Ultimate Guide to Berlin's East Side Gallery:
The Best Murals and Where to Start
The split of Berlin into East and West was one of its most defining moments in history, shaping the city to this day. One of the most striking remnants of that time is the East Side Gallery, a permanent open-air gallery featuring artwork on the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall. Here is my local guide on visiting this key landmark of Berlin:
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Everything you need to know about the East Side Gallery in Berlin
What is the East Side Gallery? (A Brief History)
The Berlin Wall stood for more than 28 years, separating East and West Berlin. It was a symbol of pain, splitting up families and friends and where at least 136 people lost their lives trying to flee the East. Now, 1.3 km of the prior wall is an open-air art gallery, a striking visual representation of the emotions surrounding the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall.
The history dates back to WW2, where the Allies divided Germany once defeated into 4 occupying zones (the USA, Great Britain, France, USSR). They did the same to its capital Berlin, which was located in the Soviet zone.
The USA, GB and France combined their sections into West Germany with the capital of Bonn, and West Berlin, whereas the Soviet section became East Berlin. Post-War, tensions between the prior Allies continued to rise due to ideologically opposite views.
By 1952, East Germany officially closed the border with West Germany and the Cold War politics were governing Germany. However, the border between East Berlin and West Berlin remained open, allowing an estimated 1.7+ million people to leave from East to West.
The Wall, initially just a barbed wire border laid by unknowing soldiers, was constructed in 1961 to stop the movement from East Berlin and East Germany through the “loophole” that was West Berlin. This made escape impossible and created a 155km deadly strip.
In 1989, civil unrest reached its peak and on 9th November, East German spokesman Günter Schabowski accidentally announced live that the borders would be open. Crowds quickly gathered, checkpoints were abandoned and the people began to take down the Berlin Wall with their own hands.
In 1990, a section of the Berlin Wall was turned into an open-air art exhibition called the East Side Gallery, featuring 118 artists from 21 countries. It is a symbol of hope and joy at the end of Germany’s division, but also a reminder of the inhumanity of the GDR border regime.
Where Does the East Side Gallery Start and End?
The 1.3km long stretch of wall sits by the riverbank of the Spree, right between the stations of Ostbahnhof and Warschauer Straße. It’s about a 5-10 minute walk towards the river from both.
Self-Guided East Side Gallery Walking Tour: Recommended Route
Personally, I prefer to walk from Ostbahnhof to Warschauer Straße as that means you are headed back into the city, though it’s just a one station difference so either way works.
The walk took me a little over an hour with tons of photo spots, reading the information columns and enjoying views of the Spree river.
The Best Murals to See on the East Side Gallery Walk
This is of course down to everyone’s personal preference.
Two of the most famous are:
- ‘’My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love’’ – the famous kiss painting of heads of GDR states Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker performing the socialist fraternal kiss at the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the founding of the GDR (yes, It’s an actual photograph).
- “Test the Rest” – painting of a Trabi (iconic East German car) driving through the Berlin Wall
Some of my favourites are:
- “Es Geschah im November” (It Happened in November) – a depiction of thousands of people pouring through Checkpoint Charlie when the wall fell
- “Mauern International” (Walls across the world) – the viewer looks through windows onto walls in Moscow, China and Berlin
I really do think everyone should walk the entire length and find their own favourite. There are QR codes at each that take you to a website explaining the meaning and introducing the artist.
Best Time to Visit the East Side Gallery to Avoid Crowds
The East Side Gallery is open-air and hence accessible 24/7. That means you can technically go in the middle of the night.
For a bit more normal hours but less crowds, I’d recommend going on a weekday before 9am or after 7pm.
That being said, I went there on a public holiday at like 12pm which is peak time and it was still completely fine, I just had to wait to get photos sometimes without people in them.
How much does it cost to visit the East Side Gallery?
The East Side Gallery is completely free to visit. You can take a guided tour if you’d like to find out more about the history and artworks, but there is also a ton of free information on their official website.
Is Berlin a walkable city?
Yes, the centre of Berlin and many main attractions are very walkable. It is also a very pedestrian-friendly city (as so many in Europe), meaning exploring on foot is fun and safe.
I personally love exploring the city by walking as I feel I get to see areas I usually wouldn’t as well as explore local shops, small alleys and so on.
How to get around Berlin using public transport?
Berlin has a really strong public transport system, including trains, trams and buses. A single ticket costs 4€, 24 hr from 11.20€ (depending on your zones). Tickets are available at most stations and even in trams (though sometimes coin operated), but also through the BVG app.
Citymapper or even Google Maps work great here for figuring out the best routes.
If you are planning to do a lot of paid activities and museums, you could also look into the Berlin WelcomeCard. It includes unlimited public transport and discounts for tons of attractions, prices start at 28,50 € for 48 hrs.
How many days do I need in Berlin?
You need a minimum of 3 or 4 days to see the main sights of Berlin, more if you want to explore other areas or add some day trips.
While you can see the absolute highlights in 1-2 days if necessary, I think Berlin really is a city you get to know better the longer you stay. There are so many hidden gems that you’ll only really discover by exploring.
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