Fana culture, are you lucky to go to the German capital? Here is a selection of the must-see museums to visit in Berlin!
When you come to Germany, the points of interest are not missing, from one end to the other of this great country. Moreover, we understand better why many spaces are dedicated to Germanic culture in the German capital. Indeed, museums, art galleries or cultural centres are legion. If most of them are housed in “the island of the Museums” or in the Kulturforum of Tiergarten, other museums are scattered throughout the city! Would you like to discover them? Then why not join the useful to the pleasant by combining tourist visit and cultural outing? Whether you're more connected art, history or science, there's something for every taste! Here is our selection of the 12 museums to visit in Berlin!
1. History Museum of Germany
Photo credit: Shutterstock – HappyRichStudio
Time of visit between two and three hours
Cut-the-line ticket No
The history museum of Germany is located in a splendid building. The latter is an important part of the political intrigues, conflicts and social developments that have marked the country. In other words, its permanent exhibition brings together more than 8000 pieces on nearly 7500 m2! Then, four floors are reserved for temporary exhibitions: from the Holy Roman Empire to the twentieth century through the Prussian Empire, you will learn everything about the complex development of the country.
If you want to know everything about the history of the German nation, then quickly discover this must-see museum to visit in Berlin.
2. Neues Museum
Photo credit: Facebook – Achim Kleuker for Neues Museum
Time of visit between one and two hours
Cut-the-line ticket Yes
The Neues Museum (“new museum” in Goethe language) is one of the most famous places to visit in Berlin. Built in the 19th century by architect Friedrich August Stüler, it was almost destroyed after the Second World War before reopening its doors in 1999.
Here we come to contemplate a contemporary space finely redesigned by British designer David Chipperfield. For its part, the building, a unique architectural composition, is worth a look alone! At the same time, the Neues Museum houses a huge collection of antiquities including Egyptians. For example, the famous bust of Nefertiti is preserved there: it is one of the most copied original pieces.
Visit this culture temple without further delay!
3. Jewish Museum of Berlin
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Jaroslav Moravcik
Time of visit between three and four hours
Cut-the-line ticket Yes
Installed in modern and cosmopolitan area Kreuzberg , in the centre of Berlin, the Shoah Memorial illustrates a whole symbol. To start with, we owe this building to Daniel Libeskind , a renowned American architect. Built to honour the victims of the Holocaust during the Second World War, it consists of two buildings whose total surface exceeds 3,000 m2. Here, we can collect and learn a little more about the dark period.
A permanent exhibition presents a millennium of Jewish presence in Germany. The recent period is illustrated by photographs, texts or objects of ordinary appearance. The goal: to account, take note, and never forget. More than a cultural space, the Jewish Museum of Berlin is one of the most important museums to visit in Berlin.
4. DDR Museum
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Alizada Studios
Time of visit between two and three hours
Cut-the-line ticket Yes
DDR Museum? Well, it’s just the RDA museum in French. Remember, under Soviet control, the German Democratic Republic corresponded to the east of the current German territory. Between 1945 and 1989 the country was, on its own, a symbol of the Iron Curtain!
Thus, close to the Berliner Dome, the DDR museum is one of the most important museums to visit in Berlin for its historical interest. He presents the daily life of East Germans and illustrates communist domination. The collections are rich, gather exciting information and the interactivity is interesting. Do not hesitate to go with family or friends: this museum is one of the most interesting in the city!
5. Bauhaus-Archive
Photo credit: Shutterstock – hinterhof
Time of visit between one and two hours
Cut-the-line ticket No
If you are a feru of architecture and contemporary art, you are here at home. The Bauhaus-Archiv is also the work of two architects, Walter Gropius and Alexander Cvijanovic. Inaugurated in 1979, it was intended to host the archives of the Bauhaus, a major artistic movement of the twentieth century that influenced countless designers! As for the archives, the archives of the Bauhaus gather countless documents that are all more interesting than others. You can admire a permanent exhibition including the famous Bauhaus lamp or Wassily chair.
If it is one of the most important museums to visit in Berlin, it is especially for art enthusiasts or design students who will find intellectual and inspirational subjects.
6. Pergamon Museum
Photo credit: Shutterstock – vvoe
Time of visit between three and four hours
Cut-the-line ticket Yes
In French, we tend to call it Pergame Museum, but no matter what! This Berlin archaeological museum is like so many others located on the island of the Museums. In fact, the Pergamon is not simply the most frequented Berlin museum, but also the most visited German art museum. In short, it is the German Louvre!
It houses sumptuous collections, including three unique objects in the world: the Hellenistic altar, the door of Ishtar of Babylon and the Roman Market of Miletus. It is also within it that you can discover splendid Islamic pieces from archaeological excavations. Among the unmissable museums to visit in Berlin, the Pergamon must not be forgotten!
