How open days work in Berlin
An open day is the single most useful step between a shortlist and an application, and in Berlin it takes a few forms. Most schools in our international schools in Berlin directory run open mornings or open afternoons, where several families tour the campus together, hear from school leadership and meet the admissions team. Alongside these set dates, schools commonly offer individual tours by appointment, which suit families who want a closer look at a particular year group or who cannot make a group session. A growing number also run online open houses, which are valuable while you are still living abroad. The point of any of these is the same: to see the things a prospectus cannot show before you commit to an application.
When open days cluster in 2026
Open days follow the admissions cycle rather than a fixed citywide date. In practice they cluster in two windows, the autumn, as the new academic year settles and families begin planning the next intake, and the winter into spring, ahead of the main decision round for an August start. Because each school sets its own calendar, we have not fixed exact 2026 dates here, which would risk being wrong; instead, treat autumn and late winter as the periods to watch and check each school’s admissions page for its published dates. As an indication of format, Berlin Brandenburg International School has run virtual open house sessions split across early education, primary and secondary, each pairing a short campus video with a live question and answer session, a useful model of what an online session offers.
Booking and preparing for a visit
Booking is normally through the school’s admissions page, where you either register for a set open day or request an individual tour. Group sessions have limited places and tend to fill before the spring decision round, so register as soon as a school opens its calendar and confirm whether the session is in person or online. Prepare a short list of questions before you go, current availability in your child’s year group, the assessment or trial-day process, the language support for new arrivals, and the fee schedule, so the visit answers the decisions you actually need to make. Our guide to international school fees in Berlin is worth reading first, so the cost conversation on the day is informed.
Not sure which schools to visit?
The school finder shortlists Berlin schools by curriculum, district and stage, so your open-day visits focus on the schools that genuinely fit your child.
Use the school finderWhat to look for on the day
A good visit tests fit, not facilities. Watch how pupils and staff interact, get a feel for the specific year group your child would join, and ask how the school settles new arrivals, since most international families are joining mid-stream rather than at the very start. Check the practical things that shape daily life, the lunch and after-school provision, the language of instruction and any second-language support, and the journey time from where you plan to live, which is often the deciding factor in Berlin’s spread-out geography. For families weighing the IB route specifically, our Berlin IB schools hub and the wider IB curriculum guide give the programme context to bring to the conversation. If you are choosing at primary age, pair the visit with our Berlin primary schools guide.
Related reading
- International schools in Berlin: the directory
- Berlin admissions deadlines 2026
- International school fees in Berlin
- Berlin primary schools
Common questions
Open days cluster around the admissions cycle rather than falling on a single citywide date. Most Berlin international schools run open mornings, campus tours and online open houses in the autumn and again in the winter and spring, ahead of the main intake decisions. Schools publish their own event dates, so check each school's admissions page and book early, as places at popular sessions are limited.
Most run both. A scheduled open day or open morning lets several families see the school together, usually with a tour, a talk from leadership and a chance to meet the admissions team. Many schools also offer individual tours by appointment for families who cannot attend a set date or who want a closer look at a specific year group.
Yes. Several Berlin schools complement in-person visits with online sessions. Berlin Brandenburg International School, for example, has run virtual open house sessions covering early education, primary and secondary, combining a short campus video with a live question and answer session with leadership and admissions. These are useful for families still living abroad and planning a move.
Booking is normally through the school's admissions page, where you register for a set open day or request an individual tour. Because group sessions have limited places and tend to fill ahead of the spring decision round, it is worth registering as soon as the school opens its calendar and confirming the format, in person or online, when you book.
Use the visit to test the things a brochure cannot show: how pupils and staff interact, the feel of the year group your child would join, the language of instruction and support for new arrivals, the lunch and after-school provision, and the journey time from where you plan to live. Ask the admissions team about current availability in your child's year, the assessment process and the fee schedule before you leave.