Berlin State Museums

History, Culture & Art

Berlin is blessed with some of Europe's best museums.

The museums can be grouped into three clusters, the Museumsinsel, the Kulturforum (around the Schloss Charlottenburg) and Dahlem, in southwestern Berlin.

With the cultural treasures amassed through the years in Berlin’s museums, one can quickly get a very intense history on the city and Germany, the Berlin Wall and the Soviet presence in the Eastern Berlin, Nazi rule and more.

With a sort of arts revival, taking hold after the fall of the Berlin wall, and the subsequent establishment of many art galleries studios and so on, some being converted from industrial buildings, Berlin’s museum sector has seen thriving growth in the past two decades as well.

The city is home to more than 170 museums, housing art to artifacts, which, in many cases trace the history of the city’s torn past. The Pergamon Altar, works from Caravaggio to Caspar David Friedrich to Baselitz are just a few of the finds you may come across at a Berlin museum.

Museumsinsel

Berlin boasts one of the most intense museum scenes in the world.

In 2001, the city opened its arms wiith the cultural treasures amassed through the years. In Berlin’s museums, one can quickly get a very intense history on the city and Germany.

Perhaps one of the most unique attractions in Berlin, with respect to its thriving museum environment is what people call Museum Island. The five-building site lies between the Spree River and the Kupfergraben. It houses special archaeological collections as well as 19th century art.

It’s first building was constructed in 1830 and opened by King Friedrich Wilhelm III, who displayed many of his artistic treasures at the time. The remaining four buildings were completed by 1930. However, most of the buildings were destroyed in World War II.

The Museumssinsel (Museum island)on the Spree has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

With the opening of the Berggruen Collection at the Stulerbau in Charlottenburg Palace, which houses a Picasso exhibit and the museum of Contemporary art opening in the late 90s, Berlin boasts one of the most intense museum scenes in the world.

One of these is the Pergamon Museum which contains many Eygptian antiquities. The Altes Museum has a superb display of Roman and Greek cultural pieces, while the Bode Museum concentrates on Byzantine art.

Near Berlin train station is an area know as Tiergarten. Museums in the vicinity include the Museum fur Gegenwart(Contemporary Museum), Musikinstrumentenmuseum (Museum for Musical Instruments) and Kunstbibliothek (Art Library).

In Dahlem, the Museum for European Culture can be found. Charlottenburg has the Romantik Gallery.

Film Museum

A very popular attraction is the Film Museum. Why not have a look at the webiste Film Museum

Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe

In 2001, the city opened its arms to the continent’s largest Jewish Museum.

A solemn memorial based on grey concrete slabs by New York architect Peter Eisenman, cover an area south of the Brandenburg Gate.

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Berlin Museum Opening Times

Be careful about opening times. Most of the museums are closed on a Monday.

Tourist Passes

Berlin Tourismus Marketing offers tourists a a WelcomeCard which gives discounts of upto 50% on museums and other tourist attractions.

Also included in the price is unlimited travel on all the trains and buses.

Lastly, it might be worth considering the Schaulust Museen Berlin three day tourist ticket, which gives free admission to more than 50 museums. This ticket is available at the main tourist offices in the city.

72 Hour Berlin Welocme Card - Great Discounts on Entry

Berlin Tourist Information

For more tourist information on Berlin visit Berlin Tourist Information.