DARK MATTER

"Hands down the COOLEST thing I've done in Berlin (and I've done a lot of cool shit in Berlin). DARK MATTER has 7 permanent installations that will leave you awestruck. Somehow, they manage to tell the most intense story using only light, space, & sound. Despite being a very high-tech and modern display, they play with the elements, which left me viewing the natural world in a new light (so to speak). Some exhibits are viewed standing; you can walk around & interact with them. Others you can take a seat, in one you are even invited to lie down on one of the comfy cushions scattered about the space. But I won't give too much away- it's definitely something you need to experience yourself. The first three exhibits take roughly half an hour to move through, but I could have spent hours in some. After the first three, there's a place to use the restroom, grab a drink, and relax if the weather's nice. Then you move through the remaining four exhibits. When I visited and until October of 2023, DARK MATTER has a temporary exhibit called TENSOR @ SOMMERLIGHTS. This outdoor portion of the exhibit is designed from 400 lights suspended above you and is absolutely worth the few extra euros. Synced with music, it's as if you've entered another dimension. The show plays with the idea of dreams and nightmares and fully immerses you in this otherworldly experience. You can stay as long as you like: grab a drink and a seat and ride the wave. Price: 18 EUR Wed-Fri, 20 EUR Sat-Sun & holidays for the permanent exhibit; 26 EUR Thurs-Fri, 28 EUR Sat-Sun & holidays for permanent exhibit + Sommerlights. 14 EUR discount student tickets are available on Thursdays & with a valid ID. Children under 6 enter for free. How long to plan: This is so hard to say. I spent roughly two hours here for both the permanent and temporary exhibits. I easily could've spent longer. I did not stop for a drink in the middle but account for that if you plan to. I would plan for a minimum of 90 minutes spent here, but honestly, keep it flexible. Don't be surprised if you get sucked into another dimension and stay way longer. How to get there: The Gustav-Holzmann-Straße stop on Tram 21 takes you within 2 minutes of DARK MATTER. To get to Tram 21 from Alexanderplatz, take the U5 toward Kaulsdorf-Nord or Hönow and get off at Frankfurter Tor. The website lists more options for how to get there, so I've linked it below. Know before you go: The Sommerlights exhibit begins after sundown (between 8 & 8:30), so plan on going later in the day. If you have epilepsy or are prone to seizures, DARK MATTER is not for you. The permanent exhibit is closed on Mondays & Tuesdays and Sommerlights is closed Mon-Wed, so plan accordingly. Hours vary each day so make sure to check the website. Definitely purchase your tickets online ahead of time, it's a popular place. You are allowed to take photos, as long as the flash is off."

"A parallel cosmos of expansive light installations in which the boundaries between the real and the digital worlds become blurred."