No trip to Berlin is complete without taking a photo at one of the iconic Photoautomats. Scattered throughout the city, these analog photo booths are the brainchild of two friends who decided to restore old, out-of-use photo cabins they found across Europe and give them a new life in Berlin. With around 35 booths in key locations – outside bars, nightclubs, museums and busy areas – they’re recognisable by their big red letters and are available for use at any time of day or night.
In the era of smartphones and selfies, these analog portraits offer a nostalgic trip to the past, providing a physical photo you can actually hold. Once inside the vintage booth, you draw the little curtain, adjust the seat, drop in 3€, and strike a pose. Then another, and another, and another. Four flashes later, your photo shoot is complete. Now, all you have to do is wait the five minutes it takes for the photo to develop. Once ready, the machine spits it out, still wet from the developing chemicals – your one-of-a-kind Berlin souvenir.
These photo strips can be found in nearly every home in Berlin, hanging on walls, pinned to fridges, or glued to mirrors. It’s become almost a tradition, with people using them to immortalize birthday celebrations, wild nights out with friends, visits from family, or just because – moments of your Berlin life, forever captured in black and white.
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217 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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