Topography of Terror

The Topography of Terror is an absolutely incredible and essential place to visit in Berlin. It was truly one of the best experiences I had, especially when listening to the audio guide—it brings the whole site to life. It's incredibly powerful and thought-provoking. I highly recommend it!

Excellent. Since I last visited, they have added an indoor exhibition which is very good. It's also free and we thought it was better than the Checkpoint Charlie museum that we paid €18 to visit.

Informative museum with a detailed timeline of the Nazi regime, key figures, and events. It perfectly documents the SS and Gestapo’s reign of terror in Berlin. exhibition is primarily photographs and text panels. Plan at least 2-3 hours if you want to take it all in properly.

This is absolutly a must do. When visiting Berlin, start here!! After this one can visit all of the other attractions. This exhibition, especially in the building, is a simple but compelling one. Here you are confronted with the why, the who and the what of Nazi ideology! Set aside at least 3-4 hours for this.

This is a moving and emotional museum. It is no place for children with some harrowing pictures. It focuses on the Gestapo, SD, SS and deaths squads that were ran from the building that was previously on the site of the museum. To me, the role of the SS, the concentration camps, extermination sites and their horrors were underplayed. Also, the fact that all organs of the German state were part of the process that implemented terror - not only the gestapo and SS as you would be forgiven for thinking after visiting this museum.

A totally shocking museum of the horrors of the Nazi regime. It is an extensive documentation of the brutal treatment of certain sections of society that did not fit in with the party's ideals. An outside display covers the pre-war to post-war eras and inside the museum large displays are enhanced by information boards covering aspects of the subject in more detail. A must visit museum if you are in Berlin. Can be busy with school groups. Free entrance.

Very informative and well worth a visit. This place is packed full of photos and accompanying text. You can see parts of the old Berlin wall and also the foundations of the old building which was located on the site. The museum (indoors) is very worthy of your time.

The Topography of Terror is a powerful and very moving place to visit. The exhibition is well-presented, informative and deeply thought-provoking, showing the darkest part of German’s history. A must-see for anyone wanting to understand the city beyond its landmarks. This exhibition proves that Berlin doesn’t hide history, they learn from it.

This place was pretty amazing. SO much Jewish German history that I didn't know about. Such a great learning experience. There are two parts to this museum, the outside has a lot of Jewish history and pieces of the original Berlin wall. And the other part is inside with more Jewish history focusing on the days of Hitler and the people who parished. Everything is free, which is great for tourists. My mother and I spent a good couple hours reading everything and taking it all in. One of the better 'museums' in Berlin, IMO. Would definitely come back.

Date of visit: May 31, 2024 I think it's great that many of the historical and educational sights in Berlin are free, including the Topography of Terrors. The low barrier to entry is important to ensuring that as many people as possible learn about these atrocities and are better informed to prevent them from happening again. There are sections both indoors and out, and pretty much everything is in multiple languages as well, great for those like me with a limited German vocabulary. My only complaint really is that much of the text is quite small, requiring you to get close to read it, but in doing so, blocking the view of others that are also trying to learn and educate themselves.

So much in depth information. This time I just walked through and read the panels but in the future I will plan to bring my own headphones to listen to an audio guide. There is so much thought put into every area.

This is a must visit when in Berlin. It's incredibly sad, but a very educational spot. I highly recommend.

There are actually two separate exhibits here: The Berlin Wall Monument, and Topography of Terror focusing on 1933-1945 and Hitler on his takeover of power. The actual wall was much taller than I expected. Thia 160 KM wall separated East and West Berlin for nearly 30 years. In addition to the wall, there are multiple educational posters with photos and descriptions. The Topography of Terror building is located on the same grounds where many of the significant institutions of Nazi terror, including the headquarters of the Secret Police ( Gestapo), The Reich Leadership Headquarters, and the Office of Security. The entire tour is very emotional to explore, but educational at the same time. I will attach photos. I will certainly never forget this experience.

