Summer has finally decided to grace Berlin with its presence. To celebrate such a joyous occasion,…read moreI decided to head out to Krumme Lanke. An afternoon spent with a good book and a bag of crisps by the water--what more could a girl, plagued with the unavailability of an air conditioned apartment, want? Unfortunately--half of the city felt the same way. Therefore, half of the city was also plopped on the banks of the lake. Note to self for the next time? Arrive early to beat the crowd. By the time we got to the lake (around 12:30 on a Friday afternoon), most of the prime real estate was pretty much already settled in. The silver lining? We had the opportunity to enjoy a nice stroll around the circumference of the lake. We eventually found a nice shady spot a good 10 minutes from the entrance. Coming from the beachy state of California, the banks of the lake were far harder than I expected, but it wasn't anything that I couldn't get used to. As for the water, it was cold enough to shock you upon submersion, but not cold enough to dissuade you from staying submerged. On a 90F/32C day like today? It was an absolute blessing. As for the environment? I'd say the area we were at was pretty child-dense. It was rowdy and rambunctious in the most youthful and innocent kind of way. I wouldn't recommend bringing any serious reading or work, as you probably won't be able to rack up enough minutes of undisturbed focus to get any of it done or read, but leisurely light reading was absolutely perfect. I'm speaking from experience. We managed in a good few hours of water-play, journaling, reading, and casual-conversing, before the sun shifted and shone directly on us. It was essentially our cue to go. If you absolutely abhor the crowds, feel free to stay in the comfort of your own home. If you can't stand the heat--try the shopping centers. If you're more than willing to not only tolerate, but also embrace the crowds, in other words, if you're one with that more-the-merrier mentality, follow half the city to Krumme Lanke. The good times will be worth your while!

Very accessible lake in Zehlendorf for swimming and hiking/running around. I've run and biked…read moreseveral times there in all weather and seasons and the trails hold up to bad weather quite well. It's never too crowded, but usually always someone within eyesight. Can get a little crowded in the summer on the beaches, though almost always fewer people than at Schlachtensee next door. The water at the beaches on the side of the lake furthest from the Schlachtensee side is clear and clean... it looks to get a little murkier in the W or SW side of the lake. The big downside is the trash at the beaches, especially on weekend mornings during warmer weather. Clearly the area offers a sense of remoteness without being too far away from public transportation, so it's a gathering place for late night grilling and drinking... by people who have no intention of cleaning up after themselves. If you get to the area before BSR does, expect a field of beer bottles and pizza boxes to greet you -- but arrive a little later in the day and you can usually avoid this unpleasantness.