Choose from 113 Fun Things to Do in Berlin
ShowingFilter 81-100 of 113 listings.
Berlin TV Tower Restaurant
Towering 1,207 feet (368 meters) over the Alexanderplatz public square, the Berlin TV Tower is the city's tallest building and one of its top landmarks. The views over Berlin are unforgettable, but for many visitors the tower's main highlight is the revolving restaurant at the top. Dubbed The Sphere, here guests can dine on gourmet cuisine and sip Champagne while gazing out over the city skyline.
The Basics
Lines to enter the tower are notoriously long, but luckily there are a number of skip-the-line ticket options to choose from. You can visit the observation deck; enjoy a cocktail at Bar 203, Berlin's highest bar; or make a reservation for the TV Tower restaurant where options include a decadent champagne breakfast, a 2-course lunch, or a VIP dinner.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Although the tower is open until midnight, the last entrance to the restaurant is at 11pm.
- Reservations for the restaurant are essential, especially during high season.
- All visitors to the tower are subject to security checks and bag searches. Large items such as suitcases and strollers are not permitted.
- Due to concerns about emergency evacuation procedures, the Berlin TV Tower is not accessible to wheelchair users and those with limited mobility.
How to Get There
The Berlin TV Tower is located on Alexanderplatz public square in the Mitte District of Berlin. The closest Ubahn (underground train) and Sbahn (above-ground train) station is Alexanderplatz, located next door to the tower.
When to Get There
The Berlin TV Tower restaurant is open year-round and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The busiest months are July and August, when you should book well in advance. Reserve a dinner date for the holiday season to enjoy a dramatic view of the city's festive illuminations.
The View From the Tower
At 666 feet (203 meters) high, the TV Tower's 360-degree observation deck affords a spectacular panoramic view of the city. Look down at the Spree River; admire the grand buildings of Museum Island, Potsdam Square, and Tempelhof Park; and spot landmarks such as the Reichstag Building, Berlin Cathedral, the Brandenburg Gate, and the main train station.
Address: Panoramastraße 1A, Berlin, Germany
Admission: Ticket prices vary
From $ 98
Georg Kolbe Museum
Georg Kolbe was the most successful German sculptor of the first half of the 20th century. His home and studio on the outskirts of West Berlin were turned into the Georg Kolbe Museum in 1950, three years after his death. The two buildings were built in 1928 and 19299 using elements of architectural modernism, and they are connected by a large garden with old pine trees. He chose to have his home and studio built here due to the natural setting and the proximity to the cemetery where his wife was buried.
Over 200 mostly bronze statues are on display at the museum. Most of the pieces on display at the museum were created by Kolbe himself, though there are a few pieces of art from his closest contemporaries. His work in the 1910s and 1920s was very reflective of the times. His sculptures came to represent freedom from the restrictive traditions of the Wilhelminian Period as well as the political and social upheavals of the time period.
Practical Info
The Georg Kolbe Museum is located at Sensburger Allee 25.
Address: Sensburger Allee 25, Berlin 14055, Germany
From $ 114
Gemaeldegalerie (Gemälde Gallery)
Harboring some of the world's greatest examples of European art, the Gemäldegalerie belongs to the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, an affiliation of 19 museums found in five locations throughout Berlin. It forms part of the Kulturforum, a multi-faceted cultural center that was largely built in the 1960s before the Berlin Wall came down. Today the Kulturforum also encompasses the Philharmonie and Chamber Music Hall, home to the Berlin Philharmonic; Mies van der Rohe's Neue Nationalgalerie, which showcases contemporary art; and the Kunstgewerbemuseum, home to Germany's premier decorative-arts collections.
