Gleisdreieck: from a desert to the preference in Berlin

Loved by locals and visitors, the Gleisdreieck Park (Park am Gleisdreieck) is located on the border of three districts: Mitte, Kreuzberg and Schöneberg. Meeting point for many young people and adults who seek entertainment and outdoor activities, it’s undoubtedly one of the best parks in the city and deserves your visit. Not surprising is the number of families and children who frequent the place, especially under good weather.

The park, which opened in May 2013, was created in an old abandoned area, with modern landscape concept, making it into a peaceful retreat with versatile public spaces. Since the beginning of its remodeling, local residents were involved and participated in the project. The Gleisdreieck won architecture and urban design awards such as Award 2014 and the Landscape Architecture Prize in 2013 and 2015.

The park has about 26 hectares and is divided into two parts: East and West. The whole project evolved from an inaccessible desert to a place that today is played by locals and tourists. In the past, there was a railway junction next to an inappropriate industrial environment, a hundred years ago. After the restructuring, it was created several areas for sports practices such as: basketball and beach volleyball courts, skating rinks, ping-pong tables, exercise equipment, trampolines, etc. The train tracks were kept, but now in a much nicer setting to enjoy.

When you’re in the park, you can see the almost always omnipresent television tower (Fernsehturm), the Sony Center in Potsdamer Platz and the famous balloon helium gas, which is sponsored by the newspaper Die Welt.

The Gleisdreieck became a meeting place for skaters and runners, beach volleyball players, friends gathered at picnics, nature explorers, lovers of art and all those others who want to enjoy your day in an oasis in the center of Berlin. And now in the summer, a new Biergarten was set up to sell craft beers of excellent quality, which are worth being tried.

It is very interesting to observe the change of the park during the seasons. During the summer, you will find hundreds of people around the lawn, celebrating the hottest days of the year. In autumn and spring it is very common to see more runners, who pass through the fallen leaves or the flowers that initiate the new cycle. In winter, the snow covers the park and only few people venture to go there, but it is without doubt one of the nicest periods of year to visit it.

The park is also great to take the kids to play with, so why there are several playgrounds for the little ones. In the morning you can see some excursions of pre-school children, who enjoy this wonderful place. And do not think that there are just toys for kids! There are swings for adults as well, which are quite well played by these “big children”.

The easiest way to access the park can be made by the subway station U-Bahn Gleisdreieck (U1 / U2). Do not miss the opportunity to visit this place, so loved by Berliners! Have you already been there? Just tell us your experience right here below!