Berlin/South
The South is a district of Berlin. It consists of the boroughs of Steglitz, Zehlendorf, Tempelhof, Neukölln, Treptow and Köpenick.
Understand
Steglitz-Zehlendorf is a borough in the southwest of Berlin. Zehlendorf is together with Charlottenburg the wealthiest part of Berlin and has a lot of lakes and forests, but also lots of culture and the biggest university in Berlin. Most famous is the Wannsee with its Strandbad, where on hot summer weekends all families visit, but there are also other lakes, where bathing is allowed and even free.
Steglitz was merged with Zehlendorf in 2001 and is an ordinary (but nice) residential and shopping district. Zehlendorf is more interesting for tourists because of its many museums, beautiful nature and some old castles.
Tempelhof is a borough of Berlin. In 2001 these two former boroughs were merged. Both are very different and were merged solely to have a bigger political unit. Tempelhof is an industrial area and in the south is a living area for families. The northern part is mainly occupied by the airport Tempelhof which was closed in October 2008.
Neukölln is a borough of Berlin. It consists of four sub-districts (Britz, Buckow, Rudow and Neukölln). Neukölln has a history as a poor working-class district with a large number of migrants. Neukölln offers big contrasts between the densely populated northern part and the more village looking southern parts. Southern neighborhoods Britz, Buckow and Rudow became part of Berlin in the 1930s and kept its structure. In the past few years, the northern part of Neukölln, nicknamed Kreuzkölln, has seen a transformation as a large influx of students and artists are moving into the neighborhood.
Treptow-Köpenick is a borough of Berlin. Köpenick is known for its old town, its castle and the many lakes and forests. And for the story of The Captain of Köpenick. Treptow is more a residential district and well known to Berliners for its big park and some beautiful views of River Spree. In some parts you can visit big ex-industrial areas which are now changing to something else (i.e. cultural or shopping areas) or simply fading away.
Get in
Steglitz-Zehlendorf
The center of Steglitz is the U-/S-Bahn station (U9, S1) "Rathaus Steglitz". One of the most popular shopping streets in Berlin is the "Schlossstraße" with a good selection of specialized shops, especially medium and low-priced fashion shops. Additionally there are four small to medium-sized malls where you'll get everything you need.
Zehlendorf is spread quite far and depending on the area, different stations are the best. Wannsee (S1, S7), Grunewald or Dahlem-Dorf (U3) are the best stations to stop at for the most interesting areas.
Tempelhof
U-Bahn line 6 from station "Platz der Luftbrücke"" onwards south is the backbone of the district. The major S-Bahnstation Südkreuz (DB station with national and international rail service) and Tempelhof also lay within the district.
Neukölln
The U-Bahn line U7 and U8 are the backbone of transportation in Neukölln. All stations from U8-Schönleinstrasse to U8-Hermannstraße and U7-Hermannplatz to U7-Grenzallee are northern Neukölln. Starting from Parchimer Allee until the terminal station Rudow you will see the smaller houses, apartment blocks and gardens of Britz, Buckow and Rudow. But with the Gropiusstadt, there is also a housing estate with many mulit-storage builings and a differnt social siutation. Several bus lines connect the residential areas especially in the southern parts.
The federal motorway 100 (the new city highway) is constructed on the former border line to Treptow-Köpenick. It offers a fast way to the new BBI airport which will in near future be the only airport for Berlin. During rush hour the entry and exit ways might be congested but the main traffic is to come after the airport opening.
Treptow-Köpenick
Treptow is best accessed by S-Bahn lines S45, S46 and S9. The most important station is Treptower Park. To get into Köpenick take the S46 to Spindlersfeld or the S3 to Köpenick and consider taking one of the many trams to the old town and the old palace.
By tram
Perhaps the most picturesque line in the city, known to transit system officials as "the most beloved tram line in Germany" due to its customers' passionate opposition to reducing service, is Line 68. In off-seasons it has more scenery than people, but when hot weather comes its lakeshore meanderings and the tiny, "gemütlich" village of Alt-Schmöckwitz at the line's outer terminal draw so many customers that extra trams are pressed into service. Line 68 may be best accessed at the Berlin-Grünau S-Bahn station, where all types of convenience food and shopping are available.