The present incarnation of the Gemäldegalerie was not completed until 1998, almost a decade after German re-unification in 1989, and was the work of Berlin architectural firm Hilmer and Sattler. Its boxy, contemporary design hides a surprisingly traditional interior, in which over 1,000 art treasures from the Middle Ages to the 18th century are beautifully hung in a spacious suite of galleries. Arranged chronologically, the displays present the very pinnacle of western art, from the gilded religious works of Giotto through the fine animal etchings of Albrecht Dürer and portraits in oil by Hans Holbein to the world-beating 16-strong collection of sublime paintings by Rembrandt. Along the way there are world-beating artworks to discover by eminent artists such as the Flemish Primitive Pieter Bruegel, fine Venetian landscapes by Canaletto and rococo portraits by Thomas Gainsborough.
Practical Info
The gallery is located at Kulturforum, Matthäikirchplat, near Potsdamer Platz. It is open Tuesday through Sunday with varying hours. Admission costs €10 for adults and €5 for seniors and students. Take the U-Bahn U2, S-Bahn S1, S2 or S25, or Bus M41 to Potsdamer Platz.
Address: Kulturforum, Matthäikirchplat, Berlin 10785, Germany
Admission: Adults: €10
From $ 23
Berlin Musical Instrument Museum
The Musical Instrument Museum in Berlin is a haven for those interested in the history of music. It houses the largest collection of musical instruments in Germany, with more than 3,500 pieces from the 1500s to today. The museum is also a part of the State Institute for Music Research under the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation.
The Basics
Part of Berlin's Kulturforum, the museum (Musikinstrumenten-Museum Berlin) is home to some of the world's rarest instruments from around the world. Notable pieces include Bach's harpsichord, Benjamin Franklin's glass harmonica, Frederick the II of Prussia's flute collection, and rare Naumburg wind instruments from the early baroque period.
You can purchase an individual entry ticket or use the Berlin Pass, which includes free entry to more than 50 attractions in the city"”including the Musical Instrument Museum"”as well as a public transport ticket.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Berlin Musical Instrument Museum is a must-visit for music aficionados.
- The museum offers an onsite cafe with changing lunch menus.
- Audio guides are available for rent in English and German.
- The entire museum, its parking facilities, and the restrooms are fully wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
The Musical Instrument Museum is located at Berlin's Kulturforum at Tiergartenstrasse 1. Take the city bus M41 to the Philharmonie Sud stop, or bus 200 to the Philharmonie or Varian-Fry-Str./Potsdamer Platz stops. The museum is also a short walk from Potsdamer Platz, to which you can take the S1, 2, 5, or 25, or the U2 U-Bahn.
When to Get There
The museum is open from 9am to 5pm Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; 9am to 10pm Thursday; and 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. You can learn more about the instruments with a public guided tour offered on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings for a small fee. The instruments on display are constantly rotating and offer an opportunity to see a multitude of rare pieces.
The Berlin Kulturforum
The Kulturforum, a collection of cultural buildings near Berlin's Potsdamer Platz, is a hub for the arts. The most iconic institutions are the Berlin State Library (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin), the Philharmonic (Berliner Philharmoniker), and the Musical Instrument Museum, all designed by Hans Scharoun. Other notable buildings are the Picture Gallery (Gemäldegalerie), the Berlin Art Library (Kunstbibliothek), and the Museum of Decorative Arts (Kunstgewerbemuseum), making this complex a great place for art lovers to spend a day exploring.
Address: Tiergartenstraße 1, Berlin, Germany
Admission: Varies
From $ 114
Ephraim-Palais
The Ephraim-Palais focuses on the history and culture of Berlin. The museum is set in a rococo palace that was built from 1762 to 1766 by Veitel Heine Ephraim, the court jeweler and mint master of King Friedrich II. It soon became known as the most beautiful corner in Berlin. The museum contains prints from the Stadt Museum (City Museum) collection as well as special temporary exhibitions relating to Berlin's artistic, cultural and political history. Visitors can learn from the displays about the personalities, events and works of art that have shaped the city.
