Berlin’s Kreuzberg, within the south-east of town, is commonly coined as one of many world’s coolest neighbourhoods. A robust-hold of left-wing politics and the anti-establishment motion, and a hub for punks, hipsters, the LGBT+ neighborhood, creatives, graffiti artists and techno followers.
The realm remains to be dwelling to various giant squats, has many artistic and tradition centres, exhibition areas, gig venues, nightclubs, unbiased companies, avenue events and different occasions.
It’s additionally extremely multi-cultural, with giant Turkish and Vietnamese communities, amongst many different nationalities.
The mix is what makes the realm so vibrant, fascinating and thrilling. Count on the sudden in Kreuzberg, preserve your thoughts open and throw your self into one of the crucial fascinating neighbourhoods on the planet.
Be part of us as we spotlight our prime picks in Kreuzberg.
Additionally examine our article on What to Do in Berlin in 3 Days
15 Greatest Issues To Do In Kreuzberg
#1. Road artwork and graffiti recognizing
Kreuzberg is without doubt one of the most closely painted districts in Europe, with full-scale murals by a number of the world’s most well-known avenue artists and residential of the world well-known 1UP graffiti crew.
You may’t go 5 metres with out seeing some form of painted constructing.
From painted rooftops, to trains operating on the realm’s metro line, on the facet of autos and down the facet of full buildings – it’s a hub of creativity and a feast for the senses.
In case you like paintings and graffiti tradition, it’s the most effective spots in Europe to see prime works by well-known graffiti artists.
Kreuzberg attracts many hundreds of graffiti vacationers yearly, to color and to identify the items.
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- Location – throughout Kreuzberg, simply benefit from the discover.
#2. Turkish meals
There are stated to be between 120,00 and 130,000 Turks dwelling in Berlin, with the most important proportion in any space dwelling in Kreuzberg and the neighbouring Neukölln.
Consequently, there are 100s of genuine and engaging Turkish eating places across the neighbourhood. From conventional börek bakeries and candy pastry retailers, to gluttonous donor kebab shops and Turkish nice eating eating places.
You may eat a number of the greatest Turkish meals exterior of Turkey right here in Kreuzberg.
Our prime picks:
Fes – Hasenheide 58, 10967 Berlin – ££
Hasir – Adalbertstraße 12, 10999 Berlin – ££
Leylak – Kottbusser Str. 25, 10999 Berlin – £
#3. Techno
Photograph – Tresor
Berlin is famed for having the most effective clubbing scenes on earth, notably for techno music.
There are nightclubs which open on Friday night and keep open till Monday morning, with out stopping. Some are infamous for being onerous to get into and wild inside, however for those who handle to get in, you’ll be rewarded with one of the crucial hedonistic and pulsating music scenes on earth.
Tresor, in a former energy station, is within the north of Kreuzberg, attracting some legendary names from the world of techno and home, in the meantime, simply throughout the ornate Oberbaumbruke Bridge you’ll discover the notorious Berghain.
Photograph – Berghain
Berghain has typically been referred to as the world’s greatest nightclub – it has one of many hardest door insurance policies on earth, with individuals repeatedly rejected from stepping into.
This place isn’t for the prudes amongst us, it’s an extremely liberal place – the place sexual acts may be noticed going down, the place scantily clad ravers dance for days on finish, the place drug use is pretty simple to identify and the place there’s a no-photo coverage.
It’s wild and in contrast to many different nightclubs on the planet.
There are different many different nightclubs dotted round Kreuzberg and in close by areas.
Our prime picks:
Location – Berghain – Am Wriezener bhf, 10243 Berlin
Location – Tresor – Köpenicker Str. 70, 10179 Berlin
#4. Espresso tradition
Kreuzberg has an enormous array of wonderful espresso roasteries and cafes, so sampling a number of the glorious third wave espresso spots within the space is a should.
Our favorite espresso roasteries within the space embody Bonanza Espresso Roasters and The Go to Espresso Roastery.
Though there are lots of others dotted round Kreuzberg together with, 5 Elephant, Kaffeekirsche, Cabana, amongst many others.
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- Bonanza espresso store
Our prime picks:
Location – Bonanza – Adalbertstraße 70, 10999 Berlin
Location – The Go to Espresso Roasters – Adalbertstraße 9, 10999 Berlin
Location – 5 Elephant – Reichenberger Str. 101, 10999 Berlin
The Go to Espresso Roastery
#5. Classic buying
Classic clothes and different classic gadgets are huge enterprise in Berlin and Kreuzberg is effectively served with a big choice of cool classic retailers.