Beyond the village center and tram terminal, a large forested area of lakefront parkland offers hiking and bicycling possibilities. This was once the home neighborhood for expatriate American, international music and film star Dean Reed. The Line 68 tram itself had one brief moment of glory, in 1936. In its former incarnation as Line 86 it was the best route to the Olympic rowing events and some structures, street names, etc. still reflect that high point.
See
Steglitz-Zehlendorf
- Wannsee – Well known as the number-one bathing and recreation spot for western Berlin. It is the site of the Strandbad Wannsee, an open-air lido with one of the longest inland beaches in Europe and a popular nudist area.
- Schloss und Schlosspark Glienicke (Glienicke Palace, Casino and Garden) – This Castle is one of Berlin's oldest castles and where Prince Carl used to reside. Be sure to check out Glienicke Bridge, the bridge that became renowned for the exchange of Western and Eastern secret agents.
- Schloss Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island Palace)
- Jagdschloss Grunewald (Grunewald Hunting Lodge) (1542) – An impressive traditional country estate with stately architecture, it is an enclave of untouched regional cultural history and architectonic epochs. The 80-hectare mixed forest also provides a wide network of paths for walking and rambling.
- Botanischer Garten (Botanical Garden)
Museums
- Brücke-Museum, Bussardsteig 9, tel: 831 2029 . Works from the Dresden art collaborative called "Die Brücke".
- Museum of European Cultures. The biggest of its sort in Europe. At the museum district of Dahlem.
- Ethnological Museum. Again one of the world's most comprehensive ones. At the museum district of Dahlem.
- Museum of Asian Art Includes East Asian as well as Indian sections.
- Allied Museum. A museum showing the Western side of the Cold War.
- House of the Wannsee Conference. on Am Großen Wannsee on the shoreline. This museum explains how this house was used for a meeting of senior Nazis to ensure that they all knew that the SS would forthwith industrialize the use of mass-murder in disposing of Jews and "undesirables" and to debate a little the logistics of the Holocaust, for which Hitler had already given the orders.
Tempelhof
Tempelhof Airport, the "mother of all airports", is a huge relic of the pre-war era but closed as of October 30, 2008. The terminal building is located immediately south of the city center and was the hot spot of the Berlin airlift ("Berliner Luftbrücke"). Take U6 to "Platz der Luftbrücke"
Neukölln
Neukölln has been known for its high immigrant population, but is now considered to be a highly up-and-coming neighbourhood of Berlin where more and more artists, students, and new homeowners are moving to. Particularly northern Neukölln – also known as Kreuzkölln – has seen a huge influx of money and has become particularly trendy, and this trend is moving steadily further south. Particular areas of note is the part of Neukölln close to the Maybachufer channel that also hosts the famous Türkish market (off of U-Bahn Schönleinstraße), the Schillerkiez (off of U-Bahn Boddinstrasse), and the Richardplatz (off of U-Bahn Karl-Marx-Straße)
Treptow-Köpenick
- Altstadt Köpenick - the old town of Köpenick surrounded by water. Especially noteworthy is the Köpenick Palace which houses a museum of applied art and the Neogothic town hall.
- Neuvenedig - a beautiful landscape of water canals and vegetation with charming little fish restaurants.
- Müggelturm - an observation tower without an elevator in Southeast Berlin, from which you can see that there is a great deal of forest around Berlin.
- Achenhold Observatory , Alt-Treptow 1, Tel.: +49 (0)30 / 536 063 7199. The longest moving refracting telescope is 21 meters long with a lens diameter of 68 centimetres. This Giant Telescope was built in 1896 by Dr. Freidrich Simon Archenhold but is now part of the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin. It was the place where Einstein presented his Theory of Relativity to the public in 1915.
Mueseums
- Museum of Forbidden Art – A special museum situated on a guard tower on the historical Berlin Wall (closed now, reopening questionable).
