Oberbaum Bridge

The Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin is a red-brick landmark spanning the River Spree between the districts of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. Built in the 1890s in a neo-Gothic style, it carries an elevated U-Bahn line, a road, and walkways, and for decades it was a border crossing between East and West Berlin. If you are wondering whether it is worth a stop on your Berlin trip, the answer is yes: it is free, photogenic, and a quick detour from many major sights.

A bridge that mirrors Berlin's history

The bridge was built between 1894 and 1896 by city building inspector Georg Pinkenburg and architect Otto Stahn, replacing an older wooden bridge. It is about 150 meters (490 feet) long, with seven arches and two turreted towers. The elevated railway above the roadway opened in 1902 and today carries lines U1 and U3.

Retreating German troops blew up part of the bridge in April 1945. During the Cold War, the border between the American and Soviet sectors ran here. After the Berlin Wall went up in 1961, the bridge was closed to all traffic, and pedestrians were allowed across only from 1972. After reunification, the bridge was restored and Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava designed a new steel section for the middle. Trains and road traffic resumed on November 9, 1994, five years to the day after the Wall opened.

What to look for

• The brick towers and arcades at both ends, especially at sunset
• The modern steel arch in the middle that contrasts with the old brickwork
• Yellow U-Bahn trains rattling across the elevated section
• Views along the Spree toward the Mediaspree district and the TV Tower

Planning your visit

The bridge is a public street, so there is no admission fee and no opening hours. Crossing takes about ten minutes; with photo stops, plan on 20 to 45 minutes. Stay on the pedestrian path:, around 10,000 cyclists a day used the bridge in 2018.

Getting there

Take the U-Bahn: line U1 stops at Schlesisches Tor on the Kreuzberg side and at Warschauer Straße on the Friedrichshain side. Warschauer Straße is also a hub for S-Bahn trains with connections across the city. Parking nearby is limited, and public transport is far easier. A single ticket in Berlin's AB fare zone covers the trip, and the Deutschlandticket works here as well.

Nearby

The East Side Gallery, the longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, begins just across the river along Mühlenstraße. Kreuzberg's bars and cafes are a short walk from the Schlesisches Tor station, and the TV Tower is visible downstream.