The palace is also well known for its grand staircase. The staircase spirals elegantly upwards and, along with the stairwell itself, is one of the highlights of the building's interior decoration. The Schlüter ceiling in one of the rooms on the first floor is also worth a look. It is a copy of one of the ceilings in the Wartenberg Palais, which was demolished in 1889.
Practical Info
The Ephraim-Palais is located at Poststraße 16. Opening hours are 10am to 6pm Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday, and noon to 8pm on Wednesdays.
Address: Poststrasse 16, Berlin 10178, Germany
Admission: Adults: €5.00
From $ 114
Art Library (Kunstbibliothek)
The Art Library is one of the largest specialized libraries for art history and cultural studies in the world. Founded in 1867, it's home to over 400,000 works including fine-art drawings, photos, posters, advertisements, and a book design collection. It's also a research institute which aims to gain new perspectives on important themes in art. These interdisciplinary outlooks range from the history of the art trade to the rise and evolution of international art styles and movements to the shared origins of Western and non-European art.
The Basics
Part of Berlin's massive Kulturforum, the library is surrounded by a number of cultural complexes. Many visitors combine it with a trip with the Modern Art Museum or the Musical Instrument Museum. Visitors can purchase the Berlin Pass to gain free entry to the library along with 50 other attractions in Berlin.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Art Library is a must-visit for art lovers and graphic designers.
- The entire museum is fully wheelchair accessible, including elevators and parking areas.
- The Kunstbibliothek also offers an on-site restaurant and museum shop, neither of which require admission tickets.
How to Get There
The Art Library is located at Matthaikirchplatz 6, adjacent to Potsdamer Platz. Visitors can take city bus M48 to the Potsdamer Brucke stop or bus 200 to the Philharmonie stop to access the Kunstbibliothek as well as the Kulturforum. The closest underground stations are U-Potsdamer Platz and U-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Park, both about a 10-minute walk from the library.
When to Get There
Visitors generally spend four hours exploring the contents of the Kunstbibliothek. For the most contemplative experience, it's best to visit the Art Library in the early morning when there are fewer visitors. Note that on Mondays, the library is open for research only.
The Costume Library:
Among the many collections of the Art Library, one that stands out is the Lipperheide Costume Library which holds the world's largest collection of images on the history of clothing and fashion. It is comprised of thousands of pieces of magazines, drawings, photos, and paintings of clothing stretching as far back as the 16th century.
Address: Matthäikirchplatz 6, Berlin 10785, Germany
From $ 114
Domäne Dahlem
Domäne Dahlem is an open-air museum in central Berlin that focuses on the agriculture, ecology, and food culture of the local region. The museum is located in the manor house of the former 16th-century knight estate Dahlem, and looks back on more than 800 years of agrarian history. Visitors engage all their senses as they learn about the life cycle of food"”from the fields to their plates. With exhibitions, an organic farm with livestock and working crops, a historic grocery shop, market days, and more, the museum is home to educational action year-round.
Young kids can enjoy opportunities to feed the animals on the farm, such as pigs, goats, cattle, sheep, horses, and chicks. There are tractor rides offered, and special kids' tours explore the vegetable garden and the butcher's shop, as well. (Kids can also make beeswax candles). Things get busy on festival or market days, when parades with horses and riders, and bustling market stalls, transport visitors back to the Middle Ages.
Practical Info
The most popular regular event is the organic farmers' market that takes place on Saturday mornings from 8am to 1pm. Volunteers are available to demonstrate the workings of rural agricultural machinery, pre-industrial handicrafts, and household produce production. The museum is open every day except Tuesday from 10am to 6pm, and admission costs 3 EUR.
Address: Königin-Luise-Straße 49, Berlin 14195, Germany
Hours: Sun & Mon, Wed"“Sat: 10am to 6pm; closed Tues
Admission: 3EUR
From $ 114
Führerbunker
Führerbunker translates from German to "leader's bunker" and is the site of Hitler's fortified underground air raid shelter. He died here by his own hand in the last days of World War II. Today all that remains at the site is an information board marking the bunker's former location.