- <see name="Museum of Decorative Arts" alt="" address="Schlossinsel Köpenick 1" directions="in Köpenick Palace" phone="+49 (0)30 6 55 73 61" email="" fax="" url=""http://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/en/museums/museum-details/schloss-koepenick-1.html hours="Tu-Su, 10am-6pm" price="€4"></see>
- <see name="Nazi Forced Labor Documentation Center" alt="" address="Britzer Str. 5" directions="Berlin-Schöneweide S-Bahn station" url="http://www.topographie.de/user/data/zalager_sw/flyer_en.pdf" hours=" Open Tue-Sun 10am - 6pm" price="Entrance and tours are free of charge" lat="" long="">The Schöneweide former forced labor camp (GBI-Lager 75/76) on Britzer Straße is a complete ensemble, which makes it a rather unusual site in Berlin. Of the original thirteen housing barracks erected between 1943 and 1945, eleven are still standing today. Six barracks on the western part of the former camp grounds belong to the Documentation Center on Nazi Forced Labor. Guides tours available on request (schoeneweide@topographie.de or phone: +49 30 6390 2880) </see>
Do
- Swim in the pure waters of one of the many lakes, such as Schlachtensee, Krumme Lanke or Wannsee. You should arrive with you bathing suit already on as there are no changing stations readily available.
- Volkspark Mariendorf boasts an open-air cinema and is the perfect activity to do at night.
- Mueggelsee - Berlin's biggest lake. You can travel there by tram which is an experience by itself.
Neukölln
- Türkish Market, . Every Tuesday and Friday, 11am-6.30pm, the biggest and best market in Berlin is in Neukölln. An absolute must visit.
- Neuköllner Oper, . Visit a play and be amazed by the creativity, which the opera house has won some awards for.
- Britzer Garten, . A 90 hectare garden and former national garden show place (1984); public park with great flora and big playgrounds for kids; popular amongst children and seniors on weekends.
- Stadtbad Neukölln Built from 1912-14 in Art Noveau style and carefully renovated in 1984, this swimming pool (actually two in one building), covered in mosaics and domes, is one of Berlin's most beautiful. A must-see for architecture fans.
- Sonnenallee became famous from the film named after this street. During the Cold War, the street was split, with one section belonging to East Berlin and one to West Berlin.
- <do name="Ballhaus Rixdorf" alt="Tango Dancing" address="10967 " directions="" phone="030/ 691 63 70" email="info@ballhaus-rixdorf.de" fax="030/ 692 38 21" url="http://www.ballhaus-rixdorf.de/" hours="Sa 9:30PM to close" price="">Tango dancing starts at 9:30PM on Saturdays. This place features an amazing atmosphere, impressive dancers, and full-out Tanguero and Tanguera dress.</do>
Buy
Steglitz
Schloßstraße: This shopping street is full of great places to shop. Start at the U-Bahn Station Rathaus Steglitz to visit Das Schloss, an upscale indoor shopping mall with a creative ceiling decoration. Continue down Schlossstraße, where you will find many small shops and chain stores. There is also the largest natural department store in the city, called Das Naturkaufhaus, featuring eco-friendly clothes, paper products and beauty products, among other things. The best part is the basement, which is full of interesting decorations and cool items. At the Schlossstraße U-Bahn Station, you will find Spielen, Werken, Schenken, which is a great place for kids. With a toy store in the front and a craft store in the back, you will find everything you need for playing or crafting. Further down the Schlossstraße, there is the new Boulevard Berlin and Karstadt. Boulevard Berlin is another indoor shopping mall which just opened in 2012. It is still adding to its store directory, so stop by and see what you can find. Karstadt is a nice department store with a grocery store in the basement where you can find some hard to find food items. Across the street from Karstadt is a branch of the department store Peek & Cloppenberg. Continuing 2 blocks further at the Walther-Schreiber-Platz U-Bahn Station, there are two more indoor shopping malls: Schloss Straßen Center and Forum Steglitz. Forum Steglitz has much of the same stores that the earlier Das Schloss boasts, although the ice cream shop on one of the upper floors is a great place to take a break. They even have seating out front when the weather is nice. There is a nice, inexpensive make-up shop on the first floor to the left when you enter. The Schloss Straßen Center is often packed with people coming out with brown Primark bags as this is the shopping center which boasts Berlin's first Primark. There are to be more Primark locations opening in 2013 in Berlin.
