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Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer
© visitBerlin, Foto: Dagmar Schwelle

Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer

The Berlin Wall & the Divided City

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For this tour, plan in a full day. Start your journey into Berlin’s past at the Berlin Wall Memorial with a vivid insight into the division of the city and the dramatic events at the Wall. From Nordbahnhof station, a short ride by city railway (S-Bahn) and tram takes you to the interactive DDR Museum for an impressive hands-on look at life in socialist East Germany. A short walk in the fresh air and a visit to a typical Berlin pub? Then stroll down the River Spree to the Berliner Republik, a classic Berlin pub with everything from traditional snacks to hearty cuisine. To reach the Berliner Republik, either go through the green James Simon Park and continue along the Spree or cross the river via the Museum Island to follow the waterside Am Kupfergraben to Friedrichstraße and take the Weidendammer Brücke bridge back across the river. From the nearby Friedrichsstraße station, take the S-Bahn city railway to the famous East Side Gallery, the longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall. This 1.3 km section of the old Wall leads along the River Spree and is the world’s longest open-air art gallery, with such famous works as Dmitri Wrubel's “Fraternal Kiss”. Head for Heinrich-Heine-Straße, a former border crossing point, and stroll through the vibrant Kreuzberg district to the world-famous Checkpoint Charlie with the Mauermuseum – Haus am Checkpoint Charlie. Not only was the square here a Cold War location, but it also witnessed many escape attempts from East Berlin.

From there, the Berlin Story Museum is just a few streets further on. The museum, housed in an original Second World War air raid shelter, recounts the history of Berlin with large-scale photos, short films, atmospheric installations and sculptures. In the same bunker, you can also view “Hitler – How could it happen”, an exhibition looking to answer questions around Hitler’s rise to power and National Socialism. Afterwards, carry on down Stresemannstraße towards Potsdamer Platz. In Erna-Berger-Straße, you can visit an original East German watchtower. After a short climb, you can look through the little watchtower windows, just as the border guards once did. Alternatively, you can hire a bike or book a guided bike tour. On its small group tours, Berlin on bike offers a fascinating insight into the city.

For an in-depth look at the Stasi, the East German state security service, take the tube or S-Bahn to the impressive Stasi Museum at the Normannenstraße Research Centre and Memorial.

After a day of exploring Berlin’s history, enjoy a relaxing evening at one of the city’s many theatres or stage shows. The BWC offers you an attractive selection to choose from! Enjoy savings on, for example, the satirical cabaret Distel or the BKA, or Stars in Concert with top international look-and-sound-alike artists live on stage in the Estrel, or murder mystery plays at the Kriminaltheater, or entertainment shows in the Stage Theater des Westens, the Chamäleon or the Wintergarten Varieté. Classical music lovers can look forward to renowned venues such as the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and or the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

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