Friedrichshain was formerly part of East Berlin and is now a highly popular neighbourhood with a thriving cafe/bar culture. It attracts young, artistic and dynamic people giving it a nice atmosphere and feel. It is certainly an area worth spending a little time in on a visit to the city.
East Side Gallery
A 1.3 Km section of the Berlin Wall with over 100 murals which are free to view 24 hours a day. Access can be either from Ostbanhof or Warschauer Straße S Bahn stations depending on which end of the wall you want to start. The gallery gets very busy so it is good to get there early in the day before the tourists and coach tours arrive. You can read more about my visit here.
Karl Marx Allee.
Berlin was badly damaged in World War II and in the years following the end of the war massive reconstruction took place. Karl Marx Allee was built between 1952 and 1960 and represented the crown jewel for the communist German Democratic Republic. It is almost 100 metres wide and just over 2Km in length. Its size reflects its importance at the time, it was the site of the annual May Day parades where the military would show off missiles and tanks complete with thousands of marching soldiers. The pavements here are very wide to accommodate the crowds. The buildings were designed in what has become known as the Stalinist style, usually eight storey, and consisted of thousands of apartments which were very well equipped for the time and were a highly regarded place to live by some. To walk the boulevard is like a step back in time and it’s well worth a visit.
Oberbaum Bridge.
The Oberbaum Bridge was constructed in 1896 and crosses the River Spree, linking together Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. Its a double decker bridge with a roadway below and the U-Bahn line on the upper deck. During the Cold War the bridge separated East and West Berlin and was only open as a border crossing for pedestrians. Following reunification the bridge was restored and is a significant symbol of unity for the city. There are lots of bridges in Berlin but the Oberbaum is probably the most iconic.
RAW Gelände
RAW Gelände, located off Revaler Straße, originally opened in 1867 as a train repair depot and carriage sheds. It was badly damaged in World War II, as was much of the city, and was finally closed in 1994. Since then it has become home to artist spaces, clubs, bars, cafes and markets. There is even a climbing wall and Europes largest indoor skate park. It is a lively bustling community with something for everyone, especially on a warm, sunny evening. It also has a thriving street art scene which is well worth having a look at.
Yaam Beach Bar
Yaam (Young African Art Market) is located on the banks of the River Spree close to Schillingbrücke and the nearby Ostbahnhof railway station. For a mere 1 Euro entry fee you get market stalls, club, colourful murals, reggae music, food stalls and a beach bar to name but a few. It is a chilled space where you can easily while away an hour or so.
