On the interface between east and west, to both sides of the Spree, is Friedrichshain – Kreuzberg. Along the Friedrichshain waterfront you will find the longest preserved piece of the Berlin wall. There are 105 original works, by artists from 21 countries, along the East Side Gallery.

The Oberbaumbrücke (bridge) that is listed as a protected monument connects both parts. Every year there is a water battle takes place to celebrate the union. The ‘fight’ is over who has ‘supremacy’ of the whole district. The goal is to float the opponent to the other side of the district. Everything that is slippery is aloud!
To sum it up, Friedrichshain – Kreuzberg is a lively and diverse district with loads to discover.

Friedrichshain

Interesting facts:

Friedrichshain is named after the public park in the north of the district and draws its way southwards until the Spree waterfront.
In the recent years the former working-class district blossomed more and more to a scene-district and it is full of life. On the party mile Simon-Dach-Straße you can enjoy the hustle and bustle in numerous bars and restaurants. Small stores like “Prachtmädchen” ornament the urban scenery.
On Karl-Marx-Allee you find the largest combined listed building in Europe. Developed in the 50s this former socialistic classicism got also named ironically as “Zuckerbäckerstil” (gingerbread style). At this time the Karl-Marx-Allee still has its original name Stalinallee.
By this special architecture you can get inspired in visiting the viewing point above the Café Sibylle.

Living:

The western part along the Karl-Marx-Allee is characterised by „Stalin“ buildings from the 50s and some high-rise buildings. At the district end in the end is the S and U station Frankfurter Allee with a big shopping mall, the “Ring center”.
The eastern part consists of old buildings. Here you find the Simon-Dach-Straße with its cafés, restaurants and little stores.
But both sides are central located and very lively.

Public transport:

Friedrichshain is very well developed. At the station of Frankfurter Allee you have access to the Ringbahn that encircles the inner part of Berlin. The metro line U5 runs towards the eastern centre, Alexanderplatz und the U1 from Warschauer Straße station in the direction of Kreuzberg and Charlottenburg.
There is also the Tram M10 that crosses Friedrichshain from Warschauer Straße northwards, passing Prenzlauer Berg till Nordbahnhof (Mitte).

With around 100.000 users the Ostbahnhof station is the biggest transfer station of Germany.

Kreuzberg

Interesting facts:

During the times of the Berlin wall Kreuzberg was a border district. Nowadays it’s fully integrated and is the liveliest district of Berlin. It is characterised by its multicultural urban scenery and its alternative flair.
Named after a monument that was placed on the top of a 66 meter high hill located in the Victoria park.
Created by Schinkel it is a reminder of the victory against Napoleon. On the peak of its roof top monument is the cross that gave the district its name (the hill itself was formerly called Tempelhofer Berg or Weinberg).
Beneath the monument is a small stream that winds its way through the Victoria park.
Alongside the Görlitzer Park, the Victoriapark is a popular destination for tourists. Nearby you can discover lots of cafés and restaurants on the well-known Bergmannstraße.

Living:

In Kreuzberg you can there is a distinction between the two old postal codes in Kreuzberg – 61 and SO36. Beside these two areas there are, as in other parts of Berlin, small quarters that are called ‘Kieze’.
The Graefekiez is an area of old buildings of Wilhelminian style but even here south and north are very different in nature. In the north you will find old, restored buildings with a unique bar culture and in the south the social housing is dominates the scenery.
In the south is the area of Paul-Linke-Ufer, the waterfront of the Landwehr canal that is dotted with beer gardens amongst lush greenery.
Well known, is the quarter around Oranienstraße, the oldest shopping street of Kreuzberg. Many buildings in the Wilhelminian style contain cafés and small stores.
The north western part of Kreuzberg is shaped of buildings constructed the ’60s and ’70s.

Public transport:

For transport connections, the location of Kreuzberg is perfect. You can drive from east to west with the railway line S6 and the metro lines U1 and U7. Crossing the whole district are the U6 and U8, connecting the north with the south. Further railway lines, the S1, S2 and S25 give you rapidly transport you to the surrounding districts.