Things You Can't Miss at the Berlin Wall

Several decades have passed since its fall, and although little remains of the old barrier, you can still visit various museums, memorials and guided tours in Berlin that give you an idea of the magnitude of this structure that divided Europe.

Visiting the Berlin Wall is one of the best things to do in Berlin during your stay in the city. In this article, I'll tell you what to see and the options available for exploring the history of the wall.

The best way to explore the historical side of Berlin is with an expert local guide, such as those offered by tour operators that organise tours of the city.

This type of tour will not only allow you to visit the Berlin Wall, but will also give you a more comprehensive view of the entire history of the Cold War and the political and social context that led to the construction of the wall.

It is one of the most popular experiences in the city, so you will find local tour operators offering the tour in different formats. These include walking or cycling tours of Berlin, group or private tours, and other options to cater to as many travellers as possible.

During your visit, keep in mind that Berlin is one of Europe's major capitals and a cultural, financial, artistic and architectural hub for the continent and the rest of the world.

In addition to being one of the most influential capitals, it has an equally exciting and chaotic history.

What will I see on these tours?

Considered one of the best historical tours in Berlin, the tours that take you to the Berlin Wall are usually part of visits related to the Cold War.

Although the itinerary of the tour may vary depending on the company you choose, regardless of the format of the tour, most include, among other things, a visit to one or more of the following attractions:

• Tour the old Cold War train stations
• Discover the Death Strip
• Visit the East German Watch Tower
• The iconic Berlin Wall Memorial
• The Chapel of Reconciliation

Useful information.

• Price: May vary depending on the format of the tour, between £20 and £30 per participant.
• Timetable: These types of tours usually take place in the morning.
• Duration of the tour: The excursion takes between 3 and 4 hours to complete. I recommend setting aside at least half a day for the experience.

If you decide to explore on your own, the Memorial is a monument you cannot miss. This popular tourist attraction is included in some city passes, such as the Berlin Welcome Card.

It is a monument worth taking your time to enjoy the different spaces that make it up. The first thing you will see is a section of the Berlin Wall still standing next to one of the iconic watchtowers.

The Documentation Centre shows details of the construction of the wall and the situation that led to the division of the city.

Finally, you will find the Chapel of Reconciliation, inaugurated in 2000 on the remains of an old church located in the middle of the Death Strip and destroyed in 1985.

How to get there

The Memorial is very close to the S-Nordbahnhof station in the Mitte district. You can reach this area of Berlin by various means of transport, including the underground (lines S1, S2, S25 and S26), bus (line 247) and the Berlin tram (lines M10, 12 and M8).

Useful information

• Price: Around £13 for a standard adult ticket.
• Opening hours: Closed on Mondays. The centre is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Duration: You will need between 45 and 60 minutes to tour the facilities.

Berlin Hohenschönhausen is an important monument and museum opened in 1994, which in previous years was the main political prison of the communist regime. The site was a very important part of the system of political oppression established by East Germany during the Cold War.

Unfortunately, much of the documentation and evidence of the prison's operation was destroyed by the authorities after the fall of the Wall, so many of the stories it tells come from the accounts of witnesses, survivors and documents recovered from other institutions.

The Memorial offers audio guides in different languages and guided tours every day at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The tour that takes visitors inside the former prisons is only available in German and for limited groups, so advance booking is required.

Visit the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial website to book.

How to get there

This important memorial is located in the Lichtenberg district, in north-west Berlin. The nearest station is Freienwalder Str., 5 minutes away from the Memorial.

There are numerous public transport options available in Berlin to get to the Memorial. The most popular are the Berlin underground (line U5), the public bus (lines 256 and 259) and the Berlin tram (line M5).

Useful information

• Price: Around £5 per participant.
• Opening hours: Open to the public Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00.
• Duration: I recommend spending 2 to 3 hours exploring the different areas.

The most famous border crossing point of the Wall is also one of the best museums in Berlin and a tourist attraction that you cannot miss. Created in September 1961, the site was the scene of numerous confrontations.

Upon arrival at Checkpoint Charlie, you will find a commemorative plaque commemorating the former border crossing, a work by the famous artist Frank Thiel, as well as the Checkpoint Charlie Wall Museum.

This exhibition is full of photos and models depicting the most creative and unusual escape attempts that took place during its more than two decades of operation.

How to get there

Checkpoint Charlie is located in one of Berlin's central areas, Friedrichstrasse. Getting to this part of the city is very easy. You can take the tram (lines RE2 and RE7), the Berlin underground (lines U2 and U6) or the city bus (lines 147, M29 and M48).

The nearest station is U Kochstr./Checkpoint Charlie, just a 3-minute walk from the entrance.

