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Museum · Berlim, Berlim
DDR Museum
Interactive museum about everyday life in East Germany, on the banks of the river Spree, opposite the Berlin Cathedral. It has a period apartment and a Trabant simulator.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About DDR Museum
The DDR Museum shows what everyday life was like in the German Democratic Republic, East Germany (DDR in German), which existed from 1949 to 1990. It is on the bank of the river Spree, in the former government quarter of the DDR, right opposite the Catedral de Berlim.
The idea is to touch and experience. Visitors open drawers and cupboards, handle objects, listen to recordings and enter a reconstructed apartment from a prefabricated-panel building (Plattenbau), with a living room, kitchen and bathroom in the 1970s style. One of the most sought-after items is the Trabant driving simulator, the small car that became a symbol of East Germany.
The exhibition also covers the political side: the single party, propaganda, surveillance by the secret police Stasi, the Wall and escapes. There is a room that recreates an interrogation and a prison cell, with explanations about the repression.
The museum holds a collection of hundreds of thousands of objects from the period and is one of the most visited in Berlin. It helps to understand the other side of the divided city before seeing the remains of the Wall and the former border crossings.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1 hour to 1 hour and a half.
Best time
Early in the morning or in the early evening, when there are fewer groups. The museum usually opens every day of the year, staying open until the evening; check the opening hours before you go.
How to get there
It is on Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, next to the bridge that leads to the Catedral de Berlim. Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station is about a 10-minute walk away, and the U-Bahn Museumsinsel (U5) station is just a few minutes away.
Tip
The space is small and fills up on rainy days and at weekends: buy your ticket online. Combine the visit with the Museumsinsel and the Humboldt Forum, which are on the other side of the river.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about DDR Museum
What does DDR mean?
DDR is the German abbreviation for Deutsche Demokratische Republik, the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, which existed from 1949 to 1990.
Is the museum open on Sundays and Mondays?
Yes. The DDR Museum usually opens every day of the year. Check the opening hours before you go.
Does the museum provide information in English?
Yes. Exhibition texts are usually in German and English.