Best libraries to study in Berlin

If you are looking for a student friendly city, look no further than Berlin! The deutsche Hauptstadt (yes, proudly displaying my German skills) is genuinely a heaven for students, with plenty of benefits and price reductions at museums and cultural events, student clubs, associations and political groups, and facilities. Of these, Berlin libraries are some of the most beautiful buildings in the city and the country! Here are my favourites, as a third year Forward College student living here for one year.

My absolute favourite, and an indiscussed institution of the city. Some of the most incredible scenes of Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire (original title Der Himmel uber Berlin) were filmed inside the building, and it’s not hard to understand why. The black and white, high-contrast full frame shots perfectly render the grandeur of this building of the organic architecture movement. Built between 1967 and 1978 following the original design of German architect Hans Scharoun, it is today one of the two main state libraries of Berlin.

The library is open from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm. To be able to access the study rooms, you will need to register through an online form and then obtain a physical card at the registration desk. The desk is open every day of the week except Sunday, and it closes at 2 pm on Saturdays. Again, the building is huge, so you will generally always be able to find a spot, although the best ones that face the windows fill up soon. There is a library café inside the building, as well as an adjacent canteen with very affordable prices and healthy as well as vegan options. 

I can’t stress it enough, the place is remarkable: its austere beauty, sharp angles and dark concrete walls encapsulates one of the many faces of Berlin. Easily reachable from the metro station at Potstdamer Platz or by bus. And it’s right beside the Berlin Staatsoper, which is another incredible example of Berlin architecture. Definitely worth your visit!

Potsdamer Straße 33

10785 Berlin

The second place is earned by one of the cosiest yet least known libraries of the city: the Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek. Located next to the Landwehr canal in Kreuzberg, it is, in my opinion, one of the most convenient options for studying in Berlin. No registration is needed to enter; there’s a fair number of desks and study spots, and it is open Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm. The building was designed by American and German architects, including Fritz Bornemann and Willy Kreuer, and co-financed by a donation from the United States. Bonus points: it has a very good selection of DVDs, art books, graphic novels and tourist guides you can flip over even without speaking much German. A cosy room to the side hosts a small cafeteria with coffee, drinks, pastries and some lunch options. Looking over the outside grassfield, a comfortable room where conversation is allowed offers some armchairs, daily newspapers, and even a vinyl record player and listening station equipped with headphones. I find it the best option on days where I am not ready to fully lock in for hours, and I want a relaxed atmosphere to ease the task of studying but still being able to concentrate.

Blücherplatz 1

10961 Berlin

Possibly the most well-known library in Berlin, the State library in Unter den Linden is located in the very heart of Mitte, right next to Humboldt University. The neoclassical building has been operating as a library since 1914, until it was severely damaged during the Second World War, when the central domed reading room was hit by bombs. The space was replaced by the reading room opened in 2013, which is designed as a glass cube, rendering it usable once again. The library is open from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm. As with the Staatsbibliothek in Potsdamer Platz, this Stabi requires registration, and you must leave your belongings in a locker upon entry, taking only what you need to study with you. There is, similarly, a cafeteria and canteen, which can be nice spots to look for a lunch option amidst the high prices of the area. The building is impressive and flooded with university students, which makes it an ideal spot if you want to feel like a true Berlin uni-goer, but a little less if you woke up late on a Saturday and didn’t secure a spot early in the day. The central reading room is magnificent, with its opaque glass walls and ceiling, but the lack of windows makes ventilation a little. The German habit of Lufting is not properly respected in this place, and the air can become a bit heavy. Still, the building is magnificent and the location is enviable.

Unter den Linden 810117 Berlin

You might have noticed this is the second library I include in the list that’s located in Kreuzberg – yes, my bias is showing, cause that’s where I live. If you choose to do as many Forward students have, and share a flat with friends at AGSA, this library will be just a 10 minute walk from home. It is located in Kottbusser Tor, A.K.A. Kotti, and is a small neighbourhood library, but don’t underestimate it! No registration is needed to go in, and it is open from Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 7 pm.

The focus of the library’s work is on intensive children’s and youth library work (language and reading promotion, homework assistance), so you might find a different audience to the rest of the libraries in this list. The group work room and third floor study area, though, are quiet and perfect for studying. I recommend checking it out when you’re in the area and don’t want to spend €4,50 for a cappuccino just to be able to use wifi (I’m looking at you, St. Oberholz. And no, it’s not cool that the wifi code expires after 90 minutes. The vinyls you put on are cool though).

Adalbertstraße 2

10999 Berlin