Location
Germany
Status
Unofficial / Tolerated
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Grass / lawn
Best season
May to September
About Halensee
The Halensee is a small Grunewald lake, about 5.7 hectares and up to 10 m deep, on the western edge of Berlin's Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district, just south of the Kurfürstendamm and the A100 city motorway. Most of its shore is private, but the north shore and southern tip are public. On the north side the sloping lawn of Friedenthalpark (named in 1997, formerly Halenseepark) runs down to the water, and this meadow is one of Berlin's best-known nude sunbathing spots: the district office calls it a popular nude bathing meadow and the city's tourism site says the park is used mainly by FKK fans. The setting is urban, with the motorway and apartment blocks close by, and the park also has a playground with a pirate ship in the park. The lake has no natural inflow and was long one of Berlin's most polluted waters; the lido closed in 2002, a rainwater filter plant opened in 2007, and swimming has been officially banned or restricted for much of the time since, so many people come only to sunbathe.
Getting there
Halensee is very easy to reach by public transport: S-Bahn stations Halensee (ring lines S41/S42, S46, S47) and Westkreuz (also S3, S5, S7, S9) are each about 700 m away, and buses M19, M29, X10 and 143 stop at Rathenauplatz, Herbertstraße and Bismarckplatz, 300-400 m from the lake. Parking in the surrounding residential streets is limited; public transport is the better option. The nude meadow is in Friedenthalpark on the north shore, along the Stadtautobahn. A lakeside path runs along part of the shore; the park slope is grass.
What visitors say
Berlin guides describe Halensee as a classic city nudist hangout: a sunbathing lawn where nude and partly clothed people mix. Reports highlight how central and easy to reach it is, but also the long-running doubts about water quality, with advice to avoid swimming after rain. Some visitors mainly sunbathe because of the swimming restrictions and fencing.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
Nudity is not illegal in Berlin's public green spaces unless it causes a public nuisance (§118 OWiG), and the nude meadow at Halensee is acknowledged by the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district office and visitBerlin but not formally designated. Swimming is the issue: the district says bathing in the lake has been banned since 2003; in 2019 a fence and bacteria warnings at the meadow shoreline were debated in the district assembly, and a 2023 press report said swimming had become possible again. Check current LAGeSo bathing-water status and signage before going in.
Naturism at Halensee sits under Germany's rules for de facto tolerance — usually left alone if you keep it non-sexual and low-drama.
Full country law: Germany public nudity guide.
Naturist status confirmed against an official source on 24 October 2026.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 52.4956, 13.2823
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in Germany
Frequently asked questions
Is nude sunbathing allowed at Halensee?
Yes, in practice. The Friedenthalpark meadow on the north shore is a long-established nude sunbathing area acknowledged by the district office and Berlin's tourism site, though not formally designated.
Can I swim in the Halensee?
Check first. The district has listed a bathing ban since 2003 because of water quality, while later reports say swimming became possible again at times. Follow on-site signs and LAGeSo water quality notices, and avoid swimming after heavy rain.
How do I get there?
Take the S-Bahn to Halensee or Westkreuz (about 700 m) or buses M19, M29, X10 or 143 to Rathenauplatz; the meadow is in Friedenthalpark next to the city motorway.
Are there facilities?
There are no beach facilities at the meadow; the park has a playground. The neighbouring private lido is separate.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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