How do you manage to get into the Berghain?

The legendary Berghain Technoclub in Berlin Friedrichshain is the club of the city. When visiting the capital Berlin, this night club is regarded the place to be. But why is that so? And what about the myths surrounding this niterie? Does the Berghain really have "the hardest door in town"?

The Berghain is one of the hippest clubs in Berlin. Even in the most remote places of the world its name is familiar to connoisseurs. The word Berghain is a shortened version of the local district names Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. Since its reopening in 2004, it has established itself fairly quickly; the club already existed in 1998, but under the name “Ostgut”, accommodated in a warehouse of a former freight station. Since 2004, however, the club has been reported on nationally and internationally.

The cult club is now located in a former district heating plant on the site of the Berlin Ostbahnhof station. The four-storey building is divided into a cash desk area, a cloakroom and a small bar on the ground floor. From there, stairs lead up to dance floors of different sizes, which can be folded together depending on the event. However, the club itself only takes up half of the building; the other half is used for events such as exhibitions or fashion shows. Except for special events, the doors are often opened and the club benefits from the increased capacity.

The cult that has evolved around this club can be explained by various things. On the one hand, there is always talk of the "hardest door in Berlin", which naturally attracts all sorts of people. The Berghain bouncers do not give any explanation about who is allowed to enter the club and who is not. There are no guidelines whatsoever. This ensures that the club's visitors enjoy a certain cool factor once they have overcome that door. Guests say it is advisable not to show up in fancy clothes. Black instead of colourful, so the chances of not being turned away may increase. Ultimately, it is always the mood of the bouncer that matters. The selection of guests can certainly be regarded as strict.

In the club, taking photos and videos is prohibited, which grants the guests maximum freedom and privacy. Where else can you experience that you are not allowed to use your smart-phone? But secrecy like that is exactly what attracts people from all over the world. Even those who would like to have a drug experience flock to this place. Consequently, the Berghain regularly makes the headlines in the media. It was not until the summer of 2017 that an American woman died as a result of an MDMA overdose. A friend is said to have bought the pills from a dealer in the toilet of the club.