Neukölln
- Karstadt Hermannplatz (U-Bahn Hermannplatz), built in 1929; large shopping center including clothing, book, and beauty products shops, as well as a post office, and its own high-end supermarket, (probably only second to KaDeWe in the area). The grocery section of Karstadt has its own fresh meat, seafood, and cheese sections.
- Kindl-Boulevard Passage shopping center on Hermanstrasse (U-Bahn Boddinstraße) another center with many stores, a cinema, and a newly renovated Kaiser's supermarket.
- Gropiusstadt Passagen (U7 station Johannistaler Chaussee) is the biggest mall in Berlin and offers a wide variety of shops.
There are additional malls in the district, such as the "Neukölln Arkaden" at the U7-Station "Rathaus Neukölln". An abundance of clothing stores and eateries, a post office, gym, a cinema known as "Karli" (movies in both German and Turkish shown regularly), and a very large supermarket (Kaufland) in the basement.
The region boasts many specialty food shops (Asian, Indian, African etc.), which offer an impressive international selection for very competitive prices.
Neukölln is home to many so-called "Spätis" which Berlin has become known for. "Spätis" are kiosks regularly open until 2 or 3AM (some are open 24 hours), offering everything from cigarettes, drinks, and sweets, to necessities, (dairy, dry goods, canned food, etc.). Slightly more expensive than grocery chains, but less expensive than gas stations.
Treptow-Köpenick
- <do name="Go on the water" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Rent a motor boat, row boat, canoe, or kayak and explore the Spree and Dahme</do>
- <do name="Spreepark" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.berliner-spreepark.de/" hours="" price="">Check out abandoned and dilapidated entertainment park.</do>
Flea market
- Eichenstraße 4 , Sundays
Eat
- Loretta am Wannsee Kronprinzessinenweg 260. One of the most popular beer gardens in Berlin. It's a must visit in summer for eating and drinking in the sun.
- Fischerhütte am Schlachtensee, Alte Fischerhütte am Schlachtensee Fischerhüttenstrasse 136, tel +49-30-80498310. A cozy, yet elegant high end restaurant with an impressive visible wine collection, located directly at the Schlachtensee. Sit outside in the warmer months for the gorgeous views outside.
Neukölln
- Cafe Rix, Karl-Marx-Straße 141, T: 030-686 90 20. Next to the Neukölln Opera house with international cuisine.
- Café Selig, Herrfurthplatz 14, T: 030-620 05 530 . Cute café/restaurant in the Schillerkiez by the church. Good place to people-watch, drink a coffee, and to eat brunch.
- Britzer Mühle, Buckower Damm 130, T: 030-604 10 05, . Classical German cuisine in an old wind mill.
- Casa Montella , Krokusstraße 80, T: 030-662 03 95 Good Italian restaurant in Rudow.
- Louis, Richardplatz 5, Austrian food, giant schnitzels and quality beer on tap
- Götterspeise, Karl-Marx-Straße 131
- Tabibito, Karl-Marx-Str. 56. Japanese restaurant, family-run, very friendly (sometimes you get a snack for free), since it's little, can be very crowded in the evenings.
- Café Jacques, Maybachufer 8. Great French cuisine (especially the fish and the self-made noodles), nice service, very crowded though.
- <drink name="Hamy's" alt="12043" address="Hasenheide 10" directions="U7 and U8: Hermannplatz." phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Delicious Vietnamese cuisine, a main course for €4,90. They have a daily changing menu and great lassis.</drink>
- Kantina von Hugo, Friedelstr 31, T: 030 22432825. Small cozy Mediterranean mama-style home cooking situated near the Landwehrkanal. The menu is small but changes everyday. Friendly and not too expensive, very nice wines. Fresh pasta is a must.
