Checkpoint Charlie was the main crossing point of the Berlin Wall for soldiers, foreigners and diplomats on the Allied side. The famous sign, “You are now leaving the American sector,” still stands, a relic of the Cold War that divided Berlin between 1961 and 1989. There is also a replica guardhouse, a sobering reminder of the fear and anxiety Berliners lived with on a daily basis. The site is on Friedrichstrasse, a major street in central Berlin.
In 1961, to stem the massive exodus of its citizens, a desperate East German government built the Berlin Wall. At first it was a basic barbed wire fence, but later became a 96-mile (155-kilometer) long, solid wall of concrete. Checkpoint Charlie was a main crossing and the focal point for a tense stand-off involving Russian and American tanks in 1961. The guards at Checkpoint Charlie today, however, are not checking passports, and they're not soldiers, but actors, posing for photographs.
Pick up imitation Russian military caps and other Cold War souvenirs at the nearby stalls. To learn more about the checkpoint and the wall, visit the Museum Haus Am Checkpoint Charlie. Opened just a year after the wall was erected, it’s been documenting the stories and social implications of the “great divider” ever since. Through personal stories and evocative photographs it documents the many escape attempts over the wall. There are artifacts from some of the more daring plans, including cars with secret compartments and a hollowed-out surfboard.
The museum includes a café, though given Checkpoint Charlie sits on Friedrichstrasse, one of Berlin's main thoroughfares, finding a bite to eat nearby is not difficult. There’s also a museum shop that sells every Cold War-themed souvenir imaginable, including small chunks of the wall.
Checkpoint Charlie is easily reached via the Kochstrasse U-Bahn station.
Checkpoint Charlie Museum Tours and Activities
Visit Checkpoint Charlie Museum
Plan a trip to see Checkpoint Charlie Museum
Melia Berlin
Reviewed on May 13, 2024
Ameron Hotel Abion Spreebogen Berlin
Reviewed on Apr. 16, 2024
Tours & day trips
See all 854 activitiesOpens in new tabBerlin: 1-Hour City Tour by Boat with Guaranteed Seating
Private & custom tours
See all 354 activitiesOpens in new tabPrivate Walking Tour: World War 2 and Cold War Sites in Berlin
Food, drink & nightlife
See all 90 activitiesOpens in new tabBerliner Residenz Orchestra Concert in Charlottenburg
Adventure & outdoor
See all 81 activitiesOpens in new tabBerlin Highlights: 3-Hour Bike Tour
Shows & concerts
See all 41 activitiesOpens in new tabBerliner Residenz Orchestra Concert in Charlottenburg
Reviews of Checkpoint Charlie Museum
3/5 - Okay
Decent. Only OK. You can move through it quickly if you already have a grasp of the history. But the lazy, not recently re-invested in, "museum" relies on endless boards. True displays can be walked by and understood quickly. I can read on my own without standing in a room with people milling around me reading boards. Displays that are overly dependent for their efficacy on text are not true displays -- they are pages.
3/5 - Okay
Is fairly expensive to get in
2/5 - Disappointing
Did not go. Very touristy attraction
3/5 - Okay
Disapointing
4/5 - Good
Busy place but worth seeing!
Popular places to visit
Checkpoint Charlie
Learn about the history of Checkpoint Charlie, a well-known monument in Berlin. Discover the entertainment choices and notable monuments in this vibrant area.
Topography of Terror
You can study the exhibits at Topography of Terror, a museum with a storied past, during your trip to Berlin. Experience the acclaimed art scene and entertainment choices in this vibrant area.
Martin-Gropius Bau
You can study the exhibits at Martin-Gropius Bau, a museum with a storied past, during your trip to Berlin. Discover the acclaimed theater scene and notable monuments in this vibrant area.
Berlinische Galerie
You can browse the exhibits at Berlinische Galerie, a museum with a story of its own, during your travels to Berlin. Discover the acclaimed theater scene and shops in this vibrant area.
Jewish Museum Berlin
Rich with history, Jewish Museum Berlin is a cultural attraction worth visiting in Berlin. Experience the acclaimed theater scene and entertainment choices in this vibrant area.
German Cathedral
Learn about the local history of Berlin with a stop at German Cathedral. Visit the notable monuments and shops in this vibrant area.
Best Lodging Options Near Checkpoint Charlie Museum
Check availability on hotels close to Checkpoint Charlie Museum
- Vacations and getaways similar to Checkpoint Charlie Museum
- Other Hotels near Checkpoint Charlie Museum, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
- Hotels near popular Berlin Attractions
- More Hotel Options in Checkpoint Charlie Museum
- Expedia's Latest Trends
- IntercityHotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof
- TITANIC Comfort Berlin Mitte
- URBAN LOFT Berlin
- TITANIC Gendarmenmarkt Berlin
- NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie
- Mövenpick Hotel Berlin
- Hotel Adlon Kempinski
- Courtyard by Marriott Berlin City Center
- Leonardo Hotel Berlin Mitte
- Crowne Plaza Berlin - Potsdamer Platz, an IHG Hotel
- Space Night - Hostel
- Hotels near Alexanderplatz
- Hotels near Checkpoint Charlie
- Hotels near Brandenburg Gate
- Hotels near Potsdamer Platz
- Hotels near Kurfürstendamm
- Hotels near Mercedes-Benz Arena
- Hotels near Reichstag Building
- Hotels near Gendarmenmarkt
- Hotels near Waldbühne
- Hotels near Berlin Wall Memorial
- Hotels near Friedrichstrasse
- Hotels near Museum Island
- Hotels near Friedrichstadt-Palast
- Hotels near Hackescher Markt
- Hotels near Berliner Philharmonie