Topography of Terror (Documentation Center)

Topography of Terror (Documentation Center) (Matthias Jankowia)

With over two million visitors a year, the Documentation Center Topography of Terror is the most visited memorial site in Berlin. From 1933 to 1945, the most important headquarters of National Socialist terror were located here: the Secret State Police Office with its own "house prison", the Reichsführung-SS, the SS Security Service (SD) and, during the Second World War, the Reichssicherheitshauptamt. Three permanent exhibitions provide information about the history of these institutions and the site, as well as about Berlin during the Nazi era.

Certified in the period

January 2023 - December 2025

Accessibility certified People with walking disabilities Wheelchair users People with hearing impairments Deaf people People with visual impairments Blind people

Barrier-free information

Short Report as PDF

All areas relevant for testing meet the quality criteria of the label "Accessibility certified - accessible for people with walking disabilities and wheelchair users".

Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.

  • Nearby are the underground and suburban railway station Potsdamer Platz (approx. 600 m), the underground station Kochstraße (approx. 350 m) and the suburban railway station Anhalter Bahnhof (approx. 500 m).
  • There are six parking spaces for people with disabilities at the "Martin-Gropius-Bau", approx. 150 m away. A parking space is at least 450 cm wide and 500 cm long. The parking areas do not have a low vibration surface and are not easy to walk or drive on. 
  • The entrance/access to the building is step-free (max. 2 cm threshold, via ramps). 
  • The ramp is 169 cm wide and has a longitudinal slope of 6 %.
  • All rooms and facilities in the interior and exterior that can be used and raised for the guest are accessible without steps or can be reached via ramps and a lift. 
  • The lift cabin is 108 cm x 210 cm. 
  • Passages and doors are at least 95 cm wide. 
  • The information counter is 78 cm high at its lowest point. 
  • The exhibits are predominantly visible, perceptible or recognisable while seated. 
  • The information on the exhibits is predominantly legible while seated.
  • The following technical options for conveying information are available: Audio guides, multimedia guides, films.
  • Guided tours are offered for people with walking disabilities and wheelchair users. The entire guided tour route is step-free for wheelchair users. 
  • Mobile or fixed seating is available for people with walking disabilities to use during the tour. 
  • Auxiliary means: e.g. wheelchairs on loan.
  • In the cafeteria, wheelchair accessible tables are available (maximum height 80 cm, wheelchair accessible at a height of 67 cm with a depth of 30 cm). 
  • Exterior paths are at least 150 cm wide and have a maximum longitudinal slope of 7%. The surface quality of most of the paths is low-vibration and easy to walk and drive on. 
  • In the area of the "former Autodrom", the paths are not low-vibration and not easy to walk and drive on. 

Public toilet for people with disabilities, ladies (basement)

  • The manoeuvering spaces are:
    in front of the washbasin 150 cm x 150 cm;
    in front of the toilet 150 cm x 150 cm;
    to the left of the toilet 90 cm x 70 cm;
    to the right of the toilet 90 cm x 70 cm.
  • There are grab rails to the left and right of the toilet.
  • Both grab rails can be flipped-up. 
  • The washbasin is accessible from underneath at a height of 67 cm and a depth of at least 30 cm.
  • The mirror can be viewed from a sitting or standing position.
  • There is a cord as an alarm trigger.

Public toilet for people with disabilities, men's (basement)

  • The manoeuvering spaces are:
    in front of the washbasin 150 cm x 150 cm;
    in front of the toilet 150 cm x 150 cm;
    to the left of the toilet 90 cm x 70 cm;
    to the right of the toilet 89.91 cm x 70 cm.
  • There are grab rails to the left and right of the toilet.
  • Both grab rails can be flipped-up. 
  • The washbasin is accessible from underneath at a height of 67 cm and a depth of at least 30 cm.
  • The mirror can be viewed from a sitting or standing position
  • There is a cord as an alarm trigger.

Evaluation report: Download as PDF

All areas relevant for testing meet the quality criteria of the label "Accessibility certified - partially accessible for people with hearing impairment and deaf people".

Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.

  • There is an inductive hearing system at the information desk and in the auditorium. 
  • In the event of an acoustic alarm (e.g. fire alarm), there is no visually clearly perceptible flashing or blinking signal in the building.
  • An outgoing emergency call in the lift is confirmed acoustically, but not visually.
  • The following technical options for conveying information are available: Audio guide, multimedia guides available.
  • Guided tours with FM systems (inductive listening systems) are possible and guided tours in German sign language are offered. It is necessary to register for the guided tour. 
  • There are lamps in the cafeteria that do not interfere with the visual field or eye contact.
  • Special information for deaf people is provided on the website (including information in sign language).
  • Multimedia guides with German sign language are available.

Evaluation report: Download as PDF

 All areas relevant for testing meet the quality criteria of the label "Accessibility certified - partially accessible for people with visual impairments and blind people". 

Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.

  • Assistance dogs (companion dogs, guide dogs, etc.) may be brought in, but not other dogs.
  • There are glass doors that do not have security markings. 
  • The interior rooms and corridors as well as the staircase and lift are illuminated or brightly lit without glare.
  • The controls in the lift are visually contrasting and tactile. The stop position is not announced by voice. An outgoing emergency call is confirmed acoustically.
  • There are usually no visual or tactile contrasts within the floor structure.
  • Obstacles are sometimes present, e.g. panels and exhibits protruding into the room. There are no continuous floor indicators in the indoor and outdoor areas.
  • The exhibits usually contrast visually with the surroundings and are usually well lit.
  • Signage (e.g. information boards in the outdoor area, signage at the ticket office) is present in a legible font. There is good visual contrast. The outdoor information panels mostly contrast visually with the surroundings.
  • An audio guide is available that can be operated independently by people with visual impairments or blind people. 
  • Guided tours are offered for people with visual impairments and blind people. Pre-registration for the guided tour is necessary. 
  • A computer workstation for blind and visually impaired people is available in the library (https://www.topographie.de/bibliothek/sehbehindertengerechter-arbeitsplatz/).

Evaluation report: Download as PDF

Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report. 

  • The name and logo of the Documentation Centre are clearly recognisable from the outside.
  • The entrance area of the building is directly visible from the outside entrance.
  • The cash desk is directly visible from the entrance.
  • Destinations along the way when touring the exhibition (e.g. next station / information board) are usually within sight or the wayfinding system is in place without interruption.
  • The guidance system in the building has no colour or pictorial markings.
  • The information boards in the outdoor area are visibly presented.
  • Guided tours are offered for people with cognitive impairments. The guided tour is given in easy-to-understand language. 
  • Audio guides in plain language are available. Seminars in plain language are offered and can be booked on request.   

Evaluation report: Download as PDF

Image gallery

Topography of Terror (Documentation Center) Topography of Terror (Documentation Center) (Matthias Jankowia)
Topography of Terror Topography of Terror (Stafan Müller)
Topography of Terror Topography of Terror (Uwe Bellm)
Topography of Terror Topography of Terror (Juergen Sendel PICTUREBLIND)
Topography of Terror Topography of Terror (Klaus Frahm)