12 Best Museums In Berlin Germany
- 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Over 10 restaurants with Michelin stars
- 3 opera houses
- Vibrant nightlife and extensive history.
What else does Berlin have? Museums. A wide range of phenomenal, state-of-the-art museums, specifically. Here is our suggestion for the best museums in Berlin that should be on your bucket list while exploring this city.
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum (The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin) is one of the oldest museums in Berlin, established in 1810.
This museum houses Germany’s greatest zoological, paleontological, and mineralogical collections, totaling more than 25 million pieces. Isn’t it spectacular?
Displaying the evolution influence, from the universe’s creation to the methodologies that gave rise to the diversity of creatures and species, this museum is a summary of how Earth worked.
You will also be fascinated by the development and death of dinosaurs, the emergence, and mobility of continents, volcanoes, and meteorite impacts.
German Spy Museum
Berlin was regarded as the capital of espionage, particularly during the Cold War.
This location, one of the few gaps in the Berlin Wall and the scene of several dramatic espionage trades during the Cold War, has since become known as the “capital city of spies.”
After encounters with the East German Stasi during Communism, journalist Franz-Michael Günther wanted to create a museum devoted to spies and espionage.
And boom, The German Spy Museum was finally introduced in July 2016.
German Spy Museum provides a history tour through espionage history, from biblical spying to the present and future.
In an interactive display, you can learn about the origins of covert intelligence collection and communication and cutting-edge modern and potential future espionage techniques.
Computer Games Museum
Berlin’s Computer Games Museum, established in 1997, has communist architecture on the outside, but within are Atari, Sega, and Nintendo classics.
Discover if you still have what it takes on the consoles while embracing nostalgia in this museum.
Having more than 300 exhibits, this museum is dedicated to gaming culture and the evolution of that culture from the early 1950s.
In addition to helping young visitors build strong media literacy, the museum seeks to advance awareness of digital entertainment media.
Topography of Terror
One of Berlin’s most famous memorial sites for remembering terror and persecution is the documentation center Topography of Terror.
It is where terror is tangible, a place of remembrance, and a warning from history.
Topography of Terror is located on Niederkirchnerstrasse, which was the SS Reich Security Main Office, the headquarters of the Sicherheitspolizei, SD, Einsatzgruppen, and Gestapo.
Here, you’ll catch an ongoing display with the information of the Gestapo, SS, and Reich Security Main Office and the crimes they committed.
You’ll see photos and documents presenting the history from the time the Nazis took power to the end of the war.
Jewish Museum
Situated in the Kreuzberg neighborhood of Berlin, the Jewish Museum is close to Checkpoint Charlie and the former Berlin Wall.
It consists of a former Baroque structure, the W. Michael Blumenthal Academy, and the ANOHA Children’s World.
The Jewish Museum Berlin is a standout institution in the field of European museums for so many reasons. It provides a lively setting for discussion and contemplation on the Jewish past and present in Germany.
Together with its W. Michael Blumenthal Academy, it also offers excellent collections, programs, and temporary exhibitions.
If you travel with kids, don’t forget to listen to the Noah’s Ark story in ANOHA by JMB Children’s World for a wonderful explanation.
Pergamon Museum
One of Berlin’s must-see museums is the Pergamon Museum.
It was built as a three-wing structure and now houses three museums:
- the Museum of the Ancient Near East
- the Museum of Islamic Art
- the Collection of Classical Antiquities.
The Museum of the Ancient Near East is on the main floor of the south wing, while the Museum of Islamic Art is on the upper floor. Parts of the Collection of Classical Antiquities are located in the center.
Exploring tips? Always be ready for a trip back in time as they gaze upon impressive exhibits.
The spectacular Babylonian Processional Way, the facade of the Caliph’s Palace of Mshatta, the Market Gate of Miletus, and the Great Altar of Pergamon are just a few of the features on display that have contributed to the Pergamon Museum’s success worldwide.
Neues Museum
Neues Museum is another excellent museum to visit in Berlin. You might need a whole day to explore all 9,000 historical relics in the Neues Museum.
The Museum of Pre- and Early History, the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection, and the Collection of Classical Antiquities all once again house their archaeological holdings in the Neues Museum.
Its greatest draw is the Nefertiti Bust, which is only a small portion of the Neues Museum’s large collection of Egyptian antiquities.
This collection also includes sculptures, a sizable number of papyrus manuscripts, and literary works.
Alte Nationalgalerie
You must visit Berlin’s Alte Nationalgalerie to marvel at well-known pieces of art and architecture from the 19th century in Europe.
You will encounter notable figures in this museum, including Caspar David Friedrich, Paul Cézanne, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
This museum has a fascinating past. Alte Nationalgalerie first opened its doors in 1876.
After World War II damage, the gallery was rebuilt, but the collections were dispersed over the places in West Berlin and the GDR. Its former splendor was only restored in 2001.
On the very first step into this museum, you will be surrounded by Prussian classicism with statues and paintings at the entrance and on the first floor.
Up higher are The Impressionist paintings on the second floor and the Romantic Goethe-era on the third floor, where every piece of art is given enough space in the room to be thoroughly appreciated.
Imagine you will be in front of well-known works by Monet, Renoir, and Manet, which is a treat for art lovers, isn’t it?
Body Worlds Museum
This museum is one of the most fascinating museums in Berlin. The first museum of its type completely dedicated to the human body, BODY WORLDS, was launched in 2015 by Dr. Angelina Whalley and Dr. Gunther von Hagens.
The major goal of these exhibits is to increase people’s awareness of the internal bodily processes that take place every day as they stand up straight, move, breathe, and even laugh (yes!). Both English and German explanations of these procedures are provided.
Berlin’s Body Worlds displays the human body’s resiliency, complexity, and vulnerability. Unique plastinates (preserved human parts or bodies) will show you the functions of various human organs and the impact of common diseases on the human body.
With its anatomical exhibits and excellent curation, this museum is a fantastic, informative, and interesting attraction.
Hamburger Bahnhof
The most significant venue in Berlin for contemporary art exhibitions only, dating from the 1950s to the present, is the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum for Contemporary Art.
On an exhibition space of about 10,000 square meters, the Museum for Contemporary Art inside Hamburger Bahnhof displays artwork from the second half of the 20th century and on.
You can see beautiful paintings, sculptures, and object art, as well as visit the photography area that features well-known artists.
DDR Museum
- After 40 years of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), East Germany, what has survived?
- How does it feel to be constantly watched?
- What was it like to be behind the wheel of the small Trabant?
You will get the answers through a first-hand glimpse into daily life in the German Democratic Republic by visiting DDR Museum.
This museum offers more than just “Ostalgie” merchandise because it sees itself as a pillar in preserving the social critique and DDR culture.
In addition to typical Wall or Stasi exhibitions, it provides a more accessible viewpoint with a local history approach.
For the best experience, our advice is to participate fully, using all of your senses to gather experiences as you go.
Please note that the DDR Museum is expected to remain closed until February 28, 2023. Due to the destruction of the Aquadome.
German Historical Museum
Since its founding, the German Historical Museum has hosted several temporary exhibitions, and interest in history has grown since its permanent exhibition debuted in 2006.
More than 7,000 exceptional items with historical testimonial value are displayed, creating a colorful, vivid panorama of German history.
In the contemporary Pei building, you will be amazed by German history, which is set from an international perspective that considers the various events defining political and historical-cultural interchange and its integration with the cultural heritage of neighboring states.
Final thoughts on museums in Berlin
Berlin is undoubtedly one of the best destinations for museum lovers. We hope this guide will be useful in your travel guide to this beautiful capital of Germany.
