The town and the gay areas The metropolis of Berlin is a party capital and is characterised above all by one thing: its great diversity. It is a real melting pot of cultures, full of contrasts and deeply attractive. Despite reunification projects since the Wall came down in 1989, the city is still very much divided between the cosmopolitan chic of the West and the tattered Communist remains of the East.
The gay scene in Berlin includes more than 100 establishments, mainly spread over four areas: Schöneberg, Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. All are in the town centre and are easily accessible by various methods of public transport.
Generally, in Berlin, no difference is made between heterosexuals and gays. Particularly in "gay centres", gay or lesbian couples are seen together as naturally as classic opposite sex pairs. On the other hand, this is much less true for some outlying areas in the East of the town (Marzahn, Lichtenberg...).
Places of Interest Berlin has more than 170 museums and an impressive number of other places of interest of various kinds...
The Museumsinsel (museum island) is in the Mitte area, between Kupfergraben and the river Spree, and groups together 5 remarkable museums. It is here that the beautiful Nefertiti awaits.
The Reichstag (seat of the German government) is also in the Mitte area. Open daily from 08.00 hrs to midnight, last entry at 22.00 hrs.
The Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) is also in the Mitte area, near to the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) and the Reichstag. A place of memorial and warning, representing a resolutely modern approach to the notion of a memorial.
The Eastside-Gallery in the Friedrichshain area is 1,316 metres of the Berlin Wall, which has been preserved, and is painted by 118 artists from 21 countries. Gay Addresses
There are so many that only a very small selection can be listed here.
Cafés/bars
Anderes Ufer
Hauptstraße 157, 13159 Berlin – Schöneberg, U-Bahn (underground) 7 Kleistpark
The « Anderes Ufer » (in English "other bank") is a little way away from the gay centres and has an agreable and creative atmosphere...
Café bistro bar Beguine
Meeting place and cultural centre for women.
Potsdamer Str. 139, Berlin-Schöneberg, U-Bahn 2 Bülowstraße, closed on Sundays
Bierhimmel
Oranienstrasse 183, Berlin-Kreuzberg, U-Bahn 1 and 8 Kottbusser Tor
Good starting point for a night in town...
Sonntags-Club
Greifenhagener Str. 28, 10437 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bahn 2 and S-Bahn 8 Schönhauser Allee
Historic meeting place for bisexuals, gays and transexuals
Café Amsterdam
Greifenhagener Str. 24, 10437 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bahn 2 Schönhauser Allee
Cosy small café with cocktail bar
Discotheques
Blu
Neue Schönhauser Str. 20, 10178 Berlin-Mitte, U-Bahn Weinmeister Straße
Cocktail bar with a small dance floor.
GMF
c/o Café Moskau, Karl-Marx-Allee 33, 10178 Berlin-Friedrichshain, U-Bahn Schillingstraße
Good DJ's, a popular club, with a socialist charm
SO 36
Oranienstrasse 190, Berlin-Kreuzberg, U-Bahn Kottbusser Tor / Görlitzer Bahnhof
Mixed clientèle with alternative tendencies, in a club rich in tradition...
Die Busche
Mühlenstr. 11-12, 10243 Berlin-Friedrichshain, U-Bahn and S-Bahn Warschauer Straße.Discotheque opposite the East Side Gallery, frequented by a young clientèle.
Organisations
Allgemeine Homosexuelle Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V. - AHA-Berlin e.V. (homosexual working party)
Mehringdamm 61, 10961 Berlin, Tel : +49 (0)30 692 36 00
Mann-O-Meter e.V.
Bülowstraße 106, 10783 Berlin-Schöneberg, U-Bahn Nollendorfplatz, Tel : +49 (0)30 216 80 08 and +49 (0)30 215 70 78, opening times: Monday to Friday 17.00 hrs to 22.00 hrs , Saturday and Sunday 16.00 hrs to 22.00 hrs
Beaches/rivers
Strandbad Müggelsee (beach on the banks of Lake Mügglesee)
S-Bahn Friedrichshagen, tram Fürstenwalder Damm / Müggelseedamm
Teufelssee
Beach on the banks of Lake Teufelssee.
S-Bahn Grunewald, then approximately 15 minutes on foot
Strandbad Müggelsee
Beach on the banks of Lake Mügglesee.
S-Bahn Nikolassee, then take the bus to the beach which is just behind the naturist area
Tuntenwiese ( park)
In Mitte, near Siegessäule / Großer Stern, between Hofjägerallee and Straße des 17. Juni, U-Bahn Hansaplatz. Naturism possible
Berlin
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