Read our guide to the best things to do in berlin, as recommended by telegraph travel destination expert, paul sullivan. The original offices of erich mielke, the gdrs last minister for state security, are the centerpiece of the exhibition, which is rounded. It is socalled for the complex of internationally significant museums, all part of the berlin state museums, that occupy the islands northern part. Insider tour berlin cutting edge english language walking tours since 1996. Hi, i have heard that stasi museum is unfriendly for nongerman speakers, but i understood they have some english guides on sat, sun and mon. According to tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience stasi museum. East germany had a lot of influence of the soviet, especially after world war ii. Explore its rooms and corridors alone, or as part of an insightful guided tour, and hear the often harrowing stories about what went on behind the anonymous concrete walls. Experience berlin more flexibly from 2016 all about visitberlin the official marketing company for berlin. Stasi museum, ruchestrasse, berlin, berlin, history museum. There is an onsite laundry room with cardoperated washers and dryers.
After the fall of the berlin wall, people assaulted the stasi headquarters, dissolved the organization, opened its archives to the public, and created a museum in the main building. Lets talk about the best fun things to do in berlin. Hi everyone, i am travelling to berlin alone in midseptember and i will be staying in a hotel in the mitte district i want to go to the stasimuseum and do a tour in english, which i have read are only available at 3pm. My concern is that the lichtenburg district where the museum is located is considered to be one of the more dangerous places in berlin. Start your journey into the citys past at the berlin wall memorial 1 with a. Alternatively, you can take a bus from berlin central station to stasi museum via s ostbahnhof, s ostbahnhoferichsteinfurthstr. For obtaining visas for the gdr or visas for longer stays see the gdr section. Pay nothing at the gate, simply scan your digital pass. For more than three decades, the dreaded state police stasi in east germany kept reams of secret files on its citizens. These suggested itineraries from my berlin guidebook will help you prioritize berlins many sights, whether youre spending one day, two days, three days, or up to a week in berlin. Germany has so much to give in terms of history that an entire lifetime is less to explore it all. David youngs chillingly intricate stasi child was a london times crime book of the month and a telegraph pick of the week.
Get an indepth look into life in east germany and its eerilyrecent history. It is located in the lichtenberg locality of berlin, in the former headquarters of the stasi officially the ministerium fur staatssicherheit, on. Citizens of most nations require a visa to cross into east germany or east berlin. They killed, imprisoned, tortured, exiled, and isolated the enemies of the public order. As you step onto the former grounds of the gdr ministry. Stasi archives berlin stash of secret police records now. The gdr museum offers visitors a handson history experience, helping people to understand what life was like under east german rule. Whether the welcome card is a good deal for you depends on precisely what attractions you intend to visit. The dorms offer single bedrooms with shared bathrooms, kitchens, and communal areas. Featuring a mix of personal recollections and scholarly presentations, the conference presented a broad view of cold war intelligence operations in berlin that ran the gamut from agent operations, to the berlin tunnel, to us air force reconnaissance missions. It entitles you to free entry on three consecutive days and you can go from one exciting exhibition to the next.
Located in the lichtenberg neighbourhood, the stasimuseum berlin is combined museum, archive, and research centre. A museum dedicated to the history of a terrifying secret police is now held in their former headquarters. Opening hours, tickets, directions everything you need to know for your visit to our museum. Its the headquarters of the stasi, the ministry that had the sole objective to maintain the communist party the sed in power of east berlin. Stasimuseum im haus 1 des mfs berlin german history museums. The sheer size of the area with all the highrise buildings around, is impressive and conveys the idea of how seriously deviance was monitored in the ddr.
You can choose from 48 hours up to 6 days tickets for public transport and. Org stasi liste, kgb liste, stasi list, kgb list bernd pulch, stasi list, kgb list, stasi liste, kgb liste, stasi namen, stasi namen alphabetisch, offshore list, offshore liste, leaks list, leaks liste. Stasi museum berlin berlin travel guide my guide berlin. Welcome to the berliner verkehrsbetriebe bvg at sales outlets. The building was erected in 196061 as the offices of erich mielke, who served as minister for state security from 1957 until the end of the gdr. Stasi museum berlin 2020 all you need to know before you. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Founded in 1901, the toledo museum of art holds a collection of extraordinary artworks. The generic status of anna funders stasiland 2002 is uncertain, but it is clear from the opening pages that the author conceptualizes her project as an act of memory. Admission to the worlds first interactive museum of magic. Basically i am in berlin for 5 days 4 nights, flying tofrom sxf and staying at the hotel excelsior opposite bahnhof zoo.
