Is Teufelsberg Worth the Trip in 2025? A Complete Guide to Berlin's Abandoned Spy Station

There's a moment—about 20 minutes into the uphill walk through the Grunewald forest—when you start questioning your life choices. Your legs are burning, the path keeps climbing, and you're wondering if some Cold War ruins are really worth this effort.

Then you crest the hill, and suddenly you're standing in front of five massive radar domes, slowly decaying against the Berlin sky. The sound of wind through broken windows. Graffiti that stretches floor to ceiling, wall to wall—some of it brilliant, some of it haunting. And behind you, a panoramic view of the entire city stretching toward the horizon.

That's Teufelsberg. And yes, it's absolutely worth it.

What makes this place pull visitors up a hill when there's perfectly good street art at ground level? We dug into that question—and the answer is more layered than we expected. Because Teufelsberg isn't just another abandoned building covered in spray paint. It's a place where layers of German history collide: Nazi ambitions, Cold War paranoia, urban decay, and the creative energy that fills empty spaces in Berlin.

The question isn't whether you should go. It's whether you're prepared for what you'll find.

What Is Teufelsberg, Actually?

The name translates to "Devil's Mountain"—though it's named after the nearby Teufelssee lake, not anything sinister. At 120 meters above sea level, it's the second-highest point in Berlin. But here's the thing: this mountain is entirely artificial.

During World War II, the Nazis began constructing a military technical faculty here as part of Hitler's megalomaniac "Germania" plans for rebuilding Berlin. It was never completed. After the war, the shell was blown up, and the site became one of Berlin's many rubble dumps. Truckload after truckload of debris from the bombed-out city was dumped here—an estimated 25 million cubic meters of rubble, eventually rising into a hill.

Then came the Americans.

In the 1960s, the U.S. and British forces recognized the strategic potential: this artificial mountain was the highest point in West Berlin, perfect for surveillance. They built an elaborate listening station—the one with the distinctive radar domes you see today—to intercept communications from the East. During the Cold War, this was one of the most important intelligence-gathering sites in Europe. What exactly they listened to remains partially classified, but the station operated until 1992, shortly after the Wall fell.

Since then, Teufelsberg has passed through failed development projects (hotels, condos, museums—all abandoned) and periods of illegal occupation by artists. Today it operates as a cultural site, combining historical tours with one of the world's largest outdoor street art galleries.

What You'll Actually See in 2025

Teufelsberg has evolved significantly over the past few years. Here's what's currently available:

The Street Art Gallery

Over 400 works by international artists cover virtually every surface. New pieces are added monthly, so what you see depends on when you visit. Unlike the East Side Gallery, which is essentially a curated museum, Teufelsberg feels raw—art layered over art, murals half-destroyed and repainted, the creative process visible and ongoing.

The quality varies wildly. Some pieces are extraordinary—technically brilliant, emotionally resonant. Others are tags and throw-ups. That's part of the experience: this isn't sanitized or approved. It's what happens when artists have free reign over massive industrial surfaces.

The Buildings and Towers

The main tower with the iconic radar dome is no longer open to the public for safety reasons. However, you can access it through the guided flashlight tour, which takes you all the way up into the dome itself. The acoustics up there are remarkable—whispers carry across the space in unexpected ways.

Other parts of the complex are open for exploration. You'll find yourself wandering through corridors covered in murals, climbing staircases that lead to viewpoints, and discovering small galleries in former equipment rooms.

The Exhibitions

Two permanent exhibitions are included in your admission:

The "Declassified" exhibition focuses on the site's history as a listening station. You'll find artifacts, photographs, and documentation from the Cold War era.

The "Alliierte in Berlin e.V." museum covers the broader history of the Allied presence in Berlin from 1945 until 1994. It's partly interactive—you can actually sit in some of the historical vehicles on display. This museum is open Thursday through Sunday.

The View

On clear days, you can see the TV Tower at Alexanderplatz, the dome of the Reichstag, and the sprawl of the city stretching to the eastern horizon. At sunset, it's genuinely spectacular—one of the best viewpoints in Berlin, made better by the fact that most tourists don't make the effort to get here.

Getting There: Why It's "Difficult" (And How to Make It Easy)

Let's be honest about the challenge. Teufelsberg isn't hard to reach because it's far—it's hard because there's no direct public transport to the top, and the last stretch is uphill through a forest.

Option 1: S-Bahn + Walk (Most Common)

Take the S3 or S7 to S-Bahn Grunewald. From there, it's roughly a 25-minute walk—first through the residential streets of Grunewald, then along a forest path, then up the hill.

Alternatively, take the S5 or S9 to S-Bahn Heerstraße, which is about the same distance from a different direction.

You'll need an AB ticket (€3.80) since Teufelsberg is still within the Berlin city limits.

