Topography of Terror is an indoor and outdoor history museum that was built on the site of former Nazi (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. read more

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Free admission. Located in the old SS headquarters. Sections of the original Berlin Wall is here and 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. read more

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This is one of several museums in Berlin focusing on the history leading up to, during and post the Holocaust, 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. read more

A somber and educational museum. Free and had restrooms and a cafe. I'd recommend bringing headphones or AirPods so you can listen to the self guided tour. read more

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

What an incredible experience to see the Berlin wall. This place is free to enter on the outside and inside the museum. Best of all, they have free bathrooms in the basement of the museum. Here they have the original Berlin wall in its original location untouched. In a lot of other places the pieces of the Berlin wall have murals and graffiti on them. There's a lot of interesting stories and history to read about how people were affected by the Berlin wall. read more

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This is a totally riveting and at the same time depression inducing museum in the heart of Berlin dedicated to documenting all the horrors of Nazi Germany from its early creation to its demise and past. Tons of pictures and facts about everything. You start at a huge wall outside full of pictures with facts. That is almost enough right there, but they have a chunk of the Berlin Wall remaining right above it (where it originally was), and they have a huge interior with an endless amount of photos and text to read. I believe they offer audio services, too, in order to listen to as you walk around. You will need a lot of time to do the whole museum and not feel rushed. It took us hours, and we were rushing because there was so much to take in. They offer a book with all the photos and a ton of text for sale for 24 Euros translated into many different languages. If you want the book, buy it there. Even Amazon sites in Europe want at least 34 Euros and in America Amazon wanted $180 USD. Good to give teens a wake up call to the horror that was the Holocaust. If you are in Berlin, going is a must! read more

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Date of visit: May 31, 2024 I think it's great that many of the historical and educational sights in Berlin are free, including the Topography of Terrors. The low barrier to entry is important to ensuring that as many people as possible learn about these atrocities and are better informed to prevent them from happening again. There are sections both indoors and out, and pretty much everything is in multiple languages as well, great for those like me with a limited German vocabulary. My only complaint really is that much of the text is quite small, requiring you to get close to read it, but in doing so, blocking the view of others that are also trying to learn and educate themselves. read more

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The information here is vast and stunning. Quite the adventure walking in the ruins of something so sophisticated/complicated while in the middle of Berlin, just taking in the sites. You'll get to understand the general timeline of the war, combined with the after affect of having the Soviets "rescue" you. With the insanely unreasonable follow up of the building of the Berlin Wall, which sits as a nice backdrop for the remaining basement wall of the Gestapo head quarters. Germany has seen a history of consequence in the last 100 years, and they've done their part to own the disgrace of their ancestors with these very in-depth, open, correctly worded/politically correct ("murdered Jews") sites. Come, learn, listen, and leave wiser for it. read more

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This place was pretty amazing. SO much Jewish German history that I didn't know about. Such a great learning experience. There are two parts to this museum, the outside has a lot of Jewish history and pieces of the original Berlin wall. And the other part is inside with more Jewish history focusing on the days of Hitler and the people who parished. Everything is free, which is great for tourists. My mother and I spent a good couple hours reading everything and taking it all in. One of the better 'museums' in Berlin, IMO. Would definitely come back. read more

There are actually two separate exhibits here: The Berlin Wall Monument, and Topography of Terror focusing on 1933-1945 and Hitler on his takeover of power. The actual wall was much taller than I expected. Thia 160 KM wall separated East and West Berlin for nearly 30 years. In addition to the wall, there are multiple educational posters with photos and descriptions. The Topography of Terror building is located on the same grounds where many of the significant institutions of Nazi terror, including the headquarters of the Secret Police ( Gestapo), The Reich Leadership Headquarters, and the Office of Security. The entire tour is very emotional to explore, but educational at the same time. I will attach photos. I will certainly never forget this experience. read more

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This place is actually two separate exhibits under the same address and is very confusing to visitors. So let me help clear up the confusions for those of you who will be visiting here in the future. The outer exhibits are remnants of the Berlin Wall. This is also known as the "Berlin Wall Monument". The exhibits inside the building are the "Topography of Terror" which document the days of Hitler from 1933 to 1945. I'll focus my review on the Berlin Wall Monument which is the part that interested me most. We should all be thankful to the German government for not demolishing the entire Berlin Wall and erasing all the traces and memories of the past. Remnants of the Berlin Wall still stand in several places in Berlin so that history is firmly engraved in the landscape of the city. (The two other major places are the Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery). One section of the wall shows both the outer wall and the inner wall, so visitors can learn and understand that the Berlin Wall was actually comprised of two walls, with the area in between called "no man's land", patrolled by armed guards and dogs. Walking along the remnants of the wall was definitely one of the most somber and humbling experiences of my life, knowing that many families have been separated and devastated; numerous lives have been lost. Being able to see the actual remains of the wall and being able to physically touch it and feel it motivated me to learn more about the history of the wall, and of the Cold War and crisis surrounding it. Berlin. A divided city. 1961 - 1989. read more

