Skip to main content

Information For Your Visit

Opening Hours

Documentation center and visitor center

The Documentation Center and Visitor Center is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Last ascent to the observation tower: 5.45 p.m

The documentation center and visitor center is also open on:

Monday, 1 April 2024 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, 20 May 2024 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday, 26 December 2024 from 12 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, 1 January 2025 from 12 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Closed on 24/25 and 31 December 2024

View of the memorial site

View of the memorial site © Berlin Wall Foundation, Photo: Gesa Simons

Exhibition on the outdoor grounds

The outdoor exhibition on the memorial grounds on Bernauer Strasse is accessible Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Please note the current safety and hygiene rules.

View of the memorial site

View of the memorial site © Berlin Wall Foundation, Photo: Gesa Simons

Ghost station exhibition

The exhibition “Border and Ghost Stations in Divided Berlin” can be visited during the opening hours of the Nordbahnhof Station.

Prices

Prices

Admission is free.

Price for tours: €3.50 per person, reduced €2.50 (students, ALG 2 recipients, people with a disabled ID or Berlin Pass). Groups with less than ten people pay a flat fee of €35.

There is no charge for pupils.

Getting Here

Public Transport

S-Bahn
S1, S2, S25, S26 | Train station Nordbahnhof
Tram
M10 | Train station Nordbahnhof
Bus
247 | S Nordbahnhof/Gartenstr.
Underground
U6 | Station Naturkundemuseum
U8 | Station  Bernauer Straße

Contact

Bernauer Straße 119, 13355 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 213085-123

E-Mail: info [at] stiftung-berliner-mauer.de (info[at]stiftung-berliner-mauer[dot]de)

Parking information

Parking in Gartenstraße, especially on the bicycle lane, is strictly prohibited. Parking spaces for coaches are located in Ackerstrasse.

Corona Measures

Corona Measures

Langtext

Due to the current Corona situation, we would like to ask you to observe our hygiene measures:  

  • We recommend wearing an FFP2 mask when visiting our indoor rooms and exhibitions. However, there is no longer an obligation to wear a mask.
  • Please enter the exhibitions one at a time and avoid forming groups in the entrance area.
  • Please keep a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from other people.
  • Please clean your hands at the disinfection station in the entrance area.
  • All hand contact surfaces in the exhibitions are cleaned regularly.
  • The exhibition is regularly ventilated during operation by opening windows and doors.

Offers of the Berlin Wall Memorial

  • For indoor programs (e.g., guided tours and educational programs), we recommend wearing a medical or FFP2 mask.

Events at the Berlin Wall Memorial Visitor Center

  • For events at the Berlin Wall Memorial, we recommend wearing a medical or FFP2 mask.
  • The elevator can be used upon request. Please contact our visitor services staff for assistance.
  • Assistance dogs are permitted.
  • All hand contact areas will be cleaned prior to the start of the event.
  • The entrance area and event hall are ventilated before and after each event by opening windows and doors and/or by a central ventilation and exhaust system.

The hygiene concept is available for inspection in the entrance area of the Documentation and Visitor Center.

Date: 3 June 2022

 

FAQ

FAQ

How much is admission?

Langtext

Admission to all exhibitions on Bernauer Strasse is free.

What is there to do at the Berlin Wall Memorial?

Langtext

Visitors and registered groups should begin their visit to the memorial at the Visitor Center at Bernauer Strasse 119. Here you will find information about everything there is to see and do at the memorial, get an overview of the entire memorial grounds and learn about other Berlin Wall sites in Berlin. An introductory film on the history of the Berlin Wall is shown on the upper floor of the Visitor Center. The exhibition on the outdoor memorial grounds in the former border strip uses the large amounts of preserved historical relics and many events that took place at Bernauer Strasse to explain the purpose and function of the Berlin Wall at the historical site. Above all, it tells the stories of people whose lives were restricted by the Wall, who were forced to move because of it, and who aspired to get beyond it.

The Monument, Chapel of Reconciliation and Window of Remembrance are central elements within the memorial grounds. The permanent exhibition in the Documentation Center at Bernauer Strasse 111 documents the history of Berlin’s division. It explains the political and historical situation that led to the Wall’s construction, its fall and the reunification of Germany.

When is the introductory film shown in the Visitor Center and in which languages?

Langtext

We present two films in sequence: The introductory film on the history of the Berlin Wall and the film “Walled In,” a computer animation of the border fortifications on Bernauer Strasse in Berlin and on the inner German border in Hötensleben in Saxony-Anhalt. Both films were produced by Deutsche Welle. 

