Teufelsberg Berlin: Spy Station Turned Street Art Gallery
ID 37566646 ©
Stefan90 | Dreamstime.com
During World War II, huge sections of Germany were reduced to rubble. In the aftermath of the war, much of the debris surrounding Berlin was fashioned into a man-made hill known as Tuefelsberg—or, Devil’s Hill. Tuefelsberg was once the site of a Nazi military technical college that was too large to bulldoze, so it was covered in the remnants of buildings destroyed by warfare.
Stefan90 | Dreamstime.com
Tuefelsberg was initially slated to become a ski jump. As the Cold War dragged on, a listening station where American Forces intercepted communications from East Berlin arose. An austere web of satellite dishes and white domes soon sprang up 398 feet above West Berlin.
ID 135782965 ©
Sirio Carnevalino | Dreamstime.com
When the Cold War ended in 1989, Tuefelsberg became an air traffic control station. In 2007, director David Lynch attempted to acquire Tuefelsberg to build a center dedicated to harboring inner peace and practicing transcendental meditation. In recent years, the derelict remains of the Tuefelsberg have been transformed into an open-air street art gallery and an exhibit space which explores the structure’s Cold War roots.
Sirio Carnevalino | Dreamstime.com
The white domes of Tuefelsberg which were once an important component of state-of-the-art spy equipment serve as an eerie backdrop for colorful murals created by hundreds of artists from around the world. For a small fee, visitors can roam the remnants of Tuefelsberg and view giant murals of a vengeful winged insect, a fierce tiger, and Uncle Sam sitting atop a speeding bomb.
Kristof Lauwers | Dreamstime.com
Tuefelsberg offers a handful of guided tours, including a street art tour, a myths of Tuefelsberg tour, and a flashlight tour that is only available during the winter. Visitors are also welcome to explore Tuefelsberg without a tour guide. Hearing your voice echo inside of a tattered dome and walking up a dark staircase to experience a panoramic view of Berlin are truly eerie yet thrilling experiences.
Kristof Lauwers | Dreamstime.com
Tuefelsberg is also home to a small museum dedicated to Allied forces who served in Berlin. In recent years, an exhibit which explores previously top-secret sections of Tuefelsberg which were instrumental in American Cold War intelligence gathering has also been on display.
Kay Wiegand | Dreamstime.com
If you adore history, art, and revitalized abandoned buildings, a trip to Tuefelsberg is an absolute must. Tuefelsberg is an excellent place to consider Berlin’s dynamic and at times tumultuous history. Exploring a former spy station which has been transformed into a vibrant open-air art gallery is an excellent reminder that creativity can reinvigorate even the starkest spaces.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Teufelsseechaussee 10, 14193 Berlin, Germany.
- Coordinates
- 52.497222, 13.241111
- Access
- Ticketed entry; self-guided visits and guided tours available. S-Bahn to Heerstraße, then approximately 30 minutes on foot. Closed December 24 and 31, 2026. Weather-related closures are possible, and the tallest radar tower is accessible only on special guided tours.
- Admission
- €12 adults; €10 reduced; €5 ages 8–17; free for children under 8.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours, excluding travel
- Best season
- April–October; preferably clear, dry days
- Opening hours
- Daily from 11 AM until sunset. November–December 2026: 11 AM–4:30 PM. Last admission one hour before closing.
- Location checked
- 2026-11-02
- Facts checked
- 2026-11-02
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