Topography of Terror
Topography of Terror
4.5
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Since 1987 a permanent exhibition at the site where the headquarters of the Secret State Police, the SS and the Reich Security Main Office were located during the “Third Reich” has been providing information to the public about the most important institutions of National Socialist persecution and terror. The documentary exhibition conveys the European dimensions of the Nazi reign of terror.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (Borough)
How to get there
- Anhalter Bahnhof • 4 min walk
- Kochstraße • 6 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
- doctorlondon2015London, United Kingdom7 contributionsSerious but respectfulThis is obviously a very serious museum but it is well put together and the atmosphere is respectful and peaceful. There is plenty of space to take your time and there are places to sit and listen as well as look at the exhibits. We spent about 2.5 hours here and had a coffee in the small cafe after.Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten September 15, 2023
- Chandra OMillington, Tennessee62 contributionsImportant stop-freeDifficult but VERY important!! FREE Section of wall and original basement of SS building located here Use a hop on hop off!! We utilized the ONE DAY Big Bus (#1) on trip advisor last year. You download an app and get real time location of buses on route!Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten September 23, 2023
- ChunkyWGerrards Cross, United Kingdom210 contributionsThis is a 'must visit' in BerlinThis is one of the very best museums I have ever visited. We were fortunate to time our arrival with the start of a guided tour in English. Whilst every exhibit has a description in English, having a guide added colour and context to the images and of course, you can ask questions. Whilst the museum is free to visit, I would happily pay an entrance fee, it is that good. Allow 2 hours plus to take in fully the enormity of the past.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten November 15, 2023
- dudoldveBokeelia, Florida413 contributionsEducationalVery good at explaining the timeline of the events that transpired in Germany. Feel everyone should educate themselves as much as possible in regard to these things. It is mainly outdoors and it does take some time to read all of the information. Completely wheelchair accessibleVisited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten November 19, 2023
- eardley_towers57 contributionsTopography of TerrorThe museum is right next to a portion of the Berlin Wall. The museum is an exhibit of the history of Berlin, the war and the wall. You walk around and read the information about the history, the is an audio guide you can use through your phone.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten November 21, 2023
- ElenaK0403London, United Kingdom454 contributionsIn depth understandingA very informative and somber experience. The staff were extremely helpful and polite. To get the full experience get the audio guide for an depth description, it takes approximately an hour but you gain a better understanding of the history.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten December 17, 2023
- seanSheffield, United Kingdom5 contributionsA museum that is worth a visitVery interesting exhibition, you can easily spend 2 to 3 hours here. Warm and dry on a cold and wet winters day. Close by lots other places to visit to spend the whole day walking around and exploring. Free entryVisited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten December 26, 2023
- Bobby C4 contributionsBring ear-phones to use the free audio guide.Really well laid-out museum with a lot of information. I particularly liked the free audio guide which gave excellent detailed explanations and was very easy to follow. The content is moving and at-times difficult. The sensitive material is treated with great respect & makes for a very sobering, but informative visit.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten January 2, 2024
- Anthea H6 contributionsHorrific but goodIntellectually you know the horror of the nazi regime but this fills in gaps. The audio tour was excellent and went from the very early days to well after. It’s quite hard to stomach even if you have seen such horrific pictures before you stare into the eyes of pure evil as many of the perpetrators look straight into the camera often smiling about their acts. On a practical side there is small cafe, toilets and lockers and a few but perhaps not enough places to sit down. Oh and it’s free!Visited January 2024Travelled with familyWritten January 13, 2024
- Nicholas KVirginia Beach, Virginia183 contributionsWell worth the visitIncredibly-well done exhibit on the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany, including what occurred at the very spot of the museum not too long ago. The audio guide tour was quite informative; there is much more beyond the tour to read about in the exhibits. The outdoor timeline is worth following as well. A somber but necessary part of any visit to Berlin.Visited January 2024Travelled with friendsWritten January 15, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
19,570 reviews
Excellent
12,058
Very good
5,866
Average
1,348
Poor
227
Terrible
71
William G L Corlett
Liverpool, UK218 contributions
Apr 2020 • Friends
I thought this place was abit hard to find even from getting off at the Check Point Charley and needs to be better sign posted.
Once inside plenty of information to read which explains the horrors of war from the beginning to the end and the purpose of the site
I do recommend you visit if you are into your Second World War history even though you may already know what your reading anyway.
I'm glad I visited but be prepared to do alot of reading
Once inside plenty of information to read which explains the horrors of war from the beginning to the end and the purpose of the site
I do recommend you visit if you are into your Second World War history even though you may already know what your reading anyway.
I'm glad I visited but be prepared to do alot of reading
Written April 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Warren M
Jerusalem, Israel69 contributions
Jan 2020
This museum is basically panels of photos and text with an accompanying audio guide. The audio guide confusingly needs its own map and reference numbers which don't match the actual labelling around the museum. I have no idea why they did this but it sometimes takes time to find the right image that the audio guide is talking about. The site of this museum and the story being told are so powerful that the crowds and the lack of immersive imagery and less important. The museum is free and well worth a visit.
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MandH_Adventures
Seattle, WA51 contributions
Feb 2020
While this free museum is thorough in its story telling it only tells the story of one point in time and not what led up to what occurred in Germany nor all the after-stories. What it does, it does well however do not expect a full accounting of Nazi Germany. It was emotional and hit a bit harder as much of what is portrayed occurred mere miles from where you are standing.
