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Museum · Berlim, Berlim
Tränenpalast
Former border control hall at Friedrichstraße station, where East and West families said goodbye. Today it is a museum about the division of Germany.
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 Tränenpalast
Tränenpalast means "Palace of Tears". It was the nickname of the exit hall of the border post at Friedrichstraße station in East Berlin. From there the S-Bahn and the U-Bahn to West Berlin departed, as well as long-distance trains to West Germany. The name arose from the farewells: residents of the East, usually without the right to travel to the West, parted there from relatives and friends who came to visit them.
The glass and steel building, dating from 1962, housed the control booths, with employees of the secret police Stasi dressed in the border troops' uniforms. Travelers passed through narrow document-inspection booths before heading to the platforms.
Today the place is a museum of the Fundação Casa da História da República Federal da Alemanha, with the exhibition "Lugar da divisão alemã". It tells about life with the Wall through objects, documents, photos and testimonies, and displays one of the original control booths.
The visit is short and helps to understand, in a very personal way, what the border meant for families on both sides. It is next to Friedrichstraße station, which remains one of the busiest in Berlin.
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
About 1 hour.
Best time
Any time of year. The museum usually opens Tuesday to Sunday and is closed on Mondays; check before you go.
How to get there
It is next to Friedrichstraße station, served by several S-Bahn lines, the U6 and regional trains. From Unter den Linden it's about a 5-minute walk.
Tip
Admission is free. There is an audio guide in several languages, which can be accessed via your mobile phone. Combine with the Reichstag and the Portão de Brandemburgo, a few minutes' walk away.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Tränenpalast
Why is it called the Palácio das Lágrimas?
Because there, residents of East Berlin, who generally could not travel to the West, would say farewell—often in tears—to relatives and friends returning to West Berlin or West Germany.
Is there an entrance fee?
No. Entry to the museum and exhibitions is free of charge.
On which day is it closed?
It is usually closed on Mondays. Check opening times and holiday closures before you go.