german national museum of contemporary history

The best thing about this museum in the name - it is a museum of *contemporary* history. No having to go through halls of pre-history and middle ages before you get to things you (or people you know) might be able to remember. There is a good mix of exhibits in display cases, large exhibits and things to keep hands busy, but I would agree with other reviewers that if you don;t speak German, you are well advised to use the audio guide - free, but you'll need some form of deposit. When I asked how long it would take, the receptionist suggested 45 minutes. What she didn't say is that was just the audio guide - I was there nearly three hours and only left because it was closing time!Without doubt one of the best museums I have visited in Germany.

huge exhibit of german history since 1945, very educational for our whole family, we'll surely be back to see more as we simply ran out of time this time round. Well worth the visit!

Very nice museum, everything is set up very well chronological, the staff was ok not very wow, I would recommend to ask for a tour guide as most of the details are in German. The coffe shop and suvenir shop were disappointing but that's OK, I like the fact that the tram brings u right inside the museum and it's very easy to get there from the downtown and that entry is free.

We dropped into this free museum, which is a short u Bahn ride from Bonn hbf, not knowing what to expect. But this museum is a great example of how a nation can reflect on the turbulent 80 years. Suitable for any history buff, exhibitions include how Germany commemorates it's past, the history of immigration and finally, a fantastic exhibition tracing how Germany coped with the aftermath of ww2 up to the modern day. I can't praise this exhibition enough. It was informative, interactive and took the visitor on a journey through West and East Germany. I would recommend getting a free audio guide from reception as only a few signs are in English. There's also a decent cafe so you can spend the whole day there quite easily. Highly recommend going!

This is a fascinating museum. The major placards are translated into English, though each item is not. Excellent multimedia displays, very engaging, but not great for kids unless they are big history buffs. The museum starts in the Nazi era and goes through current day. The post-war period is particularly well done. Be sure to allow at least 2-3 hours, and if you are really into history you could easily spend more time.

You must but bags and coats in the free cloakroom to the left of the main reception on arrival before visiting the main museum exhibit on the ground floor. The time after WW2 is covered in detail with both English & German descriptions, although more in German. There are many floors with lots of interesting exhibits which is laid out in time order going up to the current day. This is a slightly random mix at times but interesting. We walked to the museum along the riverbank path for great views of the Rhine and got the underground back as it a fair walk.

An very interesting museum following the Germeny's history starting with WW II until nowadays.Free entry.There is a cafe when you can have a break.I think it's better to visit it in the afternoon.I visited it in the morning and it was very crowded,scores of school children with their teachers where there.

The best part of the exhibition is on the ground floor, where the time after the big war is covered. If you have some time left on a rainy day, go there, it's free. If not, there a better places to spend your time in Bonn: Beethoven House, a tour on the river Rhine, the Museum of Art, the alt town hall and the beautiful city center, ....

This museum is located to the west of Friedrich-Ebert-Allee just south of the junction with Reuterstraße to the south of Bonn.There are several museums along this street: this one is the furthest north (closest to Bonn). There is a large multi-storey car park behind the other museums further south off Joseph-Beuys-Allee a few minute's walk away.The museum covers the political and social history of Germany (including both the GDR and the FRG) from the end of the 2nd World War to the present day.Whilst it tries to be objective it is inevitably biased towards the "Western" viewpoint. The earlier years are covered more comprehensively than more recent years.By focusing on the lives of those living in and through these times, rather than just concentrating in historical events, the museum provides a good understanding of why modern Germany is as it is today.Enough of the material is translated into English to provide a good understanding of what is displayed, but to get everything out of this museum proficiency in German would be required.

Always worth a visit, good displays and a nice cafe for a rest either after or before your visit. It is also free of charge.

We went there a couple of days ago and found the WWII exhibition really interesting. The entrance is free of charge which is really great. I learned much about the important events in German history during and after the war, the political system and culture of Germany.

It's my favourite museum in Germany! It is set up chronologically, starting from the post-WWII period. They offer an interactive experience. They even display the evolution of the backyard throughout the decades after the war!Start at the subway station, go to the temporary exposition, follow to the main exposition, if possible with a (audio) guided tour.

This museum was the highlight of our trip to Cologne! Great presentations, very interactive and lots to learn-English overviews are provided for each area. The museum is brilliant for all ages and is really accessible-you move from floor to floor by gentle ramps. The café is excellent too. The only moan is that the staff seemed to like frowning and disapproving of peoples enjoyment!

The museum has been rightly rated first on this site .the visitor will gain excellent knowledge about the situation in Germany after the war .it provides detailed information about people , events and situations that has brought Germany reach its current EU leader position. the exhibits are authentic and takes one back into the relevant periods.highly informative for anyone wanting to know how Germany rose from ruins.we were pleasantly surprised at the 'Red Carpet' welcome right on the heussallee / museumsmeile tube station where a large set of exhibits greet the visitors from where escalators took us directly to the museum's reception area. (i would recommend that people who reach the museum by car are to visit the area on heussallee / museumsmeile tube station)while the students of political science and history can spend days at the museum normal visitros need to allow 2-3 hours for a reasonable tour.other notable part is that the museum entry as well as audio guides (in English and German) are free.one thing to avoid for visitors traveling by train - please follow Haus der Geschichte signs to reach museum. if you follow museumsmeile parkhaus signs. from stations, you will be going away from the museum.

For me it was very learnfull and clearfull too. A lot of images and pieces from that time. From the end of the second war till nowadays. Not everything has English subtitles. There are guide tours. It's free. And it's better than everything you can see in Berlin about the war stuff.