Round Kreuzberg you may choose up many a discount – from 90s rave jackets, to 80s leather-based and vibrant gadgets from the Nineteen Fifties and Nineteen Sixties.
There’s additionally a preferred market down by the Landwehrkanal each weekend, with various nice classic clothes stalls and plenty of different retailers across the space promoting classic furnishings, information and different gadgets.
Classic Saturday Market – Landehrkanal
Our prime picks:
Location – Humana – Oranienstraße 25, 10999 Berlin
Location – Classic Dwelling – Oranienstraße 169, 10999 Berlin
Location – Classic market – Landwehkranal – Maybachufer 3, 12047 Berlin
#6. Go to a gig
Because of Kreuzberg’s different tradition heritage, the realm has various glorious music venues – internet hosting all kinds of gigs – from punk and ska, to digital music DJ units, Balkanistic bands and classical music.
Amongst a number of the most fascinating to go to are Madame Claude, SO36 and Wild At Coronary heart.
In the summertime months there are lots of avenue performances and live shows in native parks, on the streets and within the courtyards of most of the native buildings.
Wild at Coronary heart
Our prime picks:
Location – Madame Claude – Lübbener Str. 19, 10997 Berlin
Location – SO36 – Oranienstraße 190, 10999 Berlin
Location – Wild At Coronary heart – Wiener Straße 20, 10999 Berlin
#7. Cycle down an previous airfield
Though technically simply south of Kreuzberg, the previous Tempelhof Airfield is without doubt one of the world’s largest inner-city parks and is a magnet for the Kreuzberg neighborhood, notably in the course of the summer season months – the place tens of hundreds of individuals go to chill out and escape the busy streets of town.
The airport closed in 2008 and is now a preferred park, the place individuals can cycle, skateboard, play sports activities, have BBQs and chill out. It’s a inexperienced lung in the midst of town, however the indicators of the previous airport are nonetheless clear, which makes it a really distinctive surroundings to move just a few hours.
The previous terminal constructing stays in situ, full with a classic plane exterior and you may run and cycle alongside the previous runways.
Location – Tempelhofer Feld – Tempelhofer Damm, 12101 Berlin
#8 Go to the Markets in Kreuzberg
There are quite a few glorious markets round Kreuzberg, serving up all method of products – from classic garments and information, to Turkish meals and antiques.
Two of our favourites are the coated Markthalle Neun – a big, predominantly, food and drinks market corridor, which has many tasty eateries, quite a few bars and a brewery.
One other good spot, notably on weekends, is the flea market down by the Landwehrkanal, which has plenty of classic gadgets, together with vinyl information, garments, antiques and different slices of memorabilia.
In the course of the week it’s a traditional on-street meals market, which has many kinds of world delicacies, however a very great amount of Turkish gadgets.
Our prime picks:
Location – Markthalle Neun – Eisenbahnstraße 42/43, 10997 Berlin
Location – Classic market – Landwehkranal – Maybachufer 3, 12047 Berlin
#9. Brutalism recognizing
Kottbusser Tor
In case you’re a fan of strange Chilly Struggle structure, then there are quite a few examples dotted round Kreuzberg.
A number of the greatest embody residential tower blocks across the Kottbuser Tor Metro Station and the Tresor nightclub constructing.
The previous St Agnes church and neighborhood centre is one other glorious instance of the realm’s Brutalist structure – it was restored by an artwork vendor in 2015 and now hosts many exhibitions, but it surely’s the outside which is especially putting.
St Agnes church
The concrete structure attracts many pictures teams and Brutalist followers from world wide.
Our prime picks:
Location – Kotnbusser Tor – U1 Kottbusser Tor, Skalitzer Str. 136, 10999 Berlin
Location – Tresor – Location – Tresor – Köpenicker Str. 70, 10179 Berlin
Location – St Agnes Church – Alexandrinenstraße 118-121, 10969 Berlin
#10. Take in an artwork exhibition
Photograph – Bethanien
As you may count on from a centre of creativity, there frequent artwork exhibitions on present round Kreuzberg.
Probably the greatest modern artwork galleries within the metropolis relies inside Kreuzberg – referred to as Bethanien – a former hospital, which dates again to the 1800s and now hosts artwork exhibitions, workshops and plenty of different occasions.
The Berlinische Galerie can be primarily based within the space, which has a superb assortment of recent artwork. The Konig Galerie is one other prime spot to soak in some nice paintings.
