Free admission. Located in the old SS headquarters. Sections of the original Berlin Wall is here…read moreand you learn the history of the building and the horrific things that occurred during this time frame. This is a sad but educational museum. The hanging displays outside will take a good 2 hours to read and digest. Make sure to find the start and work your way forward, I started at the wrong end. Then after you finish outside go inside the museum to learn more. If you don't like to read, audio tours are available. I learned a lot about Siemens and VW involvement during this era. Shocking! Bathrooms: downstairs and very clean Facility: very clean We came in the winter, it was very cold so dress appropriately.

This is one of several museums in Berlin focusing on the history leading up to, during and post the…read moreHolocaust, World War II, the Nazi atrocities committed against Jews, minorities, LGBTQ and disabled peoples. The museum is located on land that used to be a former gestapo headquarters, along a long section of the Berlin Wall still standing in the city center, now outfitted with exhibits related to the museum as well. The interior of the museum consists of a chronological installation of the rise of Nazism, the both a subversive and swift movement that resulted in mass persecution, incarceration and annihilation of millions of people. They took a lot of care to include photos, images of documents, charts and diagrams of different elements of the Nazi movement, the main perpetrators of atrocities, while also highlighting the lives of those affected, suffering, and killed. The atmosphere inside was somber, though in a way hopeful--if you visit a location like this, (hopefully) you came to respect and learn, be saddened and moved by the past, and be compelled to stand for never again allowing this to happen.* It's terrific that this museum is open 10-8pm daily, and is free of charge. It shows commitment to being accessible and sharing this important story. Audio guides available in different languages. Almost all the displays were in both German and English. Bathrooms available downstairs, there is a library and education center downstairs as well. *I hope this also moves people to take a look at what's going on in the world thru different lenses and perspectives, as there are currently many injustices and oppressive practices less publicized by or more quickly cycled out of the American media. I hope this also prompts individuals to ask whether their own beliefs and actions could result in causing prejudice, hatred or mistreatment toward others not like themselves, and be more accepting of others.

This is, in my experience, one of the finest museums I've visited. Allocating a full day, with a…read morebreak for lunch/Mittagessen, is reasonable and advisable. Exhibit design is as good as the Metropolitan in NYC or the V&A in London. These designs convey information in a way that uses a museum experience in a way that distinguishes this form of knowledge transfer from simple reading, while avoiding being pedantic. The building is an architectural experience unto itself. BONUS free admission TIP We ate lunch at Umami Mitte, Friedrichstraße 30, 10969, https://umami-restaurants.de/, a few minutes away from the museum. It is very good to excellent, with pleasant outdoor tables, in appropriate weather.

This was a powerful, immersive, informative, interesting, and inspiring experience. I feel like the…read morebest way to tolerance is to learn. If you choose to ignore, you will continue to be ignorant. In these trying times in America and throughout the world it is important to learn from history and be aware so it doesn't repeat itself. While in Berlin we went to this museum to learn more about the Jewish diaspora in Germany. My knowledge of the Jewish experience is from the United States perspective and for me it was important to hear, read, and see the story from a country that played a significant part in the history of the Jewish people. The museum traces the history of the cultural, social, political, and influence of the Jewish people in Germany and throughout the world. It is not only a museum, it is an art gallery, and the architecture of the building is somewhat unassuming from the outside. Through photographs, religious objects, newspapers, letters, and artwork it is an immersive space that appeals to your humanity. From their progression throughout history to the persecution in the holocaust this museum is a powerful testament to the resilience of the Jewish people. With the the atrocities that they endured in Germany it is a strong reminder that we must be empathetic allies. My wife and I really appreciated this museum and feel like many should visit cultural museums wherever they may be.

Open 9am to 9pm daily, 365 days a year, this museum is small but a fun, interactive and educational…read moreexperience featuring the history, culture, and daily lives of people during the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) (or in English--German Democratic Republic, GDR). I arrived on a Sunday evening around 7:30pm, and stayed almost until they closed at 9pm. That proved a good time to go since there were only about a dozen other visitors in the museum in that duration. Tickets are €13.50 for full price, €8.00 for discounted tickets for students, disabled, military in service or veterans, and recipients of certain unemployment benefits + 7% VAT. Kids under 6 are free. Tickets are available online or in person; when I was there, there wasn't a line. Inside the museum isn't large, kinda like the size of a large retail store. They really pack it in with tons of information about the life and times of people living during the East German socialist era. From providing background on the political shift post WWII, there's information on how social and economic policies affected everyday transactions--commuting to work, grocery store purchases, print/audio/film media, school courses and extracurriculars, vocations, community events and organizations, military service and leisure activities. They do this with a gamut of interactive displays--there are countless cupboards and drawers that can be opened to display descriptions and memorabilia from that era, or other hands-on elements. Anything from replicated excerpts of magazines and newspapers, recreated canned food labels, audio recordings of propaganda, history on the government officials, to the toys children used to play with, recipes for commonly eaten food, etc... The recreation of a DDR apartment with different rooms--foyer, living room, dining and kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, plus a couple full sized cars that you can sit in--really helps to rewind the clock for visitors to comprehend how life was like. Would definitely recommend a visit! I left feeling very creatively educated on DDR times. Gift shop and bathrooms are available. Parking is available via nearby structure, also reachable by public transit S/U-bahn, bus or tram.

Very interesting museum, but its inside a small location. They did a good job packing it with…read moreinformation, but many of the exhibits require you to open doors or slides to get the descriptions. If its packed full of people, then it gets super awkward trying to look over people's shoulders, etc. But, the history is super fascinating, and the displays are a look into the life of a GDR citizen, which has disappeared once the wall came down. Cool stuff, but go on a less busy day to get the full vibe out of the place.