Berlin tv tower tickets planning to visit the berlin tv tower while youre in the city. The easiest and most comfy ticket is the welcome berlin card. The stasimuseum is located in house 1 on the former grounds of the headquarters of the gdr ministry for state security mfs. Although badly damaged in the final years of world war ii and broken apart during the cold war, berlin has reconstructed. The security service of the former ddr east germany used a broad range of cameras, devices and methods to monitor east german citizens and others. Do you want to experience the panoramic view from the tv tower or plan a visit to berlins famous museum island. Not much further by tram, youll find some of berlins big attractions, like the stasi museum, tv tower and alexanderplatz. A oneday visa for east berlin can easily be obtained at the border, passport required id. Your go berlin pass gives you access to dozens more of the citys top attractions, so make sure to check them out. Art lovers could spend days museumhopping, never once thinking about hitler or. The berlin welcome card making berlin affordable for everyone. The second floor of the building remains untouched since the days of the stasi, complete with desks, chairs and.
If i wont come to those guided tours is it better to avoid it. Even with those distinctions, the museum is most notable for the quality of its collection. Berlins top museums with adresses, information about current exhibitions, entrance fees, opening hours and public transportion. This joint exhibition allows visitors to trace the development of prehistoric and protohistoric cultures. Stasi officers were instructed to destroy files, starting with the most incriminating those naming westerners who spied for. Visited the creepy former massive headquarters complex of the east german secret state security, the stasi.
Travelling to the stasimuseum berlin message board. Compare the cost of normal daily or weekly transport passes combined with the threeday berlin museum pass, which does not include transport but gives access to many of the citys major museums. Discover the latest exhibitions and highlights in berlins museums. Im trying to do the maths on my travelmuseum card needs for my almost finalised easter itinerary and im getting all tied up help. The five museums on the famous museum island, a unesco world heritage site, form the worlds largest museum ensemble. A 30 minutes stroll from the ddr museum, or a quick bus ride, and were in this sweet little exhibition which will educate us on everything about stasi. Alternatively, take the overground sbahn to frankfurter allee. Tours include our famous walk showing all berlins highlights, the third reich, the cold war, sachsenhausen concentration camp, berlin by bike, potsdam, dresden, berlin nightlife and. Germanys capital at the heart of mainland europe, a magnet for millions, a legendary location for the arts and culture, the setting for innumerable events 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Not to be confused with the proper stasi museum, its very neat and comprehensive, basically a 3d lecture on the infamous secret police. Get more out of your holiday with the berlin welcome card. Engage all of your senses to enjoy an immersive experience of everyday life in the former east germany. For drivers, the parking spaces belonging to the museum are easily accessible. The east german handbook is fascinating and in my opinion worth every penny.
Sbahn berlin operates a train from berlin central station to stasi museum every 10 minutes. The easiest way of getting to the stasi museum is on the ubahn underground. The dorms are located about 3040 minutes by public transportation from the university and about 3040 minutes from berlins city center. The collection of the museum includes spy equipment and visitors can explore unchanged offices, and learn about the establishment of the ministry of state security. Up until then, you are welcome to visit our current exhibitions a is for jewish and this place as well as the libeskind buildings architectural highlights, the axes in the basement and. Cafes are jammed at all hours, drinking is a religious.
Provenance and repatriation the toledo museum of art. On the dais, some of the most secret aspects of cold war history were coming to life. Pergamon museum, museum island, jewish museum and many more. Stasi museum normannenstrasse research and memorial center. Berlin has around 170 museums so youd need to stay quite a while to see them all. It is located in the lichtenberg locality of berlin, in the former headquarters of the stasi, on ruschestra. The stasi museum is full of corners, unexpected turns and hallways that guide you from one room to another. You can do more than buy tickets for immediate travel at bvg sales outlets. Stasi prison and stasi museum berlin forum tripadvisor. See all the main sites and hidden berlin accompanied by a riveting narrative from our brilliant professional guides. Just as in the west, ordinary citizens of the gdr lived their daily in much the same way as folk anywhere else, holding down jobs, raising families, enjoying holidays and recreation etc, within the limitations that the ideology they lived under would permit. From saturday, march 14th 2020, the stasi museum berlin will be closed until further notice. Erleben sie eine trabifahrsimulation oder betrachten sie. Get behind the wheel of the iconic trabi for a simulated drive through east berlin, take a seat in a 1970s east german living room, and hear about how the state spied on millions of ordinary east germans.
