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Topography of Terror

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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Top ways to experience Topography of Terror
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (Borough)
How to get there
  • Anhalter Bahnhof • 4 min walk
  • Kochstraße • 6 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • ChunkyW
    Gerrards Cross, United Kingdom230 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a 'must visit' in Berlin
    This 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 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 November 2023
  • dudoldve
    Bokeelia, Florida420 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Educational
    Very 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 accessible
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 November 2023
  • eardley_towers
    60 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Topography of Terror
    The 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 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 21 November 2023
  • ElenaK0403
    London, United Kingdom469 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    In depth understanding
    A 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 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 December 2023
  • sean
    Sheffield, United Kingdom5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A museum that is worth a visit
    Very 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 entry
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 26 December 2023
  • Bobby C
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bring 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 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 2 January 2024
  • Anthea H
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Horrific but good
    Intellectually 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 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 January 2024
  • Nicholas K
    Virginia Beach, Virginia183 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth the visit
    Incredibly-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 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 15 January 2024
  • Julian B
    Barnsley, United Kingdom15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must see exhibition
    This is great, it is free and you can have commentary if you like…take your ear phones! Simply scan the qr code on entry. The great thing is that it is laid out to timelines giving you a great picture of the time of events. It is quite graphic and really is quite eerie as you would expect. Outside you can see the wall and the government buildings with some cartoon like story boards telling you of escapes. You can also walk along a portion of the wall. It is also very near to check point Charlie. Would definitely recommend! They have done a great job on this historic site.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 4 February 2024
  • Digs76
    Rosyth, United Kingdom589 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A 'must do' in Berlin
    An absolute must do, if you are in Berlin, especially if you love history. I know a little about about the events surrounding the Second World War and the rise of the National Socialist Party, but there was so much here I had no idea about and it gave great context to the reasons why things happened as they did and the full scale of what transpired. There is lots of reading required but also has lots of photos to go with it, all in all giving an excellent insight into a time not too long ago. I expected to be here about 30-40 mins, but we were here a good 90-120 mins, so a great way to spend some time whilst also learning some important history.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 February 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles19,586 reviews
Excellent
12,069
Very good
5,869
Average
1,350
Poor
227
Terrible
71

William G L Corlett
Liverpool, UK218 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
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
Written 1 April 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, Israel71 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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 3 February 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
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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 18 March 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
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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 6 January 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, UK956 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 31 August 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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 17 January 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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 20 January 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, UK349 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Written 17 February 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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Written 28 September 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 Kingdom39 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 25 February 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.

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Topography of Terror - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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