Free to enter, the Topography of Terror is a modern museum set atop the former Gestapo headquarters and documenting the horrors of Nazism. An essential part of Berlin, especially for history buffs, plan to spend two hours reading or via self guided tour beginning outdoors and continued within.

This place is actually two separate exhibits under the same address and is very confusing to visitors. So let me help clear up the confusions for those of you who will be visiting here in the future. The outer exhibits are remnants of the Berlin Wall. This is also known as the "Berlin Wall Monument". The exhibits inside the building are the "Topography of Terror" which document the days of Hitler from 1933 to 1945. I'll focus my review on the Berlin Wall Monument which is the part that interested me most. We should all be thankful to the German government for not demolishing the entire Berlin Wall and erasing all the traces and memories of the past. Remnants of the Berlin Wall still stand in several places in Berlin so that history is firmly engraved in the landscape of the city. (The two other major places are the Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery). One section of the wall shows both the outer wall and the inner wall, so visitors can learn and understand that the Berlin Wall was actually comprised of two walls, with the area in between called "no man's land", patrolled by armed guards and dogs. Walking along the remnants of the wall was definitely one of the most somber and humbling experiences of my life, knowing that many families have been separated and devastated; numerous lives have been lost. Being able to see the actual remains of the wall and being able to physically touch it and feel it motivated me to learn more about the history of the wall, and of the Cold War and crisis surrounding it. Berlin. A divided city. 1961 - 1989.

I happened to see a billboard ad in the U-Bahn Potsdamer Platz station regarding Topographie des Terrors. It looked intriguing, close by and free, so I made a bee-line to check it out. The fairly new Topography of Terror is pointedly overwhelming with massive content on the Nazi-era SS and Gestapo, and is built on top of the old HQ ruins. There is so much information in the indoor exhibits that your eyes start to glaze over. Everything is in German and English. After reading the initial displays, and dealing with the large crowds, I started to skip some items and just focus on what I found most interesting, such as Section 3.5 on the Persecution of Homosexuals, and the rear sections on elimination of the Jews in each of the overrun countries. Outside the building is a section of the Berlin Wall that was permanently moved there. A special outdoor Warsaw Rising exhibition was historically fascinating and well worth a visit, especially for Americans who probably didn't even learn about it in high school history. I certainly didn't know about this part of WWII where Hitler and Himmler ordered the entire city leveled. I spent longer at the outdoor exhibit than the indoor one.

This exhibit is really well done. There is a flow to the information so you can clearly follow along and read all the boards. There are a few interactive sort of stations as well. It was super busy when we went (being free, I'm sure it's pretty much packed at all times) but the flow was nice and I never had to strain to read anything. It was probably even more crowded because it was winter when we went so the exhibits were inside. Absolutely recommend coming here.

This is an amazing place and the fact that it is free means everyone should go there. If you start outside, there is a remnant of the Berlin Wall at street level but if you walk down the stairs or the ramp to the outside displays, there is a timeline of how the Weimar Republic folded and gave rise to the Third Reich. The narratives and photos are gripping and only begin to prepare you for what is inside the museum building. The inside channels the further rise of the Third Reich and also profiles how their programs played out not only in Germany but in other countries across Europe. If you have the stamina to be able to read and absorb all of this, I'd say allow a minimum of three hours. After about 90 minutes there, I'll be honest when I say I was a bit overwhelmed so I couldn't focus as much on what I was reading. If possible, it might be better to come back over two days because there is a lot of information and some of it is hard to digest. I found the section on the post-war period particularly fascinating especially as it relates to what happened to various leaders of the movement after the collapse of Nazi Germany. There are parts of the narrative that read like a playbook for populist leaders in the world today....consolidate power, scapegoat others and vilify them so that abuses seem deserved, shut down free speech and severely penalize those that disagree with you. It was somewhat ironic that the president of Turkey was in town while I was visiting this museum. Maybe he should have visited this place. A very important place that should not be missed.