- <drink name="Tang" alt="" address="Karl-Marx-Str. 215" directions="3 min from S-Neukölln" phone="+49-30-684 33 36" url="" hours="11-23" price="budget" lat="" long="">Authentic Hunan Chinese food under €7 for a very filling main course. Ignore the menu, ask for the specials. The spicy pork & aubergine dish is a must, sometimes rarities such as chicken feet are on offer.</drink>
- <eat name="Focacceria la Tarantella" alt="12047" address="Pannierstrasse 57" directions="near U7 / U8 Hermannplatz" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Pizzeria serving fresh homemade pizza and pasta, starting a €4, also offering a changing 3-course menu.</eat>
Schillerkiez
- Zio Felix, Okerstrasse 35, T: 0176-599 486 95. Good Pizza.
Treptow-Köpenick
- <eat name="Die Blaue Lagune-" alt="" address="" directions="nestled in a corner of Johannisthal, part of Schoeneweide, which is a subsection of Treptow (Sterndamm 65)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">A coffeeshop/restaurant where you can have great coffee, house-made excellent ice cream and cakes, and great food from a short but just as excellent menu, and all that in a wonderful ambiente.</eat>
- <eat name="Luise" alt="" address="" directions="on the Dahme side, across from the City Hall." phone="030. 64 32 9 777" email="info@luise-koepenick.de" fax="030. 64 32 8 525" url="http://www.luise-koepenick.de/" hours="Mo-Fr from 9am, weekends from 11 am" price="€12 main, €25 menus">Friendly service, delicious German/Italian food and a great view over the Dahme and the Spree both from inside and outside on the big wooden terrace.</eat>
Drink
Neukölln
Especially in the northern part of Neukölln (east of Kottbusser Damm, next to the Kreuzberg-border), the bar scene is becoming increasingly established. The rest of Neukölln houses a few student-friendly bars. Nearby Kreuzberg offers more variety.
- Froschkönig, Weisestr. 17 Awesome pianobar with literature nights and occasional jazz concerts. Very relaxed atmosphere, located in the Schillerkiez.
- Syndikat, Weisestr. 56 One of the most famous bars in this part of town. It's been around for some 25 years and considered to be one of the best 'kneipen' in Neukölln.
- Freies Neukoelln, Pannierstr. 54 The best beer in town with a very good kitchen. Open daily from 7 p.m.
- Kulturverein Kinski, Friedelstr. 28. Famous for late nights and cultural activities. Frequented by Neukölln film enthusiasts, and occasionally rare films are screened. A nice feature: if you want to organize an artistic event or plan to DJ, just go there and sign up in the list at the bar.
Schillerkiez
Schillerkiez is close to the former Berlin Tempelhof Airport. Since the airport closed down the area is becoming increasingly popular. There are several nice bars in the area.
Treptow-Köpenick
- <drink name="Köpenick Palace Cafe" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.schlosscafe-koepenick.de/" hours="Nov-Mar:Th-So 10am-6pm, Oct-Apr:Tu-So: 10am-7pm, May-Sep:Tu-So:10am-11 pm" price="€4 for drinks">Both inside and outside are beautiful places to have a glass of wine or beer. Or a cup of coffee with a whipped cream cake. Also have menus for lunch and dinner.</drink>
- <drink name="Insel Berlin" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.inselberlin.de/" hours="" price="">Club on an island on Spree river.</drink>
Sleep
- <sleep name="Landhaus Schlachtensee" alt="" address="Bogotastr. 9, Zehlendorf" directions="" phone="030/809-9470 " email="" fax="" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Set nearby the Schlachtensee and Krumme Lanke lakes, the Landhaus offers a quiet and tranquil location, with the personalized service of a bed and breakfast.</sleep>
- <sleep name="Schlosshotel im Grunewald " alt="" address="" directions="" phone="030/895-840 " email="" fax="" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Tucked away near the Grunewald Castle, this ultra luxe exudes charm and indulgence, and with the interior styled by Karl Lagerfield, you can be assured of a stylish setting.</sleep>
Neukölln
Because Neukölln is not really in the city center, most hotels are for coach tours or bigger groups. They are busiest on weekends. If you come with a group (at least 10 people) negotiate a discount.