Best Museums in Berlin: Our Top 27 Picks

Save Money with These Museum Passes

Before we dive into our favorite museums in Berlin, here are two tips on how you can save real money on your visits.

Museumspass Berlin: A Money-Saving Tip for Museum Lovers

If you’re planning to visit several of the best museums in Berlin, the Museumspass is a great choice. For 32 euros, you get 3 days of access to a total of 30 museums across the city.

It covers many of Berlin’s most well-known museums, including all the museums on Museum Island — such as the Pergamon Museum and the Altes Museum — as well as the Jewish Museum and top-tier art museums like the Hamburger Bahnhof.

The Museumspass generally pays off if you visit three or more museums. So if you’re planning to hit three or more spots over three days, it’s a solid investment.

Buy the Museumspass Berlin online

Berlin Welcome Card Museum Island: The Museum Ticket with a Transit Pass Included

If you’re planning to visit Museum Island and also need a transit pass for Berlin’s public transportation, the Berlin Welcome Card Museum Island is worth a look.

The Berlin Welcome Card is Berlin’s tourist ticket, giving you not only a transit pass but also plenty of discounts at Berlin attractions and sights.

The Museum Island upgrade adds entry to the five Berlin museums on Museum Island on top of all the standard perks.

Get the Berlin Welcome Card Classic

Get the Berlin Welcome Card Museum Island

The ticket comes in many different versions. In our Berlin Welcome Card article, we go into more detail about when it’s actually worth buying.

Highlights on Museum Island

If you’re fascinated by ancient history, Museum Island is the place to be. These are our top picks among the Berlin museums on Museum Island.

• Pergamon Museum
• Egyptian Museum
• James Simon Gallery
• Bode Museum
• Alte Nationalgalerie

Pergamon Museum

Simply spectacular! Amateur archaeologists and history buffs will be in their element at the popular Pergamon Museum.

It’s divided into three sections: the Islamic Art exhibition, the Collection of Classical Antiquities, and the Museum of the Ancient Near East.

The most famous pieces are the Hellenistic Pergamon Altar from the 2nd century BC and the massive Market Gate of Miletus from 120 BC.

Tickets are 12 euros. The Pergamon Museum is closed on Mondays.

Buy tickets for the Pergamon Museum online
Pergamon Extra Tip: Beyond the main exhibitions, there’s one more truly extraordinary experience: The Panorama. It’s a 360-degree exhibition that transports you back to ancient Pergamon. The panorama spans several stories and feels incredibly real.

Buy tickets for the Panorama exhibition

Note: Since 2023, the Pergamon Museum has been undergoing extensive renovations. A large part of the north wing is currently inaccessible. The reopening of this section is planned for spring 2027. The full modernization of the museum is expected to continue until 2037.

Egyptian Museum in the Neues Museum

The Egyptian Museum Berlin is officially called “Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung der staatlichen Museen zu Berlin” — but nobody’s going to remember that.

After British architect David Chipperfield gave the building a facelift, it reopened in 2009 inside the Neues Museum and has been delighting lovers of ancient Egyptian culture ever since.

The crown jewel of the collection is the bust of the beautiful Queen Nefertiti.

Just like the Pergamon Museum, admission costs 12 euros, and it’s closed on Mondays.

James Simon Gallery

The James Simon Gallery primarily serves as the visitor center for Museum Island. You’ll find ticket counters, coat checks, a museum shop, a café and restaurant, and all the info you need about the museums on Museum Island.

But we wouldn’t list a visitor center in our guide to the best museums in Berlin for no reason. The James Simon Gallery also hosts special exhibitions — such as ones featuring archaeological treasures from Uzbekistan.

Admission prices vary depending on the special exhibition.

Bode Museum

The Bode Museum is a real eye-catcher even from the outside. Inside, a vast sculpture collection, the Museum of Byzantine Art, and a coin cabinet await you.

