Checkpoint Charlie was the best-known crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, established in 1961 as the third Allied checkpoint after Checkpoint Alpha and Checkpoint Bravo. It became internationally famous during the 1961 Berlin Crisis, when American and Soviet tanks faced off just meters apart for 16 tense hours before both sides withdrew.
Today a reconstructed guard booth and sandbagged checkpoint sign mark the historic site, and the adjacent Wall Museum (Mauermuseum) tells the story through original photographs and artifacts, including a homemade hot-air balloon, an armored getaway car, and a miniature submarine built for escape attempts. The museum charges admission — €18.50 for adults, with reduced rates for students and children — but the outdoor checkpoint itself is viewable for free at any hour.
The Wall Museum is open every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The closest transit stop is Kochstraße/Checkpoint Charlie on the U6 line, just steps from the museum entrance.