Is bouldering the new yoga? It seems the health-conscious folks with tattoos and ropy forearm muscles have moved out of the Bikram studios and into the city’s rock climbing gyms. Previously found at Berta Block in Pankow or enduring the crowds at Friedrichshain’s Der Kegel, as of last September would-be boulderers finally have a spot down south: Der Kegel sister gym Boulderklub Kreuzberg, located above a Penny supermarket in the hipster heart of the city.
For those not in the know, bouldering is rock climbing on short routes with no safety harness or ropes, with a shock-absorbing floor and short verticals ensuring your bones will stay intact even if you happen to fall.
An introductory Schnupperkurs (trial session) every Tuesday runs for only €5, including rental climbing shoes. If you’re more of a DIY-er, don’t be afraid to ask more experienced climbers for tips! With a dedicated children’s section (including a climbable pirate ship), don’t be surprised if you see packs of little ones crushing routes and sipping juice.
At €9 for entrance (not including shoe rental, an extra €3), your new hobby won’t come cheap. But if you’re bit by the climbing bug, the Klub offers discounts for a 10-session card (€81) all the way up to one year of unlimited climbing at both Boulderklub and Der Kegel for €550.
