Spreepark: The abandoned amusement park and Film Location
Spreepark is an abandoned amusement park in Berlin. Since its closure in 2002, it decayed quickly and became one of Berlin's most famous lost places.
If you want to visit the abandoned Spreepark, you better hurry. The abandoned amusement park is currently being revitalized and will reopen in waves to the public as a recreation area. You can still see some of the iconic photo spots of this abandoned amusement park in Berlin, like the dragonhead of the roller coaster or the famous cup carousel.
Unfortunately, you already missed the iconic Spreepark Ferris wheel. It was disassembled for repairs in January 2021.
I had the abandoned amusement park in Berlin on my bucket list of lost places for a while. In May 2022, I could finally visit it.
Table of Contents
- Frequently asked questions about Spreepark Berlin
- Photos of Spreepark Berlin
- Is Spreepark Berlin worth a visit?
Frequently asked questions about Spreepark Berlin
Before we look at the photos of this abandoned amusement park in Berlin, here are a few answers to frequently asked questions you may find helpful.Can you enter Spreepark?
You can legally visit Spreepark by guided tours that you can book on the official Spreepark website. A tour costs 5 euros and lasts about 75 minutes. The tour will take you to the most iconic photo spots of the abandoned amusement park.Why is Spreepark abandoned?
From what the guide told us the reason that Spreepark was abandoned was a combination of lack of parking and rising prices.How do I get to Berlin Spreepark?
You'll find Spreepark in the Plänterwald in the east of Berlin, right near the river Spree. From the airport, take the speed train line S45 to the stop Baumschuleweg and change to the bus line 265. Get off at Dammweg. From here, it’s a ten-minute walk to the main gate.If you arrive too early or want to eat after the tour, take a 15-minute talk to the Island of Youth (Insel der Jugend) and enjoy a „Currywurst. “
When did Spreepark close?
Spreepark closed in 2002 when the former operator declared bankruptcy. After the Berlin Wall fell, the formerly only amusement park in the GDR had to deal with a steady visitor decline because of the limited parking space in the natural reserve where Spreepark is located and increased prices.Which movies where filmed at Spreepark?
The most popular film shot at Spreepark is the action-thriller Hanna. It's about a 16 year old girl who was trained by her father to be a perfect killer. A few scenes were filmed at Spreepark. You can see a few scenes filmed in the abandoned amusement park in the trailer starting at minute 1:35. The entire film Hanna is available for purchase or rental on Apple TV.Official “Hanna” Trailer. You can see the abandoned Spreepark briefly in the Trailer at minute 1:35 .
Photos of the abandoned Spreepark
I visited Spreepark in Mai 2022 and took all photos with an iPhone 13 pro max using the Apple ProRAW format. To learn more, please head over to my blog post about how to shoot RAW on iPhone.
Spreepark Ferris wheel
As I've mentioned, the Spreepark Ferris wheel - the most iconic photo spot - was disassembled in January 2021. During the guided tour, you'll see the remains of the Ferris wheel. Allegedly they want to reuse parts of the original Ferris wheel and build a new one once the park opens again to the public.
The disassembled Spreepark Ferris wheel.
Spreeblitz roller coaster
According to the tour guide, the roller coaster named Spreeblitz was the most popular rides in the park. This is a photo of the departure station of Spreeblitz.
Spreeblitz departure station
Around 1991, the roller coaster ride at Spreepark received a new attraction: the dragonhead. It was bought from bankruptcy estate of the French amusement park Mirapolis. Behind the dragonhead is a 1000 feet long tunnel with flashing lights.
Spreeblitz Dragonhead
The cup carousel
Another well-known spot at Spreepark is the cup carousel that allegedly was sponsored by Nesquick - a famous instant cocoa drink that was quite popular in the 70s and 80s in Germany and Austria.
The cup caroussel
The 180 degree cinema
The former 180-degree cinema was quite an innovative attraction at Spreepark. Several devices projected a film like a rollercoaster ride on a 180-degree canvas inside the dome. They’re looking to reuse the cinema in the new Spreepark and plan to show movies from the old Spreepark. Sounds interesting.
The old 180 degree cinema
The Swan Ride
Finally, you’ll see several small ticket offices for several rides through your tour through the abandoned amusement park like the one of the swan ride. Here, you could jump into a swan boat and ride along a lazy river. This is also one of the attractions that will be reused for the new Spreepark recreational area. I do hope they clean it first.
Ticket office for the Swan Ride
Is Spreepark Berlin worth a visit?
The abandoned amusement park Spreepark is worth visiting if you stay in Berlin. If you ever wanted to visit a lost place legally, this is your change. Book a tour from the official Spreepark website and see the most iconic photo spots of the best known lost place in Berlin.
I'd plan half a day for your visit. It will take you an hour to get to Spreepark by public transportation from the city center or from the new Berlin airport. Either before or after your visit to Spreepark, I recommend taking a 15-minute walk to the Island of Youth and enjoy a "Currywurst."
And if you didn't make it to the abandoned Spreepark in Berlin, check out my blog post about more lost places in and near Berlin that you can visit legally.
