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Street art, creative courtyards and former industrial districts offer another way to explore Germany alongside castles and historic town centres. These five places bring together art, architecture and local life. “Hip” is a matter of taste, so this is a selection of interesting places rather than a definitive ranking.
Check the linked official sites before travelling for current access, exhibitions, tours and event dates. Murals and independent venues can change.
1. Kunsthofpassage, Dresden
The Kunsthofpassage is a group of connected courtyards in Dresden’s Neustadt, between Alaunstraße and Görlitzer Straße. Shops and residents share the space, so explore considerately.
In the Hof der Elemente (Courtyard of the Elements), a blue facade carries trumpet-like funnels and water channels. Water moving through the installation creates a visual and auditory effect. The official description credits Annette Paul, Christoph Roßner and André Tempel. It is better understood as a water installation than a guarantee that rainfall will produce a particular tune.
The other courtyards are the Hof der Tiere (Animals), Hof des Lichts (Light), Hof der Fabelwesen (Mythical Creatures) and Hof der Metamorphosen (Metamorphoses). Look for animal imagery, reflected light and changing surfaces. The yellow wall pictured below belongs to the Elements courtyard; the yellow facade should not be confused with the separate Courtyard of Light.
Useful words: der Innenhof — courtyard; die Fassade — facade; die Regenrinne — gutter.
2. Haus Schwarzenberg, Berlin
Near Hackescher Markt, Haus Schwarzenberg brings together art, cultural spaces and historical remembrance. Its entrance is at Rosenthaler Straße 39. The courtyard’s layered appearance makes it a rewarding place to look closely, rather than simply hurry through for a photograph.
Street art and exhibitions can change, but there is no reliable weekly replacement schedule or promise that a particular mural will remain untouched. Consult the venue’s current programme and respect access restrictions, shops and neighbouring residents.
The building’s history includes industrial and residential uses and Otto Weidt’s workshop, which sheltered persecuted people during the Nazi period. Art and remembrance are both part of the site’s identity.
die Ausstellung — exhibition; die Gedenkstätte — memorial site; der Eingang — entrance.
3. East Side Gallery, Berlin
The East Side Gallery is a surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall along Mühlenstraße in Friedrichshain, near the Spree and Oberbaumbrücke. Artists painted this former Hinterlandmauer (inner wall) in 1990. The actual border ran at the opposite Kreuzberg bank, so the surviving painted wall and the sector boundary are not the same thing. See visitBerlin’s historical explanation.
Well-known works include Dmitri Vrubel’s mural commonly called the Fraternal Kiss and Birgit Kinder’s image of a Trabant breaking through the wall. The art draws many visitors, but it also belongs to the history of a border that divided the city and cost lives.
Use visitBerlin’s Berlin Wall guide to connect your visit with other historical sites. Do not add graffiti or touch the artworks.
die Mauer — wall; die Grenze — border; das Wandbild — mural.
4. Heidelberg’s urban art and METROPOLINK
Heidelberg’s historic centre and castle are well known, but the city also has urban art associated with METROPOLINK. Its projects have included murals and work at former military sites. A painting on a building is not necessarily permanently accessible, so use a current map or guided tour rather than assuming every older location can still be visited.
The festival programme combines art and other events. Its current official website lists the programme, ticket information, tours and locations. Check the festival’s next announced dates and current programme before planning a visit.
die Führung — guided tour; das Gelände — grounds/site; die Eintrittskarte — admission ticket.
5. Plagwitz, Leipzig
Plagwitz lies west of Leipzig’s city centre. Industrial architecture, the Karl-Heine-Kanal, galleries and places to eat give the area a distinctive mix. Calling it “the new Berlin” or the city’s “hippest” district is a subjective comparison; the neighbourhood has its own history.
A walk near Karl-Heine-Straße and the canal is one way to explore. The Plagwitz district park provides green space by the canal. Leipzig’s tourist board also explains the area’s industrial landscape and waterways. Check individual venues for opening hours and events, and current train timetables if arriving from another city.
der Stadtteil — district/neighbourhood; der Kanal — canal; die ehemalige Fabrik — former factory.
Practise German while exploring
- Ist die Ausstellung heute geöffnet? — Is the exhibition open today?
- Gibt es eine Führung auf Deutsch? — Is there a guided tour in German?
- Darf ich hier fotografieren? — May I take photographs here?
- Wie komme ich zum Eingang? — How do I get to the entrance?
Which of these places would you like to explore? Share your experience or another art destination in the comments.
