The topography or terror offers a fascinating look into the rise and downfall of the Third Reich, in an easily digestible "Chapter" format, where a section is clearly defined for a specific topic ( like the secret police and multitude of acronyms) and easily flows to the next chapter as you walk through the exhibit. With translations to English, you could easily spend an entire day here reading and seeing all the content. If you don't have the time, you could just quickly breeze through it reading the larger orange placards that overview the chapter. It's free too! read more

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A succinct summary of the absurdities and perversity of Nazi ideology. This exhibition is housed in a former heartland of Nazi bureaucracy and a jackbooted stride from a remnant of the Berlin wall. The basics of the Nazi regime are covered here - from political suppression to the Holocaust. That the Nazi ideology was doomed to failure is amply illustrated by the looming presence of a surviving remnant of the wall. read more

Stiftung Topographie des Terrors - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berlin, BE

This is such an amazing museum, filled with so much information all about the SS and the Gestapo. Must see if you're interested in history. It's also free! Piece of the Berlin Wall is right outside the building too. read more

Stiftung Topographie des Terrors - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berlin, BE

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An exhibition you simply can not rush round. It is free but you must see everything......It is quite horrific in places but shows what happened in Germany from the 1930s to the end of the war. I can only give it three stars but as an exhibition it is 5 star... read more

Stiftung Topographie des Terrors - At celler level, in the snow, a horrific feeling... - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berlin, BE

Well worth the visit. Prepare to get your sad on: if you read all of the materials and go into the museum it will take a solid couple of hours. Free to visit. Times visited: 1 read more

Stiftung Topographie des Terrors - Inner reflection pool - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berlin, BE

There is no entrance fee, so all the buses and tours stop here. As you'll discover, crowded doesn't always mean good. Imagine taking a long, dry book on a difficult subject, enlarging all the pages and pasting each printed page on a big board--then hanging all the boards on wires in a big room. That's what this is: You get to read a book (never-ending blocks of text on boards) while standing up with hundreds of people huddled around you. iPad? Wikipedia? Anyone? I was not impressed. It is the most non-interactive museum I have ever visited. It feels like somehow, somewhere a legal requirement for a "museum" on this subject needed to be fulfilled and this is what they came up with. read more

One of the things that has impressed me the most about Berlin is that the Germans refuse to whitewash one of the darkest chapters in human history, regardless of the stain it's left. The Topography of Terror is one of several free exhibitions that seeks to educate its visitors about the extent of the damage that human depravity can cause. Located where the original SS and Gestapo headquarters stood (some of the cobblestone was part of their original entrance!), this free exhibit takes you down the dark path of the Holocaust. Inside, the permanent exhibit takes you through the various levels of terror that Hitler's regime inflicted on the 'undesirables' of the population - not just Jews, but homosexuals, the homeless or jobless, political enemies (Social Democats and Communists), the mentally ill, physically deformed, or anyone not a part of the "Master Race." You can hear audio clips and explore the abundant resources the museum has, but unless you have a cast-iron stomach, you may have trouble exploring for more than a couple hours. Outside, the temporary exhibit focuses on Warsaw. Warsaw was devastated by the Nazis during an uprising, but even after the fall of the Third Reich, the Soviets came through to continue the destruction. This was a city that basically experienced the worst that both WWII and the Soviets had to offer, and at one point was almost completely leveled. The resilience of the city and its Polish population was incredible to learn about. It's also home to the second-longest section of the Berlin Wall that is still standing in its original place. read more

Depressing material, but well documented and executed. The layout was logical and allowed for masses (exhibits are numbered in chronological order as opposed to Checkpoint Charlie Museum). The interior content is supplemented with more storyboards near the remaining Berlin Wall. Best museum we saw in Berlin (we saw 8 total). read more

Any visit to Berlin would not be complete without a visit here. They have a section of the berlin wall outside and the museum inside, it is mostly pictures and reading inside, but well worth the visit, oh and it is free, so no excuse not to go. You will learn how things went downhill pretty quick during the war, while it is not the most uplifting place to visit, the historical value here is worth the walk over. read more

A fascinating outdoor museum full of photos, stories and facts. Catching other peoples comments upon the various topics covered in this long stretch of gallery of the past, is perhaps the most interesting part of the visit. If you are well versed on your holocaust/WW history, there perhaps wont be much you haven't seen or read, however it is a great place to come, and remember it all. read more

