Berlin Anhalter Bahnhof, Historic railway station in Germany
Berlin Anhalter Bahnhof was once a large terminus in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg that served trains heading south to Leipzig, Frankfurt, and Munich. Today, only a fragment of the original facade with sculptures stands at Askanischer Platz, while the rest of the site has become a quiet park with grass and open fields.
The station opened in 1841 and was monumentally expanded in the 1870s by Franz Heinrich Schwechten, featuring a large iron roof and sculptures. During World War II, it suffered heavy bomb damage, closed in 1952, and was mostly demolished in 1960.
The name comes from the Duchy of Anhalt, which the rail line passed through. Today, memorial plaques at the site honor Jewish people who were deported from here to camps and ghettos.
The underground S-Bahn station at Anhalter Bahnhof remains in operation and connects several parts of the city. Above ground, visitors can walk through the green space and view the preserved facade section up close.
The station was connected to the Hotel Excelsior by a tunnel, allowing travelers to move directly between their accommodation and trains. The sculptures Day and Night by Ludwig Brunow are now displayed at the German Museum of Technology.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
