The East Side Gallery is the best place to see the remnants of the Berlin Wall and the compelling Berlin Wall Graffiti Art. It is a must-see for any visitor to Berlin. At 1.3 km long, or just under a mile long, it’s the world’s longest open-air gallery and the largest remaining section of what was once the Berlin Wall. Today, this open-air art gallery is one of the most photographed sights in Berlin.
After the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, 118 International artists from 21 countries began painting graffiti art on the Berlin Wall and on 28 September 1990, the East Side Gallery was officially opened as an open-air gallery. The paintings and murals reflect the political events of the time, not just in Germany but for the whole world. Only one year later, it was awarded protected memorial status.
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One of the East Side Gallery’s most iconic paintings is Dmitri Vrubel’s depicting Hönecker and Brezhnev’s kiss – apparently a Soviet sign of great respect, and it was based on an actual photograph. Appropriately the name of the kiss photo is, “My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love.”
Much of the Berlin Wall Graffiti Art was restored in 2009. Today, some of the paintings are eroding, not surprising considering Berlin’s weather, and many have been ‘decorated’ with graffiti, but no trip to Berlin would be complete without a visit to the East Side Gallery.
How to get to the East Side Gallery
Take the train to Ostbahnhof or Warshauer Strasse, and it’s a short walk, just follow the signs until you start seeing the graffiti.
East Side Gallery Opening Hours and Entrance Fees
It’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and it’s free to visit
