The East Side Gallery is the longest, most famous, and most vibrant section of the former Berlin Wall that still stands. Located along the Spree River, between the Ostbahnhof and Warschauer Straße stations, it is considered the largest open-air art gallery in the world.
History and concept:
- Foundation (1990): shortly after the fall of the wall, 118 artists from 21 countries were invited to paint murals on a 1.3km stretch of the eastern side of the wall, which was previously inaccessible to graffiti.
- Symbolism: while the western side of the wall was full of protest graffiti, the East Side Gallery transformed the eastern side into a visual memorial of hope, freedom, and reconciliation.
- Monument Status: since 1991, the section has been protected as a historical monument.
The gallery features over 100 paintings. The most famous include:
- "The Kiss" (Mein Gott, hilf mir, diese tödliche Liebe zu überleben): painted by Dmitri Vrubel, it depicts the fraternal kiss between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German leader Erich Honecker. It is the most photographed work in the gallery.
- "Test the Best": shows a Trabant car (symbol of the GDR) crossing the wall.
- "Curriculum Vitae": a detailed list of the years the wall existed, with the names of people who died trying to cross it.
- "Berlyn": a colorful mural by Gerhard Lahr that symbolizes the joy of unity.
Due to exposure to the elements and vandalism, many works were restored in 2009 by the original artists themselves. In 2026, the site will remain under the constant care of the Stiftung Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall Foundation) to prevent the degradation of the paintings.
Some more sensitive parts may have protective railings to prevent tourists from writing on the paintings.
Behind the wall (Spree River side), there is a pleasant lawn where many young people gather in the summer. It is also where The Wall Museum is located, if you want a deeper historical understanding.
IMPORTANT: Please do not write your name on the artwork. Vandalism is a serious problem that threatens the preservation of this unique historical heritage.
Address
Mühlenstraße
S3/S5/S7/S9 Berlin Ostbahnhof Station
U1/U3 Warschauer Straße Station
Tip: Ideally, start at Berlin Ostbahnhof Station and walk to Warschauer Straße Station, ending the tour at the iconic Oberbaumbrücke bridge (located at the southern end of the gallery).
