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Freestyle swimming beginner courses?
I'm an okay-ish breaststroke swimmer. Could an experienced swimmer tell me if I
should first improve by breaststroke technique
or first learn freestyle swimming?
And,… Hi guys, and happy new year!
I'm an okay-ish breaststroke swimmer. Could an experienced swimmer tell me if I
should first improve by breaststroke technique
or first learn freestyle swimming?
And, even more importantly, can you recommend any employee-friendly (not during working hours) group courses for grown-ups, not too far outside of the city? I wasn't able to find much, unfortunately...
To help you answer my question: my goals are
to become a more efficient swimmer for safety reasons when swimming on a lake/outside where there is no shore nearby, since I am already exhausted after 150-200m
to be able to make use of indoor swimming pools recreationally/as a workout and, again, not be frustrated and exhausted after 150m.
Thank you so much!!!
If you're comfortable enough in the water to not panic, I'd say go straight to freestyle. Breaststroke technique can be refined later, but the efficiency you get from even basic freestyle will save your energy way more on a lake. Your arms and breathing pattern do most of the work, and once you get the rhythm down, 200m feels like nothing.
For group courses, check out the Schwimmvereine (swim clubs) in Berlin, not just the public baths. Stadtbad Mitte and Schwimmhalle Schöneberg both have adult beginner groups in the evenings, usually around 20-22 EUR per session if you buy a 10er-Karte. The courses at SSE (Sport- und Schwimm-Erlebnis) in Pankow are good too, and they run later slots for people with 9-to-5 jobs.
Another option is to grab a 5-pack of private lessons at a place like Schwimmschule Berlin in Kreuzberg. It's pricier, around 45-50 EUR per hour, but two or three focused sessions on freestyle breathing and body position will fix your exhaustion problem faster than a group course.
yeah definitely go straight to freestyle, breaststroke is way more exhausting if your form is off. for courses, check out the vhs (volkshochschule) in your district, they run adult swim courses in the evenings for like 60-80€ for 8 sessions, super employee-friendly. the one in friedrichshain has a good reputation for beginners. also worth looking at sportverein tu berlin, they have a late course on thursdays at their pool near charlottenburg, think it's around 50€ for members.
honestly just learn freestyle first. breaststroke is way harder on your energy if your technique isn't perfect. for courses, check out berliner bäderbetriebe website, they list adult courses at different pools across the city. the one at stadtbad neukölln has evening slots for like 15€ a session i think. also there's a group called schwimmclub berlin that does adult training on sunday mornings, pretty chill vibe
Things to Do in Berlin (2026)
Begin your Berlin journey at the iconic Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of unity and history. It's free to visit and open 24/7, located at Pariser Platz. From there, yo… 🏛️ Start at the Brandenburg Gate
Begin your Berlin journey at the iconic Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of unity and history. It's free to visit and open 24/7, located at Pariser Platz. From there, you can walk to the Reichstag Building, where you can book a free visit to the glass dome for panoramic city views.
🎨 Explore Museum Island
Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site with five world-class museums. The Pergamon Museum (Bodestraße 1-3) houses the stunning Pergamon Altar, but note it will be partially closed for renovations until 2027. A day ticket for all museums costs €19, and it's best to book online in advance.
🚲 Ride Through the Tiergarten
Escape the city bustle with a bike ride through the Tiergarten, Berlin's largest central park. Rent a bike from a nearby shop like Call a Bike for around €1 per 30 minutes. The park is home to the Berlin Victory Column, which you can climb for €4 and a great view.
🍺 Visit a Traditional Beer Garden
For an authentic Berlin experience, head to Prater Garten (Kastanienallee 7-9), the city's oldest beer garden, open since 1837. A half-liter of beer costs around €4.50, and they serve classic German food like currywurst and pretzels. It's cash-only, so bring euros.
🕍 Remember at the Holocaust Memorial
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Cora-Berliner-Straße 1) is a powerful, free outdoor installation of 2,711 concrete slabs. Visit the underground Information Center for a deeper understanding, open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM. Allow at least an hour for reflection.
🎭 Catch a Show at the East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery is a 1.3 km open-air gallery on the Berlin Wall, featuring murals by artists from around the world. It's free to walk along any time. For a unique evening, book a guided street art tour that ends at a nearby bar like Yaam, a beach club with reggae music.
🍽️ Dine in Kreuzberg
Kreuzberg is the heart of Berlin's multicultural food scene. Try Markthalle Neun (Eisenbahnstraße 42-43) for street food Thursday nights, where dishes start at €5. For a sit-down meal, visit Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap (Mehringdamm 32) for a legendary €6 döner kebab.
🚇 Use Public Transit Like a Local
Berlin's U-Bahn and S-Bahn networks are efficient and easy to use. A single ticket costs €3.50 and covers all zones for 2 hours, but a day pass for €9.90 is better value. Download the BVG app for real-time schedules and ticket purchases. Always validate your ticket before boarding.
good list, i'd swap out the east side gallery daytime walk for going at sunset honestly. the light hits the murals different and it's way less crowded, plus you can grab a beer from the späti on the corner and just sit on the riverbank after. the wall art is cool but the real vibe is watching the boats and people along the water
for a food spot that's not on here, try katz orange in neukölln on weserstraße. they do these massive platters of israeli food for like €15 a person, the hummus is the best i've had in berlin and they don't take reservations so just show up around 6 to beat the line. it's a 5 minute walk from the u-bahn at hermannplatz
one thing the guide missed is that the reichstag dome booking can be a pain, you need to register on their website weeks ahead sometimes. if you can't get in, just walk over to the dachgarten at the kaufhaus des westens for a free view, it's not as high but you get a solid panorama of the city without the wait
solid list, one thing i'd add - skip the museum island day ticket if you're only hitting one or two, just buy individual entry. the pergamon altar being closed is a bummer but the neues museum with the bust of nefertiti is worth it alone, costs like €12
for a quieter beer garden than prater, try schleusenkrug near the zoo, right on the landwehr canal. same price range but way less touristy and you can watch the boats go through the lock
also the u-bahn validation thing is serious, plainclothes inspectors will fine you €60 on the spot if they catch you without a stamp. i've seen them do it
The guide's right about Prater being cash-only, and that applies to a lot of smaller places in Berlin. I'd add that you should hit up the Sunday flea market at Mauerpark if you're around on a weekend. It's off the U2 at Eberswalder Strasse, free to browse, and you'll find everything from old vinyl to DDR memorabilia. The park itself gets packed with people doing karaoke in the amphitheater, which is a whole scene worth seeing even if you don't buy anything.