Attraction
Brandenburg Gate
Berlin's best-known landmark, a neoclassical gate completed in 1791 and crowned by the Quadriga, which stood beside the Wall until it reopened in December 1989.
East Side Gallery
The longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, 1,316 metres along Mühlenstrasse, painted by artists from around the world in 1990.
At a glance
- Type
- Open-air gallery on the Berlin Wall
- Area
- Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany
- Official site
- stiftung-berliner-mauer.de
Good to know
- Free
- Open-air
- Riverside
- Step-free pavement
Why we recommend it
The East Side Gallery is the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall and one of the most photographed places in the city. It runs for 1,316 metres along Mühlenstrasse in Friedrichshain, between the Ostbahnhof and the Oberbaum Bridge, with the Spree just behind it. In the spring of 1990, a few months after the Wall opened, 118 artists from around the world painted more than a hundred murals on the eastern side of this stretch, turning a barrier into a celebration of freedom.
The most famous image is Dmitri Vrubel's painting of the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev kissing the East German leader Erich Honecker, titled My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love. Look too for the Trabant car bursting through the Wall, the crowds of faces, and the many works about peace, borders and hope. Years of weather and graffiti took their toll, and from 2009 the paintings were restored, with many artists returning to repaint their own works. Since 2018 the Berlin Wall Foundation has been responsible for the site.
What many visitors miss is the other side. This section stood on the edge of the border strip, and the strip behind it, now a riverside path and park, shows how close the river was to the frontier. It is a calm place to walk once you have seen the murals, and in summer there are cafés and beach bars along the bank.
The gallery is outdoors, free and accessible at any time, and the pavement along Mühlenstrasse is level. Walking the full length takes 30 to 45 minutes at a relaxed pace. It is busiest from late morning into the afternoon, so go early for photographs without crowds. Keep to the pavement, as Mühlenstrasse is a busy road, and do not add graffiti to the murals. The foundation runs tours and an online exhibition with interviews with the artists.
Warschauer Strasse station (S-Bahn and U1) is at the eastern end near the Oberbaum Bridge, and Ostbahnhof is at the western end, so you can walk from one to the other. Cross the Oberbaum Bridge to reach Kreuzberg, or head north into Friedrichshain for the bars around Simon-Dach-Strasse and the clubs nearby.
East Side Gallery FAQs
Is the East Side Gallery free?
Yes, it is an open-air gallery on a public street and free to visit at any time.
How long is it?
About 1,316 metres, making it the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall.
When were the murals painted?
In the spring of 1990, by 118 artists from around the world; many were restored from 2009.
What is the most famous mural?
Dmitri Vrubel's painting of Brezhnev and Honecker kissing.
How long should you allow?
Around 30 to 45 minutes to walk the full length.
Which stations are closest?
Warschauer Strasse at the eastern end and Ostbahnhof at the western end.
When is it least crowded?
Early in the morning, before tour groups arrive.
Who looks after it?
The Berlin Wall Foundation, which also offers tours.