The Basics
Located near the Reich Chancellery in central Berlin (Nazi headquarters), the Führerbunker was an air raid shelter that formed part of an underground complex used by high-ranking Nazi officials. Built during WWII, it was designed to protect the leaders from bombing raids. Hitler married Eva Braun at the bunker before the couple committed suicide in April 1945. The bunker itself was demolished 1989 and a car park created in the location.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The bunker no longer exists; instead, an information plaque marks the site.
- Many people choose to visit the site as part of a guided historical tour as the site is somewhat hard to find.
- The location of the bunker was not marked until 2006.
How to Get There
The Führerbunker was located under Wilhelmstrasse near the intersection with Gertrud-Kolmar-Strasse, a short walk from Potsdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate. Berlin walking and bike tours often stop here. The closest metro stop is Brandenburger Tor on the S-Bahn. Go with a tour to avoid hunting around for the plaque.
When to Get There
The bunker was demolished in the late 1980s. All the remains is a small information plaque. The former site of the bunker is a public place and can be accessed 24 hours a day year-round.
Visit Potsdamer Platz
In the pre-war years, Potsdamer Platz was a thriving area with shops and restaurants, but it was badly damaged by allied bombing in WWII and then left to ruin as a no-man's-land divided in two by the Berlin Wall. After the wall came down, the area rebounded with shops, bars, restaurants, and movie theaters. It's one of Berlin's most popular spots for evening entertainment.
Address: Gertrud-Kolmar Strasse, Berlin, Germany
From $ 16
Berlin Victory Column (Siegessäule)
Standing 67 meters (220 feet) high and topped with a 35-tonne gilded figure of Victoria "“ the Roman goddess of victory in battle "“ the Berlin Victory Column was inaugurated in 1873 to commemorate Germany's (or Prussia, as it was called then) victory over Denmark in the Danish-Prussian War of 1864. Lovingly nicknamed "˜Golden Lizzie' by Berlin locals, the sandstone memorial was designed by German architect Heinrich Strack and sits on a red granite base adorned with columns; it originally stood in Königsplatz, which is today's Platz der Republik. In the run up to World War II, the column was moved to the center of the Tiergarten park as part of Hitler's plan to rebuild Berlin as the grandiose capital city of the Third Reich. The viewing platform at 50 m (164 ft) gives panoramas over the gardens and down the Strasse des 17 Juni 31 to the landmark Brandenburg Gate "“ ironically today a symbol of Germany's freedom from tyranny "“ but visitors have to climb 285 steps up a winding spiral staircase to get there.
Practical Info
Grosser Stern, 10557 Berlin. Open Apr"“Oct Mon"“Fri 9.30am"“6.30pm; Sat"“Sun 9.30am"“7pm. Nov"“Mar Mon"“Fri 10am"“5pm; Sat"“Sun 10am"“5.30pm. Admission adults €3; concessions €2.50. Walk down Strasse des 17 Juni 31 or take bus no. 100 from the Brandenburg Gate.
Address: Grosser Stern, Berlin, Germany
Hours: Vary by season
Admission: €3
From $ 17
Anti-Kriegs Museum
The first version of the Anti-War Museum, or Anti Kriegs Museum in German, was founded by Ernst Friedrich in Berlin in the 1920s. Before establishing the museum, he was an active member in an anti-military group and wrote a book called War Against War. Not surprisingly, his museum was destroyed by the Nazis in 1933. Friedrich eventually moved to Paris and started a peace center there.
Fifteen years after Friedrich's 1967 death, the Anti-War Museum (Anti-Kriegs Museum) was reopened in Berlin by his grandson and a group of volunteers. Today it displays photographs, documents and objects from both World Wars and also includes an air raid shelter from World War II, complete with authentic objects to convey the feeling of unease during the Berlin bombings.
A large map of the world shows present day wars and conflicts. You can also find exhibits on modern war, such as chemical and biological warfare. In addition, the museum provides information and changing exhibits on current issues and the peace movement.
