Guide to Visiting Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears) Museum in Berlin

Are you interested in learning more about what Berlin was like when it was a divided city? The Tränenpalast Museum (Tränenpalast means Palace of Tears) is an excellent place for learning about the realities of crossing the border between East Berlin and West Berlin. In this article, I’ll explain more about the the museum and everything you need to know when visiting Tränenpalast in Berlin.

This is one of the more interesting things to do in Berlin if you want to learn more details about how the Cold War affected ordinary people. It’s a small museum but well curated.

About the Berlin Wall

If you don’t know a lot about the Berlin Wall, it separated East and West Berlin for more than 28 years, from 1961 to 1989. After World War II, East and West Germany became two different countries, with the East backed by the Soviets.

Not only was the country divided, but Berlin was also divided into East and West. After more than a decade of East German residents migrating to the West, the East German leadership tried to control the situation by putting up physical barriers in the city.

On August 13, 1961, fences and barbed wire went up along the border dividing East and West Berlin. These fences were quickly replaced by a concrete wall, and the border area became more and more fortified.

That single Berlin Wall evolved into an inner and outer Wall. Between them was a no man’s land, dubbed the death strip because it’s where people trying to escape could end up being shot to death.

Watch towers, guard dogs, and bright lights were used to detect people who were trying to escape across the border.

There were only a few places where people could legally cross from one side to the other, and it was usually only people from the West coming to the East. Tränenpalast was one of the crossing points.

>>Read: 21 Places to See the Berlin Wall + 13 Other Wall Attractions

History and facts about Tränenpalast / Palace of Tears

Located in central Berlin, this was one of the few crossing points during the division of Berlin. People could come from West Berlin to visit family in East Berlin, and it was a painful good-bye when they returned to the West.

The Friedrichstr station had customs and passport control checkpoints, as well as a surveillance system. Museum visitors can see this checkpoint and go through it themselves.

The museum’s exhibits also focus on personal experiences and stories from people who went through this border crossing. Learn how they kept in touch with family on the other side of the border, and how they sometimes smuggled items across.

I saw photos of people who escaped across the border, along with some of the items they took with them. There was even a story of one family who buried their family dishes before fleeing to the West, and how they came back to dig them up after the Wall came down.

The focus is definitely on this particular border crossing, but it gives you an excellent image of what life was like during that time period.

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How to visit the Palace of Tears Museum

The Palace of Tears Museum has a free audio guide that will take you through the permanent exhibits and tell you about the history of this place. It’s available in German, English, French, Spanish, and Italian.

You can also take a free guided tour, although there isn’t a lot of availability in English. Ask at the front desk when you arrive, but generally they only have English tours on every second Friday at 5pm.

You can more easily book a tour for a group of 10 or more people. Otherwise the audio guide is a better option for individuals or smaller groups.

I also thought it was fine to experience the museum without the audio guide. The signs are in both German and English, and it was interesting to learn about the people who lived through this period of Berlin’s history.

What to wear on your visit

Since the Palace of Tears Museum is likely just one stop on a long day of sightseeing in Berlin, you’ll be on your feet a lot. Wear comfortable shoes, and dress for the weather at the time of year you’re visiting Berlin.

>>Read: What to Wear & What to Pack for Berlin, Germany: Your Ultimate Berlin Packing List

How to get to the Palace of Tears Museum

Tränenpalast is located at Reichstagufer 17, 10117 Berlin, just outside the S&U Friedrichstraße station. It’s easy to reach on foot or by using public transport.

You can get here using the U6 Ubahn line, tram 12 or M1, or one of several Sbahn lines.

The S1, S2, S25, and S26 run north/south and connect you to Brandenburger Tor and Potsdamer Platz to the south, and Oranienburger Strasse and Nordbahnhof to the north. The S3, S5, S7, and S9 run east/west and connect you to the Zoo station in the west, and Alexanderplatz in the east.

If you’re coming on foot: From the Reichstag Building, walk east along the river on Reichstagufer. Or from Unter den Linden, walk north on Friedrichstr and then turn left just past the station.

Things to know before you go

Before you visit the Palace of Tears Museum, here are a few more pieces of advice to help you enjoy one of the most interesting Cold War sites in Berlin.

How much does it cost to visit the Palace of Tears Museum?

The Palace of Tears Museum is a free entrance museum in Berlin and does not require timed tickets. This is one of the more popular free things to do in Berlin, so come early if you can, and be patient if it’s busy while you’re visiting.

If you have any bags with you, they will request that you put them in a locker. You’ll need a 1 or 2 euro coin to use the locker, but you get it back once you’re done.

I just had a 25L day pack, and they still wanted me to put it in a locker, so come prepared with a coin.

