Revolutionary art and Pussy Riot: Visit the Berlin Wall on the 35th anniversary of its fall

Every 9 November, the fall of the Berlin Wall is commemorated with live music, exhibitions and a 100-mile (161 km) run along its former edge.

2024 marks 35 years since the physical manifestation of the Iron Curtain was torn down, reuniting East and West in the German capital.

Whether you’re in the city for the momentous occasion or planning a trip in the year ahead, here’s how to delve deep into its history - from the best tours of the Berlin Wall to this month’s ‘Mauerfall’ celebrations.

How is Berlin celebrating 35 years since the fall of the Wall?

Berlin’s 35-year anniversary celebrations of the fall of the Wall began back in July but will ramp up on 9 November when the streets come alive with the ‘Fest der Freiheit’ (Festival for Freedom).

One thousand musicians will form a huge parade blaring out songs that represent freedom. Along the route, video screens will display the history of the Wall, including the fateful night of 9 November 1989.

Various talks, music concerts, and exhibitions are also taking place across the city, including ‘Hold Freedom Up High!’, a four-kilometre-long open-air installation of new and historical posters displaying peaceful but revolutionary messages.

Follow the installation along the former course of the wall, which takes in the Berlin Wall Memorial, the former border crossing Checkpoint Charlie, and the Brandenburg Gate, where themed exhibitions make the events of 1989-90 tangible through photos, interviews and reports.

Don’t miss the closing concert by Russian feminist protest and performance art group Pussy Riot, which will take place in front of the former Stasi headquarters on 10 November.

Take a tour of the Berlin Wall

If you’re not in Berlin on 9 November, you can still commemorate this historic anniversary with a thought-provoking tour along the Berlin Wall.

Platforms like Withlocals and Airbnb Experiences connect tourists with local guides who can give an insider take.

Tourist Poppy Jones recalls an Airbnb Experience in which she joined a pair of Berlin residents  for an eye-opening look at life behind the wall on both sides.

“I joined a small group of fellow visitors at the historical former checkpoint Bornholmer Strasse, which is where the Berlin Wall first fell. We then wandered through Mauerpark, which is located along the former wall and is now covered in eclectic graffiti.”

“For me, the most poignant part of the experience was when the two female guides shared their completely different perspectives over a coffee. It was so personal and, at times, harrowing to hear how the city once lived in extremes, all because of one wall.”  

Prefer exploring on two wheels? There’s no better place to do it than bike-friendly Berlin, led by a local guide.

Tour company Berlin on Bike will take you on a 15-kilometre ride delving into well-known and better-hidden remnants of the Wall’s history. 

You’ll pass through Mauerpark - book on Sundays to experience the huge flea market and raucous free-for-all karaoke - and the Berlin Wall Memorial Museum, where you can see a totally intact portion of the Wall.

Or go it alone: there are various bike rental services available in Berlin, such as LimeBike and Bolt. 

Find your closest one and ride along the East Side Gallery - the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall, which has been decorated by over 100 artists from more than 20 countries.

Also, check out the lively Potsdamer Platz, Checkpoint Charlie, and the iconic Brandenburg Gate - now a symbol of German reunification.