Checkpoint Charlie was the principal gateway for foreigners and diplomats between the two Berlins from 1961 to 1990. It got the name "Charlie" because it was the third Allied checkpoint to open – hence the third letter in the NATO phonetic alphabet (alfa, bravo, charlie…). Unfortunately, this potent symbol of the Cold War has degenerated into a tacky tourist trap, though there are a few genuinely worthwhile exhibits that help you connect with this historic site.
For a crash course in Cold War milestones, start by checking out the photos and documents of the free outdoor Checkpoint Gallery. To get a more visceral sense of life in the shadow of barbed wire and guard towers, drop into Yadegar Asisi’s Die Mauer – asisi Panorama Berlin (die-mauer.de; adult/concession €14/11), an immersive photographic panorama. From a raised platform, you gaze over the Wall and the so-called "death strip" into 1980s East Berlin, while sound and light intensify the mood of bleakness and oppression.