Berlin, the capital of Germany, is one of the best places to visit! The city is known for its beautiful Christmas markets and its awesome nightlife. Be it students, history buffs, art connoisseurs, tourists or families- Berlin has something for everyone! If you are visiting Berlin, then you are definitely in for a treat! The city has a lot to offer and apart from the usual shopping and food, Berlin has some great museums and exhibitions that are well worth a visit. The city has had a rich and complicated past, and the museums in Berlin are living examples of this. Apart from the fall of the Berlin Wall, many other historic events have shaped present-day Berlin. You can find remnants and traces of Berlin’s history everywhere in the city and if you really want to learn more about Berlin, then you must check out its historic museums! .
Why Visit Museums in Berlin
Berlin is one of the few cities in the world that has always been at the center of world politics and world history. Major historic events such as the World Wars and the Fall of the Berlin Wall cemented Berlin’s position in the history of the world. Most of the museums in Berlin give you a wonderful insight into the rich, dark, and complicated history of the city. These include the Pergamon Museum, the DDR Museum, and the Holocaust Memorial. But if you just want to spend some time with your family, you can visit the Illuseum Museum, the Studio of Wonders, and the German Spy Museum in Berlin. So if you are a ‘culture vulture’, an art lover, a history enthusiast, or are simply looking for a fun family outing, all the museums in Berlin are there to cater to your every need and interest.
5 Must-see Works of Art in Berlin
A visit to the museums in Berlin will be incomplete without marveling at and admiring some of the most famous sculptures and artworks on display in its museums. Here are 5 must-see works of art in Berlin!
1Ishtar Gate from Babylon
The Pergamon Museum in Berlin is known for its fabulous reconstruction of some of the most amazing architectural wonders in the world. One of these is the reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate from Babylon. The finds from German archaeologist Robert Koldeway’s excavations in Babylon in 1899, inspired the reconstruction of this beautiful Gate. The Ishtar Gate was the eighth gate to the inner city of Babylon. Believed to have been built around 575 BC during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar I, the gate was dedicated to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar.
2Pergamon Altar
Another must-see work of art in the Pergamon museum in Berlin is the renowned Pergamon Altar. The Ancient Greeks were known for creating decorative art that depicted mythological battles. The Pergamon Altar is one such beautiful sculpture. Originally located in the sacred precinct of the acropolis of the ancient city of Pergamon, the Altar is one of the most well-preserved historical sculptures. The most eye-catching feature of this work of art in Berlin is its stunning frieze that wraps around the building’s entire exterior and showcases the Gigantomachy-the mythical battle between the Gods of Mount Olympus and the Giants.
3The Market Gate of Miletus
The Market Gate of Miletus is one of the most famous pieces of Roman architecture. Located in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, the Market Gate of Miletus is a dazzling marble gate. What makes the Market Gate of Miletus a must-visit is that its structure is reminiscent of the façade of a theater stage or a library, rather than a gate. Believed to be the biggest reconstruction ever by a museum, the Market Gate of Miletus originally served as the entrance to the southern market square in the ancient city of Miletus, a wealthy Greek trading port.
4Bust of Nefertiti
On 6th December 1912, a team of German archaeologists came across a limestone bust of Nefertiti-one of the most famous queens of Egypt, in Armana when they unearthed the workshop of the ancient sculptor Thutmose. This bust can be found in the Neues Museum in Berlin in a small case in the small circular gallery of the museum. It is a part of the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus collection that is housed in the recently-renovated Neues museum in Berlin. Security is extremely tight around this area and visitors are not allowed to click pictures of the bust.
5Berlin Gold Hat
The Berlin Gold Hat can be found in the Neues Museum in Berlin. This piece of art in Berlin is widely regarded as one of the most impressive pieces of evidence from early man’s astronomical knowledge. Built during the Bronze Age, the golden ceremonial hat may have been worn by rulers during certain religious and ceremonial occasions. If you look closely, the marks stamped on the Berlin Gold Hat seem to be related to heavenly bodies such as the sun and the moon.
11 Best Museums in Berlin
These are some of the most famous museums that you can visit during your trip to Berlin!
Considered to be one of the best museums in Berlin, the DDR Museum is located in the city center, right opposite the Berlin Cathedral. The interactive exhibits at the museums give visitors an in-depth insight into the life of Communist East Germany, formerly known as the Deutsche Demokratische Republik. The DDR museum has the best collection of artifacts from the everyday life and households of the Communist Germans. If you are looking to learn about ‘Ostalgie’-nostalgia for the aspects of life in Communist East Germany, then the DDR Museum is your go-to museum in Berlin. Over here you can even learn about the diet and health of the people of Old Germany! Other exhibits at the DDR museums include fashion, education, environment, and the army.
DDR Museum Highlights
- Life in a Tower Block Exhibit
- State and Ideology Exhibit
- Public Life Exhibit
Recommended DDR Museum Tickets
DDR Museum Reviews
I really enjoyed the DDR museum Wich gives a good insight of how life was in east Berlin. The TV tower gives a great view of Berlin and it's surroundings.
