Unlike the Schweinfurt pigs, I didn’t need to work hard in order to find the Berlin bears. I saw four in my first ten minutes in the city after dropping off the car. In the end I photographed 24 of them, although I saw a few more than that.
The Buddy Bear movement started in Berlin in 2001 during their Buddy Bear Berlin Show. The idea behind the bears was to welcome people to the city with raised arms, which are featured on many of the bears. I didn’t know this at first; I thought the bears looked like they were partying! Berlin’s vision for the bears was to communicate friendliness, optimism, and a positive atmosphere. They accomplished their job as far as I’m concerned, I was ecstatic every time I saw one. Mr. Meena and his sister patiently waited for me as I kept going out of our way in order to see them up close and photograph them.
Three hundred and fifty bears were originally created but many have since left the streets of Berlin for private homes or other countries. Some even went on tour around the world. But plenty of bears have remained in Berlin, more than I would really want to count, in fact.
Here are the bears (German: Bär or Bären) that I found while exploring Berlin!
Bärliner.
City-Bär is showing off some of the city streets.
Pablo-Bär is themed after Picasso.
Else-Bär.
This bear was inside our hotel for our first night, the Best Western Plus Amedia Hotel. It was quite glittery.
We found this bear inside a subway station, so it’s fitting that it has a map of the Berlin subway on it.
Capital Bears.
I think this bear was inside the US Embassy building… which was closed, unfortunately.
The bear at the Ritter Sport ChocoWorld store.
Künstler Bear.
The Hotel California bear.
“I still have a suitcase in Berlin.”
I love Kudamm Bear.
Black and white bears.
Update January 2017:
After we moved back to the United States we went to see the Berlin Bear that’s located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s a symbol of the ties between the Queen City and Germany. It was another great reminder of all the things we love about Germany.
Which of the Berlin Bears is your favorite?
Meet the welcoming #Berlin Bears. Share on X
This post is linked up with Monday Escapes, Wanderful Wednesday, City Tripping, Weekend Wanderlust, and Fly Away Friday:
I didn't take as many pictures of the bears as you, I don't think i saw that many, to be honest…
I think I should mention that if you get the chance to go to Kaiserslautern, you can look for fishes around town to take pictures of them.
update, just read your pigs of Schweinfurt post, and read that many cities actually have this.. I haven't seen anything like this around Hamburg so I would have to check this out!
I was keeping an eye out for the bears (as were my family), they aren't always that easy to spot.
Now I have to go to Kaiserslautern – the fishes sound so neat! I've been told that it's fairly common to have symbolic animals throughout German towns, although they aren't always the fun fiberglass ones. I'm totally obsessed with them!
I will go crazy taking photographs of the bears. I like this type of exhibitions. One time the Parade of Elephants made it to Southern California. I drove to the coast to see them.
I would have made the drive as well!
I gave up taking pictures of the bears after sixth or seventh (it was unbearably hot in Berlin when we visited, so we were really exhausted). I love your collection. I think that the astronomy one could be my favourite.
Thank you! I love the pose of the astronomy one especially – it was very well done.
I love these bears! Especially how they all have different poses as well as decorations. I think my favourite is the black and white nose to nose bears – simple but beautiful! Also, I need to know more about the Ritter Sport ChocoWorld, that sounds amazing. Ritter Sport was definitely the souvenir of choice when I've been to Germany in the past.
The black and white bears were quite elegant!
The Ritter Sport store was so cool, I'll be writing more about it later, but I'll go ahead and tell you that they have an area downstairs where you can custom design your own chocolate bar – it was a huge attraction! It's at Französische Straße 24, 10117 Berlin. I highly recommend visiting, we bought a sampler pack of chocolates there and loved it.
I had no idea there were "welcome bears" in Berlin! That's sooo cool! and exciting! I would be photographing every bear I saw too!
I like the American bear the best. Some of the others look pretty funny. 🙂
I wish I had been able to get inside the building where the American bear is – it was very cool!
This is amazing! I'm German and have visited Berlin like three times but I didn't know the story of the bears myself – until now! Thanks so much for this and for linking up with #WanderfulWednesday 🙂
The bears have a great story! See you next week.
oh they're so cool! I don't know which one I like better #wanderfulwednesday
Love this post! You managed to find so many 🙂 I also loved spotting them when I was in Berlin, and I love the variety of different designs, they are so cool! Thanks so much for linking up with #WanderfulWednesday, hope to see you again next week! 🙂
I saw a bunch of these bears when I visited Berlin, but I never knew the story behind them! Such a cute idea that they are there to open visitors to the city with open arms! I also didn't realize how many of them there are! That's wild!! Thanks for sharing and thanks for linking up for #wanderfulwednesday!! 😀
What a lovely idea! How wonderful to have such cute, colourful bears dotted around the city with welcoming arms! I'd not heard of this and it's made me smile just looking through your photos. LOVE it! I actually like the polar bears one best. #WanderfulWednesday
I agree, it was a great idea. I think the city should promote it more!
