Cold War Berlin

1. 01Glienicke Bridge (Glienicker Brücke)

   Berlin / Potsdam · Germany · 52.41, 13.09

   A bridge over the Havel between Berlin and Potsdam; it links the Berlin and Potsdam parts of the World Heritage site (the palaces and parks of Potsdam and Berlin). In 1962, 1985 and 1986 it was used to exchange agents between the Eastern Bloc and Western states (see spy exchange).^1,2

   As of 7 November 2026The bridge is open to everyone – it reopened immediately after the fall of the Wall in 1989.^1,3

   Official website: potsdam.de

2. 02Allied Museum (AlliiertenMuseum)

   Berlin-Dahlem · Germany · 52.46, 13.27

   The museum of the Western Allies in Berlin at Clayallee 135: its permanent exhibition ‘How enemies became friends’ covers almost fifty years of their presence in the city, from the occupation and the blockade to German reunification. It shows a restored section of the Berlin Tunnel.^4,5

   As of 7 November 2026Current opening hours and visiting arrangements are on the museum’s website.⁴

   Official website: alliiertenmuseum.de

3. 03Teufelsberg: the former listening station

   Berlin-Grunewald · Germany · 52.50, 13.24

   The ruins of the NSA and GCHQ listening station (1962–1992) on an artificial hill of rubble at Teufelsseechaussee 10. A listed monument since 30 October 2018; since 2013 the grounds have been leased by an association that looks after the site, and guided tours take place regularly.^6,7

   As of 7 November 2026The site is open at set times for an admission fee, also with a guide; the former bunker is closed and the buildings are badly damaged.^6,8

   Official website: berlin.de

4. 04Checkpoint Charlie

   Berlin-Mitte · Germany · 52.51, 13.39

   The former border crossing at the corner of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße, where American and Soviet tanks faced each other in October 1961. Today a replica guard hut stands here; the Berlin Wall Foundation tells the story of the site in an open-air exhibition.^9,10,11

   As of 7 November 2026A public space, free of charge. Since 6 March 2026 the foundation has been showing the exhibition ‘Crossing the Iron Curtain’ here.^9,10

   Official website: stiftung-berliner-mauer.de

5. 05German Spy Museum (Deutsches Spionagemuseum)

   Berlin-Mitte · Germany · 52.51, 13.38

   A museum at Leipziger Platz 9 (opened in 2015): the history of espionage from antiquity to the present, including the Cold War, spy technology, cryptology and disinformation.^12,13

   As of 7 November 2026Open daily; opening hours are on the museum’s website.¹³

   Official website: deutsches-spionagemuseum.de

6. 06Stasimuseum and the Campus for Democracy

   Berlin-Lichtenberg · Germany · 52.52, 13.49

   The former Stasi headquarters at Ruschestraße 103. House 1, where the minister Erich Mielke had his office, holds the Stasimuseum; as the ‘Campus for Democracy’ the site is used for education about the dictatorship, and House 8 stores a large part of the Stasi files.^14,15

   As of 7 November 2026The exhibitions in Houses 1 and 7 are open daily; opening hours and tickets are on the ASTAK and Federal Archives websites.^16,17

   Official website: stasimuseum.de

7. 07Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial

   Berlin-Hohenschönhausen · Germany · 52.54, 13.50

   A memorial in the former central Stasi remand prison for political prisoners at Genslerstraße 66, earlier a Soviet camp and prison. It opened in 1994 after a campaign by former prisoners.¹⁸

   As of 7 November 2026Open daily except for a few holidays; the former prison can be visited only on a guided tour, and the exhibitions are free.¹⁹

   Official website: stiftung-hsh.de

Opening hours and visiting arrangements change – check the venue’s official website before you go. Coordinates: the berlin.de portal (map data on the venues’ pages); for Glienicke Bridge and the German Spy Museum – OpenStreetMap. The map is illustrative.