7. Altes Museum
Photo credit: Facebook – Altesmuseum
Time of visit between three and four hours
Cut-the-line ticket Yes
Also located on the Museum Island in Berlin, the Altes Museum is home to the collection of antique works by the National Museums of Berlin. Restored in 1966 and honoring the first public museum in Berlin, it is located in the heart of an admirable building. And for cause, the latter is worthy of Ancient Greece.
Admire his 18 gigantic columns! A cupola, which is believed to be stolen from the Pantheon of Rome, is visible inside but invisible from the outside. The building, sublime and perfectly maintained is a cultural jewel beyond Rhine.
Both levels are accessible through a colossal staircase. On the ground floor, we can observe the pieces from Greek art. The first floor is dedicated to Roman and Etruscan art. The prestige of the exhibits and the interest of the collections make it one of the most important museums to visit in Berlin. Then go!
8. The Museum of Natural History of Berlin
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Radiokafka
Time of visit between two and three hours
Cut-the-line ticket Yes
With more than 6,000 m2 and its exceptional collections, this is the main natural history museum of the city of Berlin. Indeed, its surface is sufficient to expose... twenty-five million pieces from zoological excavations. Among them, rare and fossil rocks are to be discovered. Small and large will be able to opt for interactive visits, made unique thanks to the wearing of a virtual reality helmet!
The museum is also one of the most important museums to visit in Berlin due to its guided tours. Indeed, guides, human or digital, are available from the entrance. Plan between two and three hours to visit it in its entirety, and for a day to discover it completely.
9. Memorial Berlin Wall
Photo credit: Shutterstock – struvictory
Time of visit between one and two hours
Cut-the-line ticket No
To understand everything about the Berlin Wall and the historical importance of its demolition worldwide, it is here. It is no surprise that the Berlin Wall Memorial is one of the most important museums to visit in Berlin. You can choose to go along the old border area on which it was built.
Fully free of charge, the memorial tells the history of the Wall, backed by documents of time. Thus, you will learn more about its extremely rapid and impromptu construction by the Soviet authorities. An old section of the wall, left like what, will give you on its side an idea of the architectural brutality of the monument. At the foot of the wall, you will be able to see plaques showing the attempts to escape from East Germans!
As a whole, the visit is very informative and allows to understand the daily life of Berliners in a city split in two.
10. Bode Museum
Photo credit: Shutterstock – fart jesche
Time of visit between two and three hours
Cut-the-line ticket Yes
The Bode Museum, completely renovated and located in the Mitte district, welcomes masterpieces of sculpture. We come to admire impressive collections of reliefs, engravings, mosaics... Here, Byzantine art is particularly honoured.
If you like classical sculptures, direction the thematic space dedicated to the masters Gunther, Tacca or Canova. Donatello in person is here represented by the Pazzi Madonna! Do not hesitate to visit you with family or friends; Indeed the place is very friendly and audioguides can be provided free of charge. So when are you going?
11. Berggruen Museum
Photo credit: Shutterstock – TK Kurikawa
Time of visit one and two hours
Cut-the-line ticket Yes
That's ten euros spent. Just west of Berlin’s city, the Berggruen Museum is a real cultural institution! Simple access, it is actually close to the Charlottenburg Castle. Stylé, the building itself is worth the detour: the staircase, dominated by a grandiose dome, is an architectural wonder. Here, Picasso, Matisse, Klee or Giacometti are honoured and many wonders are displayed in the eyes of visitors.
We advise you to focus on the works of Georges Braque, authentic avant-garde wonders. Berggruen is certainly one of the most important museums to visit Berlin: the ideal, to realize it, is to see it yourself!
12. Deutsche Kinemathek
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Visual Intermezzo
Time of visit one and two hours
Cut-the-line ticket No
From 1910 to 1930, Berlin was a high place in German cinema. And for cause, it is enough to think of science fiction films as Metropolis , or classics as The Blue Angel or The Hell of the Poor ... Doesn't that tell you? Whatever! On the no less famous Potsdamer Platz, go to the Deutsche Kinemathek.
For a price of only €7, this museum proudly displays the 7th German art print on the rest of the world. A major cultural place that promises to make the discovery of the greatest names of German cinema, up to the techniques of realization and assembly. Also, interactive visits are offered in virtual reality and films can even be acquired in store. What are you waiting for?
13. Alte Nationalgalerie
Photo credit: Shutterstock – aldorado
Time of visit one and two hours
Cut-the-line ticket Yes
Located as many others on the island of the Museums, the Alte Nationalgalerie is dedicated to the pictorial art of the nineteenth century. Indeed, the latter houses masterpieces of classicism and romanticism. Moreover, the movement of the Sturm und Drang is particularly well represented.
Also, great names of French impressionism are honoured as Manet, Gauguin or Cézanne. When in the building it is neo-classical style and takes the form of a majestic Roman temple. Observe this dome at the ceiling: it sublimates the works presented in the museum’s enclosure.
You will have understood it, the Alte Nationalgalerie is one of the most prestigious museums in Europe. So don't miss it under any pretext!
Loading comments ...