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I happened to see a billboard ad in the U-Bahn Potsdamer Platz station regarding Topographie des Terrors. It looked intriguing, close by and free, so I made a bee-line to check it out. The fairly new Topography of Terror is pointedly overwhelming with massive content on the Nazi-era SS and Gestapo, and is built on top of the old HQ ruins. There is so much information in the indoor exhibits that your eyes start to glaze over. Everything is in German and English. After reading the initial displays, and dealing with the large crowds, I started to skip some items and just focus on what I found most interesting, such as Section 3.5 on the Persecution of Homosexuals, and the rear sections on elimination of the Jews in each of the overrun countries. Outside the building is a section of the Berlin Wall that was permanently moved there. A special outdoor Warsaw Rising exhibition was historically fascinating and well worth a visit, especially for Americans who probably didn't even learn about it in high school history. I certainly didn't know about this part of WWII where Hitler and Himmler ordered the entire city leveled. I spent longer at the outdoor exhibit than the indoor one. read more

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So much in depth information. This time I just walked through and read the panels but in the future I will plan to bring my own headphones to listen to an audio guide. There is so much thought put into every area. read more

This exhibit is really well done. There is a flow to the information so you can clearly follow along and read all the boards. There are a few interactive sort of stations as well. It was super busy when we went (being free, I'm sure it's pretty much packed at all times) but the flow was nice and I never had to strain to read anything. It was probably even more crowded because it was winter when we went so the exhibits were inside. Absolutely recommend coming here. read more

This is an amazing place and the fact that it is free means everyone should go there. If you start outside, there is a remnant of the Berlin Wall at street level but if you walk down the stairs or the ramp to the outside displays, there is a timeline of how the Weimar Republic folded and gave rise to the Third Reich. The narratives and photos are gripping and only begin to prepare you for what is inside the museum building. The inside channels the further rise of the Third Reich and also profiles how their programs played out not only in Germany but in other countries across Europe. If you have the stamina to be able to read and absorb all of this, I'd say allow a minimum of three hours. After about 90 minutes there, I'll be honest when I say I was a bit overwhelmed so I couldn't focus as much on what I was reading. If possible, it might be better to come back over two days because there is a lot of information and some of it is hard to digest. I found the section on the post-war period particularly fascinating especially as it relates to what happened to various leaders of the movement after the collapse of Nazi Germany. There are parts of the narrative that read like a playbook for populist leaders in the world today....consolidate power, scapegoat others and vilify them so that abuses seem deserved, shut down free speech and severely penalize those that disagree with you. It was somewhat ironic that the president of Turkey was in town while I was visiting this museum. Maybe he should have visited this place. A very important place that should not be missed. read more

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

Reluctantly (because it seemed a depressing thing to do on Christmas), I went here on Christmas Day because it was one of the few things open. In spite of my misgivings, this was worth seeing. The outside has a large section of the Berlin Wall and the old foundation walls of the building that was used as the SS torture chambers. Inside the building are displays with a comprehensive history of the Nazis and their acts. Each topic had three levels of detail so that you could decide how much you wanted to read. You could spend an hour or three hours. There were lockers for coats and bags. They were free but required a euro coin to operate. When you return the key, you get the euro back. There is a cafe with a limited selection for a light lunch or a snack. read more

Stiftung Topographie des Terrors - Tomato and mozzarella piadina in Cafe - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berlin, BE

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Free to enter, the Topography of Terror is a modern museum set atop the former Gestapo headquarters and documenting the horrors of Nazism. An essential part of Berlin, especially for history buffs, plan to spend two hours reading or via self guided tour beginning outdoors and continued within. read more

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A must see in Berlin. This museum is free; however, it displays an important part of Berlin and Germany history. We came here during October, so the displays were indoor. This museum was free, had English on the boards and also offered free English audio guide. It was a great place to visit in Berlin. read more

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

Free museum with the history of Germany, the 3rd Reich and the nazi party. It's a lot to see, sometimes you need to stop for a few minutes because it's too much to read and too dense. Outside, there is a part of the real wall of 1961 in Berlin. Museo gratis de la historia de Alemania, el 3er Reich y el partido Nazi. Es un montón para ver, a veces tenes que parar unos minutos porque es mucho para leer y muy denso. Afuera, está la parte real del muro de Berlín de 1961. read more

