Your first step into the Stadium experience

The visitor centre was originally opened in 2004. On August 1, 2011, the 75th birthday of the Olympiastadion Berlin, the visitor centre was reopened after a four-month renovation and modernization period. The visitor centre is the central meeting point for visitors and tourists from around the world, a souvenir shop, information point and ticket sales agency.

The Olympic Gate is 15 metres wide and consists of two pylons that are equipped with clocks: On the southern side the tower is called Bayernturm and on the northern side stands the Preussenturm. The towers are named after two of the German tribes. On the other side of the stadium near the Maifeld, the Friesen-, Sachsen-, Franken- and Schwabenturm are the other towers named after German tribes. Between the two towers at the Olympic Gate, the Olympic Rings symbolize the Olympic Games.

The 200-year-old oak behind the Preußenturm at the Olympic Gate was named after the President of the German Reich’s committee (Deutscher Reichsausschuss) for the Olympic Games, Victor von Podbielski, on his 70th birthday. A commemorative plaque with Podbielskis portrait can be viewed at the Marathon Gate (see 9).

The Hertha BSC Fanshop is located in the eastern stands at the Olympiastadion Berlin, right by where Herthas fans support their team during home games. Jerseys, scarves, flags and everything else a fan needs is offered here.

The stelae on the outer path around the Olympiastadion Berlins eastern end stand for each of the Olympic Games since 1896 and have the names of the German Olympic Gold Medalists engraved on them.

On the southern east side of the Olympiastadion, the discus thrower sculpture by Karl Abiker can be found. The sculpture is seven metres tall.

The stelae on the outer path around the Olympiastadion Berlins eastern end stand for each of the Olympic Games since 1896 and have the names of the German Olympic Gold Medalists engraved on them.

On the nothern east side of the Olympiastadion, the relay runner sculpture by Karl Abiker can be found. The sculpture is seven metres tall.

A graffiti wall 40 metres long was designed by Berlin artists David Kammerer, Martin Gegenheimer and Lukas Marmor in cooperation with the Berliner Archiv der Jugendkulturen e.V. in 2011, depicting the most important events in the 75-year history of the Olympiastadion Berlin. The Wall of Fame was presented in 2011 for the 75th anniversary of the stadium.

The Olympic tower (called Bell Tower today) was demolished on February 15,1947. The tower was heavily damaged during the war. When the tower was demolished, the 9635 kg Olympic Bell fell to the ground from the top of the tower and cracked. The damage was irreparable. British soldiers burried the bell which was recovered nine years later in 1956. The new Bell Tower, constructed until 1962, received a new bell that was especially cast for the tower.

The Marathon Gate at the Olympiastadion Berlin is located on the western side. The Marathon Plateau is 25 metres wide and the Marathon tunnel below is 10 metres wide, leading directly into the stadium infield. During the opening ceremony of the 1936 Olympic Games, Adolf Hitler and his entourage entered the stadium via the Marathon Gate stairs.

On the walls on the inside of the two marathon towers, commemorative plaques honor the Olympic winners from 1936 as well as some of the most influential persons in the Olympic history of Germany. Plaques of officials and sympathizers of the NSDAP were removed in the 1950s.

The Olympic Flame is located in the centre of the marathon plateau. It stands on a 2.2 metre high steel tripod and is only ignited on special occasions. The Olympic Flame was first lit by track and field athlete Fritz Schilgen for the opening of the Olympic Games on August 1, 1936.

On the edge of the Maifeld, across from the Marathon Gate, the Rosseführer (Horse Tamers) by Josef Wackerles look towards the Bell Tower (18).

The Saxons Gate is located north of the Friesenturm and is the passage to the Olympiapark. Located on the opposite end is the Schwabentor. On the other side of the fence, the Fahnentor (flag gate) and the Standartentor (pennant gate) are located. The national socialists used the gates during the opening ceremony when the flag and pennant bearers walked onto the Maifeld.

Located on the northern end, by the Saxons Gate, is the „Deutsche Nike“ sculpture created by Willy Mellers.

Berlin’s number one football team Hertha BSC Berlin pulls the strings from these offices. Founded in 1892, Hertha BSC Berlin plays their home games at the Olympiastadion Berlin since 1963, when the Bundesliga was founded.

The biggest successes the club has celebrated are the German championships in 1930 and 1931.

The house of German Sports was the headquarters of the German Reich’s sports management (Reichssportführung) from 1936 until the end of the Second World War in 1945. The British allies used the three story building as their headquarters from 1953 until 1991, when they called it the „London Block“. Today, the House of German Sports is home to exhibits on German Sports history.

The 17 metres high reinforced concrete construction was the venue of the fencing competitions during the Olympic Games 1936. The spectator hall was built after the example of Greek amphitheatres and holds up to 1,100 persons in its upper and sub-rank. The dome hall was seriously damaged during World War II and was then reopened in 1956 once extensive restoration was done.

„Decathlete“ and „Winner“ by Arno Breker near the House of German Sports, Bronze, 2.5 metres tall.

In front of the indoor swimming pool, the bronze sculpture „Rested Athlete“ by Georg Kolbe awaits visitors.

Originally, the doctor house served as a medical institute and a research institute. During the occupation after World War II, the British forces used the building as a casino. Today, it is the club house of the “water friends Spandau 04”.

The residential house was built for 50 female sports students who were accommodated in double bedrooms. It was named after Anna Böß who was the wife of Gustav Böß, the Governing Mayor in Berlin at that time.

After the Second World War the British forces used the Annaheim as an accommodation for female employees until 1991. Since 1998 the building serves as the headquarters of the senate administration for the Olympiapark.

The villa was built in 1937/38 and served the Reichssportführern during the nazi regime. The British Allies used the two-storey building with its splendid garden and its grand terrace as their club house after the Second World War. Nowadays, the club house can be rented of the senate administration for celebrations and receptions.

As a memorial, the Langemarckhalle reminds of a World War I battle in which 80.000 young soldiers were killed in the Belgian village Langemarck on November 11th, 1914. The documentation exhibition “Historical place Olympic grounds 1909 – 1936 – 2006”, conceived by the German historical museum, is located in the basement of the hall.

The bell tower served police, medical service and organizers as an observation stand as well as for film and radio recordings during the Olympic Games in 1936, for which it was built. In the year 1947 the bell tower was heavily damaged in a fire, reputedly caused by two Soviet soldiers who entered a storehouse filled with film material holding torches and the sensitive celluloid immediately caught fire. The tower was blown up on September 15^th, 1962.

The tower was rebuilt in 1961/62. The 77.17 metres high tower with its also newly rebuilt bell was then inaugurated by Willy Brand, the Governing Mayor of Berlin at that time.

From the viewing platform, the visitors enjoy a panoramic look over the stadium, the park and the city.

The southern section of the stadium gallery in the Ostkurve is home to the stadium restaurant. Enjoy the culinary specialties with a unique and historic view during events or a visit outisde of the event season at the Olympiastadion Berlin. Fries with Currywurst, Burgers, Salads and a daily lunch special offer something for everyone. Afternoons can be spent with a large selection of cake, coffee and tea. The restaurant is open during regular visitor hours on non-event days and open during the stadium opening times on event days. Your visitor ticket already includes a coupon that offers a rebate at the restaurant. Come on by and stop for some food and drinks!