Useful information

• Price: Adult admission is around £15; for accredited students, the price is around £9.50; children and young people under 18 pay around £7.50.
• Opening hours: Open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Duration: There are many curious and interesting objects to see at Checkpoint Charlie, so I recommend setting aside about 2 hours for this visit.

Considered the largest open-air gallery in the world, it is a space dedicated to art and culture where you can also find the largest section of the wall still standing today.

Here you will find a section of the wall over 1 kilometre long where more than 100 muralists and graffiti artists from all over the world have displayed their talent.

The collection of famous murals honours the German people's struggle for freedom and their longing for peace. In other words, there are plenty of reasons to visit!

How to get there

Due to its location in the heart of Berlin, you will find numerous ways to get to the museum. For example, Warschauer Straße station is a 12-minute walk away and is one of the best connected stations in the city centre.

Getting to the station is very easy: you can take the Berlin Underground (lines U1 and U3), the city tram (line M10) or the bus system (lines 248, 347, N1, S5).

Useful information

• Price: Admission is free for everyone.
• Opening hours: Open to the public Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
• Duration: 40 minutes is usually enough time to visit this attraction.

Tränenpalast was once the entrance hall to the underground station on Friedrichstrasse and, during the division of Berlin, it was the location of the GDR troops, as it was the last station before West Berlin.

Since 2011, these facilities have housed a renowned museum with a well-documented permanent exhibition where you can enjoy excerpts from interviews, photographs, documentaries and a varied collection of objects detailing life during the years of division.

Free guided tours are available for groups of at least 10 people and must be booked in advance. Check the official website for more information.

How to get there

Getting to the Palace of Tears is very easy, as it is only 2 minutes from Friedrichstraße station, one of the most important shopping streets in the heart of Berlin.

There are various means of transport available. Some of the most popular are the underground (lines U5 and U6), the city bus service (lines 100, 147 and S7) and finally the Berlin Tram (lines RE2 and RE7).

Useful information

• Price: Admission is free.
• Opening hours: Closed on Mondays. Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 7pm; Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm.
• Duration: I recommend allowing at least 1 hour to explore this facility and the exhibitions.

As you wander through the streets of Berlin, you will notice that there are still a few watchtowers standing in the city. One of the most famous is the Schlesischer Busch in Alt-Treptow Park.

You will also find a few metres of wall, but the most interesting part is that the interior of the tower now houses a series of temporary or travelling art exhibitions.

No matter what time of year you decide to visit the city, you will always find something new to see here.

How to get there

The legendary watchtower is located in Alt-Treptow Park, in the south-central part of Berlin. Upon arrival, you will find a beautiful stretch of land on the banks of the Spree River in the town of the same name.

The following means of transport will take you to stops near Alt-Treptow Park: the Berlin underground (line U12), the public bus service (lines 165 and M29) and the Berlin tram (line M10).

Useful information

• Price: Free
• Opening hours: Open to the public from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 01:00.
• Duration: Allow 2 hours to explore the park and facilities.

The name MauerPark literally translates to "wall park," alluding to its connection to the Berlin Wall and the Death Strip. Here you can find remnants of the Berlin Wall that graffiti artists have taken over to express their art.

It is one of the city's most beloved and popular parks, hosting a weekly flea market and open-air karaoke sessions.

If you visit Berlin in summer, you can also enjoy free concerts and performances.

How to get there

The park is located in Prenzlauer Berg, in the western part of the city. Getting here is very easy and there are various means of transport to choose from in the city.

Among the most popular and recommended are the underground (lines U2 and U8), the city tram (line M10) and finally the public bus service (lines 142 and 247).

Useful information

• Price: Free.

• Opening hours: Open 24 hours a day.

• Duration: I recommend visiting the entire park with its different facilities. A 2-hour itinerary is usually sufficient for this visit.

Ranked as Berlin's most modern square, it was also one of the public spaces most affected by the construction and subsequent fall of the iconic Berlin Wall.

Although most segments were demolished in 2008, you can still see six sections standing at the entrance to the underground station. The remains of the wall are interspersed with information points that are worth stopping to read.

How to get there

Due to its privileged location in the heart of Berlin's old town, getting to this part of the city is extremely easy and you will find numerous transport options available in the capital.

The most recommended are the Berlin underground (line U2), the city tram (lines RE3, RE4 and RE5) and the public bus (lines 200, M29, M41, M48 and M85).

Useful information

• Price: Free.

• Opening hours: Open to the public every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. During the winter months in Berlin, opening hours are reduced to 6 p.m.

• Duration: If you are only going to see the remains of the Berlin Wall, 20 minutes is enough.