Checkpoint Charlie
- Address: Intersection of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße, Berlin
- Admission: Free
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Monument - Military,
Museum,
Plaza / Square
"You are leaving the American sector."
Memorialized in film and print, Checkpoint Charlie is the most famous symbol of Cold War era Berlin.
Marking the border crossing between the American Sector (Kreuzberg) and East Berlin (Mitte), only allied personnel and foreign visitors could pass through the checkpoint.
Checkpoint Charlie was the most famous security point in the Berlin Wall, but for most of its life it was little more than a wooden shack and boom gates. Today a replica shed stands in the middle of Friedrichstraße.
While you’re here, drop into the Mauer Museum (Haus am Checkpoint Charlie) to learn about the history of Checkpoint Charlie, and the audacious and often tragic attempts made by East Berliners to escape from East to West.
Latest Reviews
Review by Jodi R, Germany, September 2011
Doing what: Berlin Bike Tour
Note from Viator: Editor's Note: This review was written by Jodi Rose who wrote a complete Berlin Bike Tour overview (with video!) on our Things to Do in Berlin Blog.
Review by Graham C, September 2012
Doing what: Berlin Supersaver: Hop-on Hop-off City Tour and Skip the Line Entry to TV Tower
Except for a bit of trouble finding the pick-up point, as the location was very vague, in every other way this tour was very good. It went round all the major sites, and there was time to get off, see what you wanted in more detail, and not have long to wait for another bus to arrive. I was on the upper deck, and as a photographer I did wish the windows were set lower, or not there at all, as they are on the buses for some of the other similar tours. We were required to use seat belts and stay seated, which meant trying to take photographs through rain-spotted glass that also reflected the bus interior. Also, you really need to plan for more than one day on this type of tour. By the time I had got off at all the places I wanted to see and went through the Jewish Museum and the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, I missed the last bus and had to get a taxi back to my hotel. There was plenty of daylight left by then, so perhaps they should consider running the tours until sunset.
Review by Robert C, June 2012
Doing what: Berlin City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
Good orientation tour. Be sure to get off at Checkpoint Charlie, the Museum there was very, very good. We were able to see all the key spots in Berlin on this tour, so well worth it.
Practical Info
Checkpoint Charlie is in Kreuzberg, south of the River Spree. The closest station is Kochstraße.