An absolute must while visiting Berlin. A slice of dark world history explored in great detail here the second you see the standing section of the Berlin Wall and begin reading into each illustration exactly what happened. It's going to put a damper on your spirits once you leave but it's still important to visit here. It's free admission so there's no excuse not to see it. read more

Stiftung Topographie des Terrors - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berlin, BE

SO MUCH HISTORY! Isn't it cool that you can literally, reach out, and TOUCH history? I love how Berlin showcases pieces of the original wall. Full of informative historical facts, and interesting pieces that elaborate more about key dates and events. Everything is also in English, so that definitely helps! read more

This is a must see. First, it's free, so any opportunity to be able to see a museum for free is a huge plus. But it's also incredibly interesting. Outside is a timeline describing Germany's occupation of Poland and really highlighting the damage the Third Reich did to achieve this. It also goes into a timeline of WWII and discusses its aftermath as well. A particularly sobering thing about the entire site is that it was at this location where the SS and Gestapo were headquartered. It is amazing to read about the atrocities committed and to realise these plans were all laid right where you're standing. There is also still some rubble left from when the buildings were destroyed by the Allied at the end of WWII. There are parts of buildings now memorialised along with signs explaining what they once were, e.g. part of a building or fence. This is just everything that's outside, there's also an inside museum, which is free as well. It highlights in greater detail the timeline from the Nazi Party's reign of Germany up until the end of the war. All signs, including those outside, are presented in both German and English, so knowledge of the German language is not necessary to visit the museum. read more

The Topography of Terror documentation center is definitely a must-visit. Located on the original site of the Gestapo (the secret state police of Nazi Germany), the museum hosts changing indoor exhibitions and has beautiful outdoor grounds with just as much to see, including a timeline of the rise of the Nazis along the second largest piece of the Berlin wall still standing. Admission is free, so this is a great stop if you're traveling on a budget. read more

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A good museum that provides a good historical documentation of the rise and fall of the Nazi. Pretty much all information was provides as placard layouts with "some" interactive video. What really missing are actual artifacts or items collected from that era to give the audiences a much better appreciation for the life during that period. It is worth a visit just to see the remnant of the Berlin wall. read more

This place has so much history and a must see if you are in Berlin! It was build where the headquarters of the SS use to be and it located right next to the second largest piece of the Berlin wall still standing. This free museum goes through the rise of the Third Reich and it has a lot of pictures documenting what happened in Germany through 1945. There is a piece at the end documenting what was happening throughout Europe at that same time too. Also make sure to check out the exhibit along the Berlin wall as well! It is extremly well done and goes in chronological order. read more

This museum is focused on everything the Nazis did to persecute minorities and its political enemies. It doesn't talk about WWII history generally. Instead it has whole sections devoted to what the Nazi party did in each country and to each group of minorities. It also goes into the organizational structure of the Third Reich in detail. This is definitely one of the best laid-out museums you'll ever visit. There aren't many artifacts to look at - the museum consists mostly of text and photos on hanging displays. There is an outdoor exhibit that discusses similar material to the indoor museum, but you should definitely see the indoor exhibit because it is far better and the museum is free. read more

This was my second time to visit and I enjoyed it much more this time. Maybe it was the 8 kids we had in tow and the 90 degree heat in 2006 that stole some of the enjoyment! This time I was just there with a buddy and we had plenty of time to pause and ponder the areas that interested us most. It is a well laid out time line of the rise of Hitler and the Nazis and how it changed the fabric of German society due to persecution, war and suffering. Think of it as a mini museum outdoors, that also serves as a memorial. As a bonus there is a nice section of Wall there. read more

Definitely a must when visiting Berlin. The museum tells the story of WWII from an other angle than we are normally used to. The museum tells the story of the leaders' race to power in 39-45, but it also tells the story of how it effected the everyday life in Berlin at the time. "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat its mistakes" With that in mind, free admission is very wise. German is the predominant language, with translations to English in most cases. Perhaps not as elaborating as the German text. The fact that German and English are the only two languages unfortunately excludes a number of visitors e.g all young people as their English is not good enough yet. Is perhaps earphones with information in additional languages in scope? That would be an important step forward in making the museum, and the crucial part it tells of our history, more accessible. read more

