Berlin – Around Town : Kreuzberg & Schöneberg (part 2) – Best of the Rest, Shops & Markets

by

A Day in Kreuzberg


Morning

Start from the famous ruins of Anhalter Bahnhof, which you can reach by S-Bahn. From here continue along Stresemannstraße in a northwesterly direction to the Martin-Gropius-Bau.
It is easy to while away a few hours in this impressive building if
there is a special exhibition. You could take a break for refreshments
in the museum café. A visit to the neighbouring exhibition, the
Topographie des Terrors
 afterwards will bring you face to face
with the dark Nazi past of this area. Continue along
Niederkirchnerstraße, past an original section of the Berlin Wall, to
Wilhelmstraße. Then turn into Kochstraße to visit
Checkpoint Charlie
 and the Wall Museum at the former border.

Afternoon

You can buy a tasty lunch at
Sale e Tabacchi
 in Kochstraße. Continue along
Kochstraße in an easterly direction and you will get to the heart of
Kreuzberg. Make a detour south on Lindenstraße to the
Jüdisches Museum
 or carry on into Oranienstraße. Take the U-Bahn U6 from U-Bahn station Hallesches Tor to Platz der Luftbrücke. The Viktoriapark
nearby is a good place for a rest, while shopaholics prefer a stroll up
and down Bergmannstraße. At the end, turn north into Baerwaldstraße and
continue to Carl-Herz-Ufer, where you will be able to round off the day
with a delicious evening meal at the
Altes Zollhaus
.

Best of the Rest




  1. Rathaus Schöneberg

    It
    was from this Town Hall, on 26 June 1963, that the US President John F
    Kennedy made his famous speech, declaring “I am a Berliner” and
    expressing his commitment to the freedom of West Berlin.

    • John-F-Kennedy-Platz




    Rathaus Schöneberg

  2. Mehringplatz

    Once
    Kreuzberg’s prettiest square, Mehringplatz was destroyed in World War
    II and is today surrounded by modern residential buildings.




  3. Flughafen Tempelhof

    Tempelhof,
    built in 1939 by Ernst Sagebiel and then Germany’s biggest airport,
    survives as the largest Fascist structure in Europe. After years of
    debate the airport closed in 2008. Future uses for it include a
    convention centre and a venue for fashion shows and trade fairs.

    • Platz der Luftbrücke

  4. Mariannenplatz

    This
    square is dominated by the Gothic-style artists’ house Bethanien. A
    former hospital, it is today used as studio space by experimental
    artists.

  5. Oberbaumbrücke

    Pedestrians
    and cyclists can cross to the other side of the Spree River from
    Kreuzberg to Friedrichshain on this red-brick bridge, one of Berlin’s
    loveliest, which was erected in 1894–6.

    • Warschauer/Skalitzer Str




    Oberbaumbrücke

  6. Altes Mosse-Palais

    One of Berlin’s most important publishing houses was based in this Art Nouveau corner house in the former newspaper district.

    • Kochstr

  7. Friedhöfe Hallesches Tor

    Numerous
    celebrities lie buried in the four cemeteries, including the composer
    Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Also the writer E T A Hoffmann, whose work
    inspired Offenbach to write The Tales of Hoffmann.

    • Mehringdamm

  8. Lapidarium

    The former pumping station is open for visits; the sculptures in the garden once decorated the Siegesallee (alley of triumph).

    • Hallesches Ufer 78

  9. Kottbusser Tor

    Kreuzberg in the raw: social misery tucked away in between new buildings in the Turkish heart of the district.

  10. Kammergericht

    In 1947–90, the magnificent supreme court, built in 1909–13, was used as Allied Control Council.

    • Potsdamer Str. 186

Shops & Markets




  1. Winterfeldtmarkt

    At
    Berlin’s largest and most wonderful market you can buy fresh fruit and
    vegetables as well as other goods from around the world, such as clothes
    and New-Age items.

    • Winterfeldtplatz

    • 8am–4pm Sat, 8am–1pm Wed

  2. Türkenmarkt Maybachufer

    No
    other market in Berlin is quite as exotic. This is where Berliners and
    Turks alike buy their unleavened bread and fresh goat’s cheese.

    • Maybachufer

    • noon–6:30pm Tue, Fri

  3. Molotow

    Funky and trendy fashion from Berlin designers – perhaps not to everyone’s taste, but guaranteed to cause a stir.

    • Gneisenaustr. 112

    • 030 693 08 18

  4. Oranienplatz and Oranienstraße

    Kreuzberg’s main square and unofficial high street specialize in all things alternative.

    • Oranienstr./ corner Oranienplatz




  5. MaaßenZehn

    Designer jeans or trendy belts – all with minor faults – at heavily reduced prices.

    • Maaßenstr. 10

    • 030 215 54 56

  6. Depot 2

    This small boutique sells the latest streetwear and hip hop fashion of a local label.

    • Oranienstr. 9

    • 030 611 46 55

  7. High-Lite

    If
    you’re worried about standing out in the alternative crowd in
    Kreuzberg, this is the place to get your shades, body piercings and
    other essentials.

    • Bergmannstr. 99

    • 030 691 27 44

  8. Ararat

    One of the best-stocked and trendiest stationery shops in Berlin, Ararat has many designer items for sale.

    • Bergmannstr. 99a

    • 030 693 50 80

  9. Marheineke-Markthalle

    This
    is one of the last remaining market-halls in Berlin. Modernised in
    2007, it boasts colourful fruit and vegetable stores and a wide range of
    organic produce.

    • Marheinekeplatz

    • 8am–8pm Mon–Fri

  10. Grober Unfug Comics

    This store sells comic books of all periods and in various languages – its name means “complete rubbish”.

    • Zossener Str. 33

    • 030 69 40 14 90