Reluctantly (because it seemed a depressing thing to do on Christmas), I went here on Christmas Day because it was one of the few things open. In spite of my misgivings, this was worth seeing. The outside has a large section of the Berlin Wall and the old foundation walls of the building that was used as the SS torture chambers. Inside the building are displays with a comprehensive history of the Nazis and their acts. Each topic had three levels of detail so that you could decide how much you wanted to read. You could spend an hour or three hours. There were lockers for coats and bags. They were free but required a euro coin to operate. When you return the key, you get the euro back. There is a cafe with a limited selection for a light lunch or a snack.

If you plan on visiting Berlin, I would highly recommend to visit this museum for historic purpose.

A must see in Berlin. This museum is free; however, it displays an important part of Berlin and Germany history. We came here during October, so the displays were indoor. This museum was free, had English on the boards and also offered free English audio guide. It was a great place to visit in Berlin.

Free museum with the history of Germany, the 3rd Reich and the nazi party. It's a lot to see, sometimes you need to stop for a few minutes because it's too much to read and too dense. Outside, there is a part of the real wall of 1961 in Berlin. Museo gratis de la historia de Alemania, el 3er Reich y el partido Nazi. Es un montón para ver, a veces tenes que parar unos minutos porque es mucho para leer y muy denso. Afuera, está la parte real del muro de Berlín de 1961.

The Topography of Terror Documentation Center is a MUST visit in Berlin. Per their website, the center is located on the grounds of the Secret State Police Office, the SS leadership, and the Reich Security Main Office during World War II. You'll notice many benches as you walk through the museum. I'd assume those were strategically placed considering the matters being outlined via stories and photos on the otherwise white walls. It's a devastatingly bleak place and organized with true precision. You'll need to digest the history in small pieces. It's so dark. Outside you can also view a portion of the Berlin Wall. Restrooms are downstairs. Admission is free, but you can also take a guided tour. The center is also close to other sights in the city, like Checkpoint Charlie.

I would like to return to Topography of Terror Museum, which in essence is a documentation centre, as my visit was fleeting. We popped in because we were nearby and wanted to see the museum, but it was so busy it was very difficult to look at displays properly or read much of the documentation. What I did manage to see was harrowing, horrifying and absolutely terrible. Unfortunately it is historical reality and thus should not be shied away from, as we must remember the past, even the terrible past, to ensure similar is never repeated in future. This is the importance inherent in Topography of Terror. Entrance was free. There was a basement area holding books, much like a library. An on-site cafe plus main information and exhibition area at ground level. The format of the exhibition consisted of panels displaying photographs and texts which tell the story of the SS during Third Reich and the crimes they committed across Europe. Attention is drawn to numerous groups of people targeted and subjected to terrors by the Nazi regime. Frightening, heart-wrenching and profoundly sad. Unfortunately, due to vast visitor numbers, it was virtually impossible to get near some displays. My movement around them involved looking at a few and skipping a few. Thus I lost the flow of the information. We decided to leave before ending the exhibition because we were weary after a day sightseeing. However, I would like to return at a quieter time, to absorb and read the exhibition information fully. Very worthwhile, but you do need to be in the right frame of mind...

Was walking by and happened upon this very large preserved stretch of the Berlin Wall, so we stopped to check it out. So glad we did - we spent at least 30 minutes reading the history of how the Nazis came to power. It was fascinating, and also terrifying knowing that history could repeat itself some day. While we wished we'd had more time to see more, we had to move on, but we would definitely come back here again.

An incredible amount of information and documentation of Germany's war history located at the previous SS headquarters. Plenty of information both inside and outside of the facility, so great for any weather conditions.

Must visit in Berlin. It wasn't that too long ago and when you stand there you will feel it. Be prepared to spend at least two hours. A piece of history we all need to remember, so we don't repeat. I don't know how I would describe my visit in words. I felt the pain in history.

