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.

I found this searching for "antiques" and it was next door to our hotel. Gaston was super friendly…read more- and spoke perfect English - and helped identify some pieces we might be interested in. Yes, some items were far beyond our price range but they had 19th century engravings of the church across the street as well as other notable Berlin architecture for under $50 which make unique souvenirs.

I am coming to Berlin in September and I would like to know if you buy antic books edited in 1685…read morein Nuremberg . The tittle is Theoriae & Praxis Artilleriae signed Johann Sigism The book has all it's engravings and is relatively in good shape with his sheep skin bounding . My e-mail is : richardhardin1950@gmail.com Cell phone +33 672084366 France

A unique place with crazy art - a must for every tourist. Heiner is part of the peace community and…read morealways has an open ear for his guests. Also great to get some tips on where to discover alternative gems in the city. Everything is very reasonably (cheap!) priced (Beer 1,50 / Cocktails 3,00). You can now also get some Pizza starting at 2,50! If you care for it, politics is an important part and you can buy/review good independent documentary DVDs and books. If you miss to visit here then you really haven't seen the real Berlin! Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZuuu3eOjZ4

This little cafe made our trip to Berlin totally worth it. Not sure what to expect, we cautiously…read moreentered. The owner, Heiner, immediately made us feel welcome. We sat for a cup of tea which turned into two more cups due to the interesting conversations we had with Heiner and other patrons about politics, religion, philosophy and life. This little dive is full of kind, caring people with sincere humanity and courage to change the world.

Topography of Terror is an indoor and outdoor history museum that was built on the site of former…read moreNazi (e.g., SS and Gestapo) buildings. The museum includes permanent and special exhibitions. My husband and I had hired a private guide for a city-wide tour, but I believe that admission to this museum is free. Here, we visited mostly the outdoor exhibit, which included the remains of Nazi buildings and part of the Berlin Wall. Fifteen stations had informational panels with photos and descriptions of events between 1933 and 1945. Text described the economic crisis and the rise of the Nazi Party in the 1920s; the registration and persecution of Jews, Gypsies, the disabled, and other demographic groups; the Allied air attacks in 1943; and the surrender of Berlin in 1945. Being on the same ground as Nazis were decades ago was an educational experience. According to the informational panels, construction of the Berlin wall began in 1961, and it reached 150 kilometers in length. It was intended to prevent the crossing of refugees from East Germany into West Germany. I felt very interested in seeing the concrete with holes, rebar, and graffiti. I hope that when people visit this museum, they learn to accept different groups of people and to oppose all forms of prejudice and discrimination.

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.

Wow! This is a ginormous bookstore! Four floors of books and more, with information kiosks…read morestaffed for any and all inquiries. I am floored by the amount of books, in every single category imaginable. Yes, they have a large children's section. There is a giant plush figure standing near a black pole in front of the children's books. I checked out each floor. I'm a sucker for novelty items, which they have plenty of. They sell multiple models of Polaroid cameras and film. Tons of calendars in different formats. Their vinyl room is on the ground floor, in the back. The store is sleek, clean, and organized. If you're in Berlin, I recommend visiting this store.

Great bookstore! Plus, a lot of everything else!…read more Dussmann's is an incredible bookstore. But, it is so much more than that. Beyond an insane collection of books, they also have tons of very unique novelty items that make great gifts or, something for yourself-- something that you never knew you needed. This shop is a multilevel business. They have multiple floors with books and other items on every floor. Plus, it is just stuffed full with an insane amount of books covering all varieties to quench your reading experience. As mentioned, they are much more than just an incredible bookstore. They also have a great selection of vinyl. So, for all of you vinyl enthusiasts, this is a great place to go and find that unique piece of music that you've wanted either very recently or all the way back to when you were young. It's really hard to explain just how much this store offers. I mean, if you're looking for a specific book, it's more than likely they will have. And, if they don't, they can most likely get it for you. Dussmann's great places to sit around and take a look at that book you may be interested in purchasing. Or, you can go there and have interesting discussions with your friends or family about literature and/or anything else. This is truly a great shop! Not only do you never know what you will find, but, if you're looking for something very specific, more than likely you'll be able to find it here.

Here, you'll find all things knick-knacks and the prices are the same as other souvenir shops. Just…read morego here if convenient; no need to waste precious vacation time price-shopping around. This is located inside the Mall of Berlin. It is on the bottom floor in the West building (as opposed to the connected East building).

A must visit when in Berlin. I admired the German that they're acknowledging their past and…read morewilling to learn their mistakes. It's a free area that you roamed and see what it's like to be separated by a wall. There is a museum nearby to honored the falling ones. It's a honored to be here and witnessed the history.

Being born in the late 1980s I have heard about the Berlin Wall and it's removal my entire life and…read moreI think it's important for everyone older and younger to understand and see the remains of this wall to understand the historical significance of it. It's one of those things that you can hear about it but once you see it, it really paints a more vivid picture. This little memorial is free to enter and has a few parts to it. There is the actual Berlin wall, a park next to it, and a tiny museum with a viewing platform across the street. It's easy to spend less than an hour here, but the memories and thoughts will last a lot longer. I have seen the Berlin Wall before in my travels to Berlin and this time was just as pleasant because I was with people who had not seen it yet. I would definitely recommend to any fan of history, to anyone visiting Berlin, and to local children, who should learn the lessons of what this wall can teach.

The craziest and coolest thing we did in Berlin. Had no idea what to expect but the guide and his…read morestories were so interactive and funny that time flew by. It's unfortunate that we can't take pictures but these images are forever in my mind. If you're in Berlin and are looking for something not touristy and off the beaten path, this is a must!

Because what is Berlin about besides having a weird experience with a congenial host, a dark…read morebasement, and some crazy robot monsters? So much fun -- a real high point in our trip! We love the inventiveness, the ideas, the sense of being somewhere down a rabbit hole of creativity. A couple of notes - $10 euro, cash only, and the show times are now on the hour not the half-hour on the website.