'''Marzahn-Hellersdorf''' is a district of Berlin.

Marzahn-Hellersdorf is a district in the northeast of Berlin. It is largely a residential district for the underclass and the middle class. It is famous for it's GDR socialist building block architecture, but often ignored are some old, village-like parts. In general it is a very green district. There are only a few interesting sites for visitors. Most interesting are maybe the "Garten der Welt", the Grunderzeitmuseum and the Schlosspark Biesdorf with its small castle in late classical style. A more thorough description of the district can be found on the official website [http://www.berlin.de/ba-marzahn-hellersdorf/derbezirk/englisch_mh.html].

Get in

The S-Bahn lines 75 or 5 and the U-Bahn line 5 will get you to most parts, otherwise take the tram: the M6, for example, starts in the city center (e.g. Alexanderplatz) and runs through almost the entire district.

See

:*'''World's Garden''' (Garten der Welt) in Marzahn [http://www.gruen-berlin.de/marzEN/index.php]. Inside you can find a large and well established Chinese garden, a Korean garden, a small Bali's Garden/Glasshouse, an Oriental Garden with nice fountains and a cloister and a Japanese garden which is a project by the city partnership of Berlin and Tokyo. The latter has been built by Zen priests. Guided tours take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays every 30 min from 10:30 until 12:30. The park is open daily from 9:00-16:00 (in March and October until 18:00, from April to September until 20:00). Although quite crowded at times, there are not that many tourists so here's a chance to brush up on your German skills. Entrance is 2 € in winter and 3 € in summer. As the journey to this park will be around an hour from the city center, don't miss this opportunity to complete your picture of Berlin by seeing some of Berlin's clean and quiet suburbs. ''Eisenacher Strasse, 99 - Berlin-Marzahn - S7 Marzahn (Zone B) + Bus 195 (before the departure ask to the driver for the right stop).'' Notice that ''another Eisenacher Strasse exists in Schoneberg'', so don't be mislead by the U7 Station Eisenacher Strasse. :*'''Grunderzeitmuseum''' (Museum of Wilhelminial style) [http://www.gruenderzeitmuseum.de/htm/index_engl.htm] features many objects and even whole rooms in wilhelminian style. To get there from the city center: U5 until "Elsterwerdaer Platz", then bus 398 direction S Mahlsdorf until "Hultschiner Damm", then walk 300 m. :*'''Schloss and Schlosspark Biesdorf''' [http://www.berlin.de/ba-marzahn-hellersdorf/verwaltung/natur/schlosspark.html] is a small castle in late classical style. It was built 1868 by Gropius and other architects, the von Siemens family changed the castle a bit around 1900 and they enlarged the dimensions of the park, which is today renovated and nice to wander around when the sun is shining. Located within a few minutes' walking distance from Biesdorf station (take the S5 from the city centre) or Elsterwerdaer Platz station (U5). :*'''Windmill''' [http://www.marzahn-hellersdorf.net/Bezirk/Bockwindmuehle.php] One of the few windmills in Berlin is located in Marzahn. After registration one can visit it and have a look at the functions of the windmill. To get there, take the S7 or S75 until "Springpfuhl" station, then the tram 8 or M18 until "Alt-Marzahn".

Art galleries

As Berlin is a city of art, it is quite easy to find an art gallery on your way. They provide a nice opportunity to have a look at modern artists' work in a not so crowded environment for free. Here are some of the galleries in Marzahn-Hellersdorf:

:*'''Galerie M''': open Sunday - Thursday 1 p.m. till 6 p.m. Varying exhibitions, for details see [http://www.berlin.de/ba-marzahn-hellersdorf/verwaltung/bildung/kultur/galerie_m.html] (in German). Marzahner Promenade 13, 12679 Berlin. Next S-Bahn station is "Marzahn" (S 7).

:*'''Galerie KLIN''': open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Ahrensfelder Chaussee 150 a, 12689 Berlin.

A directory listing of all art galleries in Berlin can be found on [http://www.theartofberlin.com/index.php/directory The Art of Berlin: Complete Berlin Art Gallery Directory]

Do

Before or after visiting the "Gardens of the World", tourists might be interested in climbing on top of the Kienberg (a small hill nearby with a view on the surrounding suburbs) or to go for a walk in the valley of the Wuhle (a small river). More information on the area can be found on the district's official website (in German): [http://www.berlin.de/ba-marzahn-hellersdorf/verwaltung/natur/kienberg.html]

Buy

Shopping centers are mainly providing goods for the local population, but there are several shopping centers in the district such as the following:

:*'''Eastgate Berlin''' which is located next to the S Bahn Station Marzahn and comprises about 150 shops, restaurants etc. For the center's website, see the following link [http://www.eastgate-berlin.de/en/seite/das_center/das_Center.php]. Close by is an enterntainment center with cinemas etc.

:*'''Helle Mitte''' a smaller shopping center next to U 5 Station "Hellersdorf", in the area around Alice Salomon Platz.

:*'''Spree Center''' another small shopping center at Hellersdofer Strase opposite to the U 5 station "Kaulsdorf Nord".

Eat

Most restaurants in the area belong to the lower price segment, some to the medium range, and exclusive restaurants are virtually non-existent. Here two tips:

  • '''La Paz''' - Mexican restaurant / bar, in summer you can sit outside in the adjacent pedestrian area. Good food and friendly service. Kurt-Weill-Gasse 7, 12627 Berlin, about 5 minute's walk from U 5 Station "Hellersdorf".
  • '''Ristorante Pizzeria Sicilia''' - as the name suggests, a good Italian restaurant, at the left side of the "Cecilienplatz" (if you exit the U Bahn (metro)-Station Kaulsdorf Nord). Good food and friendly people, native Italians will likely have a chat in Italian with the "patrone". Do not be shocked by the area around which is somewhat grey with a lot of concrete, but the restaurant is really nice. In summer, you can sit in a tent outside which is surrounded by flowers. Somewhat more expensive than the La Paz, for a good dinner with three courses and drinks, you'll need about 40-50 ? per person. Pasta and pizza are cheaper, of course.
  • Drink

  • '''Mango Bar''' - Neue Grottkauer Str. 3. Bar with billiards, offering very affordable cocktails. The bar also has a small dance floor. Best time to visit is Friday and Saturday in the late evening after 11 p.m. Visitors are mainly young people from the neighborhood (aged approx. 18-25), many with a working class background. If you want to socialize with the locals, it is highly advantageous if you speak good German and can cope with their typical "Berlin"-style accent.
  • Sleep

  • '''Hotel Helle Mitte''', modern but affordable middle-class hotel (3 stars), Kurt-Weill-Gasse 7, 12627 Berlin. Telephone ++49 (0) 30930290 (omit the zero in brackets when dialling from outside Germany).
  • '''Etap Berlin Ost''', typical low budget hotel (1 star) managed by the Accor group. Allee der Kosmonauten 33c, 12681 Berlin. Telephone ++49 (0) 3054003220.
  • '''Park Hotel Schloss Kaulsdorf''', probably the only luxurious hotel in the area (4 stars), in a small castle. Brodauer Str. 33, 12621 Berlin. Telephone ++ 49 (0) 30565950.
  • Contact