Berlin is known and appreciated all over the world for its alternative flair and willfulness. So it’s hardly surprising that the capital’s art scene is also a little eccentric! The museums in Berlin are just as eccentric, often pursuing somewhat unusual concepts. In addition to the big names with their world-famous treasures, the capital also offers more unusual ones that are just as worth seeing. We have put together a few highlights for you!
1st German Spy Museum
From secret codes and Checkpoint Charlie to the Stasi and Teufelsberg – Berlin is the capital of spies. At the German Spy Museum, you can slip into the role of an agent and learn to distinguish between truth and deception. Decipher secret codes, master the laser course, outwit the lie detector or open the hidden safe. Discover original objects such as Hitler’s cipher machine, James Bond props or unusual gadgets such as bugs and bra cameras. Multimedia reports from top spies bring the history of espionage to life. With state-of-the-art equipment and interactive stations, you can immerse yourself in a world full of illusions, secrets and exciting missions.
Location: German Spy Museum, Leipziger Pl. 9, 10117 Berlin | More info
2. unusual museums in the Nikolai Quarter
There are three museums in Berlin’s historic heart, the Nikolai Quarter, that are just that little bit special:
The Museum Knoblauchhaus, for example, is located here , a historical house museum that presents visitors with the typical interior of a typical Berlin town house.
Right next door is the Hemp Museum, which is dedicated to the culture and various uses of the hemp plant. It takes visitors on a comprehensive and educational journey through the world of hemp and explores its historical significance as well as its current applications.
The Designpanoptikum, on the other hand, offers entry into the surreal world of curiosities. A mysterious collection of bizarre mechanical sculptures, old medical instruments and strange objects that challenge conventional aesthetics are waiting to be unveiled.
3rd Museum of Letters
This museum does not collect exhibits in the classic sense, but it is rich in typographic treasures. This truly unique collection comprises over 1000 letters, lettering, logos and signs. A large part of it comes from the Berlin cityscape, but there are also international contributions to the alphabet soup.
Location: Buchstabenmuseum, Stadtbahnbogen 424, Charlottenburg | More info
4TH IKONO
If you are looking for an extraordinary activity in the heart of Berlin, then IKONO is just the place for you. You can expect an exciting and unforgettable experience lasting around an hour, with over 14 different rooms that will take you on a journey together. In this creative world, you will become artists yourselves and design each experience according to your own ideas. Be surprised by the unexpected spaces that will awaken your senses. Share your experiences with each other and enjoy discovering a destination that is as unique as you are!
Location: Rathausstraße 4/6, Berlin, Mitte | More info
5th Trabi Museum
Travel back to the GDR and embark on an exciting journey through time at the Trabi Museum at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin! Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of the legendary Trabant cars and admire rare rally cars, military vehicles and vintage cars up close. An absolute must for all car and history enthusiasts! You can find discounted tickets with this promotion!
Location: Trabi-Museum, Zimmerstraße 14-15, Kreuzberg | More info
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6th Anti-War Museum
The museum in Wedding dedicates its exhibition to the horrors of the two world wars. This is underpinned by original exhibits, air raid shelters and pacifist art.
Location: Anti-War Museum, Brüsseler Straße 21, Wedding | More information
7th Computer Games Museum
Geeks and nerds of all countries unite! At the Computer Games Museum, you can experience the development of our favorite entertainment media live. From the first attempts at consoles to ultra-modern 3D worlds – here you will find everything from 70 years of entertainment electronics. Best of all, you can even try out most of them! You can also find an offer for discounted tickets here!
Location: Computer Games Museum, Karl-Marx-Allee 93a, Friedrichshain | More info
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8th Disgusting Food Museum
This unusual museum presents specialties from all over the world that may be a little off-putting to Western tastes – and is without question one of the most special museums in Berlin! In the permanent exhibition you can get to know interesting dishes, perhaps disgust yourself a little, but also get to know the context of these dishes and their cultural background. Definitely a good place to broaden your own (culinary) horizons and test your culinary tolerance limits.
Location: Disgusting Food Museum, Schützenstraße 70, Mitte | More info
9th open-air gas lantern museum
Not far from Tiergarten S, you will find Europe’s largest open-air gas lantern museum. Here you will find around 100 lanterns from all directions and decades, some originals and some replicas. You can take a leisurely stroll through them at any time of day. The museum does not charge an entrance fee and is freely accessible in the Tiergarten. We therefore recommend a visit in the evening, when the illuminations radiate their magic with particular intensity. Right next to it on Straße des 17. Juni, you will also find other historically interesting street lights. These were designed by Hitler’s architect Albert Speer and were also intended for use in the planned Victory Avenue of the Reich capital Germania.
Location: Gaslaternen-Freilichtmuseum, Straße des 17. Juni, Tiergarten | More info
10th Deja Vu Museum
There are many unusual museums in Berlin, but the Deja Vu Museum has been setting the tone for years! Here you can fully indulge in the world of illusions! In various rooms you can explore entire galaxies, sit in the center of natural spectacles and experience abstract floods of colors and shapes. Definitely very trippy and a unique experience!
Location: Deja Vu Museum, Rochstraße 14c, Mitte | More info
11th Illuseum Berlin
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Watch out at the Illuseum Berlin: as the name suggests, this museum is dedicated entirely to optical illusions. Here you become part of the experience yourself! Instead of classic exhibits, there are interactive installations, amazing mirror rooms and seemingly impossible physical scenarios. Magic shows take place every week on “Magic Tuesday”, and other workshops and a children’s program make this museum so entertaining. Experience for yourself how your senses can be deceived!
Location: Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 9, Mitte | More info
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12th Berlin Dungeon
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Thrills and spooky fun: In the Berlin Dungeon, instead of a classic museum, you can experience an interactive show and adventure ride. Have you always wanted to find out more about the dark side of Berlin’s history? Thrills are guaranteed here. Professional actors and special backdrops allow you to immerse yourself in scary episodes of the city’s history. What was the plague like in Berlin and what was the legend of “White Franz”? The entertainment value here is greater than in almost any other museum in Berlin.
Location: Spandauer Str. 2, Mitte | More info
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13th The Wall: asisi Panorama Berlin
One of the most famous sights in Berlin is, of course, the Wall. And instead of just walking past it from the outside, you can experience the past first-hand in this unusual museum. Go on a journey back in time to the exciting 1980s and feel the atmosphere of the divided city. On 900 square meters and a four-meter-high visitor platform, you can see life in the former Berlin up close. A floor-to-ceiling panorama installation offers you the perfect illusion of the past.
Location: asisi Panorama Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie, Friedrichstraße 205, Mitte | More information
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14th Germany Museum
The Deutschlandmuseum sounds like a pretty ordinary experience at first. And it’s partly true: German history from the Stone Age to the present day is presented here. But unlike many other history museums, the exhibition is highly modern and interactive – more like an amusement park in 4D. The historical events and contexts are presented using multimedia and you are included in the stories. Discover history in a completely different way! This museum has even won several awards for its unusual approach and was the first museum in Germany to be honored with the prestigious THEA Award, the Oscar of the entertainment industry.
Location: Deutschlandmuseum, Leipziger Pl. 7, Mitte | More info