The concept of the Bode Museum traces back to the ideas of Crown Princess Victoria and was commissioned by Emperor Wilhelm II in 1904.

It’s open daily except Mondays and costs 10 euros.

Buy tickets for the Bode Museum online

Alte Nationalgalerie

The Alte Nationalgalerie sits right on Museum Island and features important works from Biedermeier, Romanticism, Impressionism, and early Modernism.

From Caspar David Friedrich and Claude Monet to Paul Cézanne — all the greats are represented here.

Admission costs 10 euros. It’s closed on Mondays.

Buy tickets for the Alte Nationalgalerie online

Museums of Modern History in Berlin

Berlin also has some seriously impressive museums covering more recent history — of Berlin, Germany, and the world. These are our highlights:

• German Historical Museum
• Jewish Museum
• The Wall
• Topography of Terror
• DDR Museum
• Deutschlandmuseum Berlin

Our tip: If you’d like to learn more about German history, we recommend the Third Reich and Cold War tour. You can find all the details in our article about guided tours in Berlin.

German Historical Museum

The German Historical Museum takes you through 2,000 years of German history — with around 1 million exhibits!

From Charlemagne’s conquests and Luther’s posting of his theses to World War II and the fall of the Berlin Wall, you’ll learn everything you might have slept through in history class.

The sweeping staircase and glass facade also make for a great photo opportunity.

Tickets are 7 euros.

Jewish Museum

The Jewish Museum tells the history and culture of Jews in Europe — going far beyond the Holocaust. It draws on films, artworks, documents, and interactive exhibitions to do so.

There’s even a children’s area where the museum uses playful storytelling to explain the story of Noah’s Ark.

As you can see from our photo, this is also spectacular from the outside — that alone makes a visit worthwhile.

The permanent exhibition is free; temporary exhibitions cost 8 euros.

Buy tickets for the Jewish Museum online

The Wall Museum at the East Side Gallery

Even if you’re not usually a museum person, you’ll get a lot out of this one!

The name pretty much says it all — the Wall Museum is all about the history of the Berlin Wall. The story is presented in themed rooms in an engaging, interactive way.

Films and original contributions from well-known figures bring the division of Berlin, the GDR, and the Cold War to life. Guaranteed not to be boring!

You can easily combine your visit with the East Side Gallery — it’s right next door and is the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall.

Tickets start at 12.50 euros.

Buy tickets for The Wall Museum online

Topography of Terror

At the Topography of Terror, you step back into the era of National Socialism.

Authentic audio and video recordings document the atrocities of the SS and the terror of the Third Reich.

Even the location is significant — during the Third Reich, this was the site of the headquarters of the SS, the Reich Security Main Office, and the Secret State Police.

Admission is free.

DDR Museum

Pure nostalgia! Want to experience firsthand what life was like in the East? Then the interactive DDR Museum is perfect for you.

You can, for example, feel what it was like to be interrogated by the Stasi — using bone conduction technology.

There are also a huge number of exhibits about everyday life in East Germany, including a fully reconstructed living room in a prefab apartment building. And of course, taking a seat in a Trabant is part of the experience.

Tickets are 12.50 euros.

Buy tickets for the DDR Museum online

Deutschlandmuseum Berlin

If you love history but can’t stand dusty exhibitions, head to the Deutschlandmuseum Berlin.

Here you travel through 2,000 years of German history — complete with real sets, sound design, light effects, and even matching scents. Thanks to modern 4D technology, your visit becomes a genuine journey through time, putting you right in the middle of the action — from the Middle Ages to reunification.

The whole experience is more of an adventure than a classic museum visit, making it a great pick for families and history enthusiasts alike.

Open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM. Tickets cost 16 euros, or 12 euros with a discount.