As we were nearing Checkpoint Charlie, we came across the outdoor portion of this museum and memorial and found it very moving. What I appreciated, especially traveling with children, was that it was free and you could go at your own pace. Located at the site of the former Gestapo headquarters, it has a mix of permanent and temporary exhibits. While we were there, the focus was on the occupation of Poland and the Polish resistance. As one less than enthusiastic reviewer noted, it is higher level information printed in German and English with a mix of documents and photographs, so it is a bit dry. Since I have a child that is fascinated with history, but gets overwhelmed when we've visited holocaust museums and seen more graphic exhibits, this balance was just right. In the background along an elevated platform there is a long segment of the Berlin Wall. For us, it was a place of contemplation and a good respite from the hustle and bustle of modern Berlin. We must never forget.

Its hard to not leave this place hating what Germany was in the Nazi era and at the same time proud to be an American whose family helped end the atrocities. Yeah, that's a fairly shallow reaction. But this is Yelp. In all seriousness, this museum is a must visit. Very educational. Will generate stong emotions. Especially anything regarding what children went through in the Nazi era.

I was very disappointed by this museum as I feel like it did a very poor job educating people about the atrocities committed. It gave some solid information but did not really shed light on the "terror". For example, there were captioned photos that discussed general background information about the area and some Nazi figures. While it didn't discuss the acts committed in much details at all. They didn't talk much or at all about specific events such as; the genocide, stealing and destruction of property, families destroyed, lies told, property stolen, innocence lost, orphans created, people without homes, experimentation on people, book burnings, and other atrocities. I could go into more details but it will just upset me. It felt like this is what a Civil War museum would be like in the South. I personally think it didn't do justice in terms of educating people about the true terrors that were birthed in this place. I left feeling like the title of the museum was misguiding and some sections were borderline inappropriate in my opinion. They could have done a much better and honest job addressing the terrors rather than giving a fluff history. The other attractions in the area were more honest with information and content.

Free museum that brings the horrid reality to the forefront in that they don't try to hide anything. I spent most of the time outside because I didn't know there was an inside, and it seems to cover the same information but different aspects of it. 2nd largest part of the Berlin Wall is behind the outside part. I went right after the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and it made me feel better for the amount I spent to get in there....since this is less crowded and probably has more information.

A visit to Topographie des Terrors should be on everyone's agenda when in Berlin imho. Located between Checkpoint Charlie & Potsdamer Platz. Build on a historical site (former SS head quarters) with a piece of original Berlin Wall. The exhibition's free and reminds us that freedom is something to cherish and what people can do to eachother. Sometimes shocking but mostly informative and educational. Cause humans still haven't learnt from the horrific past (neo-nazism, ultra right mocements, hate against refugees etc etc). This exposition left a huge impression on me and I would recommend any visitor to the city of Berlin to go to Topographie des Terrors!

A very well done museum that deals with two very dark and difficult topics in a very straight forward and educational way that really begs the world to never let this happen again. It's free and there's a very nice audio-guide that you can also pick up free of charge.

Fascinating free outdoor & indoor exhibit of the Berlin wall with historical descriptions, audio, images, and photography. As well done as possible in light of the the difficult subject matter. Definitely worth the hour (60 minutes) time to tour and read the insightful information and listen to memoirs.

A Museum in Berlin totally worth visiting. The amount of information presented in inundating but super interesting. It would help if the fonts and font colors of the English vs german text were the same size/color/font. The lighter curvier lettering was difficult to read as a native English speaker. It was much easier to read the german even though I have less of a grasp on the language. Not a huge issue but was definitely an annoyance. I didn't have enough time to spend here and would love to revisit after learning a bit more about world war ll. it would definitely benefit the visitor to have at least a basic understanding of the history of the national socialist party and various figures like Himmler. If not you might be confused or unable to grasp the gravity of the situations presented. I felt overwhelmed, but hope to absorb more history before I return. Great museum, definitely visit! It's free!!

