Prenzlauer Berg

Overview

Prenzlauer Berg is a beautifully restored neighbourhood of ornate 19th-century apartment buildings, leafy squares, and a thriving weekend-market culture. Once East Berlin's bohemian quarter, it has gentrified into one of the city's most liveable areas.

Highlights

• Kollwitzplatz: Named after artist Käthe Kollwitz, surrounded by cafés and a popular Saturday organic market.
• Mauerpark: Famous Sunday flea market and Bearpit Karaoke.
• Kulturbrauerei: A restored Schultheiss brewery complex hosting festivals, a cinema, and a DDR museum.

History

Largely spared from WWII bombing, Prenzlauer Berg retains Berlin's densest concentration of pre-war buildings. After reunification, artists and students moved in, followed by a rapid gentrification wave in the 2000s.

Visitor Tips

• Sunday: Combine the Mauerpark flea market with brunch on Kastanienallee.
• Evening: Quiet by Berlin standards — better for dinner than clubbing.
• Duration: 2–3 hours.