By Oliver Ohmann
Anyone who talks about “cool” places in Berlin could also mean the subway stations. Because in summer it is pleasantly cool underground on the platforms.
Unfortunately, the subway compartments are then often all the hotter because they are not air-conditioned. And of course not all subway stations are real beauties, some are even real dirt corners.
But for once, let’s stay with the beauties…
WITTENBERGPLATZ: masterpiece by subway architect Alfred Grenander, opened in 1902 (U1, U2, U3) Photo: Uwe Friedrich
The elevated and underground railway has been in operation for 121 years. There are currently 175 underground stations in Berlin.
The Berlin author and city guide Dr. Christian Simon (born in 1960) really looked at all of them and collected the 30 most beautiful ones for a new book.
PARACELSUSBAD: opened in black and white in 1987 and decorated with historical motifs on the subject of bathing (U8) Photo: Uwe Friedrich
How do you come up with a top 30 of Berlin’s underground stations?
“The subway shapes the appearance of the city,” emphasizes Simon. “The characteristic elevated railway stations from the first decades are unique contemporary witnesses today.”
RATHAUS SPANDAU: Spandau had to wait 82 years for the subway, in 1984 the time had come. The terminus was designed more magnificently (U7) Photo: Uwe Friedrich
His very personal selection took into account stations of all lines and eras.
There are real subway cathedrals like Heidelberger Platz, curiosities like Dahlem-Dorf, pop art icons like Fehrbelliner Platz and very modern stations like Unter den Linden.
UNTER DEN LINDEN: The youngest beauty only went online in 2020 (U5, U6). At the request of the Senate, the station is free of advertising Photo: Uwe Friedrich
“Beauty is of course a matter of taste,” emphasizes Simon. He also provides a brief history of the Berlin underground movement.
Christian Simon: “The most beautiful Berlin subway stations”, published by Bebra Verlag, with many color photos, 26 euros Photo: Uwe Friedrich
It began on February 15, 1902 with a special trip from Potsdamer Platz to the Zoological Garden, then back via Gleisdreieck to Stralauer Tor.