Neukölln in brief
Neukölln was called Rixdorf until 1912, when the municipality took its present name. The district, south-east of Kreuzberg, stretches from the Landwehrkanal to the housing estates of Britz. The "Neukölln" most visitors mean is its northern part, between the Landwehrkanal and Karl-Marx-Straße, which is also the busiest.
The district is large: pick one area per half day rather than trying to see everything.
Reuterkiez and the Maybachufer
The Reuterkiez, around Reuterstraße and Weserstraße, is the district's trendiest area: specialty coffee shops, night bars, second-hand shops. On the Maybachufer, along the canal, the Turkish market takes place (Tuesday and Friday). It is the best start to a walk, early in the morning.
For an evening out: Weserstraße and Friedelstraße line up many bars. The mood is young and noisy, even on weekdays. For wider options, see our guide to Berlin at night.
Sonnenallee: the "Arab street"
Sonnenallee, which runs south-east from Hermannplatz, concentrates many Levantine and Turkish restaurants and bakeries, pastry shops, shisha cafés and stores. The liveliest stretch is near Hermannplatz. Come in the late afternoon or evening, when the street comes alive. For places to eat, look for the counters with a long queue: it is often a good sign.
Körnerpark and Schillerpromenade
The Körnerpark, a 2.4-hectare neo-Baroque park laid out between 1912 and 1916 in a former gravel pit, lies below the surrounding streets and is reached by monumental staircases. It has pools, a cascade and an orangery housing a café and a gallery. Entry is free. The Schillerpromenade, further north, is a tree-lined street of cafés and restaurants; it leads to the edge of Tempelhofer Feld.
Tempelhofer Feld
The former Tempelhof airport, now a public park, borders the district to the west. You walk, skate or picnic on the old runways: see our page on Tempelhofer Feld. Entry is free, during the park's opening hours.
Rixdorf and Richardplatz
The Böhmisches Dorf (Bohemian village), around Richardplatz, grew in the 18th century from the settlement of Protestant refugees from Bohemia, from 1737. You still find low houses, cobbled streets, churches and a forge, the Rixdorfer Schmiede. The contrast with the rest of the district is striking: allow about twenty minutes for the walk. The Museum Neukölln, housed in a former stable of the Britz estate (Gutshof Britz), tells the district's history with the permanent exhibition "99 x Neukölln".
Britz: the Horseshoe Estate and the manor
In the south, Britz is home to the Horseshoe Estate, a 1920s garden city with UNESCO status, and the Gutshof Britz. Allow half a day for both, by U7 metro.
Places of worship: the Şehitlik Mosque
On Columbiadamm, the Şehitlik Mosque can be visited outside prayer times. It is a good complement to neighbouring Tempelhofer Feld.
Where to eat
Neukölln is one of the best districts for eating beyond German cuisine: Syrian, Lebanese, Turkish and Vietnamese food, plus many vegetarian and vegan places (see vegan eating in Berlin). For brunch, see our guide to brunch in Berlin. Many places take cash only: keep some change, as our guide to money and tipping in Berlin explains.
Getting there
The U7 metro crosses the district from west to east (Hermannplatz, Rathaus Neukölln, on to Britz), the U8 serves Hermannplatz and Boddinstraße, and the Ringbahn S-Bahn (S41, S42) stops at Neukölln and Hermannstraße. See our guide to getting around Berlin.
Safety and common sense
The district is generally safe for visitors, but Hermannplatz and some stations can be very busy at night: watch your belongings. Read our guide to scams to avoid in Berlin.
Going further
Neukölln continues naturally into Kreuzberg, on the other side of the canal. To plan your stay, see our guide on where to stay in Berlin.
