East Side Gallery

Overview

The East Side Gallery is the world's longest open-air gallery: 1.3 km of Berlin Wall covered in over 100 murals painted by international artists in 1990, just months after the Wall fell.

Highlights

• "My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love": Dmitri Vrubel's iconic mural of Brezhnev and Honecker kissing.
• "Test the Rest": Birgit Kinder's Trabant bursting through the Wall.
• Riverside walk: The Spree-side promenade offers great views of the Oberbaum Bridge.

History

118 artists from 21 countries painted the murals in early 1990. The works were controversially restored in 2009 when many original artists returned to repaint their pieces.

Visitor Tips

• Go early: By midday the pavements are crowded with tour groups.
• East end: Walk from Ostbahnhof toward Oberbaumbrücke for the best murals and the best light.
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.