Otto Weidt Museum (Museum Blindenwerkstatt Otto Weidt)

The basics

The museum is located in Hackesche Höfe, a complex of eight courtyards in the former Jewish neighborhood of Scheunenviertel. The area often features on tours covering World War II and Berlin’s Jewish history, and both private car and walking tours may include the Otto Weidt Museum in combination with other important sites such as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Topography of Terror, and the New Synagogue.

During your visit to the museum, you will see Otto Weidt’s Workshop for the Blind, one of the places where the factory owner hid his staff and their families, as well as letters, photographs, and other personal documentation.

Things to know before you go

• Parking is available at the site if you are traveling independently.

• The venue is wheelchair-accessible with an elevator and restroom facilities.

• Guided tours of the museum run for 60 minutes and are available in German, English, French, Italian, and Hebrew. Tours are free.

• There are audio guides available in multiple languages, including English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, and Spanish.

• The exhibition text is displayed in English, German, and Braille.

• There are special tours available for blind, visually impaired, and deaf visitors. Please book these in advance.

How to get there

The Otto Weidt Museum is conveniently located in central Berlin, in a courtyard near the Hackesche Höfe, at 39 Rosenthaler Strasse. If traveling on the S-Bahn, take the S5, S7, or S75 train to Hackescher Markt, or get the U8 U-Bahn line to Weinmeisterstrasse. From either of these stops, it takes about a couple of minutes to reach the museum.

When to get there

The museum is typically open Mondays through Fridays. There can sometimes be school visits and group tours, so to avoid the biggest crowds, it may be a good idea to visit after 3pm (but before 6pm, which is when the museum usually closes). The venue may be closed for holidays and seasonal events, including Christmas, so it's advisable to check opening hours prior to visiting.

Exploring the Hackesche Höfe courtyards

After visiting the Otto Weidt Museum, the nearby enclosed courtyard complex of the Hackesche Höfe is a lovely place to take a stroll. See art nouveau architecture, look out for colorful street art murals, and choose from an interesting mix of cafés, shops, bars, restaurants, and clubs. Other highlights of the area include performance venues such as the Chamäleon Theater.