East Side Gallery
Mühlenstraße 3-100, Berlin, Germany, 10243
East Side Gallery is perhaps one of Berlin’s greatest displays of repurposing war remnants for the better. It uses nearly 1 mile (1.3 kilometers) of the old Berlin Wall as a canvas for commissioned pieces by artists from all over the world. The art is constantly changing and is a powerful symbol for tolerance, diversity, and urban art.
The Basics
No trip to Berlin is complete without a visit to remnants of the Berlin Wall, and the longest and most preserved section is the East Side Gallery. More than 100 murals cover this portion of the wall, including The Fraternal Kiss, which depicts Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German boss Erich Honecker embracing.
Guided Berlin tours, as well as walking, bike, and hop-on hop-off bus tours, venture to Friedrichshain to admire the open-air gallery and discuss the history of the Cold War in Germany.
Things to Know Before You Go
The East Side Gallery is a must-visit for art lovers, history buffs, and first-time visitors to Berlin.
Be sure to check out both sides of the wall to see works from famous artists and local talent.
This section of the Berlin Wall is built alongside a sidewalk and is accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The East Side Gallery is located just outside the Warschauer Strasse U-bahn and S-bahn stations, as well as Ostbahnhof. Bus 248 also stops off right at the beginning of the gallery.
When to Get There
The East Side Gallery is an outdoor gallery and is open at all times. During the summer months, it gets quite crowded and can be difficult to take photos. Arrive in the early morning, when it is less crowded, or visit Berlin during a shoulder season—spring, fall, or winter.
How the East Side Gallery Came to Represent Berlin
Berlin has been a symbol of artistic expression since the end of World War II. During the Cold War, West Germany saw a great number of artists flock to the city. On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, and immediately thereafter, 118 artists from 21 countries flocked to a portion along the Spree river and transformed it into an open-air gallery to symbolize the diversity and tolerance of the city.
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