Berlin Travel Guide - Museums & Galleries

Part of this surviving art remained in the east, including magnificent ancient treasures reminding us of the leading role German archaeologists played during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Works of art that have turned up in western countries, having been passed from country to country after WWII, have largely been returned to their rightful place in Berlin.

Berlinische Galery: boasts exhibitions of modern art, architecture and photography, representing the Secession, Expressionist, Dada and New Objectivity movements, as well as those representing a divided Berlin.
Alte Jakobstr. 124-128. Open: 10:00 to 18:00, daily.

The Jewish Museum: contains a moving perspective on German life and Jewish history in this famous zinc-plated fortress designed by Daniel Libeskind. The exhibits cover much more than the Holocaust; and all texts appear in both German and English.
Lindenstr 9-14. Open: 10:00 to 20:00, daily.

The Naturkundemuseum: or Berlin’s museum of natural history, houses the many wonders of nature under one roof. There’s a wonderful exhibit illustrating the evolution of life and nature’s beauty and diversity. Additionally, there are aardvarks, early 20th-century dioramas, meteorites and the most famous fossil found on earth, the ancient bird archaeopteryx.
Invalidenstr 43. Open: 09:30 to 17:00, daily except Monday; Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.

The Pergamon Museum: comprises several departments and if your time is limited to only one, it’s recommended that you go directly to the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, which is housed in the museum’s north and east wings. By entering the central hall, you’ll see the Pergamon Altar which is so large it has a room to itself.

The frieze around its base is remarkable, depicting the struggle of the Olympian gods against the Titans. If you have a bit more time, the Near East department, located in the south wing, contains one of the largest collections in the world of antiquities from Assyria, Babylonia and Persia. The museum's upper level houses its Museum of Islamic Art.
Kupfergraben, Museumsinsel. Open: 10:00 to 18:00, Tuesday to Sunday.