Hardly any other German city is as fast-moving as Berlin! Despite its historic heart, the metropolis always keeps its finger on the pulse. This year, too, there is plenty to discover and an anniversary or two to celebrate. Visitors can look forward to these Berlin highlights in 2025!
The world’s longest open-air gallery turns 35
In 1990, Berliners made a virtue of necessity and transformed the gray wall that separated West and East Germany into a colorful work of art. Instead of separation, it was now to symbolize freedom and reconciliation.
118 creative artists from a total of 21 countries contributed to the project, creating the world’s longest open-air gallery in the process. At 1,316 meters, the East Side Gallery is also the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall. This year it is celebrating its 35th anniversary! The city of Berlin has come up with a number of highlights for 2025, from conferences to special exhibitions and guided tours.
An oasis of art: 200 years of Museum Island Berlin
The foundation stone for Berlin’s Museum Island was laid 200 years ago! Construction of the Altes Museum began in July 1825 and it was not to be the only one. It was followed by the Neues Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie, the Bode Museum and the Pergamon Museum.
In the meantime, the cultural quarter has made a name for itself all over the world and even made it onto the Unesco World Heritage List. This summer, Berlin is celebrating the anniversary with a whole host of exciting events. Visitors can learn all about the history and exhibits on Museum Island at three major special exhibitions.
The program also includes concerts, open-air exhibitions and cinema evenings by the UFA film company. For a cool drink with the finest beats, art fans are drawn to the Kolonnaden Bar at the northern tip of the Museum Island. In addition to refreshments and hip DJ sets, the pop-up location offers a creative cultural program.
In love with art at the Kandinsky double exhibition
Fans of Wassily Kandinsky can rejoice twice! Both Berlin and the neighboring city of Potsdam are honoring the work of the exceptional Russian artist this spring. The exhibition “Kosmos Blauer Reiter. From Kandinsky to Campendonk” at the Berlin Kupferstichkabinett is dedicated entirely to the artists’ collective ‘Der Blaue Reiter’. From March 1 to June 15, visitors to Berlin can view over 90 expressionist works of art, 60 of which were created by Kandinsky himself.
The legendary Museum Barberini in Potsdam focuses on the avant-garde legacy of Kandinsky and his contemporaries. “Cosmos Kandinsky.Geometric Abstraction in the 20th Century” runs from February 15 to May 18 and includes 125 works by over 70 modern artists. World-famous museums such as the Tate Modern, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum are contributing with loans. A unique opportunity!
Glitz and glamor at the Friedrichsstadtpalast
In Berlin, night turns into day! This is ensured not only by numerous clubs and bars, but also by iconic event locations such as the Friedrichsstadt-Palast. This year, “Blinded by Delight” is a show that promises plenty of glamor.
Over a hundred artists will transform the world’s largest theater stage into a land full of dreams, courage and the search for happiness. If you can hardly wait, get your tickets now for the premiere on October 8!
Above the rooftops of Berlin
Star chef Tim Raue is well known to most of us from television. Now the Berliner is venturing to new culinary heights and taking over the revolving restaurant of the Berlin TV Tower. At 207 meters, he conjures up dishes in the new “Sphere by Tim Raue” that will make the hearts of all gourmets beat faster .Berliners and visitors to Berlin will be able to enjoy it from Easter 2025!
The Estrel Tower will also take you up high. The brand new hotel welcomes holidaymakers with 522 rooms and suites as well as 3,800 square meters of event space. One highlight is definitely the breathtaking view over our capital city. Incidentally, at 176 meters, it will not only be the tallest hotel tower in Germany, but also the tallest building in Berlin!
Turning old into new at Gendarmenmarkt!
Anyone who is often out and about in Berlin will know that the Gendarmenmarkt has been a construction site for the last two years. Now the renovation work has finally been completed and the historic square has been restored to its former glory.
From March at the latest, holidaymakers can once again stroll along the cathedral and concert hall to their heart’s content and look forward to tried-and-tested events such as the Christmas market or the Festival of Lights.
What have the Berliners dug up again?
PETRI Berlin is the city’s new archaeological house and visitor center. Berlin’s archaeologists are working here on Petriplatz and we are allowed to be part of it. The building is not only a workplace, but also an exhibition space.Particularly exciting: from the summer, the excavations in the basement will take us back to the beginnings of the city of Berlin!