Practical Info
The Anti Kriegs Museum is located at Bruesseler Str. 21. It is open daily from 4 to 8 p.m.
Address: Bruesseler Str. 21, Berlin 13353, Germany
Hours: Daily 4pm-8pm
From $ 114
Brohan Museum
The Bröhan Museum proudly displays a large collection of art nouveau, art deco, and functionalism from the 1890s to 1939. Named after its founder Karl H. Bröhan, who donated his entire collection to Berlin on this 60th birthday, the museum's exhibition spaces display vases, lamps, carpets, paintings, and a rich porcelain collection.
The Basics
As you walk through the 11,000-square-foot (1,020-square-meter) Bröhan Museum's three floors, it's easy to witness the progression from the late art nouveau period toward art deco, modernism, and the Berlin Secession movement. Displays show the functioning form of each piece along with decorative extras as would have been in the arrangement of a home during this time period.
Individual admission tickets are available, or you can purchase the Berlin Pass for free entry to the gallery and 50 other attractions in the city plus a public transit ticket.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Bröhan Museum is a must-visit for art and interior design lovers.
- Visitors under 18 years of age enjoy free admission, and everyone is free on the first Wednesday of each month.
- Free tours of special exhibitions are held at 5pm every Wednesday.
- Visitors generally spend around two hours exploring the museum.
- The museum is wheelchair accessible with an accessible elevator, bathrooms, and parking. Guided tours for those with hearing impairments are available upon request.
- Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the museum.
How to Get There
The Bröhan Museum is part of the Charlottenburg Palace complex, located at Schlosstrasse 1a. Take city bus 109, 309, or M45 to the Schloss Charlottenburg stop. The underground Richard-Wagner-Platz and Sophie-Charlotte-Platz stations, as well as the overground Westend station, are both a short walk from the museum.
When to Get There
The museum is open 10am to 6pm Tuesday through Sunday. Given that the museum is rarely crowded, plan to visit in the early morning for a more contemplative experience before heading to the nearby Charlottenburg Palace.
Why Visit the Bröhan Museum?
This museum gives a very real idea of what interior design was like during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Items are on display with complementary designs and matching styles as if they were in a home from the time period. This was the ultimate goal of Karl Bröhan, who recognized interior design from around 1900 as a "treasure... waiting to be unearthed" and wanted to show it to the world.
Address: Schloßstraße 1a, Berlin 14059, Germany
Admission: Varies
From $ 114
Bauhaus Archive Museum of Design
Please note: The Bauhaus Archive Museum of Design is currently closed for renovation. The reopening is scheduled for 2022.
The Bauhaus Archive Museum of Design is both a museum and a research institute in Berlin. It is a non-profit organization that was established in 1960, and it is dedicated to the history and the after-effects of the most significant art school of the 20th century. The works found here represent many areas such as painting, sculpture, architecture, furniture, ceramics, metal, photography, stage and photographs from the original Bauhaus Workshop. The Bauhaus was founded as a state-run school by Walter Gropius, and the Bauhaus Workshop operated from 1919 to 1933.
The aim of the Bauhaus Archive is "to collect and present all documents relating to the activities and cultural and intellectual heritage of the Bauhaus," which includes photographs, books, designs, models and artistic works, along with the organization of exhibitions and accompanying programs. Exhibitions in the museum include permanent collections as well as special temporary exhibits.
Practical Info
The Bauhaus Archive Museum of Design is located at Klingelhöferstr 14. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm Wednesday through Monday.
Address: Klingelhöferstr 14, Berlin 10785, Germany
Admission: Varies
From $ 114
Anne Frank Centre (Anne Frank Zentrum)
Anne Frank is known throughout the world as the girl who fled to Amsterdam from Germany with her parents to escape the Nazi regime. Once the Nazis invaded the Netherlands, her family went into hiding where she wrote her famous diary. Her family's hiding place was discovered in 1944, and they were deported. In 1945 at the age of 15, Anne Frank died in a concentration camp.
