Spies and secrets

While the history of espionage goes back to ancient times, it is usually the spy stories of the 20th century that have created the public impression of the business.
In the typical case, an intelligence agency is a government organ which collects information about foreign governments and other target organizations. Some of them are CIA of the United States, SIS (or MI6) of the United Kingdom, and GU (or GRU) of the Russian Federation. Their staff consists of intelligence officers, who should not be confused with spies, secret agents or assets, who are recruited (usually from within a target organization) to provide secret information. There are two main categories of spies: A mole is recruited by an intelligence agency, and then makes a career in the target organization to get secret information; A defector leaves the target organization (in some cases fleeing their homeland) to provide information for the enemy. A double agent is an agent who pretends to work for the intelligence organization that recruited them, but is loyal to the target organization.
In a few cases, an intelligence agency can carry out assassinations and sabotage operations against enemies; with their own officers, or through an agent.
There are several operation methods. Signals intelligence (Sigint) is a highly specialized intelligence process which intercepts radio and telecommunication signals, usually in a separate agency such as NSA in the United States, or GCHQ in the United Kingdom. Secret messages are usually encrypted (cryptography is the art of creating ciphers), intelligence agencies need cryptanalysis to decipher them. From World War II to the 21st century, cryptology and signals intelligence have been supported by government "big science" project to develop electronics and computer technology.
A security agency fights crime and espionage (counterespionage), and protects strategic targets such as leaders or buildings; in the USA, both the FBI and the Secret Service have this function. A secret police is a government security agency which oppresses opponents without regard to Rule of law; for instance the Gestapo of Nazi Germany.
Despite the glorious and mysterious image surrounding espionage, most intel is actually gathered in rather "boring" ways. One example is to measure the security preparedness of the US by the number of cars in the CIA parking lot. Another example is Tom Clancy who had to answer some uncomfortable questions about "revealing military secrets" for his description of submarine engines in Hunt for Red October - turns out he could point to books available in public libraries as the source of all his information, combined with a bit of educated guessing.
Some government agencies have had multiple roles; such as the KGB of the Soviet Union, which was both an intelligence service and a secret police force.

Africa

Asia

Japan

• Japan Coast Guard Museum

  address: 1-2-1 Shinkō, Naka-ku, Yokohama
  The museum contains a North Korean spy vessel, which was sunk in the East China Sea in 2001.

Turkey

• MİT Museum of EspionageA museum operated by the National Intelligence Organization. It was kept secret until 2011. Normally closed to the public, it has occasionally be opened for tours in the past.

Europe

Czech Republic

• KGB Museum

  address: Vlašska 13, 118 00 Praha 1, Malá Strana
  Museum of World War 2 and Cold War era espionage and covert operations. Many unique historical artifacts on display. Includes a tour (30 - 40 minutes) in English or Russian. Tours start every 30 minutes, or whenever guests arrive. Entrance fee of 14 EUR or 380 CZK can be paid in either currency. Basic knowledge of Soviet history is recommended, not suitable for young children. Famous for its collection of weapons, which visitors can hold and make pictures with.

Estonia

• KGB Museum

  phone: +372 7461717
  address: Riia 15b
  This nondescript building was known as the Gray House and was the headquarters of the Estonian KGB. It tells the story of how the prisoners were treated there, and some stories about the Estonian resistance heroes, the Forest Brothers. The museum is small and does not have a very big sign, so look carefully.

Finland

• Spy Museum

  address: Satakunnankatu 18
  Claims to be the first spy museum in the world, exhibiting everything from world-famous spies to their equipment such as spy cameras and secret weapons - many of which you can try. You can also attempt to fool the classic lie detector.

Germany

• Spy Museum Berlin

  address: Leipziger Platz

• Berlin Friedrichstraße stationDuring the cold war, this railway station was a major crossing point between East and West Germany. The station is said to have been used by several spies to cross the border and is mentioned in several spy novels. It was also "tear palace" where tearful goodbyes between members of families separated by the wall took place after visits.

• Former KGB Prison Potsdam

  address: Leistikowstr. 1
  Memorial and meeting place at the former KGB prison. From August 1945 it was occupied by soviet forces. It has been reconstructed as a prison for the counterintelligence. Today it's been left standing to remind people of the depressing reality of dictatorships.

• Glienicke BrückeOnce a border crossing during the Cold War, this bridge is best known as the Bridge of Spies, and was used as an exchange point for captured spies between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Latvia

• Former KGB Building

  phone: +37127875692
  address: 61 Brīvības iela
  The former KGB building is actually an attractive, ornate historic building at the corner of Brivibas and Stabu. It is now a branch of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, holding a general exhibition about the KGB activities, and guided tours of the cellar where interrogations took place.

Russia

• Lubyanka, the KGB prison

  address: Lubyanka Square
  The Lubyanka is the popular name for the headquarters of the KGB and affiliated prison on Lubyanka Square. It is a large Neo-Baroque building with a facade of yellow brick designed by Alexander V. Ivanov in 1897 and augmented by Aleksey Shchusev from 1940 to 1947. Today headquarters of the Border Guard Service of Russia, and houses the Lubyanka prison and one directorate of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB). In addition a museum of the KGB (now called Историко-демонстрационный зал ФСБ России, Historical-demonstration hall of the Russian FSB) was opened.

United Kingdom

• Bletchley Park

  phone: +44 1908 640404
  address: The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Sherwood Dr, Bletchley, MK3 6EB
  Milton Keynes has a claim to being the home of the modern computer, as the German Enigma codes were cracked by Sir Alan Turing at Bletchley Park. The historic value of this site and its importance to the development of the computer has now been belatedly recognised in the form of a museum with a significant number of things to do for both adults and children

North America

Cuba

• Museum of the Ministry of the Interior

  address: 5ta Avenida, Havana
  Museum about 40 years of Cuba's intelligence service, including some exhibits on failed attempts by US agencies.

United States of America

• International Spy Museum

  address: 800 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20004
  A museum exploring the history, and role of espionage, from historical events up to contemporary issues.

• National Cryptologic Museum

• SpyScape

  phone: +1 212 549-1941
  address: 928 8th Ave, New York, NY 10019

South America

Oceania

Australia

• Spy Camera Museum

  address: 49 Grace St, Herberton, Queensland
  large collection of rare tiny cameras.

• James Bond tourism
• Cold War Europe
• Hacker tourism
• History of justice
• Nuclear tourism
• Military tourism
• Science tourism