It was the most famous of all the checkpoints along the Berlin Wall and is still a major tourist attraction. A visit to Berlin wouldn't be complete without a look here!
Built-in 1961 along with the Wall, it was a major crossing point between east and west Germany for 28 years and at times, a point of tension between the allied forces and Soviets.
It became a significant point for people attempting to escape from the east side to the west, with many ingenious ways devised to get across.
The original guard hut has long since been removed and put on display in the open-air museum of the Allied Museum in Berlin-Zehlendorf. This replica in the centre of street draws scores of tourists to it every day running the gauntlet between cars to get to the centre of the road and take a picture.
When it was in operation, only foreigners were allowed to cross through it, and occasionally it was used for prisoner swaps. It is one of the most visited tourist spots in Germany with an estimated 800,000 people descending on it each year.
Free to visit, you'll find public transport links nearby or take a guided tour with one of the many bus companies that operate around the city. Fifteen minutes is all you would need to see it. Still, there are lots of other attractions and places to eat nearby, so you could easily spend a few hours looking around the area.