Another must visit when in Berlin. Berlin is so deeply rooted with so much history, and this exhibit provides a great snapshot of what life was like during the Nazi regime from 1933-1945. I would highly recommend coming here first thing in the morning when it's not as crowded and you have a clear mind. There's a lot of reading involved if you want to get the full experience. Of course, most of the Wall has been destroyed, but you can actually find a decent section of the outer wall remaining here. The exhibit is free and opened until 8pm daily (except Mondays). It is partially outdoors and partially indoors, so be weather ready. The text is only in German and English. P.S. It's not a lighthearted place to visit, so don't be THAT person with a selfie stick, talking loudly, and taking jumping pictures. It's just rude and disrespectful. (Trust me, I saw a whole lot of those.....)

Good history on national socialism from 1939 to 1945. There is a bit of the wall here, unadorned. A close walk to check point Charlie.

At first, the description of the venue does not seem exciting. I was indeed surprised! ToT presented a compelling history of the rise of the 3rd Reich with the security apparatus as a vantage point. Most disturbing was the pervasive thread indicating that a majority of Germans made the 3rd Reich possible. [end]

For being free this place is amazing. I would have paid and still given this place 5 stars. The building is on an old Reich site. So outside you will find part of the Berlin Wall and rubble from when the old building was removed. There is also a timeline that discusses the Reich leading up to 1933. Inside the building is a very detailed account of the horrors the Reich did during WW2. If you read everything you could probably stay several hours and that doesn't include the audio guide. Personally I did skip a lot of information pieces but still felt very informed. The details are very in depth and interesting. For young children, some images may be graphic. There's also a cafe if you need food or drinks and a bathroom downstairs. This place isn't too far from the main streets so I recommend making the walk over at least for an hour of your time.

Very informative and interesting to look at an explanation of the Berlin Wall! There are a lot of people here though, so come earlier or later to avoid the crowd and actually have space to red the signs. If memory serves, the wall is the piece of the real actual wall, but the brick displays behind it are new and reconstructed. Worth checking it out to gain an understanding of the wall and why it's significant to Berlin!

The topography or terror offers a fascinating look into the rise and downfall of the Third Reich, in an easily digestible "Chapter" format, where a section is clearly defined for a specific topic ( like the secret police and multitude of acronyms) and easily flows to the next chapter as you walk through the exhibit. With translations to English, you could easily spend an entire day here reading and seeing all the content. If you don't have the time, you could just quickly breeze through it reading the larger orange placards that overview the chapter. It's free too!

This is such an amazing museum, filled with so much information all about the SS and the Gestapo. Must see if you're interested in history. It's also free! Piece of the Berlin Wall is right outside the building too.

I went here twice in one week because once simply was not enough to take it all in. The first thing you will notice is the long, standing section of the remains of the Berlin Wall... and then... as you walk deeper into the maze and start to understand the significance of where you are, well, let me just say that most of us were simply dumbstruck. I cannot explain how I felt standing in the foundation of the SS Headquarters because it goes beyond words. It was similar to how I felt at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Shocked, horrified, humbled... all of those things. They have done a great job with the historical timeline and the photographs that are on display. If you are a student of history, this is someplace you should put on your "must visit" list if you ever make it to this part of the world. I am so glad I did.

Heard of this exhibit and decided that I would make my way to it, it's cool because it's purely an outdoor exhibit. There is a building right behind it but I didn't go inside to check it out, the outdoor part had enough info on it, so behind the actual exhibit there is a portion of the Berlin Wall that is still preserved, it's amazing to see such a part of history along with the words written on the wall by people who were separated from their friends and loved ones, the exhibit covers many topics mostly between 1930-45, many of it focuses on topics that are tough such as Hitler's rise to power, hate for the Jewish, gypsies, homosexuals and the mentally ill, it's crazy to see this part of history and see such accounts of what actually happened, it's sad to see but it is world history, this is an exhibit that is worth a few euro but it's completely free and I do appreciate that, the exhibits are also in English so that helps someone like me who read each and everyone, also I suggest not being like me so you should start from the left side and making your way to the right, you get a better story that way lol

I'd recommend visiting this place, taking a break and then visit the memorial for the murdered Jews. This place serves as an example of how societies ought to deal their brutal past.