The Anne Frank Zentrum in Berlin promotes the values of freedom, equality and democracy, and combats Antisemitism, racism and discrimination. The permanent exhibit "Anne Frank here and now" has been on display at the Anne Frank Zentrum since November 4, 2006. It is a cooperative project with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. The exhibit tells the story of Anne Frank's life, connects it to the world she lived in, and relates history to the present day. The exhibit includes pictures, films, and objects that describe Anne Frank's world in the context of National Socialism, the persecution of the Jews, and World War II.
In her diary, Anne Frank wrote about questions of identity and values as well as the issues of discrimination, war, and civil courage. The exhibit encourages visitors to consider these questions as well. It is an exhibition of active learning complete with theme-based modules and computer workstations.
Practical Info
The Anne Frank Zentrum is located at Rosenthaler Straße 39. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: Rosenthaler Straße 39, Berlin 10178, Germany
Admission: Varies
From $ 114
Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum
The Berlin Botanical Garden is about 126 acres, making it one of the world's largest botanical gardens, and it has approximately 22,000 types of plants. In the 39-acre plant-geography section, you can see plants from all over the northern hemisphere. There is also a 42-acre Arboretum and taxonomy section where you can learn about woody and herbaceous plants. The greenhouse complex consists of 16 houses where visitors can wander through tropical and subtropical vegetation.
In the botanical museum, you can see enlarged scale models of structures that are normally too small to be seen by the naked eye. There are also sections where you can view entire habitats through glass. The museum also has plants on display all year that can only be seen for a few weeks or even a single day in the garden. There is also a library of botanical books in the museum.
The Berlin Botanical Garden and Museum is a great place to learn about plants from all around the world, but it's also an escape from the noise and bustle of the city. It's also a nice place to escape the cold if you're visiting during the winter.
Practical Info
The Berlin Botanical Garden and Museum is located at Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8. The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm. The garden opens daily at 9am and closes between 4pm and 9pm depending on the time of year.
Address: Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8, Berlin, Germany
Hours: Daily 10am-6pm
Admission: €6
From $ 114
Brucke Museum
The Brücke Museum in Berlin is dedicated to the work of the artist group Die Brücke (the Bridge) from 1905 to 1913. The group was formed in Dresden by four students, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Fritz Bleyl, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and Erich Heckel, when its members started experimenting with abstract forms, bright color and perspective, breaking from the art of the academies and representing the beginning of German Expressionism. The museum houses around 400 paintings and thousands of drawings, water color paintings, original graphics, and wood carvings from this expressionist group. The museum also displays work by artists who were closely connected to the Brücke group.
One of the main principles of the Brücke movement was building a bridge to the surrounding nature. This principle is represented by the location of the museum surrounded by the pine and birch trees of the beautiful Grunewald forest just outside the southwest corner of the city. The building's simplistic style echos the art on display, and with less than 5,400 square feet of exhibition space, it is Berlin's smallest museum.
Practical Info
The Brücke Museum is located at Bussardsteig 9.
Address: Bussardsteig 9, Berlin 14195, Germany
Hours: Wed-Mon 11am-5pm
Admission: Adults € 5,00, Students & Military € 3,00
From $ 114
Berlin Museum of Medical History (Medizinhistorisches Museum)
The Berlin Museum of Medical History (Medizinhistorisches Museum) is part of the Charite"“Universitätsmedizin Berlin, located in the former museum building of the Pathological Institute. In the permanent exhibition "On the Trace of Life," visitors can explore medical history over the past 300 years. The exhibit shows how the view of and into the body has continually changed throughout history, ending with the patient as the recipient of medicine and the possibilities that exist in today's medical world.
