A Day in Kreuzberg
Morning
Start from the famous ruins of Anhalter Bahnhof, which you can reach by S-Bahn. From here continue along Stresemannstraße in a northwesterly direction to the Martin-Gropius-Bau.
It is easy to while away a few hours in this impressive building if
there is a special exhibition. You could take a break for refreshments
in the museum café. A visit to the neighbouring exhibition, the
Topographie des Terrors
afterwards will bring you face to face
with the dark Nazi past of this area. Continue along
Niederkirchnerstraße, past an original section of the Berlin Wall, to
Wilhelmstraße. Then turn into Kochstraße to visit
Checkpoint Charlie
and the Wall Museum at the former border.
Afternoon
You can buy a tasty lunch at
Sale e Tabacchi
in Kochstraße. Continue along
Kochstraße in an easterly direction and you will get to the heart of
Kreuzberg. Make a detour south on Lindenstraße to the
Jüdisches Museum
or carry on into Oranienstraße. Take the U-Bahn U6 from U-Bahn station Hallesches Tor to Platz der Luftbrücke. The Viktoriapark
nearby is a good place for a rest, while shopaholics prefer a stroll up
and down Bergmannstraße. At the end, turn north into Baerwaldstraße and
continue to Carl-Herz-Ufer, where you will be able to round off the day
with a delicious evening meal at the
Altes Zollhaus
.
Best of the Rest
Rathaus Schöneberg
It
was from this Town Hall, on 26 June 1963, that the US President John F
Kennedy made his famous speech, declaring “I am a Berliner” and
expressing his commitment to the freedom of West Berlin.
Rathaus Schöneberg
Mehringplatz
Once
Kreuzberg’s prettiest square, Mehringplatz was destroyed in World War
II and is today surrounded by modern residential buildings.
Flughafen Tempelhof
Tempelhof,
built in 1939 by Ernst Sagebiel and then Germany’s biggest airport,
survives as the largest Fascist structure in Europe. After years of
debate the airport closed in 2008. Future uses for it include a
convention centre and a venue for fashion shows and trade fairs.
Mariannenplatz
This
square is dominated by the Gothic-style artists’ house Bethanien. A
former hospital, it is today used as studio space by experimental
artists.
Oberbaumbrücke
Pedestrians
and cyclists can cross to the other side of the Spree River from
Kreuzberg to Friedrichshain on this red-brick bridge, one of Berlin’s
loveliest, which was erected in 1894–6.
Oberbaumbrücke
Altes Mosse-Palais
One of Berlin’s most important publishing houses was based in this Art Nouveau corner house in the former newspaper district.
Friedhöfe Hallesches Tor
Numerous
celebrities lie buried in the four cemeteries, including the composer
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Also the writer E T A Hoffmann, whose work
inspired Offenbach to write The Tales of Hoffmann.
Lapidarium
The former pumping station is open for visits; the sculptures in the garden once decorated the Siegesallee (alley of triumph).
Kottbusser Tor
Kreuzberg in the raw: social misery tucked away in between new buildings in the Turkish heart of the district.
Kammergericht
In 1947–90, the magnificent supreme court, built in 1909–13, was used as Allied Control Council.
Shops & Markets
Winterfeldtmarkt
At
Berlin’s largest and most wonderful market you can buy fresh fruit and
vegetables as well as other goods from around the world, such as clothes
and New-Age items.
Winterfeldtplatz
8am–4pm Sat, 8am–1pm Wed
Türkenmarkt Maybachufer
No
other market in Berlin is quite as exotic. This is where Berliners and
Turks alike buy their unleavened bread and fresh goat’s cheese.
Maybachufer
noon–6:30pm Tue, Fri
Molotow
Funky and trendy fashion from Berlin designers – perhaps not to everyone’s taste, but guaranteed to cause a stir.
Gneisenaustr. 112
030 693 08 18
Oranienplatz and Oranienstraße
Kreuzberg’s main square and unofficial high street specialize in all things alternative.
MaaßenZehn
Designer jeans or trendy belts – all with minor faults – at heavily reduced prices.
Maaßenstr. 10
030 215 54 56
Depot 2
This small boutique sells the latest streetwear and hip hop fashion of a local label.
Oranienstr. 9
030 611 46 55
High-Lite
If
you’re worried about standing out in the alternative crowd in
Kreuzberg, this is the place to get your shades, body piercings and
other essentials.
Bergmannstr. 99
030 691 27 44
Ararat
One of the best-stocked and trendiest stationery shops in Berlin, Ararat has many designer items for sale.
Bergmannstr. 99a
030 693 50 80
Marheineke-Markthalle
This
is one of the last remaining market-halls in Berlin. Modernised in
2007, it boasts colourful fruit and vegetable stores and a wide range of
organic produce.
Marheinekeplatz
8am–8pm Mon–Fri
Grober Unfug Comics
This store sells comic books of all periods and in various languages – its name means “complete rubbish”.
Zossener Str. 33
030 69 40 14 90
