Learning history at the Bunker Museum in Berlin.
Another couple of hours of fascinating history await you!
If you’re visiting Berlin, learning the story of this iconic city is a must, and there’s no better place to dive in than the Berlin Bunker Museum.
Planning a trip to the German capital?
This blog will guide you through one of its most captivating historical landmarks.
During my recent trip to Berlin, I explored many of the city’s historical landmarks, and the Bunker Museum is definitely one of the most interesting ones.
Housed in a multi-level WWII-era air-raid shelter, it offers two highly immersive exhibitions…
One detailing the history of Berlin, and the other examining the life and impact of Adolf Hitler.
You could easily spend a whole afternoon educating yourself on the city’s vast history.
Ready to visit?
Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip!
The former World War II bunker.
Disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate marketing. This will not cost you anything, but helps with my travel costs. I only recommend companies I use myself.
How to visit the Berlin Bunker Museum.
The Berlin Bunker Museum, which is also known as the Berlin Story Bunker is located at Schöneberger Str. 23A, near the Anhalter Bahnhof S-Bahn station.
‘Schöneberger Str 23A. 10963 Berlin’.
The Museum is housed in a massive World War II air-raid bunker, which was built in 1942 after the "Führer's immediate order" to build bunkers.
The 6,500 square metre bunker is well signposted, and can’t be missed once you arrive at its car park entrance.
Street sign.
As a first-time visitor to Berlin, you will find public transport is very efficient and easy to navigate.
Berlin's city transport system includes U-Bahn (subway), S-Bahn (urban trains), buses, and trams, all integrated into a single ticketing system.
Purchase tickets at machines or via the BVG app before boarding. Don’t forget to validate your ticket at the yellow or red machines dotted around the stations.
Entrance to the museum.
Directions to Berlin Story Bunker.
From Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): Take the S-Bahn (S9 or S45) to central Berlin.
To Berlin Bunker Museum: Use S-Bahn lines S1, S2, or S25 to Anhalter Bahnhof. Once you arrive at Anhalter Bahnhof, exit the station and walk approximately 300 meters (4-5 minutes) to Schöneberger Str. 23A.
City Center Exploration: Use U-Bahn lines U2, U5, and U6 for easy access to Alexanderplatz, Brandenburg Gate, and Museum Island.
Day passes are cost-effective for unlimited travel in Berlin. We found ourselves traversing the city a lot to see the different landmarks.
Berlin Bunker Museum Practical Information:
Opening times:
Everyday = 10:00am – 7:00pm, last admission (5:30pm).
Entrance costs:
Adults €12.
Students/Kids €9.
(Card payment only).
You can purchase tickets in advance here.
Introduction to the Berlin Story Bunker.
The Berlin Story Bunker is an immersive museum located in a World War II era air-raid shelter near Anhalter Station in Berlin, which offers visitors a detailed insight into the history of Berlin, along with the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler.
Since the bunker first opened its doors to the public in 2007, international visitors have learned about the 800 year history of the German capital in an interactive way.
Through combining wartime conditions inside the bunker, with visual exhibitions and audio commentary, many tourists end up spending the whole afternoon immersed in the unique experience.
It is hardly one of the most aesthetic locations in Berlin, however, the bunker’s interior and exterior reflect the tough conditions of less than one century ago.
One of many information boards.
What to expect inside the bunker.
The Berlin Story Bunker was one of the most interesting places I visited during my day exploring Berlin.
With the museum being housed in an authentic bunker used during World War II, you can expect a gritty experience in certain areas of the museum, especially down in the basement.
The exhibitions are very detailed and professional and the texts are displayed in German and English.
You will follow the exhibitions through many rooms over two floors.
There is also a free audio guide, which is also available in German, English, along with another 10 languages.
Bunker vibes.
Hitler – How could it happen?
The Hitler Exhibition at the Berlin Story Bunker offers a sobering exploration of Adolf Hitler’s life, the rise of the Nazi regime, and the catastrophic impact of World War II.
You will learn about his life through carefully curated artifacts, multimedia presentations, and detailed documentation.
The exhibit sheds light on how one man’s ideology and the socio-political climate of the time led to one of history’s darkest chapters.
A whole museum of Hitler’s life.
Visitors can expect a chronological narrative, beginning with Hitler’s early life, his failed aspirations as an artist, and his transformation into a political figure.