We went here on a cold gray morning in January and the weather seemed to fit the experience. The outside area of this memorial was not that interesting. There is a large section of the wall, which is always fascinating and gives you an idea of how crazy it was to divide the city. But this memorial, of course, is not about the wall but about the SS. This is the site of the former headquarters of the SS but only a few pieces of the former building remain. There are some topographical maps inside that show where the different Nazi government offices had been. I understand why you would want to make the site a memorial or museum of some kind, probably few people or businesses that want to occupy the former site of SS headquarters. Inside is fascinating. The panels are full of information and pictures. I knew the basic timeline of course, but also to see details about the people involved was riveting. I was intrigued by the descriptions of what happened to the officers and Nazi officials after the war. My mother was fascinated by the different quotes from historians and other academics trying to understand how it really all happened. It took us 2 hours to go through this museum and I agree with others who say more chairs would be nice. January was a good time to go because there weren't that many people there but it would be hard if it was crowded because in many places the font is small (especially the English). BUT for 18 euros, you can buy a book of the entire exhibition. It has pretty much everything that is in the panels in the book. Had we realized we were going to buy the book (which is well worth the price), we probably would have gone through the exhibit much faster -- frankly it really just is a book up on the wall. It is lots of reading, little interaction, probably not anything you can't get out of the book ... read more

I'd recommend visiting this place, taking a break and then visit the memorial for the murdered Jews. This place serves as an example of how societies ought to deal their brutal past. read more

My wife and I stumbled upon the museum on accent while heading back to our hotel from the grocery store. We didn't go into the actual museum, so I can't speak for that myself, but we did stop and take a look at the remnants of the wall in the area. It's interesting to actually be able to see the wall, but next time, hopefully we'll be able to pop into the museum portion. read more

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I really enjoyed the Typography of Terrors. To start with we walked along the long stretch of the Berlin Wall which sits outside. For a short glimpse you really feel the height, stretch and barrier this wall created rather than just imagining from seeing a small section. We then went inside (because in winter Berlin is FREEZING) and was pleasantly surprised. I felt the simplicity of the museum really represented the feeling and impact the holocaust created. Yes you're a standing with a group of people often all reading the same board, buts it never feels imposing or too crowded. What they do need is more seats and maybe something to grab your attention more to balance the reading. It's an exhaustive and emotional long read. But I really think this museum is great and informative! read more

It's an incredible feeling being there, discomfort. The location is right next to the wall. Just thinking of the past makes you cringe. Inside there is timeline of events that let to Hitler's rise and fall to power. I wish there was more seating as you can spend hours reading the material. read more

Stiftung Topographie des Terrors - The wall and set up - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berlin, BE

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Definitely worth a visit. Like most places in Berlin, it tells a dark history and presents lots of information on what happened in Nazi Germany and a timeline of events. Here you can educate yourself further and get a few pictures of the wall. read more

This place is the evidence to German compromise to not repeat its history. They have done an amazing job not only collecting personal, governmental, medical and all kinds of record, but also presenting it in a clear way. I have been here four times and keep coming back in small doses because it is just so well done and I'm of course interested in the subject. They are especially clear and great at going through history in a way that explains how a country like Germany could become the scenario of such horrors. How national socialism conquered people's hearts through fear and hope, and how people themselves allowed what came next. It's definitely worth it! A thousand times! Everyone should come here at least once! read more

An extremely well done documentary approach to the story of the evil that happened on this soil. Give yourself a couple of hours to digest all that is presented. read more

I am somebody who has always been fascinated by the war and this was at the top of my to-do list when I visted Berlin. The exhibition is built among the ruins of the old SS headquarters and this certainly adds an extra poignancy. There is a large area outside which is a timeline of the rise of the Nazis. It is essentially a straight line with informative boards placed in sequence. Take your time to let the information sink in, don't rush along! At the end we thought that was it... we were wrong. There's an equally fantastic exhibition in the indoor section located at the end of the walk. Make sure to do this, I can't rate it highly enough. This indoor part goes into even more detail and is extremely chilling. It is important that this story is shared and understood and I think it is a very brave thing to have such a prominent display tackling it. A must-see. read more

Excellent outdoor exhibit. Well documented and organized information about the rise and early years of the National Socialists in Germany. It discusses the political and economic climate during the rise. Also does not hesitate to discuss the intimidation and violent methods used by the Nazis to create a dictatorship. The display also recognizes a number of the dissidents and Nazi opponents who were killed or committed suicide in the early years. I would put this as a do not miss exhibit. read more

Stiftung Topographie des Terrors - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berlin, BE

