Berlin is a city in a state of constant change – and hardly any other area illustrates this as impressively as its industrial heritage. Where turbines once belched smoke, trains were shunted and machinery was manufactured, vibrant cultural venues, green oases and spectacular event locations are now emerging. At the Berlin Industrial Heritage Festival, the capital opens its gates, doors and even secret bunkers that usually remain locked. We’ve picked out the eleven best highlights for you – ones you definitely shouldn’t miss!
Tip 1: Take an exclusive look behind the scenes at Berlin-Gatow Airfield
Kick off your festival weekend with a real insider’s tip: at the historic Berlin-Gatow military airfield, a hangar that’s normally strictly off-limits to the public will be opened up for you. Let yourself be enchanted by the hangar’s unique atmosphere and hear moving stories from the history of aviation.
The experts on site will take you on a journey through history and reveal fascinating details about the technology of past decades. An absolute must for all tech enthusiasts.
When: Sunday 13 September at 11 am, 12 noon, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm; Sunday 4 October at 12 noon, 2 pm and 4 pm; each tour lasts 1.5 hours
Where: Bundeswehr Military History Museum in Berlin, Am Flugplatz Gatow 33, Spandau
Tip 2: Join in at the open day in Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Would you prefer to see everything at once? Then the Open Day is the perfect way to get started. Grab a ticket for the historic double-decker buses and take a relaxed hop-on, hop-off tour through the district.
Seven fascinating places – from old factory halls to modern creative hubs – are just waiting to be discovered by you. Make the most of the chance to hop off whenever a place particularly piques your curiosity and explore it at your leisure.
When: Sunday, 20 September, from 10 am to 4 pm
Where: BSR Main Workshop, Ringbahnstraße 96, Tempelhof
Events in Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Tip 3: Bunker myths debunked – Experience the history at Tempelhof Airport
Celebrate a genuine festival first! In partnership with Berliner Unterwelten, head deep underground at the legendary Tempelhof Airport. Forget the old myths: discover the unvarnished truth on site about the steel and concrete air-raid shelters and the underground use of the site. The striking blend of monumental airport architecture and the gloomy underworld makes this tour an unforgettable experience.
When: 12, 13, 19 and 26 September, 3 and 4 October, from 10.30 am to 2 pm and 3.30 pm to 7 pm on each day
Where: Tempelhof Airport, Platz der Luftbrücke 5, Tempelhof
Tip 4: Marvel at gigantic steam locomotives at the Berlin Railway Festival
For railway fans, families and technology enthusiasts, a visit to the Schöneweide Railway Depot is a must. This is where the heart of Berlin’s railway history beats: over 40 historic and modern locomotives and carriages are on display, ready for you to admire up close.
Climb into old driver’s cabs, listen to the hiss of the machinery and experience the fascination of the railways up close. The visual highlight of the entire site is, and always will be, the imposing water tower dating from 1906.
When: Saturday and Sunday, 26 and 27 September, from 10 am
Where: Schöneweide Railway Depot, Landfliegerstraße 1, Schöneweide
Tip 5: Experience history as a theatrical expedition: “Wi(e)der die Waffen”
Forget traditional guided tours and become part of a thrilling theatrical tour. On the authentic site of the former DWM factories, drama, history and industrial architecture merge to create a gripping total work of art.
Let the performers guide you through the historic halls and experience how the eventful history of this site comes to life. By actively involving the audience, you’ll feel right at the heart of the action rather than just an uninvolved observer.
When: Thursday and Friday, 24 and 25 September from 5 pm to 7.30 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 26 and 27 September from 3 pm to 5.30 pm
Where: Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabrik, Eichborndamm 115–121, Reinickendorf
Tip 6: Observe nature as you explore the city – from the station to the urban wilderness
How does a former marshalling yard become a thriving urban wilderness? You’ll find out on a walk through the Natur Park Südgelände. Here, old railway tracks, rusty signalling systems and lush greenery blend together in an astonishing way.
As well as being a lovely place for a stroll, the park is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about the sustainable Berlin of tomorrow.
When: Sunday 20 September from 9 am
Where: Natur Park Südgelände, Prellerweg 47–49, Schöneberg
From station to urban wilderness
Tip 7: Look through the telescopes on the ‘Schöneweide Walk of Fame’
Stroll along Wilhelminenhofstraße and discover Berlin’s former ‘Elektropolis’ in a whole new way. Twenty interactive viewing tubes will take you on a journey, like a time machine, through the eventful history of the industrial district of Schöneweide. As you look through the telescopes, historical photographs overlap with today’s street scene, creating a fascinating optical illusion.
An exciting change of perspective, allowing you to step back in time, one step at a time.
When: Various event dates, from 2 pm to 6 pm each day
Where: Industriesalon Schöneweide, Reinbeckstraße 10, Oberschöneweide
Tip 8: Enjoy the ‘Long Table of Industrial Culture’ at the historic waterworks
Industrial heritage meets culinary lifestyle: take a seat at the Long Table in the atmospheric historic waterworks. A delicious vegan menu awaits you , accompanied by rousing live music and the unique charm of the old brick architecture.
Chat with other industrial heritage enthusiasts in a convivial atmosphere and enjoy the special ambience amidst the greenery. If you’d like, you can combine your feast with a guided tour of the listed facilities at the Ökowerk.
When: Saturday, 26 September from 12.30 pm to 2.15 pm and 1.30 pm to 3.15 pm
Where: Ökowerk Nature Conservation Centre, Teufelsseechausee 24, Grunewald
Long Table of Industrial Heritage
Tip 9: Dance the night away at silent.beats in the Natur Park Südgelände
Put on your headphones, choose your favourite channel and simply switch off from everyday life. The unique backdrop of industrial wasteland, old railway tracks, overgrown nature and spectacular light installations makes the silent disco at Natur Park Südgelände one of the festival’s most modern highlights.
Move to the pulsating rhythms in the dark, whilst the historic steel structures around you glow in coloured light. A magical late-summer evening full of music and magic is guaranteed here.
When: 13, 20 and 27 September and 4 October, from 8 pm to 9 pm each evening
Where: Natur-Park Schöneberger Südgelände, rear exit of Priesterweg S-Bahn station, Schöneberg
Tip 10: Go on a treasure hunt at ‘Unearthing Industrial Culture – Archaeology of Modernity’
The archaeological finds at the former E-Werk on Molkenmarkt prove that industrial history is by no means confined to the surface . Immerse yourselves in the fascinating stories of relics, tools and building fragments that have been unearthed deep beneath Berlin’s pavements.
The archaeologists will take you on an exciting journey of discovery that reveals just how rapidly Berlin’s modern infrastructure developed in the 19th and 20th centuries. A completely new and unexpected perspective on the cradle of Berlin’s electrification.
When: Thursday 24 September from 4 pm to 5 pm and Saturday 26 September from 10 am to 11 am
Where: PETRI Berlin, Gertraudenstraße 8, Mitte
Uncovering industrial heritage
Tip 11: Climb down into the history of the S-Bahn at Gesundbrunnen station
To round things off, we’re heading underground once more: in a former, listed toilet block at Gesundbrunnen station, an extraordinary exhibition on the history of Berlin’s North-South S-Bahn awaits you. Where everyday life once bustled, you can now admire rare exhibits, historical photos and plans of the underground railway construction.
Combine your visit to the exhibition with a guided tour and discover the enormous engineering challenges the builders faced back then.
When: Saturday, 26 September from 11.30 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 3.30 pm
Where: Berlin S-Bahn Museum, Behmstraße (corner of Badstraße), Gesundbrunnen
You can find more events for the Berlin Industrial Culture Festival here
