Friedrichstrasse
The Basics
The Cold War saw part of the physical partition of Berlin erected along Friedrichstrasse, marked at each end by two border points: Friedrichstrasse station and Checkpoint Charlie. The station, a major transport site, features an exhibition detailing the changes Berlin experienced during the Cold War. Following the reunification of the city in 1989, south of the station became a shopping district rich with shops, eateries, and office buildings. Farther down Friedrichstrasse is Checkpoint Charlie, where the barrier, booth, and sandbags all sit on the original site. The nearby eponymous museum presents the history of the Berlin Wall and the significance of the checkpoint, including accounts of escape attempts.
Many visitors choose to explore Friedrichstrasse with a walking tour, which take in other communist-era, historical, and cultural sights. To see several major attractions on the same day, you can book a guided tour that includes transport. Berlin hop-on hop-off bus tours stop at Checkpoint Charlie.
Things to Know Before You Go
Friedrichstrasse is a must for all first-time visitors to Berlin.
The length of the street from Friedrichstrasse station to Checkpoint Charlie is approximately 2 miles (3.5 kilometers).
A wide range of restaurants, cafés, and bars on Friedrichstrasse and its adjoining side streets provide plenty of places to stop and refuel.
Friedrichstrasse and many of its sights and businesses are accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
Reach the northern end of Friedrichstrasse via both overground and underground trains, as well as various bus routes. The U-Bahn also has stops running the length of the street, all the way to Checkpoint Charlie.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
Friedrichstrasse is one of the busiest streets in Berlin, so visiting earlier in the day may help with avoiding crowds. From Monday to Saturday, shops often stay open well into the evening. The Checkpoint Charlie Museum, located at Friedrichstrasse 43–45, is open daily.
Visit the Berlin Wall Memorial
Follow up a tour of the historical sites along Friedrichstrasse with a trip to the Berlin Wall Memorial, fewer than 1.5 miles (3 kilometers) north. Here portions of the original wall still stand, some covered in graffiti and street art that celebrate its demise. The nearby visitor center provides an accompanying comprehensive overview.
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- Deutscher Dom
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- Museum for Communication Berlin
- Unter den Linden
- Bebelplatz
- Führerbunker
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- New Guardhouse (Neue Wache)
- Madame Tussauds Berlin
- Checkpoint Charlie
- German Historical Museum (Deutsches Historisches Museum)
- Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial)
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- Palace of Tears (Tränenpalast)
- Topography of Terror