Today, its a chilling museum, and a mustsee for anyone interested in. We will keep you updated on our website about all further developments, and are. The 3day berlin museum pass grants you access to all permanent and selected temporary exhibitions at the staatliche museen zu. As of 2018, the stasi archives berlin are now open for public tours the trove of 43 kilometers 28 miles of paper records are just part of the exhibits now available in the former stasi berlin archives building as of june 2018. In 2017 we launched prep with the 1st and 2nd exchanges in new york and berlin, and met you, the 2018 prep cohort, at the 3rd exchange at the getty. The full text of the constitution of berlin of 23 november 1995, as amended as of 22 march 2016. Get a glimpse of the grim life behind the wall at this museum that depicts the hardships of former east germany. The museum will be closed on 20 april16 may, 1920 september, 28 september, and 24 december 2020. When oberleutnant karin muller is called to investigate a teenage girls body at the foot of the berlin wall, she imagines shes seen it all before. The stasi museum is a research and memorial centre concerning the political system of the former east germany.
Locals and expats follow the credo live and let live and put greater emphasis on personal freedom and a creative lifestyle than on material wealth and status symbols. I have a mix of selfguided walking tours, visits to state and private museumsgalleries and four nights of concertstheatre in the. The stasi museum provides visitors with insight into the different methods used to control and manipulate the population. The 10 most visited museums, exhibition halls and memorials in berlin more. Germanys capital at the heart of mainland europe, a magnet for millions. Feb 21, 2016 if you are interested in germanys communist era and its unparalleled secret police service, visit the stasi museum in berlinlichtenberg. Minister of state security and head of the stasi from 1957 to the fall of the berlin wall in 1989. Berlin is cosmopolitan, worldly, quirky, exotic, bohemian, evolving, vibrant, alive. We are a free museum that had nearly halfamillion visitors last year and is nationally renowned for its focus on art education. The ddr museum provides a unique visitor experience, making it one of berlins most popular museums. Much of the main building where erich mielke, from 19611989, led the terrifyingly repressive spy agency in berlins lichtenberg neighborhood is left largely untouched from when east german citizens forcibly occupied the building in january of 1990 during the fall of east germany. A bit out of town easy to get to by tram but really interesting. We are always happy to help and look forward to seeing you.
Dedicated to east germanys secret police and housed in its former headquarters, the stasi museum in berlin will inform you about state surveillance. On 17 may, our new permanent exhibition and the childrens world at the jewish museum anoha will open. Just like the kgb, the stasi was mostly busy looking for enemies of the people, employing roundtheclock surveillance, and eavesdropping on german citizens. Berlin tourist attractions map pdf if youre looking to walk and explore the city, here are a few trails. One card that opens more than 30 doors, including the staatliche museen zu berlin with its many museums. Pay nothing upon entry, simply scan your digital pass. Erleben sie eine trabifahrsimulation oder betrachten.
Here are some notes on a recent trip to europe which included a 6day stay, businesspleasure, early oct. Stasi museum berlin 2020 all you need to know before. Use public transport freely and get to all the sights with the berlin welcome card. Guided bike tour along the berlin wall berlin on bike tours. Stasi museum is mainly for people who would want to know the intricacies of the political system of the past.
This measure is intended to help keep the spread of the coronavirus as low as possible. Berlin is a big multicultural metropolis but deep down it maintains the unpretentious charm of an international village. Travelling to the stasimuseum berlin forum tripadvisor. The berlin welcome card is berlins official tourist ticket and more than just a travel ticket for berlin.
Berlin official website of the city of berlin, capital. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Redeem upon arrival at txltegel airport, the main rail station and other key spots in berlin. Mar 02, 2012 on the stasi trail in berlin tam eastley traces the ghosts of erich mielke, head of east germanys notorious secret police, and visits the newly renovated stasi museum this blog first appeared on. The berlin hohenschonhausen memorial tells the story of the stasi prison with 400 exhibits and tours with contemporary witnesses. The price already includes sightseeing tours and admission to museums and gives you. Get a behindthescenes look at the work of the former east german. The numerous exhibits of the stasimuseum are a journey into the repressive stranglehold of the police state, the activities of the state security and aspects of the gdr political system as well as resistance and opposition movements. Watch a sunset from the tv tower, visit the reichstag, the berliner dom, checkpoint charlie, the berlin wall memorial, the east side gallery, or simply walk along the spree. Local life berlin is about to select candidates for best places awards, dedicated to rewarding and encouraging excellence in products, service and ideas.
Generator prenzlauer berg is a stones throw from a velodrom concert hall and an olympic swimming pool. Jan 17, 2018 the museum is, most aptly, located on the real site of the former mfs ministerium fuer staatssicherheit, as the formal name for the stasi was. Covering a range of topics based on sound academic research everyday life, the berlin wall, the stasi and much more our exhibition. Free public transport and discounts at more than 200 touristic partners all news at berlin welcomecard. Bvg day tickets versus welcome card for my itinerary. Berlins official sightseeing pass for over 20 years. House 1 of the former headquarters of the ministry for state security stasi now houses a research and memorial center focused on the gdrs political system. Stasi museum, berlin this intimidating 1970s building in former east berlin used to be the secret police headquarters.