus season, cherry blossom season arrives. Last year, it was in mid-March when we saw the first blooms.
The first blooming cherry blossoms of Berlin are located on Schwedter Straße, next to Mauerpark. If you search for Schwedter Straße on Maps, you’ll notice it’s quite a long street, and the map won't take you directly to the trees. To reach them, you can either walk through Mauerpark towards Schwedter Steg, or take the S41/42 to Gesundbrunnen, then walk through Schwedter Steg. At the end of the street, you’ll find the pink cherry blossoms.
Cherry Blossom Street shot on Canon EOS R6 24-105mm
A couple of tips for photographing them:
When you stand at the end of the street near Schwedter Steg, you can capture the flowers with the TV Tower in the background, like the one above.
This street is quite famous, and if you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to go early. The morning sun will hit the trees since they face east. I wasn’t so lucky because there was no sun that day, but still, the photos turned out really nice :)
Again, if you want to avoid the crowds, try not to go on a Sunday, since there’s a huge flea market in Mauerpark, making it extra crowded, especially in the early hours.
3. White Cherry Blossoms - Oberbaumbrücke
This was the last stop for me during early spring in Berlin last year.
When you take the train to Warschauer Straße and walk towards Oberbaumbrücke, the white cherry blossoms are on the right side.
These are hands down the most beautiful cherry blossoms I’ve ever seen. The flowers are a pinkish-white, and the trees are literally exploding with blooms.
Cherry Blossom Tree @Oberbaumbrücke shot on Canon EOS R6 24-105mm
If you go there during golden hour (1 hour before sunset), you’ll see the trees bathed in the most beautiful light. You can photograph them with the bridge in the background and wait for the train! I promise it’s worth it :) The trains come frequently, and the train windows will reflect the sunlight, adding a nice touch to your photos.
You can also photograph them when the sun is a bit higher, around 3-4 pm. The results with that light are also beautiful.
Oberbaumbrücke shot on Canon EOS R6 24-105mm
Other Locations
I visited only these three locations last spring, but I have more places on my list this year:
Prenzlauer Berg – Zeiss Großplanetarium: The trees here bloom at the same time as those on Schwedter Straße.
Gärten der Welt: Check the opening day of the Japanese Garden, usually at the end of March. Cherry Blossom Festival (Kirchblütenfest) this year is on 05.04.2025-06.04.2025
After the early blossoms, it’s time for these locations to bloom:
TV-Asahi Cherry Blossom Avenue
Otto Lilienthal Park
Bornholmer Straße
Let me know if you visit any of these places, or maybe discover new ones!
I’d love to see your photos as well 🌸
Love ♥︎