Once Berlin’s most famous Wall crossing, Checkpoint Charlie has devolved into a beyond-tacky tourist draw where (often inaccurately) costumed guards pose for photos and stamp fake GDR passports. Next to it, this museum documents the Wall’s history from its construction in 1961 to its fall in 1989, with an emphasis on East Germans’ escape attempts. The layout may be disorganized, and the owner, Alexandra Hildebrandt, a controversial character—as the creator of 2004’s Freedom Memorial, a tribute to Wall victims consisting of a field of crosses by Checkpoint Charlie, she was accused of insensitivity and historical inaccuracy. But the photographs, newspaper clippings, and attempted escape devices (chairlifts, false passports, hot-air balloons, even a mini-sub) may give you an idea of how much the Wall continues to mean to some Berliners.
Berlin
Travel Guide
Berlin› Attraction
Mauermuseum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie (Berlin Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie)
Friedrichstrasse 43–45
Our Rating
Hours
Daily 9am–10pm
Transportation
U-Bahn: Kochstrasse or Stadtmitte
Phone
030/2537250
Prices
Admission 13€ adults, 9.50€ students, free for children 16 and under
Web site
Mauermuseum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie (Berlin Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie)
Map
Friedrichstrasse 43–45 BerlinNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.