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
Official Website: DDR-Museum
Fee: YesRegular 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
Reviews
Rated out of 5
One of the best museums in Berlin to show the history of East German society under Soviet rule. It was incredibly busy when we visited and this did make it difficult to interact with any of the museum because there was a queue for everything. We would have appreciated a smaller capacity in the museum, even if that meant we had to wait a while to enter
Ben Horrex - 20 days ago
One of the best museums in Berlin to show the history of East German society under Soviet rule. It was incredibly busy when we visited and this did make it difficult to interact with any of the museum because there was a queue for everything. We would have appreciated a smaller capacity in the museum, even if that meant we had to wait a while to enter
We thought this museum was terrible. It is too interactive. Too many things to see and do. It was very overcrowded, so it was difficult to even "do" all the activities. The house part was the best part. I give two stars because there were some neat items and information.
Angela M - 21 days ago
We thought this museum was terrible. It is too interactive. Too many things to see and do. It was very overcrowded, so it was difficult to even "do" all the activities. The house part was the best part. I give two stars because there were some neat items and information.
Very good and worth a look to see how the other half lived it does get busy and gets quite hot. Kids would find sitting in the Trabant fun, the kids we saw there were very curious about it. The mock up of typical DDR flat was very enlightening. It seems quirky but it’s well worth a look.
Terry Moriarty - 2 months ago
Very good and worth a look to see how the other half lived it does get busy and gets quite hot.
Kids would find sitting in the Trabant fun, the kids we saw there were very curious about it.
The mock up of typical DDR flat was very enlightening.
It seems quirky but it’s well worth a look.
Megan Cook - 2 months ago
Maria Kromina - 9 days ago
Accommodations near DDR-Museum:
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.
Photo Gallery
-
Photo Credit: mikecogh - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: kitmasterbloke - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Hossam el-Hamalawy حسام الحملاوي - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dave Hamster - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dave Hamster - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: BScar23625 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Alexander Samoylyk - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: BScar23625 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Alexander Samoylyk - cc license via Flickr
