Many blockbusters are set and filmed in Berlin and you can visit a lot of those locations! Here are 10 locations that were used as film sets for some of the biggest Hollywood films as well as German cult classics.
Oberbaumbrücke – Run Lola Run
The Oberbaumbrücke (pictured above) connects both of Berlin’s most creative districts: Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain and has acted as a film location for the famous film Run Lola Run (Lola rennt). The plot line outlines that Lola needs to obtain 100,000 German Mark in 20 minutes to save the life of her boyfriend and so we see Lola running around different locations in Berlin.
The bridge is also just around the corner from BIMM Institute Berlin’s House of Music!
Friedrichstraße – Victoria
© Politikaner (License)
One of Berlin’s main shopping streets acted as a location for the German film Victoria, which takes place over the course of one night and was filmed in only a single shot without any cut! All scenes seen in the film were shot around the area and the film ends with a scene at the Westin Grand Hotel. On the trail of Victoria you can walk to the different film locations and while you’re there, do some shopping as well!
Checkpoint Charlie – Octopussy
Not too far from Friedrichstraße is Checkpoint Charlie which can be seen in the James Bond film Octopussy. While the film is set in different locations all over the world, some scenes are also shot in Berlin. Here, Bond pretends to be a furniture salesman where he passes Checkpoint Charlie to travel to East Berlin. This is a popular tourist destination as it was the most well-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East and West Berlin.
Alexanderplatz – The Bourne Supremacy
© Fred Romero (License)
Did you know that all of the Bourne films were shot in Berlin including The Bourne Supremacy? For a couple of them Berlin has acted also as the Netherlands, Russia and Italy so there are many film locations you can visit (like the Oberbaumbrücke, Ostbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, Friedrichstraße – the list goes on)! One scene was also shot in the famous Alexanderplatz where Bourne meets Nicky Parsons at the World Time Clock. Alexanderplatz is one of Berlin’s major commercial areas and transport hubs, located in the central district (Mitte) of Berlin.
Messedamm Underpass – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
The Messedamm underpass is well-known as the location of many films. It’s an underground tunnel underneath a conference centre that has acted as a backdrop for The Bourne Supremacy, Atomic Blonde and also The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.
Sony Centre – Captain America: Civil War
The Sony Centre, located next to Potsdamer Platz, has acted as the UN Conference in Vienne for Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War.
The Centre contains a mix of shops, restaurants, offices, as well as the Museum of Film and Television. During the Berlinale special exhibitions are displayed here and you can also find a library with an extensive collection of film literature and journals.
This is a must-visit for every film fan!
Theater im Delphi – Babylon Berlin
The Theater im Delphi used to be a cinema that has been transformed into the legendary Moka Efti bar for the German TV series Babylon Berlin. Moka Efti was a real bar that hosted legendary parties but was destroyed in World War II. For the TV series, the silent film cinema in Berlin’s district Weißensee has acted as Moka Efti as it still retains the charm of 1920s Berlin.
Heilandskirche in Sacrow – Keinohrhasen
The stunning location of the Heilandskirche in Sacrow acted as a film location for the film Rabbit Without Ears (Keinohrhasen) as well as for the popular German TV series Babylon Berlin.
In Keinohrhasen Anna und Ludo meet at the picturesque spot by the Lake Jungfernsee, where Anna confesses her love for him. Sacrow was originally a village that in 1939 had been incorporated into Potsdam. Our tip is to visit this location in the summer and explore the area with its Potsdamer Stadtschloss.
Zoologischer Garten – Christiane F.
Zoologischer Garten, also known as Bahnhof Zoo was the main railway station in West Berlin and has been the setting of several films. Christiane F. – We Children from Bahnhof Zoo, a biographical drama based on the book “We Children from Zoo Station” (Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo) is partly set and filmed here.
Hotel Adlon – Unknown
© Yair Haklai (License)
Unknown was exclusively shot in Germany and Hotel Adlon next to the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) acted as the centre of the 2011 thriller. On his way to Hotel Adlon, Liam Neeson’s character also passes the Brandenburg Gate – Berlin’s most famous landmark. So when visiting the hotel, why not step outside and combine this with a visit to this monument?
Berlin has countless film locations you can explore and is one of Europe’s most important cities for the film industry and we are so excited to launch our new Filmmaking degree in this city! Are you interested in studying Filmmaking? Then contact our Admissions Team on [email protected] or +49 30 311 99 186.