- Isabelle, November 2022
Very interesting exhibits and loved the interactivity. Learned a lot! It felt too busy to really enjoy each section as queues would build around you to read the information and you felt rushed.
- Shaun, October 2022
The Illuseum Museum is one of the best museums to spend a fun day out with your family! Opened in August 2018, the Illuseum Museum in Berlin has around fifty different illusions. The basic concept underlying the exhibits at this museum is that the visitors themselves become a part of the exhibits and bring the illusions to life. At the Illuseum Museum, you will find innumerable exhibits related to optical illusions, holograms, and photographic illusions. The different thematic rooms at this museum in Berlin add to the overall fun. The Illuseum Museum in Berlin keeps some wonderful and interesting wooden toys and puzzles for children that are bound to keep them occupied for hours on end. The interactive stations at the museums are also worth checking out on your visit.
Illuseum Museum Highlights
- Vortex Tunnel
- Infinite Space
- Head on Serving Plate illusion
- Chair illusion
Illuseum Museum Tickets
Illuseum Museum Reviews
It's was amazing the rooms were cool and funky. I liked how one staff member in particular was really helpful and took cool photos of us and one staff members could have been a little nicer he was just a little rude but not really. Overall I rate it 8/10
- Rachael, October 2022
Fun, interesting and a different kind of museum, can definitely recommend!!
- Kacper, October 2022
The Berlin Wall museum is an indoor and outdoor museum cum memorial in Berlin. A must-visit attraction for visitors, at the Berlin Wall Museum you will learn about the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, get an insight into life in East Germany during those times, and the heroic and brave attempts made by the people to reunite with their families after the construction of the Berlin Wall. If you are interested in learning about the history of one of the most important events in the world, then the Berlin Wall museum will be the best museum to visit for you. You can walk along the one-mile stretch of Bernauer Strasse and spend some time in an open-air exhibit that showcases some photographs and signs detailing the stories from either side of the Berlin Wall barrier.
The Berlin Wall Museum Highlights
- Piece of the original border wall
- Watchtower
- Exhibits showing the political and historical events surrounding the city’s division
Recommended The Berlin Wall Museum Tickets
The Pergamon museum is another one of Berlin’s must-see museums. It is a part of the five museums on Berlin’s famous Museum Island that has also been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Pergamon museum is solely dedicated to art and archaeology and was built over twenty years. The museum opened its doors to the public in 1930. The Pergamon museum has three wings-ancient treasures from Rome, Greece, and the Middle East. The museum has the best collection of sculptures from the archaic to the Hellenistic Ages. You can also marvel at some stunning Greek and Roman artwork antiquities which include architecture, inscriptions, sculptures, mosaics, jewelry, bronzes, and pottery at the Pergamon museum in Berlin.
Pergamon Museum Highlights
- Ishtar Gate from Babylon
- Market Gate of Miletus
- Filigree Mshatta Façade from a Jordanian desert castle
- Pergamon Altar
- Statuette of a Praying Man from Assur
Probably one of the most fun and interesting museums in Berlin, the German Spy museum is privately owned. Over here you can trace the history of spies and espionage from some of Germany’s most historical eras. The German Spy museum has over one thousand different exhibits and artifacts that can help you understand and even experience what it was like to be a German spy during World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. You can unleash your inner James Bond and learn about cryptology, listening devices, and spy cameras at the German Spy museum. A great place to visit with friends, families, and kids, this museum in Berlin was nominated for the European Museum of the Year award in 2020.
German Spy Museum Highlights
- Laser Maze
- Modern Password Hacker
- Facebook Puzzle
- Berlin spy map
Recommended German Spy Museum Tickets
German Spy Museum Reviews
There was a section which allowed kids to decrypt secret messages with invisible ink or decipher hidden messages broadcasted through public radio stations. My son really enjoyed that
- Ira, August, 2019
Whether it was modern password hacker or the enigma coder, I loved it all. It was such an exhilarating experience and I'd do it all over again
- Adalyn, June 2019
If you loved the original Madame Tussauds museum in London, you will surely love the Madame Tussauds museum in Berlin! Sticking to its original concept of wax figures, the Madame Tussauds museum in Berlin is home to the wax figures of prominent people such as Angela Merkel, Lisa Minelli, Teddy Teclebrhan-the newest addition to the museum, and Josephine Baker. The wax figures and immersive sets at the Madame Tussauds Berlin make for a great and fun family outing. You can click pictures and selfies with some of the most famous people in the world and even explore the different-themed exhibits that are both immersive and interactive. The themed exhibits at Madame Tussauds Berlin are bound to keep you and your family engaged throughout your visit to the museum!