The films run at the following times:

German Version:
On the hour: “Die Berliner Mauer” (with English subtitles)
15 minutes past the hour “Eingemauert”

English Version:
On every half hour: “The Berlin Wall” (with German subtitles)
15 minutes before the hour: “Walled In”

Please note, that due to events in the visitor center, the film room might be temporarily closed. We apologize for the inconvenience.

How much does a tour/workshop cost for my (school) group?

Langtext

Tours are free for pupils and for the adults accompanying the school group. A regular tour costs 3.50 per person, with a reduced price of € 2.50 for students, ALG 2 recipients, asylum-seekers, people with a disabled ID or Berlin Pass. Groups with less than 10 participants pay a flat fee of 35. The flat fee is currently not available.

How can I book a tour/workshop for my group?

Langtext

To request a tour or workshop, please complete the form on the website and send it to us. Visitors Services will process your request and contact you if they have any questions. After your request has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email with information regarding your tour.

 

 

What payment methods do you offer?

Langtext

You can pay in person in cash or by EC-Card/credit card. Groups can arrange to be billed by invoice.

what languages do you offer for group tours?

Langtext

Depending on the availability of our guides, it is possible to book a tour in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Simple German, and German sign language. For more information on languages offered at the Berlin Wall Memorial, call Visitor Services at +49 (0)30 213085-166 or send an email to: besucherservice@stiftung-berliner-mauer.de.

We are less than 10 people, but would like to book a separate group tour. Is this possible?

Langtext

Yes, you can book a separate tour as a small group, however groups with less than 10 people have to pay a flat fee of €35,00 €.

As an individual visitor or small group, do I have to register in advance?

Langtext

You do not need to register in advance to visit the exhibition. You can also watch the introductory film without prior registration.

Is the site barrier-free?

Langtext

The outdoor memorial grounds are only partially accessible to people with disabilities. The Visitor Center (Bernauer Strasse 119) and Documentation Center (Bernauer Strass 111) are barrier-free. Barrier-free elevators are available to the elderly and to people with disabilities, however a key is needed to operate them. In the Documentation Center, you can borrow a Euro-key if you leave your ID at the front desk. You are welcome to use your own Euro key.

Are dogs allowed?

Langtext

Only assistance dogs are allowed in the Visitor Center at Bernauer Strasse 119 and in the exhibition in the Documentation Center at Bernauer Strasse 111. Dogs are allowed on the outdoor memorial grounds, but they must be kept on a lea

Are there places to sit?

Langtext

Yes. In the Visitor Center (Bernauer Strasse 119) you can borrow wheelchairs, mobile seats and seat sticks free of charge from the front desk. In the Documentation Center (Bernauer Strasse 111) you can borrow mobile seats to use in the permanent exhibition. There are benches on the outdoor memorial grounds.

Are there diaper-changing rooms?

Langtext

Yes. There are separate rooms available for diaper-changing in the Visitor Center (Bernauer Strasse 119) and Documentation Center (Bernauer Strasse 111). Please speak to our front desk staff. You must bring your own diapers and wipes.

Can I visit the exhibitions with a baby carriage?

Langtext

Yes. A key is needed to operate the elevator in the Documentation Center (Bernauer Strasse 111). You can get a key from the front desk if you leave your ID there. The exhibition on the outdoor memorial grounds is also accessible with a baby carriage.

Is eating, drinking or smoking allowed?

Langtext

As a courtesy to other visitors, eating and drinking is not permitted in either the Documentation Center or Visitor Center. Smoking is not allowed.   

Can I take pictures or film in the exhibitions?

Langtext

You may take pictures and film for private use only, but using tripods and selfie sticks is not permitted. You must contact our press department before making professional film and video recordings. Violators will be fined €500,00 for each act of infringement.

Where can I drop off coats and larger pieces of luggage?

Langtext

Lockers are available in the Visitor Center (Bernauer Strasse 119) and Documentation Center (Bernauer Strasse 111). There is also a cloakroom in the Visitor Center.

Is there a shop?

Langtext

The Visitor Center has a specialized bookstore with a broad selection of fiction and non-fiction, scholarly publications, photo volumes and films about the Berlin Wall, German division, the history of both German states, the history of dictatorship, the fall of the Wall and reunification.

The bookshop is open

Monday Closed
Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday Closed

Contact: +49 (0)30 46 777 277, mauerbuchladen@gmail.com

Accessibility

Information on Accessibility

Accessibility

Langtext

Disabled Parking

Public disabled parking spaces are located nearby. There are two parking spaces directly behind the Visitor Center (access via Gartenstrasse). Roughly 150 meters away from the Documentation Center (Bernauer Strasse 111), there are two additional disabled parking spaces on Ackerstrasse (near the Bernauer Strasse intersection).