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The Topography of Terror Documentation Center is a MUST visit in Berlin. Per their website, the center is located on the grounds of the Secret State Police Office, the SS leadership, and the Reich Security Main Office during World War II. You'll notice many benches as you walk through the museum. I'd assume those were strategically placed considering the matters being outlined via stories and photos on the otherwise white walls. It's a devastatingly bleak place and organized with true precision. You'll need to digest the history in small pieces. It's so dark. Outside you can also view a portion of the Berlin Wall. Restrooms are downstairs. Admission is free, but you can also take a guided tour. The center is also close to other sights in the city, like Checkpoint Charlie. read more

This is a must visit when in Berlin. It's incredibly sad, but a very educational spot. I highly recommend.

If you plan on visiting Berlin, I would highly recommend to visit this museum for historic purpose. read more

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

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As we were nearing Checkpoint Charlie, we came across the outdoor portion of this museum and memorial and found it very moving. What I appreciated, especially traveling with children, was that it was free and you could go at your own pace. Located at the site of the former Gestapo headquarters, it has a mix of permanent and temporary exhibits. While we were there, the focus was on the occupation of Poland and the Polish resistance. As one less than enthusiastic reviewer noted, it is higher level information printed in German and English with a mix of documents and photographs, so it is a bit dry. Since I have a child that is fascinated with history, but gets overwhelmed when we've visited holocaust museums and seen more graphic exhibits, this balance was just right. In the background along an elevated platform there is a long segment of the Berlin Wall. For us, it was a place of contemplation and a good respite from the hustle and bustle of modern Berlin. We must never forget. read more

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Must visit in Berlin. It wasn't that too long ago and when you stand there you will feel it. Be prepared to spend at least two hours. A piece of history we all need to remember, so we don't repeat. I don't know how I would describe my visit in words. I felt the pain in history. read more

Stiftung Topographie des Terrors - The wall - east side - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berlin, BE

Its hard to not leave this place hating what Germany was in the Nazi era and at the same time proud to be an American whose family helped end the atrocities. Yeah, that's a fairly shallow reaction. But this is Yelp. In all seriousness, this museum is a must visit. Very educational. Will generate stong emotions. Especially anything regarding what children went through in the Nazi era. read more

Stiftung Topographie des Terrors - Bad Stuff Happened Here. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berlin, BE

I would like to return to Topography of Terror Museum, which in essence is a documentation centre, as my visit was fleeting. We popped in because we were nearby and wanted to see the museum, but it was so busy it was very difficult to look at displays properly or read much of the documentation. What I did manage to see was harrowing, horrifying and absolutely terrible. Unfortunately it is historical reality and thus should not be shied away from, as we must remember the past, even the terrible past, to ensure similar is never repeated in future. This is the importance inherent in Topography of Terror. Entrance was free. There was a basement area holding books, much like a library. An on-site cafe plus main information and exhibition area at ground level. The format of the exhibition consisted of panels displaying photographs and texts which tell the story of the SS during Third Reich and the crimes they committed across Europe. Attention is drawn to numerous groups of people targeted and subjected to terrors by the Nazi regime. Frightening, heart-wrenching and profoundly sad. Unfortunately, due to vast visitor numbers, it was virtually impossible to get near some displays. My movement around them involved looking at a few and skipping a few. Thus I lost the flow of the information. We decided to leave before ending the exhibition because we were weary after a day sightseeing. However, I would like to return at a quieter time, to absorb and read the exhibition information fully. Very worthwhile, but you do need to be in the right frame of mind... read more

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

Was walking by and happened upon this very large preserved stretch of the Berlin Wall, so we stopped to check it out. So glad we did - we spent at least 30 minutes reading the history of how the Nazis came to power. It was fascinating, and also terrifying knowing that history could repeat itself some day. While we wished we'd had more time to see more, we had to move on, but we would definitely come back here again. read more

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

An incredible amount of information and documentation of Germany's war history located at the previous SS headquarters. Plenty of information both inside and outside of the facility, so great for any weather conditions. read more

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I was very disappointed by this museum as I feel like it did a very poor job educating people about the atrocities committed. It gave some solid information but did not really shed light on the "terror". For example, there were captioned photos that discussed general background information about the area and some Nazi figures. While it didn't discuss the acts committed in much details at all. They didn't talk much or at all about specific events such as; the genocide, stealing and destruction of property, families destroyed, lies told, property stolen, innocence lost, orphans created, people without homes, experimentation on people, book burnings, and other atrocities. I could go into more details but it will just upset me. It felt like this is what a Civil War museum would be like in the South. I personally think it didn't do justice in terms of educating people about the true terrors that were birthed in this place. I left feeling like the title of the museum was misguiding and some sections were borderline inappropriate in my opinion. They could have done a much better and honest job addressing the terrors rather than giving a fluff history. The other attractions in the area were more honest with information and content. read more

