DDR Museum

The DDR Museum is the place to come in Berlin to get a sense of what life was like in the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR), known as the German Democratic Republic, or GDR, in English.  It is the most interactive museum we have ever stepped foot in:  Virtually everything here is designed to be opened, touched, sniffed, listened to or played with.  In the replica lounge room, you can take a seat on the sofa and watch some old DDR television, or pick up the phone and listen to someone speaking.  Head into the kitchen and open some drawers to see what sorts of items were stocked in an everyday kitchen and take a seat in the Trabbi, the most popular car of the DDR, turn the key and have a listen to that classic 2 stroke engine! You can also, of course, learn a bit more about the Berlin Wall while you are here.

In 2010 the museum was expanded to include a room which delves into more political themes.  To enter this section you need to walk through a wall of mist and are immediately presented with enormous propaganda photos which cover the areas of industry, government, and military.  The exhibition design encourages you to go beyond the facade by opening cupboards and heading behind the images, where many of the negative aspects of the East German regime are presented.

The DDR Museum is one of Berlin's most popular, and as a result is very busy all day long with a line heading out the door for much of the day.  To avoid the queue, and the crowds, we recommend getting there at least 30 minutes before opening. Or, tickets are available to buy on line and you dont have to queue.