Berlin has hundreds of parks (well, I don’t really know about that number, but it sure seems like hundreds). For a capital city, Berlin has a lot of green spaces—though admittedly, they’re not really kept up very well. Part of Berlin’s charm, I s’pose.
On the outskirts of Berlin (well, the outskirts of this expat Berliner is anything outside the Ringbahn), there’s the Preisterweg Nature Park. The wooded park used to be a railway center and is now an unkempt park full of old railroad paraphernalia and assorted steel discards. Nature seems to have won out over steel—a metaphor, perhaps.
In one area of the park, graffiti tagging & spraying is even allowed. Even though there is plenty of graffiti in Berlin, this is one of the few places where it’s legitimately legalized. Well, ain’t that the bee’s knees! :)
How to get there:
Take the s-bhan to Preisterweg. It’s 1€ to enter Berlin’s graffiti park, but like most things in Berlin, it’s pretty much on the honor system. The entrance to the park is literally at the bottom of the stairs at the u-bahn exit. There’s another entrance further north—maybe a 15-minute walk. Sometimes they leave the door open there and you may be able to squeeze in for free.
For more things to do in Berlin, be sure to check out my Hipster Berlin Travel Tips!
Other parks in Germany
For more information about parks and public spaces around Germany, check out these posts from my Blogger Stammtisch friends:
- beer gardens on Grounded Traveler
- Munich’s English garden on Monkeys & Mountains
- ….more to come!
Seems like a cool place — I just love GOOD graffiti. The rules are pretty funny, though. We’re really looking forward to exploring Berlin!
i love the photos u took here. I wished I can also be here in the future.
OOoh. Street art is my favorite type of art.
Even the parks in Berlin have their own “Berlin” flavor. Looks like a fun off-beat place to check out.
I really like how nature seems to be reclaiming some space here by growing over the old railway system. So interesting! I wonder if there is any more or less graffiti than in the places it’s illegal.
Neat park. I’m with Tiffany, I love good graffiti. For me good implies anythign well drawn or just really funny. I like looking at the walls that get painted going in and out of some of the major train stations. Some quite impressive stuff.
The rules are quite German-like. We had a “free expression tunnel” in the college I went to. You could paint what you wanted, but only in the one tunnel and no slander. Then every so often they repainted it white.
I love that they have allowed graffiti, what a great place to visit with a camera.
Nature can never be compared with any man made thing as manmade things some or the other day get spoiled or stuff but natural things are evergreen.
The trees on the railway tracks are pretty cool. And I really like the idea of a graffiti park.
Never seen such parks in India. Looks pretty!
oh yeah that’s nice, also allowed graffiti, what a great place to visit
Very cool! Just showed your post to my boyfriend (a native Berliner!) and he knows the park, though had no idea that it was a graffiti haven! Will try to make it there one of the next times I’m in Berlin!
Yeah – it’s a nice park but it’s got this whole area dedicated to graffiti artists. But honestly most of the work was pretty crap – would be a good place for a beginner to get some practice, though!
Very cool!!! Just showed your post to my boyfriend (a native Berliner!) and he knows the park, though had no idea that it was a graffiti haven! Will try to make it there one of the next times I’m in Berlin!
Love love love graffiti and street art – the creative stuff, not a picture of an ejaculating penis with someone’s dumbass nickname painted in black next to it. Never heard of this in Berlin before, so thanks for sharing Adam!
Thanks Tom! It’s funny how street art can be so different to so many people. This is a great little park because it lets people practice in a safe environment.
Hey Adam, I’m in Berlin right now and I have to say thT prior to coming here, I did not have a clear idea of what to expect. I thoroughly enjoyed your posts! Especially about Berghain as I was very much excited about trying to get in. The wave to get in or out is basically more exciting to me than actually enjoying the club but I’m sure those who have actually been inside such as yourself would say otherwise. I still have 2 days left and I thnk, tonight I’m going to check out Gorlitzer park, like right now, to the wall and maybe even try get in Berghain! Maybe you should come with me to guarantee me entrance. Haha
Hey DJ,
Hope you’re enjoying Berlin!!! I agree with you that waiting in line at Berghain can be almost as exhilarating as what’s inside. Hope you got in!