Friedrichstraße
Duration
2 hrs
Admission
Free
Best time
Anytime
Budget
Free
About this place
Friedrichstrasse is one of Berlin's most storied and sophisticated boulevards, stretching through the heart of Mitte from the Spree river northward through Checkpoint Charlie and beyond. Once the glamorous entertainment and commercial heart of Weimar-era Berlin, it was divided by the Wall and has since been reborn as a refined destination of upscale shops, grand department stores, theatres, and historic landmarks.
Tips
Stop at Checkpoint Charlie where Friedrichstrasse crosses the former border, one of the most historically charged intersections in the city. The Galeries Lafayette Berlin, housed in a striking Jean Nouvel-designed building, is well worth stepping inside for its spectacular glass cone interior alone. The street is also home to the Friedrichstadt-Palast, Europe's largest revue theatre, worth checking for evening shows. Friedrichstrasse S-Bahn and U-Bahn station sits at the heart of the boulevard, making it one of the most conveniently connected streets in central Berlin for exploring Mitte in any direction.