Buy tickets for the Deutschlandmuseum Berlin online

Art and Photography Museums in Berlin

Of course, Berlin also has some seriously interesting museums for art lovers. These are our favorite art museums in Berlin:

• Neue Nationalgalerie
• Humboldt Forum
• Martin-Gropius-Bau
• C/O Berlin
• Hamburger Bahnhof
• Sammlung Boros
• Museum für Fotografie
• Urban Nation

Neue Nationalgalerie

Once you’re done with the Alte Nationalgalerie, you can head straight to the Neue Nationalgalerie.

This is one of the most visited museums in Berlin, where you can marvel at paintings from Expressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism.

Artists represented include Picasso, Klee, and Kirchner, among others.

It’s closed on Mondays. On all other days, you can visit for 8 euros.

Buy tickets for the Neue Nationalgalerie online

Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palace

The Humboldt Forum is a place for art, culture, and science — highly engaging and interactive. Right now you can check out several special exhibitions, including the collections of the Museum of Asian Art.

In the Berlin exhibition Berlin Global, you can explore themes like migration, revolution, war, fashion, open spaces, and borders — not only in the context of Berlin but also in relation to other major cities around the world.

The museum and several of its exhibitions are free to visit. For some exhibitions like Berlin Global, you’ll need to buy a ticket. It’s closed on Tuesdays.

Book a guided tour of the Humboldt Forum

Martin Gropius Bau

What sets this Berlin museum apart is its eclectic mix of photography, cultural history, archaeology, and modern art.

The Gropius Bau always has rotating exhibitions, so it’s worth checking the program before you go.

Even the architecture of the building itself is a work of art — with elaborate ornamentation on the exterior facade, a glass-roofed atrium, and ornate arcades.

Admission prices vary depending on the exhibition. The Martin Gropius Bau is closed on Tuesdays.

C/O Berlin

We’ve covered plenty of art museums with paintings by famous artists. At C/O Berlin, it’s all about photography.

Annie Leibovitz, Martin Parr, Anton Corbijn, Peter Lindbergh, Stephen Shore — fans of photographic art will be in their element here.

C/O Berlin opened 18 years ago and has quickly become one of the top destinations for photography in Europe.

We love C/O Berlin and visit exhibitions there all the time. Tickets are 12 euros.

Hamburger Bahnhof

What’s a Hamburg train station doing in Berlin? Well, it was once the terminus of the line between Hamburg and Berlin — but only for about 40 years.

During the division of Germany, it sat unused for decades in the no-man’s-land between West and East Berlin. The perfect setting for a museum of contemporary art, right?

For any lover of modern art, the rotating exhibitions at the Hamburger Bahnhof are not to be missed. There’s also a permanent collection featuring many works by Joseph Beuys, among others.

Tickets are 14 euros. This one is closed on Mondays.

Buy tickets for the Hamburger Bahnhof online

Sammlung Boros

The Sammlung Boros is one of Berlin’s most unique museums. It’s located in an old bunker on Friedrichstraße.

The hauntingly beautiful setting houses contemporary artworks from the private collection of Christian and Karen Boros.

The collection can only be visited in small groups as part of a guided tour. You need to register on the website in advance, and time slots are often booked out several weeks ahead.

The Boros Bunker is open every week from Friday to Sunday. Admission is 18 euros — a bit steep, but absolutely worth it!

Museum für Fotografie

Since 2004, the Helmut Newton Museum für Fotografie has been the mecca for photography enthusiasts from around the world.

The standout of the museum is the acclaimed exhibition Helmut Newton’s Private Property.

It showcases his works, those of his wife Alice Springs, and various nude companions. Some world-famous Polaroids are naturally included as well.

Tickets are 10 euros. The Helmut Newton Museum is closed on Mondays.

Buy tickets for the Museum für Fotografie online

Urban Nation - Museum for Contemporary Art

Urban Nation is also about art — but urban art, meaning street art!

That’s right: in Berlin, you don’t have to wander through the streets to admire graffiti masterpieces. Instead, you get a concentrated dose of street art all in one museum.

145 artists from a wide range of countries have brought more than 190 artworks to canvas here.