Option 2: Bus + Walk

Bus 186 or M49 can get you closer, but you'll still have a significant walk. Honestly, the S-Bahn options are usually simpler unless you're starting from somewhere along those bus routes.

Option 3: By Car

There's free gravel parking at the base of the hill—turn right onto Teufelsseechaussee and follow it up until you see the parking area on your right. From there, it's about 10 minutes on foot to the entrance. Note: there's no parking at the site itself or on the access road. Cars parked illegally will be towed.

Option 4: By Bike

This is actually a great option if you're comfortable cycling in Berlin. You can ride through the Grunewald forest—it's a scenic route. Bike parking is available at the site.

Pro Tip: Wear comfortable shoes. The walk involves uneven paths and stairs once you're on site. Heels or flip-flops are a bad idea.

Practical Information for 2025

Address:Teufelsseechaussee 10, 14193 Berlin

Winter Hours (November – February):Daily 11:00 AM – 4:30 PMLast admission one hour before closing

Summer Hours (March – October):Daily 11:00 AM – until sunset (around 6:00–8:00 PM depending on season)

Holiday Closures:December 24 and December 31: ClosedDecember 25–26 and January 1: Open

Important: The site may close spontaneously during icy conditions or heavy snow when safe access can't be guaranteed. Check weather conditions before making the trip in winter.

Admission Prices (Winter 2025):

Ticket Type	Price
Adults	€10
Concessions (students, seniors)	€8
Children & teenagers (7–17)	€3
Children under 7	Free

Note: Summer prices are slightly higher (€12 adults, €10 concessions, €5 children).

Guided Tours:

Several tours operate regularly, all requiring advance booking for guaranteed spots:

• "Mythos Teufelsberg" (German): Friday–Sunday, ~60 minutes

• "Mythos Teufelsberg" (English): Sundays only, ~60 minutes

• Street Art Tour (German): Saturdays, ~90 minutes

• Flashlight Tour (German): Friday–Sunday evenings, ~2.5 hours, includes tower access (€25)

We strongly recommend booking tours online through the official website to avoid disappointment—walk-up availability isn't guaranteed.

Who Should Visit (And Who Shouldn't)

Teufelsberg is perfect for you if:

• You're interested in Cold War history and want to see tangible remnants

• You appreciate street art beyond the sanitized tourist attractions

• You enjoy photography and want images unlike anything else in Berlin

• You like urban exploration and don't mind physical effort to reach interesting places

• You want to escape the standard tourist circuit and see something authentically Berlin

It might not be for you if:

• You have significant mobility issues (though wheelchair access is possible with 48-hour advance notice)

• You only have one day in Berlin and haven't seen the major sights

• You dislike walking or don't have appropriate footwear

• You're expecting a polished museum experience

• You're traveling with very young children who might get bored

Making the Most of Your Visit

Time your visit strategically. For the best photography, arrive in late afternoon—the light through the broken windows creates dramatic effects, and you'll catch sunset from one of the viewpoints. Weekday mornings are quieter if you want the site to yourself.

Bring layers. The buildings aren't heated, and wind whips through open windows and doorways. Even in summer, it can be surprisingly cold inside the structures.

Charge your camera. You'll take more photos than you expect. The combination of massive murals, decaying architecture, and city views is genuinely photogenic. Photography is permitted for personal use (commercial shoots require advance permission).

Consider the flashlight tour. If you want the full experience—including access to the main tower and dome—this evening tour is the only option. The acoustic experience inside the dome is remarkable, and exploring the ruins by flashlight adds a completely different atmosphere.

Combine it with Grunewald. Since you're already out here, consider making a half-day of it. The Grunewald forest offers hiking trails, the Teufelssee lake is nearby for a quick look, and there are several cafés in the S-Bahn Grunewald area.

The Verdict: Is It Worth the Effort in 2025?

Here's our honest assessment.

Teufelsberg requires effort. It's not on the way to anything else, the journey involves a real walk, and you'll spend 2–3 hours minimum from leaving central Berlin to getting back. For some visitors—especially those with limited time—that effort might be better spent elsewhere.

But if you have half a day to spare, if you appreciate places that tell stories beyond the obvious, if you want photographs that don't look like everyone else's Berlin trip—Teufelsberg delivers something you genuinely can't find anywhere else in the city.

The graffiti isn't just decoration. The buildings aren't just ruins. The view isn't just scenery. Everything here is layered with meaning: Nazi plans, wartime destruction, Cold War surveillance, artistic reclamation. Standing on top of 25 million cubic meters of rubble, inside a decaying spy station, surrounded by street art—you're experiencing something uniquely Berlin.

Is Teufelsberg worth the trip in 2025? If you've got the time, absolutely yes.