Friedrichshain

Berlin

The former East Berlin district around the East Side Gallery and Simon-Dach-Straße, known for its clubs, bars and good-value hotels.

Best for Nightlife · Budget

Transport: 4/5
Sights: 3/5
Value: 5/5
Quiet: 2/5
Food: 4/5

Typical mid-range hotel ~$150/night · 10 min to Alexanderplatz

See hotels in Friedrichshain

Why stay here

Berlin's nightlife on the doorstep
East Side Gallery and the Oberbaum Bridge
Good value and quick airport trains

Who should stay here

Nightlife lovers
Budget travellers
Young travellers

Not ideal if…

You want quiet weekends
You're travelling with small children
You want classic sights on foot

What it's like

Friedrichshain has the longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, painted as the East Side Gallery, and the red-brick Oberbaum Bridge across the Spree to Kreuzberg. Around Boxhagener Platz and Simon-Dach-Straße, the streets fill with bars and restaurants at night, and some of Berlin's famous clubs are nearby.

It's young, lively and good value, with Ostkreuz station giving a quick link to the airport. The Stalin-era Karl-Marx-Allee runs along its northern side. Nights can be loud, especially at weekends.

Best streets and sub-areas

Simon-Dach-Straße
Bars and restaurants that stay busy late.
Boxhagener Platz
Square with a Saturday market and Sunday flea market.
Karl-Marx-Allee
Monumental GDR boulevard.

Getting around

Nearest stations: Warschauer Straße and Ostkreuz S-Bahn stations, the U1 and U5, and trams along Warschauer Straße.
To Alexanderplatz: About 10 minutes
From Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): About 30 minutes: FEX airport express or regional trains to Ostkreuz.

Nearby attractions

East Side Gallery
1.3 km of the Wall covered in murals, along the Spree.
Oberbaum Bridge
Red-brick bridge with the U1 on top, linking to Kreuzberg.
RAW-Gelände
Old railway yard of bars, a climbing wall and open-air spaces.

Where to eat and drink

Simon-Dach-Straße
Happy hours, cocktails and cheap food.
Boxhagener Platz
Cafés around the square.
Clubs
Some of Berlin's best-known clubs are around the river.

Where to stay in Friedrichshain

A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.

Boutique pick

Michelberger Hotel

Why we like it: Quirky, creative hotel by Warschauer Straße station.

Typical mid-range rate in Friedrichshain: ~$150/night

Check availability

Best value

nhow Berlin

Why we like it: Music-themed hotel on the Spree.