Written March 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carlos Salim
12 contributions
Dec 2019
It was a good experience overall because there was a lot of information so if you don't know anything about that time period, after you go to the Topography of Terror you will be a scholar. It is also very helpful that the audioguides are free on mobile phones and admission is free as well. Small children will most likely not enjoy this museum due to the intense information and that amount of reading and listening
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MrThomas1981
Ipswich, UK949 contributions
Aug 2020
If you are in the checkpoint charlie area, this is an excellent 'side activity' to do. Since my first visit in 2002, much improvement has been made and although this is open air, the glass shelter provides adequate cover from most of the elements. The displays have been modernised and are well laid out in both German and English but are more of an overview of Berlin than delving into the specifics of the interrogations that went on in these cellars. If you want to see what life was like under surveillance I would recommend the KGB HQ in Vilnius instead. Here there is just about the right amount of information - informative without being overload. There are guided talks available as well as audio tours.
Written August 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Footprints789754
6 contributions
Jan 2020
We came to this museum after a long day of walking around, already tired out. We followed the 1-hour audio tour, which worked great and was an excellent overview. If we hadn't been so tired we would have stayed longer and gone back to look at several parts that we did not dwell on while following the audio guide. It's a sobering place to visit, very though-provoking. Even if you think you know a lot about the Holocaust, there is a lot to learn at this museum. If possible allow 2- 2.5 hours.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hillel G
9 contributions
Jan 2020
I thought this was a great museum, with fantastic pictures and a robust sense of what the SS and the Nazi regime's plans and activities entailed. Be prepared, if you choose to read the content carefully, to stand for a long time and be there for about 2-3 hours. I do think it is well worth it and they did an excellent job. It was also free!
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul J
Bishops Stortford, UK345 contributions
Feb 2020
Give yourself plenty of time to go and read through everything, it will take a couple of hours if you really want to try and take it all in.
There’s no entry fee and it gets a little busy so go early so you can take in as much as possible before the crowds start to build.
The English translations of all the exhibits were much appreciated and the whole experience was both absorbing and moving.
There’s no entry fee and it gets a little busy so go early so you can take in as much as possible before the crowds start to build.
The English translations of all the exhibits were much appreciated and the whole experience was both absorbing and moving.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Huw85Thomas
107 contributions
Sept 2020
While Berlin has an awful lot to offer it is difficult to visit without delving into its recent history particularly the Nazi regime and the Berlin Wall. This museum is built on the site of the former SS headquarters on what was originally called Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse (now Niederkirchnerstrasse). There is a large section of the original Wall running next to it.
The outside exhibit (in the foundations of the original building) gives you a brief timeline of the rise and fall of the Nazi agencies and a number of the atrocities they committed.
If you have more time, the inside exhibition is well worth spending time in and gives a more comprehensive guide to the terror, perpetrators and victims. While incredibly sobering the exhibits are very educational especially given the setting of the museum.
The outside exhibit (in the foundations of the original building) gives you a brief timeline of the rise and fall of the Nazi agencies and a number of the atrocities they committed.
If you have more time, the inside exhibition is well worth spending time in and gives a more comprehensive guide to the terror, perpetrators and victims. While incredibly sobering the exhibits are very educational especially given the setting of the museum.
Written September 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew T
Godalming, United Kingdom34 contributions
Feb 2020
The Topography of terror exhibition has portrayed this part of Berlins history in an insightful and clever way. Easy to navigate and hugely informative, opening up information about the regime in place in the Second World War. Must see.
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi everyone, just wondering what the cost is to visit here ? Just want to have a little walk around and see what there is? Does this cost anything ?
Written April 5, 2023
Hi,
Yes, the entry is free. However, there is a lot to see and if you want to see the full thing, then the stuff inside is vital.
Unfortunately, lots of people rush through the outside photographs which are a bit anodyne. "Another tick box!"
I would suggest that you allow at least 3 hours to understand the full horrors.
Your choice!
Written April 6, 2023
Нужно ли заказывать частную экскурсию на русском языке заранее?
Written January 8, 2020
Sie können Führungen in russischer Sprache buchen. Die Gruppe sollte aus mind. 7 Personen bestehen.
Written July 15, 2020
Stephanie
not sure . I am German and speak English fluently though French was my first foreign language. You seem very capable of english I do not want to deminish french but it would be good listening to this in German or English . French is more apologetic ,
Written July 7, 2019
Can I visit this place with my luggage before I check-in at the hotel?
Written May 17, 2019
Hi you can do but there is a lot of reading and the pathway is busy, there is also a building which is part of this visit and you may find that you may be able to leave luggage there.
Enjoy your visit.
Written May 23, 2019
I'm taking a group of U.S. college students to visit this site. I have to choose between a tour of the permanent exhibit and one of the grounds. Any advice from experienced visitors, especially anyone who has been on either of these tours?
Written December 13, 2018
I think this documentary exhibition is ideal for students. It showcases the horrors of the Nazi period and the regime, conceived as a perfect funcioning machine.
There're real documents, pictures and letters from both victims and members of the party. Well organized, though sad. Besides ,admission is free.
Written December 15, 2018
Hi,
Is there an audio guide or at least artifact description text in Russian language? Thanks!
Written December 12, 2018
The audioguides have very limited information and the employees discourage visitors from using them.
They do offer private tours in Russian for 70 euros.
You can email the museum to confirm if Russian audioguides are available.
Written December 13, 2018
So we have freedom of speech . We say that it was a terror time but yet people who read different history books have altogether different ideas and yet they are so scared to talk about it ?
How is this different from what those terror regins of nazis and Power mongering Man ?
Written December 7, 2018
And your question is?
Written December 14, 2018
Las respuestas de los compañeros aquí son todas buenas. Deberías especificar más.
Written November 25, 2018
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