Has it really been that long? On the night of November 9-10 1989, the border crossings between East and West Berlin were opened. The Wall fell. The path to reunification was clear. Thousands of people poured across the borders. The peaceful revolution had led to a coup that went down in history books - and can be experienced on the spot in Berlin.
Come with us on a journey into the past, find out more about the historical background and get tips on where and how you can learn more about the day the Wall came down live in Berlin and, of course, digitally.
Tip 1: Think about boundaries during Freedom Week
To mark the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November, Berlin will once again be commemorating the peaceful revolution and the overcoming of German division with numerous events in 2026. For the second time, Berlin Freedom Week invites you to explore the themes of freedom, democracy and the boundaries of our time. A special experience is the dance performance BEYOND LINES on 9 November at the historic Tränenpalast. In the very place where people once bid farewell in tears, the LUNA PARK ensemble uses dance and movement to tell a story of new beginnings, fear, hope and the courage to overcome boundaries. The performances at 6 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm each last 45 minutes and are free of charge; registration is required.
When: 9 November, 6 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm, registration required
Where: Tränenpalast, Reichstagufer 17, Mitte
Tip 2: The East Side Gallery is the longest open-air gallery in the world
At 1,316 meters, the East Side Gallery on the banks of the Spree in Friedrichshain is the longest continuous section of the Wall. Here you can see originals by over 100 artists, including the Brotherly Kiss by Dimitrji Vrubel, but also works by Thierry Noir and Jim Avignon. The world’s longest open-air gallery is now a listed building. Be sure to find out about guided tours along the East Side Gallery; these are often led by eyewitnesses who can provide fascinating insights into that turbulent period.
East Side Gallery
Tip 3: Where to find remnants of the Berlin Wall in the capital
So that you don't have to cycle the whole Wall cycle path, we have selected the 11 top places in Berlin's districts where you can see remnants of the Berlin Wall. These include, of course, such well-known sites as Checkpoint Charlie, the East Side Gallery, the Bösebrücke and the Berlin Wall Park.These include, of course, such well-known sites as Checkpoint Charlie, the East Side Gallery, the Bösebrücke and the Berlin Wall Park. But there are also some cemeteries with listed wall remains.
Top 11 places to see remnants of the Berlin wall
Tip 4: Why Checkpoint Charlie is so famous
"Attention: Your are leaving the American Sector." Not only the scene of history, but also the backdrop for many spy thrillers, Checkpoint Charlie on the corner of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße is certainly one of the most famous former border crossings. American and Soviet tanks faced each other here in October 1961. Images from the divided city that went around the world at the time.
Over the next few years, the memorial site is to be further expanded and redesigned. You will learn more about the Checkpoint, including the fact that the border post you see today is only a tiny part of what was once a vast border crossing where traffic entering and leaving the country was checked. The focus will remain on the history of the Berlin Wall right up to its fall, as well as its international implications.
Tip: Many other memorial sites are currently open to the public, such as the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse.
Checkpoint Charlie
Tip 5: Discover the history of the Berlin Wall at the original site
What was everyday life like in divided Berlin? And what stories lie behind the Berlin Wall? At the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße, you can get to the bottom of these questions. The permanent exhibition on the historic site tells the story of the city’s division, dramatic escape attempts and the impact of the Wall’s construction on people’s lives. Historical traces, personal stories and evocative memorial sites bring the history to life. Take your time to explore the site and discover how the Wall continues to shape Berlin to this day.
When: all year round, in the freely accessible outdoor area
Where: Bernauer Straße 111, Mitte and Gesundbrunnen
Tip 6: What you saw in 1980 when you looked over the wall
A normal autumn day in East Berlin in the 1980s. Behind the colourfully painted wall you can see the bare border strip and behind it the grey buildings an the TV-Tower of the former East Berlin. With countless lifelike details, the huge asisi panoramic picture of divided Berlin brings everyday life in the formerly divided city to life. From a four metre high platform, you can look into the Berlin of the 1980s, which conveys a tangibly authentic image on a scale of 1:1.
DIE MAUER - the asisi Panorama
Tip 7: Berlin Wall bike tour - 160 kilometres around the former West Berlin
Where exactly did the wall actually run? While the course in the city center is marked out over 5.7 kilometers with a double row of cobblestones, you can follow the former Wall on the Berlin Wall Trail for about 160 kilometers around the former West Berlin. You will pass numerous sights and memorials, pass historic border crossings, and sometimes simply drive through the Berlin countryside.
Berlin Wall bike tour
Tip 8: Discover the eventful history of Babelsberg Park
Immerse yourselves in the history of Babelsberg Palace with the help of your smartphone and the “Border-Zone” game app. Using the app, you’ll set off on an interactive treasure hunt and discover new spots in Babelsberg Park. The app is based on the memories of contemporary witnesses, who offer you fascinating insights into everyday life back then. It’s up to you: how would you decide in difficult conflict situations? Your decisions influence the course and outcome of the game. Discover history in a whole new way – interactively, personally and up close!
Border Zone game app
Tip 9: How the Stasi's eavesdropping technology worked
If you would like to know more about the former GDR, why not pay a visit to the DDR Museum? Visit a typical prefabricated flat and find out how the Stasi's eavesdropping techniques worked. You can also find many exciting topics online: In a video series, Dr Wolle answers questions and shares stories and facts about the German Democratic Republic and its dissolution. This includes the reappraisal of Stasi documents, political backgrounds, but also with topics such as the consecration of young people, Western parcels or how it was like back then in the vacation camp in the GDR.
DDR museum
Tip 10: In these films the Berlin Wall plays a role
If you can't come to Berlin at the moment, why not get a Berlin series or an exciting Berlin movie on TV on the day the Wall came down? Of course the Berlin Wall can also be seen in numerous comedies, dramas and thrillers. Especially in spy films the Wall and the border crossings (in the picture the border crossing at Bornholmer Straße) are a popular motif. We have selected a few particularly exciting highlights for you here.
Tip 11: How life is reclaiming the former "death strip"
Mauerpark is probably the largest recreational area that man and nature have reclaimed since the fall of the Wall. After the fall of the Wall, wild plants grew on the wasteland, then residents planted trees on the slope and now Mauerpark is a popular meeting place. There are green spaces, swings and playgrounds, the Moritzhof youth farm, graffiti areas, as well as a large flea market and regular concerts and the largest karaoke event in the city.
Mauerpark
Tip: Discover Berlin with our ABOUT BERLIN app. Our multimedia city guide takes you to the places where history was made in Berlin and brings historical moments to life. Now with many new tours and highlights relating to the fall of the Berlin Wall!
Download now for free.