Accessibility

The outdoor exhibition extends for 1.4 kilometers along Bernauer Strasse and is mostly barrier-free. The core area lies between Gartenstrasse and Strelitzer Strasse (approx. 500 m). The Visitor Center (Bernauer Strasse 119), the Documentation Center (Bernauer Strasse 111) and all seminar rooms are barrier-free. Barrier-free elevators are available to people with disabilities and visitors with small children. A key, which can be obtained from the front desk, is needed to operate the elevator in the Visitor Center. The elevator in the Documentation Center can be operated with a Euro key. You are welcome to use your own Euro key or borrow one from the front desk if you leave your ID as a deposit.

Aids

In the Visitor Center, wheelchairs, mobile seats and seating sticks can be borrowed free of charge at the front desk. In the Documentation Center, you can borrow mobile seats to visit the permanent exhibition. Guided tours of the outdoor exhibition can be conducted using hearing aid-compatible group guidance systems. Induction loops are available at the front desk in the Visitor Center.

Restrooms and Diaper-Changing Rooms

There is a barrier-free restroom on the ground floor of the Visitor Center and on the lower level of the Documentation Center. Both are accessible with a Euro key. You can obtain the Euro-key from the front desk of both sites if you leave an ID as a deposit. You can also use the Euro key to operate the elevator in the Documentation Center and access the lower level.  You are also welcome to use your own Euro key. Diaper changing is possible in the barrier-free restroom on the ground floor of the Visitor Center and on the lower level of the Documentation Center.

Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs are permitted in the Visitor Center, Documentation Center and in all seminar rooms.

Medications

Medication bags may be taken into all the exhibitions and rooms.

Directions from Nordbahnhof S-Bahn Station to the Visitor Center of the Berlin Wall Memorial (for Visually Impaired Visitors)

Langtext

How to reach the Memorial’s Visitor Center when traveling from the south:

Traveling from the south, take the S-Bahn S1 (Oranienburg, Frohnau), S2 (Bernau), S25 (Hennigsdorf) or S26 (Waidmannslust) to the S-Bahn station "Nordbahnhof.”

When you arrive at the station you will exit onto a central platform. There are two staircases in the middle of the platform heading in different directions. They both lead to the mezzanine level of the station. Take the staircase in the same direction that you traveled. At the top, make a 180 degree turn to the left and follow the wall on your left side. The wall comes to an end after 15 meters. Now turn 90 degrees to your left. You are now in a 100-meter-long tunnel. Follow the wall to your left until you reach the staircase to the Gartenstrasse/Bernauer Strasse exit. Please note: Due to construction, there is a temporary covered walkway outside the exit. When you reach the top of the stairs, turn 90 degrees to your left and walk through the covered walkway. At the end of the walkway, continue straight until you reach the tactile-acoustic traffic light on your right. There is a tactile marker there.

Cross the street. On the other side of the street, keep left and cross the next street with an octagonal tactile-acoustic traffic light. Caution: There is a bicycle traffic light on the left side of the traffic light at head height. Stand to the right of the traffic light. Caution: The street has tram tracks running in both directions before and after the median. On the other side of the street, stand to the right of the traffic light again. Then continue walking straight for 15 meters to the entrance of the Memorial’s Visitor Center. Caution: There is a street sign right in front of you. There is a tactile marker at the entrance in front of the door. Pull the door open. Then follow the guide strip. At the tactile marker, follow the guide strip to the right. This will lead you to the front desk where our staff will welcome you.

 

How to reach the Memorial’s Visitor Center when traveling from the north:

Traveling from the north, take the S-Bahn S1 (Wannsee), S2 (Blankenfelde), S25 (Teltow Stadt) or S26 (Teltow Stadt) to the S-Bahn station "Nordbahnhof".

When you arrive at the station you will exit onto a central platform. There are two staircases in the middle of the platform heading in different directions. They both lead to the mezzanine level of the station. Take the staircase in the opposite direction that you traveled. At the top, make a 180 degree turn to the right and follow the wall to your right until you reach the wall straight ahead. Now turn 90 degrees to the left and follow the wall until you come to another wall straight ahead. There, turn 90 degrees to the left again and follow the wall to your right. Along the way, you can feel three former ticket windows with counters that are now part of an exhibition in the Nordbahnhof station. You can use the counters as handrails. After you pass the curve of the ticket counter, you will enter a 100-meter-long tunnel. Continue to follow the wall to your right until you reach the staircase to the Gartenstrasse / Bernauer Strasse exit. Please note: Due to construction, there is a temporary covered walkway outside the exit. When you reach the top, turn 90 degrees to your left and walk through the covered walkway. At the end of the tunnel, continue straight until you reach the tactile-acoustic traffic light on your right. There is a tactile marker there.