There are various different pop-up galleries, exhibition areas and avenue performances all year long.
Our prime picks:
Location – Bethanien – Mariannenpl. 2, 10997 Berlin
Location – Berlinische Galerie – Alte Jakobstraße 124-128, 10969 Berlin
Location – Konig Galerie – Alexandrinenstraße 118-121, 10969 Berlin
#11. Tuck into native delicacies
Kreuzberg has all method of superior eateries from international locations world wide, as we’ve already touched upon, but it surely additionally has a number of the greatest native dishes on provide within the metropolis as effectively.
Ketels Wurstpezialitaten
Two of town’s greatest currywurst spots are located within the space, one within the south of Kreuzberg and one within the north.
Ketels Wurstpezialitaten, simply south of the canal, has legendary currywursts, which some say are one of the best in Germany.
In the meantime within the north, close to Tresor, you will discover Wurstpate. Each provide inexpensive and engaging German street-food dishes, which you eat whereas sipping an ice-cold beer at excessive tables on the road.
Wurstpate
One other Kreuzberg establishment is Max und Moritz – it was established in 1902 and relies in a former ballroom.
They serve up tasty conventional German dishes and brew their very own beer.
Our prime picks:
Location – Ketels Wurstpezialitaten – Kottbusser Damm 1, 10967 Berlin
Location – Wurstpate – Kottbusser Damm 1, 10967 Berlin
Location – Max Und Moritz – Oranienstraße 162, 10969 Berlin
#12. Have a beer at a Späti or on the streets of Kreuzberg
Spatis are a Berlin establishment. To the non-native these are basically nook retailers, dotted on virtually each avenue round Kreuzberg.
They’ve glorious alcohol selections, together with a number of the prime German breweries, and uniquely they typically have enjoyable tables exterior, so you may drink your beer exterior the store.
It’s an inexpensive solution to take pleasure in a number of the greatest native beers, whereas absorbing the hustle and bustle of the road exterior.
These are removed from magnets for the tough and prepared, the Spatis appeal to all kinds of people and are an awesome place to immerse your self within the native tradition.
Location – Varied – simply wander the streets and select your favourites
13. Wander down Landwehrkanal
The canal wraps across the south finish of Kreuzberg, earlier than popping out on the Spree River within the north. There’s a walkway alongside its entirety and in addition small boat excursions alongside it.
The canal wraps across the south finish of Kreuzberg, earlier than popping out on the Spree River within the north. There’s a walkway alongside its entirety and in addition small boat excursions alongside it.
In summer season you typically discover paddleboarders and kayakers traversing the waterway and there are lots of tasty eateries, bars and boutiques alongside the total stretch. There’s additionally glorious flea and meals market, which we’ve already talked about.
An incredible place to flee the busy streets of town and soak up somewhat little bit of nature, with many kinds of hen life frequenting the water and its edges.
Location – Varied – simply wander the size of the canal.
#14. Vacationer points of interest and museums
On the japanese fringe of Kreuzberg you’ve got a few of Berlin’s most well-known vacationer points of interest. These embody Verify Level Charlie, the historic and most well-known border crossing between the previous East and West Germany.
The previous checkpoint remains to be in situ and nonetheless attracts hundreds of thousands of vacationers every year, with a museum close by.
The museum tells the story of the examine level and the various makes an attempt by individuals attempting to flee East Germany by crossing the border illegally, in the course of the time of the Berlin Wall.
Amongst different vacationer points of interest and museums close by is the Jewish Museum of Berlin, which tells the story of Jews in Germany, together with the horrors of the Holocaust. A transferring and really poignant museum.
There are various different huge points of interest near the realm.
Jewish Museum of Berlin
Our prime picks:
Location – Verify Level Charlie – Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10117 Berlin
Location – Jewish Museum – Lindenstraße 9-14, 10969 Berlin
#15. The Berlin Wall
Though technically simply north of Kreuzberg, on the opposite facet of the Spree River, the most important remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall, which remains to be intact, is inside quick strolling distance from the northern fringe of Kreuzberg.
The East Facet Gallery is a 1.3km stretch of the previous Berlin Wall, full with murals alongside the entire stretch. It’s a free artwork gallery and has transferring murals from the time the wall stood full, together with newer items.
A dwelling and transferring gallery, together with enjoyable seating areas alongside the Spree River.
Location – East Facet Gallery – Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin
We hope that you just take pleasure in exploring this vibrant neighbourhood of Kreuzberg.