My favorite museum on the island. It has the famous gates that are a must see. It sold out for…read morethe day and there was a line at opening so get your tickets ahead online and put them in your smartphone wallet. They have a nice cafe with some good cakes and pastries. I recommend packing a picnic since the food options are limited in the area.

This is the most popular museum on the island, but I was not bowled over considering the wait. BIG…read moreHINT reserve your ticket time slot ahead of time. Even if you buy a multi-pass you still have to reserve a time of visit. The big appeal is the Roman entryway/Courtyard and castle facade. Sometimes you have to see for yourself what all the hype is about. One of the wings is closed and some of the Greek sculptures are on display at a separate building.

I love museums, but this museum is pathetic…read more The main history museum is closed, and only one odd display called " the road, not taken" is open in the more modern building. We made the mistake of purchasing combo tickets for both the history component and the nature component of the museum. The nature component of the museum is simply one of the worst, most logical, and pathetic museums I've ever encountered. Until the big history museum is reopened, simply skip " the road, not taken" and visit the topography of terror. The topography of terror presented much deeper history and it's free. Cost for both museums was €10 per person. Coat check and bag storage is on the ground floor. No cost for coat check and bag storage. Clean restrooms on ground floor. A water bottle filling station is available on the ground floor but no water fountains. Be sure to bring your own water bottle. Free Wi-Fi available

This is a lovely building. It is 5 euros per person if you want to do both exhibits. The main…read moreexhibit is not worth 2.5 euros, it should be free because it is disjointed and odd. 1star but the potato display was the best! Skip that exhibit and do The roads not Taken exhibit if you want an overview of German history and even then I would almost say skip it. 3 stars. Free WiFi, toilets are clean, and coat check available.

We visited this museum yesterday, and its subtitle is (translated into English) "Old Days in the…read moreDDR" (i.e., East Germany). I'd visited East Germany in the early and mid-80s, so this had particular significance for me - but the museum would definitely be worthwhile visiting for anyone with an interest in that aspect of German history. It's a small museum, so you don't need a lot of time there. The two men working at the reception area were very friendly and there's also a good selection of photography books. A nice thing is that admission is free. U-Bahn station: Eberswalder Strasse (it's very near the station).

Overview: Great Egyptian exhibits, some interesting additional exhibits. If you love history or…read moremuseums, this is a must see in Berlin. Number one reason to visit the Neues Museum is the Egyptian exhibits including seeing the original Queen Nefertiti. Beyond the fantastic Egyptian exhibits, there are many additional excellent artifacts and exhibits including a German medieval gold hat (which was also a celestial calendar), a contemporaneous coin showing an image of Charlemagne, and much more. In some parts of the museum we encountered displays there were broken and displays that were simply empty. Time budget: 3-4 hours minimum Overall cleanliness: excellent Bathroom cleanliness: excellent WiFi: some areas had free WiFi, but it was spotty Unique gripe: At the Nefertiti exhibit, photographs near the exhibit were prohibited. Visitors had to stand about 20 to 25 feet away from the exhibit to take photos. Very odd. Misc: No water fountains or bottle filling stations.

Their website needs work. Maybe it is the English side that is bad, but the website makes it…read moredifficult to find the hours of this museum. The website was also very vague about the Pergamum Museum being closed for 10 years for renovations! This is located on Museum island in the heart of Berlin. We walked here on a freezing cold day. We did not have tickets before hand. We arrived to the main entrance and were told NO, we needed to buy tickets in the side entrance. So we walked to the side. We entered and we were told NO, go downstairs. So we went downstairs to the same door that is the main entrance but we had to go around? Who knows, just be prepared to be confused by the signs and the docents. There are three people at the counter. 1 is for information only. 2 is the tickets only. 3 is audio guide only. I can see in the peak of summer that reservations and pre-paid is a good idea. We waited in line for roughly 6 minutes before we purchased our tickets. They try to do the upsell, but the only museum we wanted to see the Pergamum museum is closed for 10 years for renovations! They were not happy that museum is closed as well. Coat check: There is a free coat check. The lady will give you a number and just return it to get your coat. This museum is worth the money and the visit. There is quite a lot of Egyptian art on display that it can be overwhelming. The highlight is Nefertiti bust. She is quite beautiful to look at, but the museum does not allow photos of close. You have to be in the hallway where it is very difficult to get a photo because all the tourists are stopping and staring at her. Here are 3 tips: 1. Use a camera with a telephoto lens to zoom in and capture her 2. Rest your iPhone on the sign to keep it steady to get a great photos 3. If you have a young child, have them go and stand next to her, the docents are really nice and will make the tourists stop to allow the parents to snap a photo of their child and that is your opportunity to get a good photo too. You also learn a great deal about the Copper, Bronze and other ages and history of Germany. Bathrooms: very clean and free

The Eastside Gallery is a MUST STOP when visiting the Hauptstadt Berlin…read more If only to come see the mural "My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love" by Dmitri Vrubel. Recently, Berlin foodie stop Curry 61 did a funny parody, see photos. This section of the former Berlin Wall, has over a hundred mural on this lone remaining section on Mühlenstraße along the Spree River.

East Side Gallery is not really what is commonly thought of as an, "Art Gallery." What it is, is a…read morelong section of wall where various artist exhibit their work by creating one of their pieces on the wall. Yes, it is a little bit strange. East Side Gallery is a really a very long wall. There are a lot of artists that have their work showing on this wall. Just like beauty in in the eye of the beholder, so is art. Some of the work along this wall is very good. Others, not so much. All this being said, it is an interesting concept. And, it is something that you should see if you are in Berlin. Just don't get your hopes up to experience something truly revolutionary or cutting edge. Remember, it's just a wall with a bunch of paintings on it.