The DDR Museum in Berlin documents life in East Germany before the wall came down in 1989.
The DDR Museum brings the German Democratic Republic back to life and is divided into three themed areas – Public Life, State and Ideology, and Life in a Tower Block.
The Museum is the brainchild of ethnologist Peter Kenzelmann, who wants to show the newer generation what it was to live in the Soviet-backed part of Berlin.
The best part of exploring the DDR Museum is that the items on display aren’t locked up in glass cases.
Instead, visitors can touch, feel, open, and interact, making it a wholesome experience.
The innovative design of the Museum has earned it two nominations for the prestigious European Museum of the Year award.
This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for the DDR Museum Berlin.
East Germany was officially known as the German Democratic Republic, but it is commonly referred to by its German abbreviation, DDR, rather than the English version, GDR.
Top DDR Museum Tickets
Table of contents
- What to expect at DDR Museum
- Where to buy tickets
- How online tickets work
- DDR Museum Berlin ticket prices
- DDR Museum tickets
- Body Worlds Berlin + DDR Museum
- How to reach DDR Museum
- DDR Museum’s timings
- How long does a tour of DDR Museum take?
- Best time to visit DDR Museum
- FAQs about the DDR Museum in Berlin
What to expect at DDR Museum
The exhibits in DDR Museum Berlin focus on 16 main areas of life in the GDR, including Housing, Work, Leisure, Fashion, Culture, etc.
More than 300 former GDR citizens contributed to the collection by donating personal effects and belongings.
The most popular items to see are – the tiny Trabant P601 car, the fully furnished reconstruction of a flat, a school satchel with books and school reports, a cupboard full of original GDR clothing, the monumental fresco ‘In Praise of Communism,’ and the area dedicated to the Stasi.
All the text panels and information material are available in German and English.
Where to buy tickets
You can buy Berlin’s DDR Museum tickets online or offline at the attraction.
Online tickets tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters.
When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.
Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, during peak days they may sell out. Booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.
How online tickets work
Go to Berlin’s DDR Museum’s booking page, select your preferred date and number of tickets, and buy the tickets right away.
Once you purchase the attraction’s tickets, they get delivered to your email address.
There is no need to get printouts of the ticket.
On the day of your visit, you can scan the e-ticket on your smartphone at the ticket office and walk in.
DDR Museum Berlin ticket prices
Tickets for DDR Museum in Berlin cost €14 for adults aged 16 years and above.
Children aged between six and 15 years and students aged 16 years and above pay a discounted price of €8.
Students must show an ID to claim the reduced price.
Children aged six years and younger can enter for free.
DDR Museum tickets
This ticket for the DDR Museum gives you complete access to all themed areas and temporary exhibitions.
Since this is a Skip The Line ticket, you get a smooth and hassle-free entry into the attraction.
You can interact hands-only with everything from Trabant car rides to reconstructed East German living rooms.
You will also be able to explore all about the daily life in the DDR, including the education system, the Stasi (East Germany’s state security service), the domestic life of East German citizens, and the challenges of living in a divided Germany.
Cost of tickets
Adult ticket (16+ years): €14
Student ticket (16+, with ID): €8
Children ticket (6 to 15 years): €8
Guests five years and below do not require a ticket.
Body Worlds Berlin + DDR Museum
The DDR Museum is just 700 meters (half of a mile) from Berlin’s Body Worlds, which is why some tourists prefer to explore them on the same day.
You will learn about human anatomy and how happiness influences our bodies and vice versa at Body Worlds Berlin.
You also get a 5% discount on this combo ticket.
How to reach DDR Museum
The DDR Museum is located next to Museum Island, opposite Berlin Cathedral on the banks of the Spree.
Address: Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 1, 10178 Berlin-Mitte. Get Directions
From Karl-Liebknecht-Str. From the DomAquaré side, go down the steps at the Karl Liebknecht Bridge. After 20 meters, the entrance to the DDR Museum is on the right.
You can reach the attraction both by public or private transport.
By bus
You can take the bus routes 100 and 200 and get down at the stop Spandauer Straße, only a 3-minute walk away.
Alternatively, you can take bus route 300 and get off at the stop Lustgarten, only a minute’s walk away.
By subway
Take the S-Bahn and U-Bahn to get off at Alexanderplatz, only a 12-minute walk away.
You can also deboard at S-Bahn Hackescher Markt, only an 8-minute walk away.
Alternatively, take the U5 to reach U-Bahn Museumsinsel or Rotes Rathaus, only a minute’s walk away and a 5-minute’s walk away, respectively.
By tram
Reach the stop Spandauer Straße (only an 8-minute walk away) via the tram lines M4, M5, and M6.
By car
If you’re traveling by car, turn on your Google Maps and get started.
You can park your car in the DomAquarée’s paid parking garage.
DDR Museum’s timings
The DDR Museum is open from 9 am to 9 pm all through the week.
It is open on all days of the year.
On December 24th and 31st, the museum closes at 4 pm.
DDR Museum doesn’t have a last entry time.
However, since the museum closes at 9 pm, it is better to reach the attraction at least by 8 pm.
How long does a tour of DDR Museum take?
Visitors typically take around 1.5 hours to complete the tour of Berlin’s DDR Museum.
Once inside, you may stay in the exhibition for as long as you like as the ticket is not timed.
Best time to visit DDR Museum
For a quieter experience, visit the museum as soon as it opens, i.e., at 9 am.
The crowd is also slow after 6 pm.
Weekday visits are a better choice than those on weekends or public holidays.
FAQs about the DDR Museum in Berlin
Here are some questions visitors usually ask before visiting Berlin’s DDR Museum.
Tourists can buy tickets for the attraction online or at the venue on the day of their visit. For the best experience, we suggest you book your tickets online in advance.
No, since the Museum is private and not financed by taxes but entrance fees, it cannot host free entry days.
No animals are allowed inside the museum premises, with the exception of guide dogs or assistance dogs. Proof must be presented at the entrance ticket office when purchasing tickets.
Yes, you can take photographs of the exhibits for private purposes.
Yes, the Museum is wheelchair accessible to accommodate visitors with mobility challenges. However, the Spree promenade of Berlin is not accessible by wheelchair as it can only be reached via stairs or a steep ramp.
Yes, the Museum has free Wi-Fi available for use during your visit.
Yes, the DDR Museum in Berlin has a locker facility where you can store your belongings in exchange for €1 or 50 cent coin (refundable).
Yes, you can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Sources
# Ddr-museum.de
# Wikipedia.org
# Tripadvisor.com
# Berlin.de
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