If you’re on the lookout for a trip of history and culture this year, then look no further than taking a tour of the colourful streets and museums in Berlin. We’ve got you covered when planning your visit to art galleries, museums and cultural centres in Germany’s capital.
Museum Pass Berlin
As part of your trip to Berlin, take advantage of the Museum Pass Berlin. It’s a 3-day pass for around €29 (£25) with which you can access over 30 museums.
On Sundays, over 60 museums in Berlin allow free entry, check more information here.
Museums in Berlin: the city’s top art galleries and museums
When visiting Berlin, you’ll be impressed by the sheer number of magnificent art galleries and museums the city has to offer, so put your art critic’s hat on and get ready to explore.
Hamburger Bahnhof: Berlin’s home for contemporary art
When you’re visiting Berlin and looking to get your teeth stuck into some of the city’s best art galleries and museums, the Hamburger Bahnhof is the perfect place to begin. The contemporary art museum opened in 1996 when an old train station was converted into what you see today. It boasts an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, video art and various installations, including works from post-1950 artistic movements such as pop art and minimalism. Modern artistic groups such as the Fluxus play a major role in this museum, and you can find seminal pieces by leading protagonists like Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol.
Opening Hours:
- 10:00-18:00 Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
- 10:00-20:00 Thursday
- 11:00-18:00 Saturday & Sunday
- Closed Monday
Alte Nationalgalerie: from classicism to romanticism
Berlin’s Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) is steeped in history and is one of the city’s most famous museums. It showcases 19th-century European art over three floors and is housed in a magnificent classical Greek-style temple. The museum itself is, in fact, a UNESCO World Heritage site and part of the illustrious Museum Island in Berlin, where you can find several monumental museums and galleries in one place. Here you can enjoy masterpieces by greats such as Monet, Manet and Renoir whilst also being able to admire the colourful paintings of Paul Gauguin and Paul Cezanne.
Opening Hours:
- 10:00-18:00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
- 10:00-20:00 Thursday
- Closed Monday
Sammlung Boros: a former bunker turned art installation
This former Nazi-era bunker is now one of Berlin’s most impressive private contemporary art collections. The Sammlung Boros is named after Christan Boros, who acquired the mammoth building in 2003. You can book guided tours in English online to learn about the history of the building and the surprising nature of its modern exhibits, with modern installations like digital paintings and photo series.
You will get a fascinating introduction to the exhibit while experiencing the noisy banging sound effects of a blackboard, an installation called ‘Mandi III’ by Belgian artist Kris Martin. Your tour group is then led through original sections of the building, with steel doors, vents and pipes still preserved in time.
- Available Tour Hours: 10:00-18:30 Friday, Saturday & Sunday
- Closed Monday-Thursday
Historical museums in Berlin that are not to be missed
Berlin’s history is complicated and fascinating in equal measure, so take a trip through time and explore the city’s historical discoveries and journeys.
Pergamonmuseum: Museum Island’s centrepiece
The Pergamonmuseum is one of Berlin’s historical highlights and one of the city’s most visited museums. It is considered somewhat controversial due to how its artefacts were discovered and ultimately claimed. With artefacts from the ancient worlds of Babylon, Rome, Greece, and others displayed within its walls, some believe they should be returned. The museum comprises three main collections: Classical Antiquities, the Museum of Islamic Art, and the Museum of the Ancient Near East. Marvel at some of the key exhibits, including the striking blue glow of the Ishtar Gate from Babylon, which is over 2,600 years old. Get yourself down there during a weekday morning to avoid the crowds.
Opening hours:
- 10:00-18:00 Tuesday-Sunday
- Closed Monday
Jewish Museum: learn about German-Jewish history
A museum that holds a significant representation of Jewish history in Berlin, its modern and immersive installations provide a somewhat unique experience. One example is the ‘Axis of the Holocaust’ with a heavy, black door that leads to a ‘voided void’ – a cold and dimly lit tower with indecipherable sounds that will give you a chill.
The architectural design is also particularly striking, with a contemporary wing of metal and glass, complete with a floor that resembles a zigzag.
The ‘Shalekhet’ (Fallen Leaves) installation takes up the whole floor, with 10,000 iron plates with faces representing victims of war. It’s another example of the moving and artistic manner in which the museum tells its story.
- Opening Hours: 10:00-19:00 daily
East Side Gallery: the fascinating history of the Berlin Wall
When one thinks of Berlin, one thinks of the Berlin Wall and the historical moment it came down in 1989, reuniting East Berlin with the West. The East Side Gallery is a representation of modern Berlin and the story behind the wall’s creation, the nearly 30 years it remained standing, and its ultimate fall. For those who love art and modern history, visiting the East Side Gallery is an absolute must, not just to admire the many artistically brilliant and expressive street murals but to learn about Berlin’s identity during the Cold War. Discover what it all meant for the city’s people – it’s a perfect addition to a free city walking tour.
Opening Hours:
- Accessible around the clock / Tours available by appointment
Berlin: a symbol of modernity
German Museum of Technology and Science Center Spectrum: a modern journey
The German Museum of Technology provides a fascinating insight into the history of tech and its development. If you’re travelling with children, you must check out one of Berlin’s most significant science museums, the Science Center Spectrum; it’s an interactive museum of technology and science for kids, right by the Museum of Technology. Here, children can learn about all sorts of experiments and are encouraged to interact with exhibits to ignite their interest even further. There are playful ways to discover more about light and vision, heat and temperature, electricity and magnetism.
Opening Hours:
- 9:00-17:30 Tuesday-Friday
- 10:00-18:00 Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
- Closed Monday
Futurium: a glimpse at what the future might look like
If you’re interested in seeing what the future may hold for us, check out one of Berlin’s newest additions to its vast number of museums, the Futurium. Situated next to Berlin’s central station, Futurium boasts a huge exhibition floor that depicts what can only be described as a vision of the future. It envisages what cities, travel, medicine, and working life will be like, with specific exhibitions about technology, climate change and the natural world, amongst others.
Being greeted by a talking robot is not the only unique experience you’ll enjoy in this interactive exhibition, which is free to enter.
Opening Hours:
- 10:00-18:00 Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
- 10:00-20:00 Thursday
- Closed Tuesday
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