Wow! Great work finding so many bears. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for them next time I'm in Berlin!
Kate | http://www.petiteadventures.org/
I remember those! I saw them in Berlin in 2004! I even got a souvenir one back home (tiny one obviously). Those colored animals were all the rage in Europe 10 years ago… I've spotted bears (more on the teddy like) in Zurich and even Athens hosted some cows!! #mondayescapes
I love all of the different ones throughout German/European cities, I can't wait to find some more!
We saw about a dozen when we visited in December and thought they were a fun and colourful novelty. They certainly brighten up the city.
Wow! I love this post. I'm sitting here with a big smile on my face 🙂 I had no idea that there were so many of them in Berlin! Well done on finding them all. I've only seen a handful on my last trip to Berlin and I was super happy every time I spotted one. It's impossible to choose a favourite bear – they all seem so friendly and welcoming 🙂 #MondayEscapes
I'm glad to find another person that likes them so much! People were walking by them with zero interest and I couldn't wrap my mind around it… 😛
This is SO cool – I was fascinated by them when I visited and have also recognised them in other cities, so thank you for explaining their history 🙂
I'm glad to! I thought it was super interesting.
Loved Berlin! Probably didn't see all these bears but was certainly intrigued by them and just couldn't get enough of the city! Getting back next month:)
Such a great story attached to the bears! I'm in Berlin this August, so will be making sure to look out for them. Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes
Love the bears! Cheers from Copenhagen!
I like the two bears kissing/smelling each other! haha! So cute! I enjoyed seeing all of the different Berlin bears in this post. It definitely gives me a different/more fun image of the city than I've had previously. I'd love to visit and see these bears for myself one day! 🙂 #citytripping
Thanks! I think that was the city’s intention – too see a warmer side of Berlin. So I’m glad it’s working. 🙂
Such a great idea – and concept behind the bears. I totally missed them all when I went to Berlin. I really love your pics – well done on finding so many! I like them all but particularly the one with the Berlin underground on – very urban. Thanks for linking to #citytripping
Thanks!
Thanks!
I don't remember seeing them in Berlin in 2009 – must have had my eyes closed! They are lovely and so welcoming. My son will be there in a few weeks – will tell him to look out for them.
#citytripping
I did not know that about the bears! I always wondered why there were all over the place! Nice to know they're still there since I was there in 2003 and 2008. #CityTripping
These are fabulous! How have I never heard of these bears before? I loved Berlin when I visited but frankly i'd go again just to see these #citytripping
Considering how many there are in the city, you could definitely spend a few days just looking for them!
The blue (astronomy) bear is my favourite, though they are all cute! #CityTripping
This reminds me a lot of the elephants I saw in Phuket with different pictures on each one! The statue of liberty bear got me laughing out loud. #CityTripping
Glad to hear it!
Haha, love this. I haven't seen so many bears in Berlin, but I've only been in the city for a day. My favorite was the one at the US Embassy, it had a rainbow flag on it 😀 #citytripping
Good choice. 🙂
I think my favourite is the Statue of Liberty Bear! I have never been to Berlin and didn't know anything about these, but if and when we visit we will be sure to have a game of 'hunt the bears'. Great photos #WeekendWanderlust
Just keep your eyes extra open and you’ll be surprised about just how many are there! Thanks.
That is such a cool idea. I think I would annoy my family with the amount of photos I took of them. They already have to wait for me while I'm looking for the perfect spot to photograph on our travels. #FlyAwayFriday
I completely understand. My husband struggles with photography patience as well. 🙂
Those are a lot of bears! I would like to photograph them. For some reason, I like things like this. To me, the bears looks very different, so, it is not something I found repetitive. I was trying to decide which one is my favorite but it is kind of difficult. I like the ones that look like polar bears. #FlyAwayFriday
Right – all of the bears are so interesting! Thanks, Ruth.
How fun! I love doing sculpture trails and did 3 in London while I was there. I did see these in Berlin when I was there in 2012 and always wondered what they were for. You have captured quite a few of the bears around the city! Some of the designs on them are quite beautiful and unique. Cheers! Janine from Fill My Passport #flyawayfriday
Thanks, Janine! I like the sculpture trails too.
I love the Bears in Berlin! They are so cool!
Thanks, me too!
Omg those are SO CUTE! They're like the pigs throughout Seattle but the bears are much cuter, haha! Love that you got SO many photos of different ones! Thanks for joining Fly Away Friday, hope to see you again this weekend! xo
Thanks, Kana! I’d love to see the pigs in Seattle – haven’t heard of those before!
Oh my goodness this is so cool! There is something similar to this (maybe the same artist?) near my hometown in Dana Point where they painted elephants and call it the Elephant March. It's really cool and fascnating ]!! I love all the different styled and stories that they tell! Cool post!
I can imagine that elephants would be a lot of work to paint like that – very neat though. Thanks!
very nice indeed. Buddy Bears are such cute bears. Who doesn't love them!
Thank you! I agree!