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I went here twice in one week because once simply was not enough to take it all in. The first thing you will notice is the long, standing section of the remains of the Berlin Wall... and then... as you walk deeper into the maze and start to understand the significance of where you are, well, let me just say that most of us were simply dumbstruck. I cannot explain how I felt standing in the foundation of the SS Headquarters because it goes beyond words. It was similar to how I felt at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Shocked, horrified, humbled... all of those things. They have done a great job with the historical timeline and the photographs that are on display. If you are a student of history, this is someplace you should put on your "must visit" list if you ever make it to this part of the world. I am so glad I did. read more

A visit to Topographie des Terrors should be on everyone's agenda when in Berlin imho. Located between Checkpoint Charlie & Potsdamer Platz. Build on a historical site (former SS head quarters) with a piece of original Berlin Wall. The exhibition's free and reminds us that freedom is something to cherish and what people can do to eachother. Sometimes shocking but mostly informative and educational. Cause humans still haven't learnt from the horrific past (neo-nazism, ultra right mocements, hate against refugees etc etc). This exposition left a huge impression on me and I would recommend any visitor to the city of Berlin to go to Topographie des Terrors! read more

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Too much Nazi movies on Netflix brought me here....I was extremely happy to be able to stand/touch a piece of that history in person...so full of emotions. . The inside museum alone will take at least 1 hour for u to finish.. read more

Very informative and interesting to look at an explanation of the Berlin Wall! There are a lot of people here though, so come earlier or later to avoid the crowd and actually have space to red the signs. If memory serves, the wall is the piece of the real actual wall, but the brick displays behind it are new and reconstructed. Worth checking it out to gain an understanding of the wall and why it's significant to Berlin! read more

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

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Free museum that brings the horrid reality to the forefront in that they don't try to hide anything. I spent most of the time outside because I didn't know there was an inside, and it seems to cover the same information but different aspects of it. 2nd largest part of the Berlin Wall is behind the outside part. I went right after the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and it made me feel better for the amount I spent to get in there....since this is less crowded and probably has more information. read more

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A very well done museum that deals with two very dark and difficult topics in a very straight forward and educational way that really begs the world to never let this happen again. It's free and there's a very nice audio-guide that you can also pick up free of charge. read more

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

Fascinating free outdoor & indoor exhibit of the Berlin wall with historical descriptions, audio, images, and photography. As well done as possible in light of the the difficult subject matter. Definitely worth the hour (60 minutes) time to tour and read the insightful information and listen to memoirs. read more

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

Good history on national socialism from 1939 to 1945. There is a bit of the wall here, unadorned. A close walk to check point Charlie. read more

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

A Museum in Berlin totally worth visiting. The amount of information presented in inundating but super interesting. It would help if the fonts and font colors of the English vs german text were the same size/color/font. The lighter curvier lettering was difficult to read as a native English speaker. It was much easier to read the german even though I have less of a grasp on the language. Not a huge issue but was definitely an annoyance. I didn't have enough time to spend here and would love to revisit after learning a bit more about world war ll. it would definitely benefit the visitor to have at least a basic understanding of the history of the national socialist party and various figures like Himmler. If not you might be confused or unable to grasp the gravity of the situations presented. I felt overwhelmed, but hope to absorb more history before I return. Great museum, definitely visit! It's free!! read more

Another must visit when in Berlin. Berlin is so deeply rooted with so much history, and this exhibit provides a great snapshot of what life was like during the Nazi regime from 1933-1945. I would highly recommend coming here first thing in the morning when it's not as crowded and you have a clear mind. There's a lot of reading involved if you want to get the full experience. Of course, most of the Wall has been destroyed, but you can actually find a decent section of the outer wall remaining here. The exhibit is free and opened until 8pm daily (except Mondays). It is partially outdoors and partially indoors, so be weather ready. The text is only in German and English. P.S. It's not a lighthearted place to visit, so don't be THAT person with a selfie stick, talking loudly, and taking jumping pictures. It's just rude and disrespectful. (Trust me, I saw a whole lot of those.....) read more

At first, the description of the venue does not seem exciting. I was indeed surprised! ToT presented a compelling history of the rise of the 3rd Reich with the security apparatus as a vantage point. Most disturbing was the pervasive thread indicating that a majority of Germans made the 3rd Reich possible. [end] read more