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Informative and worth a visit. Give it 3 hours at least to go through the exhibition. Many of the video exhibits were broken during our visit, which was unfortunate given the significance of the institution. Information displayed outside at times overlapped what was shown inside the building, which was a bit frustrating. As there weren't artifacts, there wasn't much in the exhibit that I couldn't have learned by reading a book, but there was something about taking in the information at the site of the atrocities that gave the it extra gravitas. There's a café in the building for refueling purposes. While it felt odd having a coffee and eating cake after reading about such horrors, I'm glad it was there nonetheless. read more

This is the site of the Gestapo and SS headquarters from about 1939 - 1945 that is now a museum about Hitler's rise to power and the horrific events during WWII. If you like history , then you will really enjoy this place. Admission is free and there are free audio tours available. Even for non history buffs, it's interesting and worth while. read more

Amazing exhibit that's open every day. That's huge in Berlin, since most memorials and museums close on Mondays. The exhibit is beautifully laid out, the building is gorgeous. I especially loved the outdoor portion that included a section of the old Berlin wall, and the posters around the run-down building foundation outside (a fantastic For those interested in the history, there is more than enough information to fill your heads. For others, the sight of the wall and the ruins contrasted with the photos are really engaging as well. Definitely worth the visit if you are in Berlin. read more

Veeeeerry interesting and awesome place, located at the old nazi headquarter location Goes deep into Germans occupation of Poland, something most Americans won't really know too much about Moving place Dwelved deep into history of nazi stuff Interesting Free price is good, highly recommended read more

Topography of terror is a must see for anyone hoping to understand the history of Berlin. The free outdoor exhibition is integrated into the ruins of the Gestapo HQ basement. In certain areas you can see bits of white porcelain tiles left over from what must have been bathrooms or perhaps medical rooms. The effect is creepy and slightly disturbing. It's a very eerie place, even more so on cold, dark winter days. read more

This is close to Checkpoint Charlie and is framed along the roadside with the last big original part of the Berlin Wall. Its in the open air. The exhibition has pictures dating from 1933-1945. Its set in the remains of the foundations of the Gestapo headquarters. It was here where the plans for the persecution was hatched! The building were damaged during the last few days of the 2ndWW. By 1956 the final parts were destroyed. Up to now it was forgotten. The pictures are very informative and shocking. At times the exhibition doesn't pull any punches. Pictures of public hangings and street beatings of Jewish people are fully on view. It doesn't hide much of this era. This seems the only place to openly show pictures of Hitler. Its hard for disabled to view the exhibition because the pics are in the ruins of the foundations. There is a top sections with pictures and hearing experiences though. A very worth while visit. read more

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A must see museum in Berlin. This museum is free and well worth the visit. Make sure you set aside a good couple of hours to take in as much of it as you can. I wouldn't jam a visit in after visiting other sites as we did as it can be too much to take it. Take your time and it will be worth it. read more

Very powerful exhibit of WWII history with tons of pictures that make it all so real. Loved learning so many of the details about how things came to be. Also loved the stories about real people who were affected. This was probably my favorite in Berlin.. and it's free! read more

You can spend MANY hours here reading all the stories and exhibits here, because it's so extensive with history. It's free, has WiFi, and a great place to really delve into the history of the Nazi power. It's a definite must try read more

Heard of this exhibit and decided that I would make my way to it, it's cool because it's purely an outdoor exhibit. There is a building right behind it but I didn't go inside to check it out, the outdoor part had enough info on it, so behind the actual exhibit there is a portion of the Berlin Wall that is still preserved, it's amazing to see such a part of history along with the words written on the wall by people who were separated from their friends and loved ones, the exhibit covers many topics mostly between 1930-45, many of it focuses on topics that are tough such as Hitler's rise to power, hate for the Jewish, gypsies, homosexuals and the mentally ill, it's crazy to see this part of history and see such accounts of what actually happened, it's sad to see but it is world history, this is an exhibit that is worth a few euro but it's completely free and I do appreciate that, the exhibits are also in English so that helps someone like me who read each and everyone, also I suggest not being like me so you should start from the left side and making your way to the right, you get a better story that way lol read more

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Former HQ for the Gestapo is now a museum looking at the time of Hitler in Germany. The museum is free and I found the free tour (offered both in German and English) very informative. I believe our tour guide was Florian and he was excellent. Plan on spending at least a few hours here and try hard to make a tour. (Our English tour was on a Saturday during December at 3:30 - inquire at the information desk after entering the museum) read more