DDR-Museum
'Surprisingly Fun', 'Quirky', 'A Must See', and 'A Unique Perspective' are some expressions used to characterize the DDR Museum. This museum bills itself ‘one of the most interactive museums in the world’.
One element that makes the DDR museum unique is that it’s the only museum in Berlin that is privately rather than state funded.
What makes it even less typical of other museums is the overall theme. This is not only an art museum, or science museum, or a history museum. It is a museum of everyday life in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) while it was still part of the Soviet occupation.
Since opening in 2006, the DDR Museum became an overnight success and was nominated for a European Museum of the Year Award in both 2008 and 2012.
The DDR museum aims to deal with the question of what everyday life was like for the East German citizens who were cut off from the outside world by barbed wire, guard towers, and the Berlin Wall. Also, what was it like to live under constant surveillance?
Three themed areas: Public LIfe, State and Ideology, and Life in a Tower Block expands into 47 sub-topics inside the 1000 m2 permanent exhibition.
Popular exhibits include a simulated drive in an original Trabant P601 automobile, an authentic reconstruction of a five-room flat in a high-rise tower block, numerous interactive games suitable for young and old alike, the monumental fresco “In Praise of Communism”, a prison cell and a Socialist Unity Party conference table in the boardroom with a touchscreen.
The interactive, hands-on nature of the museum makes this a fun, memorable, and educational experience for all age groups.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesDDR-Museum Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Address: Vera Britain Ufer, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 1, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Phone: 030 847123730
Official Website: DDR-Museum
DDR-Museum Reviews
Rated out of 5
The best part about this museum is how interactive it is. You can walk around the apartment, touch things, and even sit in an old car and experience a video simulation that makes you feel like you’re actually driving. As someone who was born in the Soviet Union, where the interiors of typical apartments looked very similar, it felt like traveling back in time. We really enjoyed our visit!
Lana Lia - a month ago
Really fun museum with lots of facts about Berlin post war. Seeing what homes looked like was extremely interesting.
The museum is interactive and great for all ages. Go early to avoid queues especially around the exhibitions
Daryl Willett - a month ago
Amazing museum: easily the best on Cold War history in Berlin. The entire place is interactive and full of multimedia exhibits (lots of sliding panels, drawers to investigate, digital screens, etc), and I ended up staying for 2.5 hours. It even has a full replica of a GDR apartment! If you only do one museum on the Cold War, make it this one.
Callisto Lodwick - 3 months ago
Snowy day… Cold weather…… Decided to go to the museum today! It was fun but it included a loooot of reading (I am not sure if there s an audio version or something). Giving it 3/5 because there was really not a lot of space and it felt very crowded for a random Wednesday in February. Also if I was looking at something and groups (with what I am assuming was a guide) came, they would just like??? move you? it felt weird.
Spent a long time in the kitchen to print out recipes. I am not sure why but it was fun.
Best part? The gift shop. KEEEP ME AWAYYY FROM GIFT SHOPS. Spent a lot of money but everything looked so goood.
Sanziana Stan - 7 months ago
Super interesting museum with interactive activities. We particularly enjoyed the appartment display. Before getting in, check out how busy it is (you can take a peak on the right side of the cash register). Make sure to test the car driving.
Veihi - 5 months ago
Directions
How to get to DDR-Museum by U-Bahn, S-Bahn or MetroTram
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn or MetroTram Line(s): S3, S5, S7, S9, U2, U5, U8
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn or MetroTram Station(s): S Hackescher Markt, U Alexanderplatz
Hackescher Markt on the S-Bahn is about a 7 minute walk to the museum. Alexanderplatz ,served by 3 U-Bahn lines, is about a 10 minute walk to the museum. Alternatively, take a tram to the Spandauer Straße/Marienkirche stop – the M4, M5 and M6 lines bring you almost to the entrance.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Accommodations near DDR-Museum:
Photo Gallery
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Photo Credit: @bastique - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: @bastique - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: @bastique - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: @bastique - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: @bastique - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: @bastique - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daniel0685 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daniel0685 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daniel0685 - cc license via Flickr
