Nostalgia for former East Germany
Last updated on 07/02/2026
The 10 best nostalgia spots for former East Germany in Berlin
Ever since "Good Bye, Lenin!", the Ampelmaennchen has been a cult figure and East German nostalgia has been firmly anchored in Berlin's cityscape. If you want to dive in, you can take the wheel of a two-stroke yourself on the Trabi Safari and rattle through the capital. The Kino International on Karl-Marx-Allee still shows off its socialist splendour in full glory, while the AMPELMANN Galerie Shop has turned the little green man from the traffic light into a brand. You can spend the night in original East German style at the Ostel Hostel near the Ostbahnhof, and at the Volkskammer in Friedrichshain an East German diner and a scene bar come together. Here the past is made tangible not as a museum piece, but with a wink. At which of these places would you most like to travel back to old East German times?
Ellen Mehrhoff-Roddewig
I was born after reunification, but the small relics of the East fascinate me to this day. I had the most fun on the Trabi Safari, when the two-stroke engine vibrated beneath me, and at the Kino International, which looks as if it has been frozen in time. For this list I gathered the places where nostalgia for the East comes with humour rather than kitsch.
During the Trabi Safari, you drive through Berlin in a convoy of up to six cult cars from GDR times. Information about the sights is provided via radio.
The Kino International on Karl-Marx-Allee is finally back and, after comprehensive renovation, shines brighter than ever in February 2026. As a former premiere cinema of the GDR, it combines authentic Eastern architecture with state-of-the-art technology and remains a prime destination for film fans with a sense of history.
In the historic mill warehouse directly on the Spree, an emotional journey through the history of German division awaits you. The museum connects personal fates with original props and interviews from contemporary witnesses in 13 themed rooms.
The Volkskammer restaurant, not far from Ostbahnhof, transports its guests directly back to the GDR era. Look forward to culinary classics like Goldbroiler or Würzfleisch in an absolutely authentic ambiance.
They are the East German symbols of sympathy and have become established in Berlin's streetscape after reunification – the Ampelmännchen!
Restaurant Pila combines hearty German cuisine with a journey back to the GDR past, serving classics like the "Pioneer Camp Menu" amidst original memorabilia. Visitors in Prenzlauer Berg can expect a successful blend of dining establishment and small museum.
Anyone looking for authentic GDR baked goods cannot miss this institution in Friedrichshain. Biesewski bakery still bakes according to old recipes, taking customers back in time with the taste of genuine 'Ostschrippen'.
Where did the Berlin Wall stand? The Berlin Wall Trail makes history tangible, on foot or by bicycle.
At W. Prassnik pub in Berlin-Mitte, the era of GDR pub culture comes alive, as the interior is reminiscent of a classic HO gaststätte down to the last detail. Those who stop here will find not only the home-brewed Prassnik beer but also an atmosphere that needs no artificial backdrop and instead captivates with simple honesty.
At OSTEL, you quickly feel transported back to the past. Everything here is furnished in the old East German chic, with yellow patterned wallpaper, floor lamps with beige lampshades, and functional furniture.