Another central part of the museum is the specimen hall, which dates back to the collecting activities of Rudolf Virchow. Around 750 pathological-anatomical wet and dry preparations are on display here. The museum also features temporary exhibitions that focus on different aspects of current medicine and medical history. Throughout the museum, visitors can view medical instruments, valuable books and microscopes, and hundreds of rare samples. Visitors are invited to explore the anatomical theater, the dissecting room of the pathologist and laboratories of medical research.
Practical Info
The Medizinhistorisches Museum is located at Chariteplatz 1. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and 10am to 7pm on Wednesday and Saturday. The museum is closed on Monday. Admission is 7 euro.
Address: Chariteplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany
Hours: Tues, Thurs, Fri, and Sun: 10am-5pm, Wed and Sat 10am-7pm
Admission: 7 euro
From $ 114
Jewish Museum (Jüdisches Museum)
More than two thousand years of German Jewish history is displayed, analyzed and exhibited at Berlin's fascinating Jewish Museum.
The collection is housed in the baroque Old Building (the former Collegienhaus), courtyard gardens, and the acclaimed zinc-coated postmodern complex by architect Daniel Libeskind.
Highlights of the modern wing include underground passages, the Holocaust Tower and the Garden of Exile with its disorienting corridor of pillars.
The compelling architectural spaces present permanent exhibitions exploring Jewish life and traditions over the millennia, from medieval traders to 19th century scholars and the turbulent 20th century.
A program of one-off exhibits explores individual stories and aspects of German Jewish life, in particular highlighting the work of artists, writers and thinkers.
Practical Info
The Jewish Museum is in the suburb of Kreuzberg, south of the River Spree. The closest subway is Hallesches Tor.
Address: Lindenstraße 9-14, Berlin 10969, Germany
Hours: Tues - Sun 10am - 8pm (closes at 10pm on Mondays)
Admission: General admission: € 5
From $ 23
Berlin Gallery (Berlinische Galerie)
The Berlin Gallery is dedicated to art created in the city since 1870 with a focus on photography and architecture. Since 2004, the museum has been housed in a modernist building featuring collections from the Dada Berlin, New Objectivity, and Eastern European avant-garde scenes, plus pieces from the Berlin Wall and reunification eras.
The Basics
The Berlin Gallery offers 49,500 square feet (4,600 square meters) of exhibition space for paintings, graphics, sculptures, and multimedia from classical modernism through to more contemporary installations. The gallery focuses on local art but has an international scope with many pieces from non-native artists who lived in Berlin. Free guided tours in English are held at 4:15pm on Saturday and at 3pm on the first Monday of the month.
Individual admission tickets are available, or you can purchase the Berlin Pass for free entry to the gallery and 50 other attractions in the city plus a public transit ticket.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Berlin Gallery is a must-visit for those interested in the history of art in Berlin.
- Visitors under 18 years of age enjoy free admission.
- Most visitors spend about two hours exploring the exhibits.
- The museum features an on-site shop and cafe.
- The gallery is wheelchair accessible and includes accessible parking, elevators, and restrooms. There is also equipment available for those with visual and hearing impairments.
How to Get There
The Berlin Gallery is located at Jakobstrasse 124, adjacent to the Jewish Museum in the Kreuzberg neighborhood. Take city bus 248 to the Judisches Museum stop, right in front of the gallery. Alternatively take the U1, U3, or U6 to Hallesches Tor station, the U6 to Checkpoint Charlie station, or the U8 to Moritzplatz; all are a 10- to 15-minute walk from the gallery.
When to Get There
Opening hours are 10am to 6pm Wednesday through Monday. (The Berlin Gallery is one of the few museums open on a Monday.) For the most contemplative experience, visit in the early morning. The gallery features special exhibits throughout the year and offers ongoing lectures, readings, and film screenings; check the website for a current calendar.
The Final Home of the Berlin Gallery
As one of the city's newest museums, the Berlin Gallery has had many homes since its opening in 1975. Its first site was in Charlottenburg, then it was combined with the New National Gallery before it became part of the Gallery of the 20th Century at the Berlin Zoo. Now its permanent location"”a former glass warehouse offering ample space for exhibitions"”is a space beloved by Berliners and tourists alike.