Madame Tussauds Berlin Highlights
- Roaring 20s Area
- Berlin 100
- Interactive zones ranging from fashion and music to sports
Recommended Madame Tussauds Berlin Tickets
The Neues Museum is another fabulous museum located in Berlin’s famed Museum Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Neues Museum in Berlin has one of the most impressive collections of works of art in Berlin. The recently-renovated building that is home to the Neues Museum in Berlin, is actually a work of art in itself! With more than nine thousand objects on display, the Neues museum has the best collection of Egyptian artifacts in Berlin. In fact, the museum is often referred to as Berlin’s Egyptian Museum! Over here you can see Egyptian art, artifacts, statues, vessels, manuscripts on papyrus, and even Egyptian burial chambers from 2500 BC. In addition to this, the Neues museum has several collections that display artifacts ranging from the Ancient World and the Paleolithic period to the Middle Ages.
Highlights of Neues Museum
- Bust of Nefertiti
- Ancient Egyptian “Green Head” sculpture
- Berlin Gold Hat
Perfect for the social media savvy generation of today, the Studio of Wonders in Berlin is a must-visit museum! Often referred to as ‘Berlin’s New Playground,’ the Studio of Wonders has more than seven hundred square meters of space for content creation. This also includes sets and backdrops that can be used by everyone. The Studio of Wonders is home to thirty interactive worlds that you can use to click photos, make videos, reels, and even the very popular TikTok videos that can be seen everywhere today. A great place for families and kids, you can even book photographers at the Studio of Wonders! Simply put, the Studio of Wonders will give you a creative timeout from everyday life; and this is what makes this museum in Berlin one of the best museums in the city.
Studio of Wonders Highlights
- Interactive worlds
- Crazy Mirror Room
- Subway Car where everything becomes upside down
Recommended Studio of Wonders Tickets
The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin is also known as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Opened in May 2005, the Holocaust Memorial is located in Berlin-Mitte, near the Brandenburg Gate. The memorial is one of the most impressive sights in Berlin and is the central holocaust memorial in Germany. The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin has a field spread over nineteen thousand square meters that is completely covered with more than twenty-seven hundred steles of varying heights. The construction of the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin is in line with the vision that the New York architect Peter Eisenman had. You can enter the wave-shaped field from any side and the abstract form of the field is actually meant to motivate visitors to reflect on and remember the victims of the Holocaust.
Highlights of Holocaust Memorial
- Field of Steles
- An exhibition documenting the persecution and extermination of the Jews
- Four Thematic Rooms
The Bode museum in Berlin was originally known as Kaiser-Friedrich since it was named after a German emperor. In 1956, the museum was renamed the ‘Bode Museum’ to honor Wilhelm Von Bode, the first curator of this museum in Berlin. The Bode museum is often mentioned as one of the best places to visit in Germany. The Baroque structure of the museum, which took several years to build, is enough to draw crowds to the museum. The Bode museum has mixed collections that combine sculptures with Byzantine art, coins, and medals. The first floor of the Bode Museum has collections of Byzantine and Gothic art from northern and southern Europe whereas the second floor of the museum has collections of Renaissance and Baroque art forms.
Highlights of Bode Museum
- Mosaic icon featuring Christ the Merciful
- Pietro Bernini’s ‘Satyr with Panther’ sculpture
- Antonio Cannavo's ‘Dancer’ sculpture
- Tilman Riemenschneider’s ‘Luke the Evangelist from the Münnerstadt Retable’
The Reichstag is probably one of the most important places in Berlin, if not Germany. The Reichstag building dominates the skyline of Berlin and you can easily recognize some parts of it. The Reichstag is a historic parliamentary building in Berlin that has changed hands innumerable times since it was first constructed in 1971. The Reichstag is the most visited attraction in Berlin so be prepared for large crowds, long queues, and waiting times. The best way to avoid this is by booking your tickets to visit the Reichstag building in Berlin well in advance. The building is the ‘calling card’ of the city of Berlin and offers some splendid views of the surrounding areas such as the parliamentary district, the government district, and some of Berlin’s most famous sights and attractions.
Reichstag Highlights
- Rooftop Terrace
- The glass dome of the Reichstag provides stunning 360-degree views of its surrounding areas.
Recommended Reichstag Tickets
Tips to Visit Best Museums in Berlin
These tips will come in handy when planning your visit to some of the best museums in Berlin!
- Wear comfortable footwear on the day of your visit, since you will be walking a lot.
- It is a good idea to book your tickets to visit the museums in Berlin in advance and online. This will give you the freedom to choose the time slot that works best for you.
- Book skip-the-line tickets or combo tickets when purchasing your ticket to visit the museums in Berlin. Not only will these tickets give you priority entry to the museums but they will also be budget-friendly.
- Plan your visit during the off-peak season to avoid large crowds, long queues, and waiting times.
- Some museums in Berlin offer free entry on certain days and even discounted rates on tickets for certain age groups. Check all this out before booking your tickets.
- Some exhibits in the museums in Berlin may be closed or under maintenance, so check this out beforehand.
FAQs
Some of the best museums in Berlin are the Pergamon Museum, the Bode Museum, and the Neues Museum.
Certain museums such as the Berlin Wall Museum offer free entry to visitors. We recommend that you check this out before planning your visit to the museums in Berlin.
The Illuseum Museum is the newest in Berlin.
There are currently no restrictions for entering museums in Berlin. But this varies from museum to museum, so we recommend that you check this out before planning your visit to the museums in Berlin.