The exhibit then delves into his rise to power, the mechanics of Nazi propaganda, and the brutal realities of the Holocaust.
There is also a meticulously recreated model of the Führerbunker, offering a glimpse into Hitler’s final days during Berlin’s fall.
This was a thought-provoking exhibition, which educates,, but also serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance against hate and extremism, making it a must visit museum for anyone seeking to understand the complex history of the 20th century.
Propagand posters.
The story of Berlin: A journey through time.
Inside the Berlin Story Bunker, visitors can expect a meticulously curated journey through Berlin’s rich and turbulent history.
The museum has over 40 different exhibitions, with some dedicated to chronicle the city's evolution.
starting from its medieval origins and continuing through significant periods such as the Prussian Empire, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, the Cold War, and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
A timeline of Berlin’s history.
Here are the some of the main era’s of Berlin’s past which are focused on:
Napoleon occupies Berlin: During the War of the Fourth Coalition, primarily as part of his broader campaign to dominate Europe.
Berlin's Imperial Era: The city's rise under the Kaiserreich.
The Weimar Republic: Insights into Berlin’s cultural and political revolution during the interwar period.
The Nazi Era and WWII: A detailed exploration of Hitler’s rise, the consequences of National Socialism.
The Cold War: Berlin's division and the symbolic fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Modern Berlin: A look at the city’s resilience and transformation into today’s modern inclusive capital.
I found that the exhibitions provided a comprehensive narrative showcased in a simple way.
The German capital has some vast history!
Munich was an important city for Hitler.
Did Hitler die in the Berlin Story Bunker?
No, Hitler died in the Führerbunker, which was a separate fortified underground bunker complex near the Reich Chancellery in central Berlin.
The Führerbunker is the location where Adolf Hitler and his wife, Eva Braun, ended their lives on April 30, 1945, as Soviet forces advanced on Berlin in the closing days of World War II.
Hitlers teeth.
The famous Führerbunker model.
After learning about ‘Führerbunker’ earlier in your tour, you will also get the chance to see a model replica of the location Hitler’s final moments.
The model reconstructs the bunker in a detailed way, with rooms such as Hitler's personal quarters, conference rooms, and the area where his death occurred.
There are also informative panels, photos, and multimedia displays located in the same room as the model, as the Bunker Museum offers visitors a perspective of Berlin during those days.
A replica of führerbunker.
How long is needed in the Bunker?
How long is a piece of string?
You could literally spend all day exploring the Bunker, as there is detailed information in all 44 of the exhibits.
I stayed around 90 minutes, but that was with me moving fairly swiftly through the museum, and scanning some of the information.
If you spend more time and use the audio guide throughout, you could be closer to three hours!
I would dedicate a full afternoon to your museum visit, if it is one of your priorities in Berlin.
The basement of the bunker is an authentic experience.
Seeing colourful and interactive exhibits is one thing, however, when I headed down to the basement level of the 5 floor bunker, the stories I had been reading felt real, all of a sudden!
The dirty and dark conditions still preserve the wartime conditions of the bunker…
Don’t forget, this was an actual bunker used during World War 2!
between 5000 and 10,000 people hid in these bunkers during war time, when Berlin as bombed ferociously.
I was down in the basement alone which made my experience even more eerie.
Echoes, drafts, and flickering lights made it a scary place to be!
I am not sure idf this is done on purpose, for effect, but either way, it definitely changed my perception of the information I had consumed for the prior 90 minutes.
If you want an immersive end to your Bunker tour, then head downstairs.
It reminded me of the Bunk’Art Museum in Tirana, Albania.
An eerie corridor.
An immersive wander.
A different vibe in Berlin to enjoy.
There is no doubt that learning the city’s history will fill a large chunk of your Berlin itinerary, as the German capital has had such a turbulent past.
However, if you prefer the artistic side of cities, then you should head to Dead Chicken Alley, which is located at Rosenthaler Strasse 39 in the Mitte district.
With quirky bars, street art and a laid back vibe, the famous alley is fun to explore briefly, or to sit and enjoy a drink.
The unique city space will also offer you a history fix, with the Otto Weidt Museum and Anne Frank Centre located in and around the quirky alleyway.
Disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate marketing. This will not cost you anything, but helps with my travel costs. I only recommend companies I use myself.