Address: Alte Jakobstraße 124, Berlin, Germany
Admission: Varies
From $ 114
Berlin Underground
Hidden beneath street level in Berlin is a network of darkened shelters, tunnels, abandoned underground stations, and bunkers. Berlin Underground (Berliner Unterwelten) offers tours of these secret subterranean spaces, some of which were used as air-raid shelters during World War II and as escape tunnels during the Cold War.
The Basics
Access to Berlin's underground realm is by guided tour only, and visitors can choose between several different tour routes. On one route, tour guides take participants to an underground bunker that has been left exactly as it was at the end of World War II. Other tours explore tunnels used to bypass the heavily guarded Berlin Wall, Cold War"“era nuclear shelters, and a World War II flak tower (anti-aircraft tower), designed to protect against Allied air attacks.
Book tickets for a tour of your choice or opt for a combination ticket, which also provides access to an exhibit documenting the Third Reich's blueprint for Berlin after the anticipated Axis victory of World War II. Some Berlin sightseeing and transport passes include discounted admission to Berlin Unterwelten.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Tours have adult themes and are only open to participants age 7 and older. Higher age restrictions apply for select tours.
- Some sections of the underground complex remain chilly, even in summer, so bring a sweater or jacket.
- Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes with good tread, as you'll spend a lot of time on your feet, and some surfaces may be uneven.
- Berlin Underground tours are not wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
The Berlin Underground ticket office is situated at the south entrance of Gesundbrunnen station in Berlin's Mitte district. S-Bahn lines S1, S2, S25, S26, S41, and S42, as well as U-Bahn line U8, all stop at Gesundbrunnen.
When to Get There
Tickets for Berlin Underground tours can only be purchased on the tour day. Arrive early to secure a spot on a tour; in many cases, you may have to wait an hour or two until the next departing tour. Summer weekends are particularly busy, so be prepared to wait in line.
Other Underground Attractions in Berlin
While you can't actually get inside it"”the entrances have been blocked off"”the site of the underground bunker where Hitler committed suicide, known as the Führerbunker, can still be seen near the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin's Friedrichstadt district. Look out for an information panel showing the layout of the bunker. Also of note are some of the stations on Berlin's underground U-Bahn train network, such as Deutsche Oper, which features public artworks by Portuguese artist Jose de Guimaraes.
Address: Berlin, Germany
From $ 32
Dorotheenstadtischer Friedhof
Dorotheenstadtischer Friedhof is a cemetery in Berlin dating back to 1762. It serves as a resting place for many well known Germans. Today many visitors come to this cemetery to stroll through the graves and see the headstones of the intellectual and artistic leaders who are buried here. There is also a monument honoring resistance fighters killed by the Nazi regime and a mass grave containing 64 people killed near the end of the war, most of whom are unknown.
The names include the philosophers Hegel and Fichte, the authors Heinrich Mann, Johannes R. Becher, Arnold Zweig and Anna Seghers, the director Heiner Müller, the architects Friedrich August Stüler and Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the artist John Heartfield, the actress Helene Weigel, and the printer Ernst Theodor Litfaß. There is also an honorary grave for the former Federal President Johannes Rau. The house where the playwright Brecht spent the last years of his life with his wife Weigel is located at the entrance to the cemetery. Today the Brecht Archive and the Literature Forum are located here.
Practical Info
Dorotheenstadtischer Friedhof is located at Chausseestrasse 126. Take the S1, S2, or S25 to Nordbahnhof, then go west on Invalidenstrasse and south on Chausseestrasse. The cemetery is open daily. Hours are January and December 8am to 4pm, February and November 8am to 5pm, March and October 8am to 6pm, April and September 8am to 7pm, and May through August 8am to 8pm.
Address: Chausseestraße 126, Berlin 10115, Germany
From $ 139