St Patrick's Festival in Berlin
St Patrick's Festival in Berlin is not to be missed for anyone who loves lively street entertainment, live music, bright green costumes and fun! St Patrick's Day, the global celebration of Irish culture, takes place in multiple German cities, including, of course, Berlin.
St Patrick’s day international festivities in Berlin
Originally a church celebration, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) is Ireland’s national holiday and an occasion to honour and enjoy Irish culture globally, from New York to Beijing. The idea is very simple: go and mingle at an Irish bar wearing something green, whether it’s just a green t-shirt, a green clown wig or a full head-to-toe green costume. You’ll find crowds of people at any given Irish pub, plus some open-air locations!
The Irish Embassy in Berlin estimates that the Irish population of the German capital city is 1.700. The turnout each St. Patrick’s Day is considerably higher: it’s a merrymaking event of the people, inviting all walks of life to get together for some first-rate hullabaloo, whether you’re Irish or not, enjoying music, drinks and camaraderie together.
St Patrick's Day locations in Berlin
There's a lot of merriment in Berlin for the whole weekend, so you'll find that there's plenty to choose from. You can go for a usual German beer in your local pub, or you can go the extra mile for the weekend and immerse yourself in the energetic live music, Irish dancing and singing, with a pint of Guinness or a fine Irish whisky. Here's what's going on:
Turn Green
Every year, for St Patrick's Day, the Funkturm lights up green. The "Global Greening" project allows many sights and attractions internationally light up green for St Patrick's Day, and it is supported by Tourism Ireland. On St Patrick's Day, the 126 metre high observation platform landmark in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf is open for visitors from 11am-10pm.
Other St Patrick's Day venues in Berlin
Elsewhere in Berlin, Irish pubs are where it's all at. With the likelihood of high-quality live music in many of the pubs, be prepared to pay a small fee (usually around 5 euros) to get in. Here are the main ones where you're likely to find live music and a sea of green:
| Kilkenny Irish Pub in Mitte | General Post Office in Steglitz | The Double Inn Irish-Scottish Pub in Köpenick |
| Molly Malone Irish Pub in Friedrichshain | Sponholz Bar Pub in Schöneberg | Victoria Celtic Pub in Spandau |
| The Lir in Tiergarten | MacLaren’s Pub in Friedrichshain | Murphys Irish Pub in Mitte |
| Cliffs of Doneen in Prenzlauer Berg | Offside - Pub & Whisky Bar in Wedding | The Happy Pig in Friedrichshain |
| Blarney Pub in Kreuzberg | Loch Ness in Steglitz | Murphy's Irish Pub - Checkpoint Charlie in Kreuzberg |
| Shamrock Pub in Zehlendorf | Celtic Cottage in Steglitz | |
| Irish Pub Im Europa-Center in Charlottenburg | Tipperary Berlin in Wedding | |
| Finnegan's Irish Pub in Steglitz | The Irish Times in Mitte |
Getting to St Patrick's Day in Berlin
If you're arriving by public transportation or if you're driving, stay aware of the possible delays due to extra crowds, especially in Kreuzberg. Check out the official Berlin visitor information website for more details.