Well worth the visit. Prepare to get your sad on: if you read all of the materials and go into the museum it will take a solid couple of hours. Free to visit. Times visited: 1

Definitely a must when visiting Berlin. The museum tells the story of WWII from an other angle than we are normally used to. The museum tells the story of the leaders' race to power in 39-45, but it also tells the story of how it effected the everyday life in Berlin at the time. "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat its mistakes" With that in mind, free admission is very wise. German is the predominant language, with translations to English in most cases. Perhaps not as elaborating as the German text. The fact that German and English are the only two languages unfortunately excludes a number of visitors e.g all young people as their English is not good enough yet. Is perhaps earphones with information in additional languages in scope? That would be an important step forward in making the museum, and the crucial part it tells of our history, more accessible.

Excellent outdoor exhibit. Well documented and organized information about the rise and early years of the National Socialists in Germany. It discusses the political and economic climate during the rise. Also does not hesitate to discuss the intimidation and violent methods used by the Nazis to create a dictatorship. The display also recognizes a number of the dissidents and Nazi opponents who were killed or committed suicide in the early years. I would put this as a do not miss exhibit.

Definitely worth a visit. Like most places in Berlin, it tells a dark history and presents lots of information on what happened in Nazi Germany and a timeline of events. Here you can educate yourself further and get a few pictures of the wall.

An extremely well done documentary approach to the story of the evil that happened on this soil. Give yourself a couple of hours to digest all that is presented.

It's an incredible feeling being there, discomfort. The location is right next to the wall. Just thinking of the past makes you cringe. Inside there is timeline of events that let to Hitler's rise and fall to power. I wish there was more seating as you can spend hours reading the material.

This is the site of the Gestapo and SS headquarters from about 1939 - 1945 that is now a museum about Hitler's rise to power and the horrific events during WWII. If you like history , then you will really enjoy this place. Admission is free and there are free audio tours available. Even for non history buffs, it's interesting and worth while.

A succinct summary of the absurdities and perversity of Nazi ideology. This exhibition is housed in a former heartland of Nazi bureaucracy and a jackbooted stride from a remnant of the Berlin wall. The basics of the Nazi regime are covered here - from political suppression to the Holocaust. That the Nazi ideology was doomed to failure is amply illustrated by the looming presence of a surviving remnant of the wall.

Any visit to Berlin would not be complete without a visit here. They have a section of the berlin wall outside and the museum inside, it is mostly pictures and reading inside, but well worth the visit, oh and it is free, so no excuse not to go. You will learn how things went downhill pretty quick during the war, while it is not the most uplifting place to visit, the historical value here is worth the walk over.

An exhibition you simply can not rush round. It is free but you must see everything......It is quite horrific in places but shows what happened in Germany from the 1930s to the end of the war. I can only give it three stars but as an exhibition it is 5 star...

An absolute must while visiting Berlin. A slice of dark world history explored in great detail here the second you see the standing section of the Berlin Wall and begin reading into each illustration exactly what happened. It's going to put a damper on your spirits once you leave but it's still important to visit here. It's free admission so there's no excuse not to see it.

There is no entrance fee, so all the buses and tours stop here. As you'll discover, crowded doesn't always mean good. Imagine taking a long, dry book on a difficult subject, enlarging all the pages and pasting each printed page on a big board--then hanging all the boards on wires in a big room. That's what this is: You get to read a book (never-ending blocks of text on boards) while standing up with hundreds of people huddled around you. iPad? Wikipedia? Anyone? I was not impressed. It is the most non-interactive museum I have ever visited. It feels like somehow, somewhere a legal requirement for a "museum" on this subject needed to be fulfilled and this is what they came up with.