Teufelsberg

I definitely think this is a must visit when in Berlin. It was super cool to see the old stomping grounds of this old listening/spy building from the Cold War! It is pretty big and much more magnificent when you see it in person. Cash only to get in- as of 8-8-22, the admission is 8$, but 6$ if you have a CURRENT student ID. Guy at the front said you need your ID to show current date or have some type of evidence for that. So much beautiful artwork here each corner you turn. There is an array of countless photo opportunities here. Going to the rooftop was the most amazing view. I was also fortunate enough to go during sunset, so this was one view you could not miss. This was one of the highlights of my time here.

TL;DR - A unique place, but somewhat overrated.

Friends have been telling me for years that I need to come and visit Teufelsberg, so I was pleased to finally make it. I wanted to love this place, I truly did... but I came away feeling a big disappointed.

First up though, let's not ignore the obvious - this place is unique. Huge, decaying structures covered in graffiti. This is a setting unlike any other and offers a huge array of photo opportunities.

But on the downside, my friends who came here years ago told me it was free... but now you have to pay to get in. And it's not really clear what you're paying for... there was a shirtless hippy collecting money and flirting with girls and I think he was the only member of staff we saw. There are no explanatory signs or anything as you explore the site - you're literally paying to get in and that's it.

The other big disappointment was that the main building is now off limits for safety reasons. So much of the most impressive art is inaccessible. Overall, the trip was way less exciting than I had hoped.

But despite all that, the uniqueness of the place is probably still worth a visit. The distance from the city centre is a deterrent, but we rolled it in with a trip to the Olympic Stadium and a visit to the Gleis 17 memorial. You can do countryside walks between the three locations and in good weather it's glorious around there.

In July 1961, Mobile Allied listening units began operations on Teufelsberg, having surveyed various other locales throughout West Berlin in search of the best vantage point for listening to Soviet, East German, and other Warsaw Pact nations' radio traffic. They found that operations from atop Teufelsberg offered a marked improvement in listening ability. This discovery led to the construction of this large spy station to be run by the NSA (National Security Agency) atop the hill. After the fall of the Soviet Union the station was abandoned and left to decay as various plans to transform the site into a hotel, apartments, or a museum floundered. Today an anarchist group of artists rules the roost painting graffiti, sculpting, and partying until the City of Berlin can scrounge up the €50 million needed to purchase the station and restore it to the forest of Grunewald. ‍

Teufelsberg is becoming more and more popular since it get more and more noticed by recent movies or tv show. But yet it isn't a usual choice to the tourist,I think, one of the main reason, because of its distance to the center of the city. My suggestion is that if you have time, then this place is one of those cool places in Berlin to check out. I wasn't sure how long to it took exactly to get here by public transport, since I drove my way here. But that also took more then half hour. So I assumed it will probably take an hour to get here. And yes, there is a S-Bahn station around

Even by car, the parking lot and the abandoned felicity the top of the still have a some distance. Well, it was great to have a walk in the Grünwald anyway. But remember to wear a pair of trousers instead of shorts. Lots of mosquitos here.

I was as bit surprised that it actually need pay admission fee for this place. It cost 8 euro for each person for enter and 8 more for taking pictures. Well, it is a bit expensive, but I think, vistors should get the ticket with photo allowance. This place just a treasure of graffiti! And it is amazing to see and feel this historical felicity.

Unique place with beautiful murals but the entry fee is way too much - 8€!

A must see when visiting Germany!! You can take a tour for 7 euros or explore by yourself for 5 euros.

The history here is very interesting, underneath the hill used to be a Nazi military school that was never completed, it was too sturdy to be destroyed after WWII that it was instead covered with the immense amounts of rubble from the destruction of WWII. On top of the hill became the new location of an American spy station to spy on the Soviets in East Berlin. After the fall of the Berlin Wall the spy station was abandoned and eventually became a location for vandals and street artists.

During my visit many graffiti artists were at work and it seems that people were working on other projects as well cleaning up the area and moving dirt around in wheelbarrows.

The view from the top by the white domes is beautiful, you can see most of Berlin and outside of it as well.

Outside of the spy station area you can find a make-shift skatepark and bike course, and some type of wooden crate amphitheater.

Yes, you do pay an entrance fee to people who hold this property under squirrelly circumstances. No, there aren't any benefits of entrance other than the ability to walk around. Yes, the place is covered in street art and run by anti-establishment folks. Given the incredible views and fascinating history, it's still worth a trip. This place is haunting. Don't miss out on the opportunity to climb up and into the largest listening dome..... seriously bizarre acoustics in there. Do yourself a favor, read the history and then cough up the 8 Euro and enter with an open and exploratory mind.

Just two stars for the place itself and the nice view you can enjoy from here.

Nonetheless I wouldn't recommend to pay entry and much less to take the tour.
The guides are a******* that barely answer questions and the place itself is beyond shabby chic - it's just ruined. It's a rip-off.

Also: They tell you that they have amazing graffiti and street art on the building. That's another lie. Sure there is graffiti and such all over the place, but definitely NOT Berlin's finest. Just wander around the city in Kreuzberg/Friedrichshain/Wedding and you see much better street art by internationally renowned artists for free.

Save you 15 EUR entry fee and spend them on delicious cake and coffee at the nearby Naturschutzzentrum Ökowerk Berlin.
And for a even better view over the City: Go to the Funkturm near Messe, where you have a brilliant view for just a fiver!

Five stars for Teufelsberg -- an amazing view of Berlin surrounded by beautiful forest. One star for the tour and the sketchy company running them.

It seems the rules of entrance to this place keep changing. As of today, you must be part of a guided tour and pay 15 euros for entry (8 euros for students -- flash any ID and say you're a student). You cannot pay an entrance fee and wander the place on your own.

This is an abandoned site and charging entry feels like extortion, especially at such a cost.

This tour was entirely in German (fine), but the guide, who said he would give the tour in English as well, ended up not doing so. He spoke English, and when I asked a question in English (to the side), he responded in German.

This is a very cool place that is being run very strangely. Tours are 15 euro, 8 for students, which seems very high to tour an abandoned property. Our tour had maybe 50 people in it. At the beginning the guide asked how many people didn't speak German. There were maybe ten of us, and the guide said that he would give English explanations as well. This did not happen. I understand that the majority of the tour needed to be in German, but it would have been very nice to have a sentence every now and then about where we were. When I asked the guide a question in English, he responded in German, despite obviously speaking English. The site is going to ruins and covered in fairly average graffiti. If it's supposed to be an artist colony or project, it's doing a pretty poor job of it.

The views are wonderful, and I'm glad to have been there. But 15 euros is way too much for a tour of urban ruins, especially one that is given condescendingly. The tour setup is extremely shady -- it seems that the property is owned by a private company that has sold tour rights to the people living there. I'm great with squatters, etc., but the way that this place is being run just doesn't play nicely with that ethos. I felt more like I was being fleeced at a carnival, albeit one with nice views.