Cross the street. On the other side of the street, keep left and cross the next street with an octagonal tactile-acoustic traffic light. Caution: There is a bicycle traffic light on the left side of the traffic light at head height. Stand to the right of the traffic light. Caution: The street has tram tracks running in both directions before and after the median. On the other side of the street, stand to the right of the traffic light again. Then continue walking straight ahead for 15 meters to the entrance of the Memorial’s Visitor Center. Caution: There is a street sign right in front of you. There is a tactile marker at the entrance in front of the door. Pull the door open. Then follow the guide strip. At the tactile marker, follow the guide strip to the right. This will lead you to the front desk where our staff will welcome you.

Directions from the Memorial’s Visitor Center to the Nordbahnhof S-Bahn Station (for Visually Impaired Visitors)

Langtext

From the Memorial’s Visitor Center, you can reach the northbound platform of Nordbahnhof, S1 (Oranienburg, Frohnau), S2 (Bernau), S25 (Hennigsdorf) and S26 (Waidmannslust)

From the front desk, follow the guide strip to the exit door on the right. Open the door and step outside. Walk straight for 15 meters until you reach the tactile-acoustic traffic light. Caution: You will pass a street sign along the way. Cross the street. Caution: The street has tram tracks running in both directions before and after the median. Caution: There is a bicycle traffic light on the right side of the traffic light at head height. Walk past the left side of the traffic light. Then turn 90 degrees to the right and walk about 5 meters to the next tactile-acoustic traffic light. Cross the street. Then turn 90 degrees to the left and walk straight for 5 meters. Caution: Due to construction, there is a temporary covered walkway outside the entrance to the Nordbahnhof S-Bahn station. Walk through the covered walkway. At the end of the walkway, turn 90 degrees to the right and enter Nordbahnhof through the Gartenstrasse / Bernauer Strasse entrance. Use the wall to your right to orient yourself. Walk down the stairs to the mezzanine level of the station. Walk through the 100-meter-long tunnel. Use the wall on your right to orient yourself. At the end of the tunnel, turn 90 degrees and follow the wall to your right. At the end of the wall, make a 180 degree turn and walk down the stairs to the central platform heading north, S1 (Oranienburg, Frohnau), S2 (Bernau), S25 (Hennigsdorf) and S26 (Waidmannslust).

From the Memorial’s Visitor Center, you can reach the southbound platform of the Nordbahnof station, S1 (Wannsee), S2 (Blankenfelde), S25 (Teltow Stadt) and S26 (Teltow Stadt):

From the front desk, follow the guide strip to the exit door on the right. Open the door and step outside. Walk straight ahead for 15 meters until you reach the tactile-acoustic traffic light. Caution: You will pass a street sign along the way. Cross the street. Caution: The street has tram tracks running in both directions before and after the median. Caution There is a bicycle traffic light on the right side of the traffic light at head height. Walk past the left side of the traffic light. Then turn 90 degrees to the right and walk about 5 meters to the next tactile-acoustic traffic light. Cross the street. Then turn 90 degrees to the left and walk straight for 5 meters. Caution: Due to construction, there is a temporary covered walkway outside the entrance to the Nordbahnhof S-Bahn station. Walk through the covered walkway. At the end of the tunnel, turn 90 degrees to the right and enter the Nordbahnhof station through the Gartenstrasse / Bernauer Strasse entrance.

Use the wall on you left to orient yourself. Walk down the stairs to the mezzanine level of the station. Walk through the 100-meter-long tunnel. Continue to use the wall on your left to orient yourself. At the end of the tunnel, you can feel the three ticket windows with a counter which is now part of the exhibition in the Nordbahnhof station. You can use the counter as a handrail. After you pass the curve of the ticket counter, continue to follow the wall on your left until to come to another wall in front of you. Turn 90-degrees to the right and follow the wall on your left.  At the end of this wall turn 90 degrees to the right again and follow the wall on your left. At the end of the wall turn 180 degrees and walk down the stairs to the central platform heading south, S1 (Wannsee), S2 (Blankenfelde), S25 (Teltow Stadt) and S26 (Teltow Stadt).

Guided Tours

Group in front of the Wall

At the Berlin Wall Memorial we offer numerous guided tours

Back to top