Berlin has any number of monuments and memorials these days, many of them excellent, but this is a first-hand look at the real thing. It's a sobering experience but if you're in Berlin for a few days you absolutely must see it. It's quite a hike out of the centre. Take a tram to Genslerstrasse and then it's a 10-15... More

in der Sonderhaftanlage Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen the visitor can see horrible examples of how the former GDR treated its political prisoners. The visitor will need to have a strong stomach to be able to handle this experience.

Good reminder of those gloomy stasi years, with much stats and explanations of the stasi intricate organisation and functions. This is a rather niche interest museum, additionally those film fans that meet this place in some post-wall movies. You may have a coffee after the look around of the three floors open to the public. Unless you have a good... More

We went on the guided tour in English in the afternoon, which started at 2.30pm and lasted about an hour and a half. There's a small café where you can have a basic light lunch first. The guide spoke superb English and had no difficulty dealing with a fairly large group - about 35 people of different nationalities - and... More

We visited here as part of an organised tour, and although our guide was eminently qualified to take us round, he was not allowed to - we had to be handed over to an 'official ' guide, a young man, who kept us standing in the yard for ages before we went downstairs into the cells. His English was very... More

The English tour lasted about 2 hours. It started with a video of the history of the prison. We were then taken into the prison by our guide. She provided detailed information about life in prison and especially the mental torturing. It's a sad place, horrible things happened there. It won't make you feel happy, but it's part of berlin's... More

Hohenschonhausen is a bit off the beaten track. We took Tram 6 from Oranienburgerstr to Genslerstr and then walked a few blocks to get to the old prison. There is an English-language tour at 2.30pm during the peak season and we were fortunate to have a guide who had a lot of personal insights into the regime, having been imprisoned... More

Excellent historic record of the horrors imposed on the opponents of Hitler by the SS. Gruesome history of what can happen when democracy is put aside.

Not a great deal one can say about this visually imposing memorial. Go and interact with it, take your time and whatever it means to you will be revealed. Next to Brandenburg Tor so easy to combine in a single visit. Next time we go we will avoid the school kids who were understandably excited to be on holiday and... More