Prenden Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Bunker 5001 was East Germany’s ultimate undisclosed location. Had the Cold War turned hot, East German leader Erich Honecker and other high-ranking communist leaders would have comfortably ridden out the end of the world in this 7,500 cubic meter space.

It’s buried in the middle of a forest about 40 kilometers from Berlin. 

My guide, Hannes Hensel, who’s part of a group called the Berlin Bunker Network, showed up and poked around the ground for awhile until he uncovers a steel trapdoor. He opens it and beckons me inside. We won’t surface again for well over 4 hours.

“This was the most technologically advanced bunker of its time,” Hensel says while explaining his interest in the site. Bunker 5001 was actually superior in some respects to similar American and West German bunkers of its time.

Inside, he shows me how the East Germans built the bunker as a series of massive containers, built on giant springs and coils so that the facility could ride out the shock wave from nearby nuclear blasts. The bunker contained its own generators, water system and air filtering facilities, so that its 400 inhabitants would have had no need to enter the nuclear wasteland above for two weeks after a war. The postwar plans were a bit hazier, however.

“After two weeks, they would have gone above ground wearing radiation suits and gotten to an airplane and flown eastward to Russia,” says Hensel. 

Bunker 5001 is definitely number one on the most endangered list of bunkers in the Berlin area. The site’s entrances meanwhile IS SEALED UP with concrete sometime to prevent thrill-seekers from gaining access.

Further Documentation is available at http://www.bunker5001.com/
Bunker 5001 was East Germany’s ultimate undisclosed location. Had the Cold War turned hot, East German leader Erich Honecker and other high-ranking communist leaders would have comfortably ridden out the end of the world in this 7,500 cubic meter space.

It’s buried in the middle of a forest about 40 kilometers from Berlin. 

My guide, Hannes Hensel, who’s part of a group called the Berlin Bunker Network, showed up and poked around the ground for awhile until he uncovers a steel trapdoor. He opens it and beckons me inside. We won’t surface again for well over 4 hours.

“This was the most technologically advanced bunker of its time,” Hensel says while explaining his interest in the site. Bunker 5001 was actually superior in some respects to similar American and West German bunkers of its time.

Inside, he shows me how the East Germans built the bunker as a series of massive containers, built on giant springs and coils so that the facility could ride out the shock wave from nearby nuclear blasts. The bunker contained its own generators, water system and air filtering facilities, so that its 400 inhabitants would have had no need to enter the nuclear wasteland above for two weeks after a war. The postwar plans were a bit hazier, however.

“After two weeks, they would have gone above ground wearing radiation suits and gotten to an airplane and flown eastward to Russia,” says Hensel. 

Bunker 5001 is definitely number one on the most endangered list of bunkers in the Berlin area. The site’s entrances meanwhile IS SEALED UP with concrete sometime to prevent thrill-seekers from gaining access.

Further Documentation is available at http://www.bunker5001.com/
Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz

Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz

4.5 out of 5
Alexanderplatz 7 Berlin BE
The price is NZ$196 per night from 9 Feb to 10 Feb
NZ$196
9 Feb - 10 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Berlin. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 3 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,834 reviews)
Great service and location

Reviewed on 28 Jan 2026

Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz
Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin

Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin

5 out of 5
Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 3 Berlin BE
The price is NZ$312 per night from 22 Feb to 23 Feb
NZ$312
22 Feb - 23 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Berlin. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Alexanderplatz and Brandenburg Gate ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,000 reviews)
Beautiful hotel, fabulous front desk staff. Comfortable bed and great bathroom. My only complaint is the cleaning staff didn’t ever refill the coffees and creams, give us clean cups or wine glasses, and didn’t remove our dirty room service dishware, it was a bit odd for a hotel of this level.

Reviewed on 28 Jan 2026

Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin
Premier Inn Berlin Alexanderplatz

Premier Inn Berlin Alexanderplatz

Theanolte-Bähnisch-Straße 2 Berlin
The price is NZ$133 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
NZ$133
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Berlin. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Alexanderplatz and Brandenburg Gate are located ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (304 reviews)
Outstanding staff and great happy hour 😊

Reviewed on 1 Feb 2026

Premier Inn Berlin Alexanderplatz
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Lux 11 Berlin Mitte

Lux 11 Berlin Mitte

Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 9-13 Berlin
Stay at this boutique aparthotel in Berlin. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, room service and a snack bar/deli. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,238 reviews)
Clean rooms, great staff and a perfect location.

Reviewed on 26 Jan 2026

Lux 11 Berlin Mitte
Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Mitte

Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Mitte

4 out of 5
Platz vor dem Neuen Tor 6 Berlin BE
Stay at this spa aparthotel in Berlin. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,081 reviews)
great place. very spacious rooms.

Reviewed on 20 Jan 2026

Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Mitte
Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hackescher Markt

Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hackescher Markt

4 out of 5
An der Spandauer Bruecke 11 Berlin BE
Stay at this business-friendly aparthotel in Berlin. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,075 reviews)
Staff was kind Great location Hotel needs some refreshment But value for money - can't complain

Reviewed on 2 Feb 2026

Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hackescher Markt
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Cities near Prenden