Palace of Tears opening hours

Tränenpalast is open every day except Mondays. Holiday hours may differ.

Tuesday to Friday: 9am – 7pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Monday: Closed

How much time do you need to visit the Palace of Tears Museum?

This is a small museum, so 30 minutes to an hour is enough time to visit Tränenpalast. Take your time reading the signs, looking at the photos, and seeing the different exhibits.

There’s a small screen set up showing film clips about the divided city, before and after the Wall, which is maybe 10 or 15 minutes long. It’s in German with English subtitles.

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Things to do near Tränenpalast

With so many other things to do near the Palace of Tears, you’re spoiled for options. And besides the things I’ve listed below, you’ll have easy access to public transport, so you can get to another part of the city for sightseeing.

Reichstag Building

Opened in 1894, the Reichstag Building is a unique piece of architecture. It is also where the German parliament meets.

You can take a tour of parts of the building, mainly in the glass dome, where you can learn more about the history of Germany. This building also has a rooftop terrace and restaurant, which promises panoramic views of Berlin.

Tours into the glass dome are free, but advanced booking is required. You can walk along the river to the Reichstag Building in about 10 minutes or so.

Unter den Linden

Unter den Linden is the street that runs between Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island. It’s a lovely tree-lined street that’s great for a stroll as you check out some of Berlin’s top attractions.

Be sure to stop by Bebelplatz, a gorgeous square next to the Berlin State Opera House. Here you can see the Nazi book burning memorial – look down and you’ll see empty shelves under the glass.

From the Palace of Tears, walk south on Friedrichstr for about 5 minutes or so, and you’ll reach Unter den Linden. Check out our full guide to visiting Unter den Linden in Berlin.

Tiergarten

Tiergarten is a huge inner-city park—the largest of its kind in Germany. Originally a hunting ground dating back to 1527, this vast green space has become one of the most loved public parks in Berlin over the years.

Throughout the park there are statues, memorials, ponds, tree-lined thoroughfares, and lawns. When the weather’s warm in Berlin, it’s here that people flock for strolling, picnicking, and generally hanging out, making it a great spot to people-watch.

Tiergarten is located just west of Brandenburg Gate, and you can get there by walking 10-15 minutes from the Palace of Tears, or go one stop on the Sbahn. Check out my full guide to Visiting Tiergarten Park in Berlin.

Holocaust Memorial

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, often referred to as the Holocaust Memorial, honors the large number of Jewish people who died at the hands of the Nazis. It’s one of the most important World War II sites in Berlin.

The memorial consists of 2,711 concrete blocks of varying heights, and the ground they sit on is an uneven slope similar to a wave. The information center showcases letters, diaries, photographs, and biographies of the victims to help personalize the experience.

Entrance is free. Photography is allowed (no flash inside) but please be respectful.

Do not sit on or climb on the cement slabs or take selfies. This is a place to reflect and remember those who were murdered.

To get here, it’s about a 15-20 minute walk from the Palace of Tears Museum, or take the Sbahn to Brandenburger Tor and walk a few minutes south.

Brandenburger Tor

Brandenburg Gate, or Brandenburger Tor in German, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Germany, and it’s just a 10-15 minutes walking from the Palace of Tears, or one stop on the Sbahn. It was one of the old city gates marking the edge of Berlin, though today it’s very much in the center of the city.

When the Berlin Wall stood, Brandenburg Gate was on the East but only barely. The Wall was built around it, making it inaccessible by residents of either side.

This is a great place for pictures, and one of Berlin’s most famous landmarks.

Museum Island

Museum Island is the name of a complex of multiple museums loaded with history, art, and culture. The five museums together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s roughly 10 minutes walking from the Palace of Tears Museum.

Museum Island includes the following museums: Pergamonmuseum, Altes Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Bode Museum, and Neues Museum. Each museum has a different focus, including Egyptian art, antiquities, Romantic, Impressionist and early Modernist art, Byzantine art, Islamic art, collections of coins, a bust of Nefertiti, the Pergamon Alter, and much more.

Berliner Dom

The Berlin Cathedral, or Berliner Dom in German, is a gorgeous Protestant cathedral in central Berlin. It’s one of the most well known attractions in the city.

The admission fee includes a tour (when religious services are not taking place) so you can learn about the history of the cathedral. You can also climb 270 stairs for impressive panoramic views of Berlin.

In front of the cathedral, you’ll find a gorgeous park called Lustgarten where people often relax on warm, sunny days. It’s located on Museum Island, so you’ll also be close to the famous collection of museums, and it’s about 15 minutes or so walking from the Tränenpalast Museum.

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this guide to visiting Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears) in Berlin is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!