Friedrichshain

Overview

Friedrichshain is a former East Berlin district that has become ground zero for Berlin's nightlife and alternative culture. Anchored by the East Side Gallery and the RAW Gelände complex, it pulses with energy day and night.

Highlights

• RAW Gelände: A former railway repair yard converted into an open-air compound of clubs, skate parks, and food trucks.
• Boxhagener Platz: A relaxed neighbourhood square with a Saturday food market and Sunday flea market.
• Simon-Dach-Straße: A long bar-lined street that fills with outdoor seating in summer.

History

Named after a 16th-century town clerk, Friedrichshain was a working-class district that saw fierce WWII fighting (the battles for the Frankfurter Tor). Post-reunification, abandoned buildings became squats and clubs, seeding today's scene.

Visitor Tips

• Start late: The neighborhood comes alive after 20:00.
• Combine with: Walk from the East Side Gallery across the Oberbaum Bridge into Kreuzberg.
• Duration: 2–3 hours.