Destinations2 min readUpdated

Berghain: dress code, the queue and how to get in

No written dress code, no guest list, no explanation if you are turned away. What is known, what people say, and what is out of your hands.

Facade of the Berghain, a former power plant in Berlin, lit by the sun behind bare trees and a metal fence
Photo : Minderbinder, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Berghain opened in December 2004 in a former power plant built in 1953, in Friedrichshain near Berlin's Ostbahnhof. Its name blends the two districts it borders, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. The main room plays techno, Panorama Bar upstairs leans to house, and the weekend Klubnacht starts at midnight on Saturday and usually runs until Monday morning. The club holds around 1,500 people.

Is there a dress code?

Not officially. The club publishes no dress code. Black dominates in the queue as inside, because it is what Berlin techno clubs mostly wear, not because it is required. What comes up most in accounts is less a specific item than consistency: clothes you came to dance in for hours, not a costume designed to get past the door. The tips in our rave outfit guide apply.

The door and the queue

Berghain's door policy is known for being both strict and opaque: selection at the door, no public criteria and no explanation if you are turned away. On Saturday nights the queue can last hours. Nothing below guarantees entry; these are the tips regulars give most often:

  • Come alone or in twos or threes, not in a big group.
  • Be sober and calm in the queue, without talking loudly or filming.
  • Know which night you have come for: the programme and line-up are on the official website.
  • Have a plan B: being turned away is neither rare nor personal, and Berlin has many other clubs.

Practical details

  • Hours: Klubnacht opens on Saturday at 23:59 according to the club's programme and runs continuously through much of the weekend. Weekday nights have their own times.
  • Price: it varies by night and is shown on the official programme.
  • Address: Am Wriezener Bahnhof, Friedrichshain, a few minutes' walk from Ostbahnhof station. The dates we list are on the Berghain venue page.
  • Your ears: the sound system is famous for its power, and people stay for hours. Bring earplugs.
The Spree in Berlin at blue hour, with the Molecule Man sculpture in the water, lit office buildings on the bank and the TV tower in the distance
Photo : Pixabay, Pexels

Upcoming dates in Berlin

Everything our calendar lists in Berlin, Berghain or not: enough to build your plan B. The full list is on the Berlin page.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a dress code at Berghain?

No, the club publishes no dress code. Black dominates because it is the most common look in Berlin techno clubs, but entry is decided at the door on criteria that are not made public.

How do you get into Berghain?

There is no guaranteed method. The most common tips: come in a small group, be sober and calm in the queue, know the night and its line-up, and accept that being turned away is common and unexplained.

Can you take photos in Berghain?

No. Photos are banned inside, and a sticker is put over phone cameras at the entrance.

When is Berghain open?

The weekend Klubnacht starts on Saturday at 23:59 and usually lasts until Monday morning. Each night's hours are on the club's official programme.

Sources

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