Schöneberg at a glance
Schöneberg is now part of the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district. It stretches from the Tiergarten and Potsdamer Straße in the north to the tracks of Südkreuz in the south. The area is best explored on foot, using the metro (U1, U2, U3, U4, U7) to hop between sectors:
- Nollendorfplatz and Motzstraße: the heart of Berlin's gay life since the 1920s (see our Berlin LGBT guide).
- Winterfeldtplatz: the market and the café terraces.
- Akazienkiez: quiet streets, cafés, boutiques.
- Rathaus Schöneberg: Cold War history and the flea market.
- The railway parks: the Gleisdreieck park to the east, the Südgelände nature park to the south.
Nollendorfplatz, Motzstraße and the gay quarter
Nollendorfplatz is the metro junction of lines U1, U2, U3 and U4. Around the square, Motzstraße, Fuggerstraße and Eisenacher Straße concentrate the bars, cafés and shops of the gay community, a tradition going back to the 1920s. The writer Christopher Isherwood lived at Nollendorfstraße 17, an address that inspired his book about Berlin at the end of the Weimar Republic.
In early summer, Motzstraße hosts the Lesbisch-schwules Stadtfest, often called the Motzstraßenfest, a large free street festival. In 2026 it was held on 18 and 19 July; check the dates of the next edition before booking. Details of venues, bars, events and memorial sites are in our Berlin LGBT guide.
The Winterfeldtplatz market
The Winterfeldtmarkt takes place on Winterfeldtplatz, a short walk from Nollendorfplatz station, on Wednesday from 8 am to 2 pm and on Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm. Fruit and vegetables, cheese, bread, organic produce, flowers and hot-food stalls mix together; on Saturday it is one of the liveliest markets in the city. The cafés and restaurants around the square also fill up that day. For comparison with other markets, see the Maybachufer Turkish market and our guide to Berlin's markets.
The Akazienkiez
Between Hauptstraße and Crellestraße, Akazienstraße is the most pleasant street in western Schöneberg: period buildings, cafés, bakeries, bookshops, designer boutiques and small restaurants. The mood is calmer and more family-oriented than around Nollendorfplatz. It is a good spot for brunch or a coffee on a terrace. Access by Eisenacher Straße (U7) or Kleistpark (U7).
Nearby, Kleistpark and its colonnades make a green stop on the way to the Kiez.
Rathaus Schöneberg and the flea market
Schöneberg town hall was the seat of the West Berlin government during the Cold War. From its balcony, US President John F. Kennedy delivered his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" on 26 June 1963. The square in front of the town hall now bears his name.
On Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm, a flea market sets up in front of the town hall: furniture, crockery, vinyl, books, vintage clothes. Come early for the best finds. Rathaus Schöneberg station (U4).
The Gleisdreieck and Südgelände parks
Two former railway sites have been turned into parks:
- The Gleisdreieck park, to the east of the district, is a large park open at all times, free of charge, with meadows, play areas and a view of the Potsdamer Platz towers. It borders the German Museum of Technology.
- The Südgelände nature park, to the south, is a former marshalling yard overgrown by forest. Admission is €1 from age 14.
The names that marked Schöneberg
Several 20th-century figures left their mark on the district. Marlene Dietrich was born in Schöneberg in 1901. David Bowie lived at Hauptstraße 155 from 1976 to 1978, during his Berlin period, and a memorial plaque decorates the building. These places are worth a glance in passing rather than a visit of their own.
Shopping and KaDeWe
The department store KaDeWe stands in the north of the district, on Tauentzienstraße, at the edge of Charlottenburg. It belongs to the shopping area around the Kurfürstendamm.
Schöneberg's areas at a glance
| Area | Mood | To see | Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nollendorfplatz and Motzstraße | Lively, gay scene | Bars, Motzstraßenfest | Nollendorfplatz (U1, U2, U3, U4) |
| Winterfeldtplatz | Market, terraces | Market Wednesday and Saturday | Nollendorfplatz (U1, U2, U3, U4) |
| Akazienkiez | Quiet, shopping | Cafés, boutiques | Eisenacher Straße (U7) |
| Rathaus Schöneberg | History, flea market | Town hall, weekend flea market | Rathaus Schöneberg (U4) |
| Gleisdreieck | Park, play | Meadows, viaducts | Gleisdreieck (U1, U2) |
| Südgelände | Nature, relics | Locomotive, water tower | Priesterweg (S2, S25, S26) |
A single BVG ticket for zones AB is enough to get around the whole district. Our guide to getting around Berlin covers the other tickets.
Going further
Schöneberg borders Kreuzberg: follow our Kreuzberg guide for the next stretch of the walk. If you are looking for somewhere to stay, our guide where to stay in Berlin compares the districts, and Berlin at night lists evening outings.
