Explore the real-world places that appear in Berlin Noir by Philip Kerr. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Alexanderplatz Police Headquarters, Reich Chancellery, Hotel Adlon, Silesia Station, Café Kranzler and 4 more.
Alexanderplatz — Bernie Gunther's workplace
Detective Bernie Gunther works from the Alex, Berlin's main police headquarters. Here he navigates the complex politics of policing under the Nazi regime, investigating murders while trying to maintain some sense of justice. The building serves as his base of operations throughout the trilogy, where he clashes with SS officers and wrestles with moral compromises.
Built in the 1890s, the red brick police headquarters at Alexanderplatz was the nerve center of Berlin's law enforcement. During the Nazi era, it housed both regular criminal police and political units, making it a symbol of authoritarian control.
The original building was heavily damaged in WWII and demolished. Modern commercial and residential buildings now occupy the site near Alexanderplatz, one of Berlin's busiest transport hubs and shopping areas.
Voss Strasse — Hitler's seat of power
Bernie Gunther finds himself drawn into cases that lead him dangerously close to the Reich Chancellery and Hitler's inner circle. The building looms over the narrative as a symbol of the regime's power and the source of the corruption that Bernie must navigate while investigating high-profile murders connected to Nazi officials.
The Reich Chancellery was Hitler's primary workplace and the administrative center of Nazi Germany from 1933-1945. The original building was expanded with Albert Speer's grandiose New Reich Chancellery, completed in 1939.
The Chancellery was destroyed after WWII. The site is now occupied by apartment buildings and parking lots near the Brandenburg Gate. A small information panel marks the approximate location of Hitler's bunker nearby.
Visit: Topography of Terror Documentation Center (museum)
Unter den Linden — Luxury hotel near Brandenburg Gate
The luxurious Adlon serves as a meeting place for Bernie Gunther's investigations, where Nazi officials, foreign diplomats, and Berlin's elite gather. Bernie often conducts surveillance and meets informants in and around the hotel, using its prestigious location to observe the powerful figures involved in his cases.
The original Hotel Adlon opened in 1907 and was considered one of Europe's most prestigious hotels. It hosted royalty, celebrities, and dignitaries throughout the early 20th century until it was damaged in WWII and later demolished by East German authorities.
The new Hotel Adlon Kempinski opened in 1997 on the same site, recreating the original's luxury and grandeur. It remains one of Berlin's most exclusive hotels, located steps from the Brandenburg Gate.
Visit: Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin (restaurant)
Schlesischer Bahnhof — Eastern railway terminal
Bernie Gunther uses Silesia Station for both investigations and surveillance, as the busy railway hub connects Berlin to Eastern Europe. The station features in several of his cases involving smuggling, refugees, and the movement of suspects fleeing the city. The crowds and chaos provide perfect cover for clandestine meetings.
Schlesischer Bahnhof was one of Berlin's major railway terminals, serving routes to Silesia and Eastern Europe. Built in the 1840s, it was a crucial transportation hub throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The original station was demolished in the 1960s. The area is now served by Berlin Ostbahnhof (East Station), which handles regional and long-distance trains. The neighborhood has been redeveloped with modern buildings and the East Side Gallery.
Visit: East Side Gallery (monument)
Unter den Linden — Famous Berlin café
Bernie Gunther frequents Café Kranzler for both business and pleasure, meeting informants over coffee and observing the changing social dynamics of Nazi Berlin. The café serves as a microcosm of Berlin society, where Bernie can gauge public opinion and gather intelligence while appearing to simply enjoy a meal.
Founded in 1825, Café Kranzler was one of Berlin's most famous coffeehouses, known for its pastries and as a gathering place for artists, intellectuals, and society figures. It represented the sophisticated café culture of pre-war Berlin.
The original Café Kranzler was destroyed in WWII. A modern iteration operates at Kurfürstendamm, but the original Unter den Linden location is now occupied by other businesses near the Brandenburg Gate area.
Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse — Secret police headquarters
Bernie Gunther must carefully navigate around the Gestapo headquarters while conducting his investigations. The building represents the ever-present threat of political persecution, and Bernie's cases often brush against Gestapo interests, forcing him to walk a dangerous line between police work and political survival.
The former School of Arts and Crafts building became Gestapo headquarters in 1933. It housed the Nazi secret police and SS leadership, including Heinrich Himmler's offices, making it one of the most feared addresses in Nazi Germany.
The buildings were destroyed in WWII. The site is now home to the Topography of Terror museum, which documents the history of Nazi persecution and includes preserved basement cells from the former Gestapo prison.
Visit: Topography of Terror (museum)
Schöneberg district — Nightlife and entertainment area
Bernie Gunther investigates cases in Berlin's entertainment district around Nollendorfplatz, where nightclubs, theaters, and cabarets attract both pleasure-seekers and criminals. The area's vibrant nightlife provides a backdrop for murder investigations and serves as a hunting ground for both Bernie and the criminals he pursues.
Nollendorfplatz was the heart of Berlin's entertainment district in the 1920s and 1930s, famous for its theaters, cabarets, and nightlife. It was also known as a center of Berlin's gay community before the Nazi crackdown.
The area remains a vibrant entertainment district with theaters, restaurants, and nightlife. The historic Metropol Theater still operates, and the neighborhood is once again a center of LGBTQ+ culture in Berlin.
Visit: Metropol Theater (theater)
Southwestern Berlin — Lakeside villa district
Bernie Gunther's investigations lead him to the wealthy villa district of Wannsee, where Nazi officials and Berlin's elite maintain luxurious homes. The lakeside setting provides a deceptive tranquility that contrasts sharply with the dark crimes Bernie uncovers among the powerful residents.
Wannsee became a fashionable resort area for wealthy Berliners in the late 19th century. Its grand villas housed industrialists, politicians, and cultural figures. The infamous Wannsee Conference was held at a villa here in 1942.
Wannsee remains an affluent residential area popular for recreation. The lake attracts swimmers and boaters, while the Wannsee Conference Memorial educates visitors about Nazi crimes planned at this seemingly peaceful location.
Visit: House of the Wannsee Conference Memorial (museum)
Eastern Berlin — Public park and meeting place
Bernie Gunther uses the park for clandestine meetings with informants and witnesses who cannot risk being seen in more public venues. The park's paths and secluded areas provide cover for the dangerous conversations that advance his investigations while keeping him out of sight of Nazi surveillance.
Created in the 1840s, Friedrichshain was one of Berlin's first public parks, designed to provide green space for the growing industrial city. It featured walking paths, gardens, and recreational facilities for all social classes.
Friedrichshain Park remains a popular recreational area in eastern Berlin. It features walking trails, playgrounds, sports facilities, and the Märchenbrunnen (Fairy Tale Fountain), making it a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike.
Visit: Friedrichshain Park (park)
More by Philip Kerr: All Philip Kerr books
More novels set in Berlin: Browse all Berlin books on Map A Story
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