Friedrichshain

This walk takes you through one of the most original parts of former East Berlin: Friedrichshain. Vestiges of communism, anarchists and original Ossi's (former East Germans) are still clearly visible on its streets.



The walk starts at Café Sibylle on Karl-Marx-Allee. This boulevard is lined with monumental luxury apartment buildings, that were built in the 1950s for the working class, and designed in the typical Stalinist wedding-cake style (Zuckerbäckerstil). Because this is a relatively short walk, you can also start out farther back on Karl-Marx-Allee at Kino International. This takes you along a busy stretch of road, but just after Frankfurter Tor, with its distinctive towers, you'll reach the pleasant area surrounding Boxhagener Platz.



Just like the rest of Berlin, this neighborhood features many great shops and cozy sidewalk cafés. Take your time here to seek out some original souvenirs to bring back home with you, or to enjoy an elaborate lunch. Boxhagener Platz is a charming square with a children's playground, a public lawn perfect for sunbathing, and a market every weekend.



After leaving this friendly neighborhood, you'll head to a part of Berlin where the raw energy of anarchists and punk is still tangible. Today, the former Reichsbahn rail yards are home to all kinds of exciting new enterprises, from an enclosed swimming pool to a beer garden, climbing wall, and various night clubs.



The walk ends at the Spree river, with a view of the beautiful Oberbaumbrücke and the East Side Gallery, the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall.