Go East

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Elevated high above ground level in a lively part of Kreuzberg, Schlesisches Tor U-Bahn station is one of the most attractive stations in the city. Bestowed with beautiful Romanesque arches and towering stone columns, wooden bay windows and riveted iron beams-this 100 year old construction unifies Gothic, Renaissance and industrial elements. Situated at the end of the line in West Berlin, this used to be the place where the West ended and the East began. Yet nowadays, the trains continue eastward over the Oberbaumbrücke bridge into the former socialist sector. While the station itself hasn't changed much over the years, political events have opened up new horizons.

Our Local Expert Says:

Serving brunch on the banks of the Spree, this beautiful location is the perfect place for a slap up breakfast.

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Freischwimmer is a beautiful restaurant in a beautiful, open air wooden pavilion in the water. The menu is short and sweet, and you will feel as though you're dining in an exotic lagoon.

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Treptower Park lines the banks of the river Spree to the south east of the city centre and was created by Johann Gustav Meyer in 1876. Nowadays the park offers a diverse selection of outdoor fun with BBQ boat rides, ping-pong tables and grassy river side sunbathing areas. Located in the former East German district of Treptow, a grand soviet memorial was erected in the park in 1947, dedicated to the 5000 soviet soldiers, killed in action, who are buried there. An abandoned fun park with a big wheel and miniature train set lies to the south of the park just past the Insel der Jugend, or island of youth, a popular place for outdoor summer parties and the Berliners favourite summer past time - grilling.

Our Local Expert Says:

This huge human sculptor rises out of the River Spree and represents East and West crossing the border to embrace in a united Germany. Designed by Jonathan Borofsky.

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Public art sculpture.

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The buses are not the only double-deckers in Berlin. There is also a double-decker bridge, the Oberbaumbrücke, which spans the River Spree between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. Traffic speeds along the lower part of the bridge while trains steam over the upper section. Built a hundred years ago in the red-brick gothic style popular at the time, the Oberbaumbrücke is crowned by two towers. The bridge got its name from the tree-trunks which were used to shut down the river to traffic at night.

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The biggest outdoor gallery in the world, the East Side Gallery runs along the largest remaining section of the Berlin Wall, constructed by the Soviets in 1961 to divide East from West Berlin. When the Iron Curtain fell in 1989 many parts of the wall were destroyed as the city of Berlin was reunited following the end of the Cold War. 160 international artists were invited to paint giant murals along the wall that runs along the River Spree in the eastern district of Freidrichshain. The East Side Gallery has remained untouched for the last 20 years, however its future is uncertain. Restoration is planned however regeneration of the area may threaten this political landmark.

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Friedrichshain's answer to Mitte's Oranienburger Straße, Simon-Dach-Straße is home to a vast variety of pubs, cafés, bars and restaurants, the most popular being the legendary Astro Bar. Many of the bars here are fairly new additions to the nightlife scene yet Simon-Dach-Straße has already become extremely popular with students and other young Berliners and is without doubt one of the liveliest places in the eastern part of town. During the warmer months, the pavements on both sides of the street are lined with benches and tables which join together to form one huge bar. The street is fairly narrow and in summertime the trees meet in the middle of the street to form a natural rooftop.

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When the craving for live metal music strikes, head to Rockcafe Halford for all the headbanging good fun you could want. Here you can mingle with many a tattooed metal fan, resplendent in piercings. The interior is dark and often crowded, and a great setting for live performances. The club also hosts a variety of record release parties that draw large crowds. As a bonus, after a night of wild partying, you can hang around for breakfast at 4a. For a complete list of upcoming events, be sure to visit the website.

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Cassiopeia, located in the center of Friedrichshain is a 4,000 meter facility, that features club lounges, an exhibition area, a beer garden, Berlin's highest climbing tower and an indoor skate park. The clubs are booked mainly for big events, festivals and concerts like the Fete de la Musique and Blockparty which draws in the crowds. The concerts performed here feature different genres of music ranging from hip-hop to funk and rock to hardcore. This multi-faceted venue always has something up it's sleeve and promises a pleasurable time always.

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This nightclub and discotheque in the Friedrichshain district features DJ's and artists from all over Europe, and is a top choice for many international rock and indie bands. The venue is unassuming at best, and though it does not boast all the amenities of other bigger clubs, it has a genuine rock appeal that keeps the music front and center. Be sure to check out the website for updated schedules of concerts and events, as there is always something new and hot to be seen at Club Maria.