One of the most iconic symbols of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall divided the city of Berlin for nearly three decades. Today, remnants of the wall can still be found throughout the city, serving as powerful reminders of Germany's tumultuous past. Here are some of the top Berlin Wall sites to visit:
1. East Side Gallery: This open-air gallery features over a hundred paintings by artists fro... Read more
The Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer, known in english as the Berlin Wall Memorial, is the main memorial site of the Berlin Wall. It comprises a fantastic open air exhibition and memorial space at the original historic site along Bernauer Straße and also includes an information centre and a documentation centre. The U-Bahn station, Nordbahnhof, has a small but informative exhibition on Berli... Read More
The building with one of the most emotive names in Berlin, 'The Tränenpalast', or, 'The Palace of Tears', was built after the Berlin Wall was erected and was the main border crossing for West Berliners and West Germans entering and leaving East Berlin. The building received its name for the heart wrenching farewells as families said goodbye to their loved ones as they returned to West Berli... Read More
This Panorama, created by architect and artist Yadegar Asisi combines photographs, drawings and paintings together to create an immersive experience of the Berlin Wall depicting a typical Autumn day in the 1980's. Asisi actually lived in Kreuzberg during the 80s and draws on his experiences and recollections to create a really unique and impressive experience. The panorama is breathtaking... Read More
In 2010, the former site of the secret police headquarters, as well as the offices of the SS leadership were transformed into a exhibition and documentation centre. The permanent exhibition, Topography of Terror, details the roles of the secret police, commonly known as the Gestapo, as well as the SS and presents the information on the crimes commited by both organisations across Europe. Th... Read More
Running the length of Mühlenstraße on the bank of the River Spree in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is Berlin's iconic East Side Gallery. At 1.3km it is the longest piece of The Berlin Wall that is still standing and this memorial for freedom is officially the largest open-air gallery in the world with paintings from 102 different international artists. We recommend walking the length of the wall fro... Read More
Located not far from busy Potsdamer Platz, the Guard Tower on Erna-Berger-Straße is somewhat of a hidden gem. Where, 25 years ago, the tower was surrounded by empty space, now it sits next to a newly built block of flats. This tower used to be manned by 2 guards armed with machine guns as well as flood lights. Now it is manned by friendly volunteers who love to share the story o... Read More
The Stasi Museum isn't something you can reach by foot from your hotel - it's a few stops out of the Mitte centre on the U5, in the Eastern suburb of Friedrichshain-Lichtenberg. It is however definitely worth the short train trip. As you approach the building, it might feel a little sinister. Inside, the exhibition shows some of the questionable surveillance methods and tracki... Read More
The best way to get a sense of the Berlin Wall and the way it wound its way through the middle of the city is by bike. There are a number of bicycle tours who will take you on the trip and provide you with insights into the history, as well as some interesting stories from the time. Alternatively, you could hire a bike from one of the many Bike Hire vendors around the city and head aro... Read More
Mauerpark, which translates as 'Wall Park' is so named due to its location in the former no mans land of the Berlin Wall known as the death strip. Atop the hill at the park you will find a section of the Hinterlandmauer, the wall on the eastern side, now covered with street art and graffiti. The park is probably most well known for the amazing flea market that it hosts every Sunday from 8am... Read More
"Where was the Berlin Wall?" "Are we in former East Berlin or West Berlin right now?" "Where can I find a Berlin Wall Map?" These are three of the most common questions we are asked by visitors to Berlin. The city has its fair share of important history, from the imperial grandeur as the capital of Prussia; the heady days of the Weimar Republic; the Third Reich under the Nazi R... Read More