Teufelssee Swimming Guide
Teufelssee is one of Berlin’s most distinctive swims: small, forested, clothing-optional in practice, and wrapped into the protected Teufelsfenn landscape below Teufelsberg. It is not a casual family-lido substitute. It is a sensitive nature spot with a long FKK tradition and limited infrastructure.
Quick Facts
| Need | Details |
|---|---|
| Best for | Forest swim, FKK-friendly sunbathing, Teufelsberg add-on |
| Official spot | Teufelssee, Grunewald |
| Facilities | LAGeSo lists a mobile WC, temporary DLRG presence, and parking |
| Bathrooms | Mobile WC; no showers or lido services |
| Food nearby | No reliable lake gastronomy; bring what you need |
| Rules | Stay out of protected banks; dogs are not allowed at the bathing spot |
| Water-quality source | LAGeSo Teufelssee detail |
Map And Official Links
- OpenStreetMap: Teufelssee
- LAGeSo bathing spot detail
- Berlin.de: Teufelssee
- Naturschutzzentrum Ökowerk Berlin
How To Use It
The usable swim area is on the south/southeast side. Berlin.de notes that swimming is allowed in places even though the lake is part of a protected landscape; that distinction matters. Stay on official paths and respect fences, buoys, reeds, and signs.
Expect nudity around the sunbathing area. Teufelssee is one of Berlin’s established FKK spots, but it is not an obligation. The practical rule is simple: do not stare, do not photograph people, and give everyone space.
History And Odd Details
Teufelssee is an Ice Age lake in the Grunewald and should not be confused with the Teufelssee in Köpenick. Its name means “Devil’s Lake”, and it sits below Teufelsberg, the artificial rubble hill built from post-war debris.
One of the strangest nearby facts is architectural rather than aquatic: the old Teufelssee waterworks on the east bank was built in 1872-73, making it one of Berlin’s oldest surviving waterworks. It was decommissioned in 1969 and now belongs to the Ökowerk nature education center.
The lake is ecologically sensitive. Parts of the western and northern bank belong to the Postfenn and Teufelsfenn nature reserve, and groundwater management helps keep the moor wet. That is why “just one more shortcut” through the protected bank is not harmless.
Before You Go
Check LAGeSo for water quality, algae notes, and current warnings. Bring food, water, and a trash bag. If you need showers, lockers, or guaranteed toilets, choose a Strandbad instead.
Photo: Teufelssee by Leonhard Lenz via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Sources: LAGeSo, Berlin.de, Ökowerk Berlin, The Berliner FKK guide.