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 Really fun experience! We visited after 6 pm because we heard it would be less busy and we're able to buy tickets at the door. There are so many interesting interactive exhibits. So much historical information. Definitely a unique, fascinating peek into what it was like to live in the DDR. I highly recommend visiting the DDR Museum if you have the opportunity. Allow yourself at least 2 hours if you want to thoroughly explore the museum.
Jim Sullivan - a week ago
A small museum, but interesting. Was quite packed when we went on a Friday afternoon. Have only given three stars, as I got a reduced rate ticket due to disability and told them that my partner was my carer, to be abruptly told, ‘carers are only for people who need them’. Unhappy with that attitude to be honest.
ElizabethHowHow - 3 weeks ago
It is near the water front and describes life in East Germany through to the collapse of the wall.
Very interactive exhibits, and very cleverly laid out. Particularly enjoyed the way there was a full flat to see what it was like to live in that regime.
It is quite small so keep that in mind. Costs about 13E, Pretty cheap. Takes 90m ish to see all.
PBD - 3 weeks ago
It’s a great museum to visit, no matter of your age you are going to have a great time! I gave it only 3 stars because there is no time slots for visitor so it was packed making it hard to interact with all the nice things the museum has to offer
Daniela Carolina Caruso - 2 weeks 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
Ben Horrex - 6 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.
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