Berlin's nightlife is legendary: the most selective clubs in the world, the street art of Kreuzberg and an alternative scene born from the ruins of the divided city with no equal in Europe.
Berlin by night: between clubs and street art
Berlin is the world capital of clubbing. Its nightlife scene, born from the euphoria of reunification in the abandoned warehouses of the East, has become a model for the whole world.
The Berghain: the most selective club in the world
The Berghain, set up in a former power station in Friedrichshain, is the most famous and inaccessible club in the world. The door policy rejects around 80% of applicants without explanation. If you get in, you find two floors (Berghain and Panorama Bar) where techno plays non-stop from Friday evening to Monday morning.
Tips for getting in: Dress in black, go alone or as a couple, do not queue like tourists, do not use your phone, do not look too sober or too drunk. Arrive between 3 and 5am.
Berlin's street art
Berlin is the European capital of street art. The East Side Gallery (1.3 km of murals on the Wall) is the official site, but the districts of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain are an open-air museum of urban art.
Essential tours:
- Haus Schwarzenberg (Mitte): the most iconic courtyard of Berlin street art, with installations by Mr. Meebles and other artists
- Urban Nation Museum: the first museum in the world dedicated to street art (free entry on Thursdays)
- Mauerparkstrasse: the street with the most murals in the Prenzlauer Berg district
The alternative clubs
For those who want the Berlin experience without the pressure of the Berghain:
- Tresor: industrial techno in the vault of a former GDR bank
- Watergate: house and techno with a terrace over the Spree river
- Club der Visionaere: a small club on a boat, more accessible