Admission is free. Donations are always welcome — they support the artists, their exhibitions, and the upkeep of the museum. It’s closed on Mondays.

Museums for Kids

Are you planning a family vacation in Berlin with kids? We’ve got the right museum recommendations for that too.

• German Museum of Technology
• Natural History Museum
• Machmit! Museum
• Computer Games Museum

German Museum of Technology

The German Museum of Technology in Berlin isn’t exactly a classic children’s museum, but it’s still super exciting for kids and ranks among our Berlin insider tips.

Especially in the aviation, space exploration, and automotive sections, the little ones won’t stop marveling.

Tickets start at just 8 euros. It’s closed on Mondays.

Natural History Museum

The absolute standout of the Natural History Museum is the world’s largest dinosaur skeleton. You can already get a sneak peek in the photo. That alone is guaranteed to make kids’ eyes light up.

Beyond that, there are countless fossils, minerals, and taxidermied animals that will leave young and old adventurers in awe.

You can visit daily — except Mondays — for 8 euros.

Buy tickets for the Natural History Museum in Berlin

Machmit! Museum

At the Machmit! Museum, your kids can explore, get creative, learn, and discover new things through play. There’s even a huge climbing shelf where they can really let loose.

The museum also screens nationally and internationally acclaimed children’s films on five film evenings, suitable for children ages three and up.

The Machmit! Museum is open Thursday through Sunday and admission is 7 euros.

Computer Games Museum

The Computer Games Museum in Friedrichshain is an ode to digital entertainment. Here you can trace the evolution of digital gaming culture: long-forgotten game consoles meet the virtual world of the future.

You can play Pac-Man on an original arcade machine in a video game arcade from the ’80s, or try your hand at Mario Kart on the Nintendo 64 for the first time in decades.

There’s something here for the whole family and every age group. Tickets start at just 11 euros.

Our tip: If you’re out and about on a Sunday, the Computer Games Museum pairs perfectly with our favorite flea market — the RAW Flea Market in Friedrichshain. You can find more info in our article about Berlin flea markets.

Buy tickets for the Computer Games Museum online

Unique Museums in Berlin

Had enough of art, culture, and history? Here are a few truly unique museums that you probably wouldn’t have expected.

• Hemp Museum
• Asisi Panorama
• German Spy Museum
• Schwules Museum

Hemp Museum

Berlin is home to the world’s largest hemp museum! Everything here revolves around the cultivation of the hemp plant.

You’ll learn all about the various uses of hemp throughout history and across different cultures, as well as its cultivation and use as a drug.

The museum also supports child and youth protection and offers guided tours on the topic.

At the in-house Hanfcafé ClubChill, you can check out different types of hemp and sample hemp coffee and hemp tea.

Tickets are 6 euros. The hemp museum is closed on Mondays.

The Wall: Yadegar Asisi Panorama

In the 360-degree panorama Die Mauer by artist Yadegar Asisi, you step into the daily life of Berliners in the shadow of the Berlin Wall.

The panorama depicts scenes from an ordinary autumn day in the West Berlin neighborhood of Kreuzberg in the 1980s.

From the four-meter-high viewing platform, you have a perfect panoramic view of the entire artwork.

Admission costs 11 euros.

Buy tickets for Die Mauer online

German Spy Museum

The interactive Spy Museum is the only one of its kind in Germany. Here you can use modern technology to test the methods of spies and secret agents yourself — crack codes or hack a website of your choice, for example.

There’s also a laser course and a large exhibition of espionage objects from the past to the present. Among the highlights: Hitler’s Enigma cipher machine and several original props from James Bond films.

Tickets start at 11 euros.

Buy tickets for the Spy Museum online

Schwules Museum

The Schwules Museum opened its doors back in 1985 and offers a compelling look at the lives of gay people throughout history.

The main exhibition is on the ground floor. On the third floor, you’ll find a library with around 8,000 books.

It’s closed on Tuesdays. On all other days, admission is just 3 euros.