Berlin Wall bike tour
Cycling along the Berlin Wall: a journey through history
A cycle route combining history and nature
The Berlin Wall Cycle Route is far more than just an ordinary cycle route. It offers a unique opportunity to combine the capital’s eventful history with a varied cycle tour. At the same time, the route shows how former border areas have been transformed into parks, cycle paths and local recreation areas.
Stretching for around 160 kilometres, the route follows the former border between East and West Berlin. Along the way, you’ll discover historical memorials, preserved sections of the Wall, former border crossings and green landscapes.
Whether as a short city tour or a multi-day cycle tour, the Berlin Wall Trail is ideal for history enthusiasts, leisure cyclists and visitors who want to get to know Berlin from a different perspective.
A double row of cobblestones marks the route of the Berlin Wall for 5.7 kilometres through the city centre. From the East Side Gallery via Potsdamer Platz to the‘ ’ on Bernauer Straße , you’ll find memorials, sections of the Wall, former border watchtowers and information boards featuring photographs and texts providing historical insights.
Historical cycling: set off from the Hotel-Pension Sperlingshof in the direction of the capital and experience the Wall Cycle Route in three one-day stages. Spend the night at Potsdamer Platz and in Großbeeren. Following the traces of former GDR border fortifications, highlights on this 165-kilometre cycle tour include Checkpoint Charlie, the East Side Gallery (Wall remains monument with graffiti art) and the Glienicke Bridge.
Cycle along the Wall Cycle Route .
Description
Das Video stellt eine Fahrradtour entlang der Berliner Mauer auf dem Mauerweg vor. Sie beginnt am U-Bahnhof Warschauer Straße und geht durch Kreuzberg, Mitte entlang vieler Sehenswürdigkeiten bis zum Nordbahnhof. Es ist in englischer Sprache mit deutschen Untertiteln. Für eine Transkription sollte das Video direkt auf YouTube angeschaut werden.
From the East Side Gallery to the Berlin Wall Museum
Start the tour at theEast Side Gallery [1]( ): this art promenade on the banks of the Spree in Friedrichshain is, at 1,316 metres, the longest continuous section of the Wall still in existence. Via Mühlenstraße, you’ll reach the corner plot at Stralauer Platz [2], where you can see the listed remains of the Hinterland Wall. Continuing over the Schillingbrücke, you’ll arrive at the former Heinrich-Heine-Straße border crossing [3]. The route then takes you on to the Peter Fechter Memorial. From there, following Zimmerstraße, you’ll reach the formerFriedrichstraße/Checkpoint Charlie border crossing [4], where you’ll also find the Wall Museum [5].
From the Topography of Terror to the Berlin Wall Memorial
Further along, you’ll reach the Topography of Terror site [ 6] – featuring approximately 200 metres of the original Wall. Along Stresemannstraße, towards Potsdamer Platz [7], the information boards of the ‘Berlin Wall History Mile’, information pillars and a currently concealed watchtower of the GDR border troops serve as reminders of the era of division. Be sure to visit the small museum ‘Die Mauer/The Wall’ whilst you’re there. Take the S1, S2 or S25 to Nordbahnhof station, and you’ll reach Bernauer Straße [8] in just 7 minutes. There, the Berlin Wall Memorial [9] – comprising a visitor centre, a monument, a former watchtower, a documentation centre and the Chapel of Reconciliation – commemorates the division of Germany.
Historic cycling: Experience the Berlin Wall Trail in three one-day stages. Following the traces of former GDR border fortifications, you will spend the night in Dallgow, Berlin am Potsdamer Platz and Großbeeren. Offer with luggage transfer.
Explore the entire route
If you have more time to spare, you can explore the full Berlin Wall Trail. The route, which is around 160 kilometres long, takes you through lively neighbourhoods, quiet residential areas, woods and along lakes.
After Bernauer Straße, get back on your bike and follow a further 160 kilometres of the former Wall and Berlin’s history. The former Kolonnenweg, which is mostly tarmacked, is still largely intact and is therefore ideal for cycling. If you follow the signposts, which are positioned exactly at the Wall’s height of 3.60 metres, the route will take you past old sections of the Wall, border paths and other points of interest.
Practical tips for the cycle tour
- For a relaxed tour, it’s advisable to allow plenty of time for sightseeing and breaks. The route is mostly easy to cycle, although some sections have varying surfaces.
- Particularly handy: many stages can be combined with public transport. This means you can cycle shorter sections without having to cover the entire Wall Trail.
- A digital cycling map, such as the one available via komoot, is ideal for planning. This allows you to map out the route, plan stop-offs and set individual daily stages in advance.
What sights are there along the Wall Cycle Route?
- East Side Gallery: At 1,316 metres, this is the longest surviving continuous section of the Berlin Wall and is now a world-famous open-air gallery.
- Checkpoint Charlie: The former border crossing on Friedrichstraße is one of the best-known memorial sites of the division of Germany.
- Topography of Terror: Around 200 metres of the original Berlin Wall have been preserved here.
- Potsdamer Platz: Once divided by the Wall, this site now symbolises the development of reunified Berlin.
- Berlin Wall Memorial: On Bernauer Straße, a documentation centre, historic border installations and the Chapel of Reconciliation provide a powerful insight into history.
