Berlin Museums Guide:
Berlin is a melting pot of art and chaos, ancient architecture and a modern metropolis. It's a city you can love and hate at the same time; its aura is a bit like Istanbul's, and it's probably one of the liveliest European cities I've ever visited.
In this article, where I'll be discussing the six museums I enjoyed most in Berlin, the majority of the focus will be on the area called Museum Island, but it's worth emphasizing that some museums are a little further away than others, and that Berlin is by no means a small city.
Also, don't forget to check out the Berlin Museum Pass for the most affordable way to visit museums!!
Neues Museum
I'd like to begin my article with the Neues Museum, home to the famous bust of Nefertiti. It's a massive archaeological museum, even better than Istanbul Archaeology, and it was etched in my mind as my favorite archaeological museum for many years. The Ancient Egypt gallery is vast and beautifully presented, and the museum is so comprehensive that you'll find everything you need to know about archaeology, from a wax model of Homo Neanderthals to a bust of Nefertiti and ancient Roman statues. You should spend approximately two hours here to fully explore.
Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film & Fernsehen
If a city I visit has a film museum, I can't leave without exploring it. This is one of my travel rules, and I can say that the film museum in Germany, like all the ones I've visited before, made me thank myself for making this rule. It was the largest film museum I've ever visited. Film clips, photographs, cameras, stage decorations, costumes, miniature sets… It was a museum that embraced everything imaginable when it comes to cinema. It's a museum that easily lasts an hour and a half or two, transporting you to completely different universes.
Jewish Museum
It would be a huge mistake to visit Berlin and not visit the Jewish Museum, which is the primary reason many people come to the city. The museum has chosen a positive theme and is designed to focus primarily on religion. The Jewish alphabet, famous Jewish painters and works of art...
Of course, that doesn't mean it never touched on the Holocaust. My favorite part of the museum was the Memory Void section, a piece of art dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust. There are steel faces on the floor, which you have to walk on, and the sound they make as they collide fills the entire room. Two hours is enough to fully explore this free museum.
Alte National Gallery
Just the exterior is enough to fall in love with this place, the Alte Nationalgalerie is an art museum and inside you can find famous paintings such as 'Abbey among Oak Tree' and 'Monk by the Sea'.
Thanks to this museum, I was introduced to Adolph Menzel and his works; they're so beautiful. I think there's no better feeling in the world than visiting a place and encountering new works of art. When we visited, there was also a Gustav Klimt exhibition inside, and we had the chance to see many of his works, including Pallas Athena and Judith. This museum is worth two hours of your time.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
This place is actually more of a monument than a museum, with the upper floor covered in concrete and the lower floor a museum. Entry is free.
It's a truly impressive and somewhat graphic museum, and staff warn that young children shouldn't enter. Inside, you'll find letters written by Jews to their loved ones, their fears, memories, photographs, and detailed accounts of their experiences. While the museum isn't large, it takes over an hour to read everything.
Bode Museum
The Bode Museum is another art gallery with a distinct aesthetic, one that makes you feel like a princess inside. The one that caught my attention most was the Ghent Altarpiece: Adoration of the Lamb (probably brought from Ghent for a temporary stay), which we covered in class last year and discussed extensively. Let me give you a fun but unnecessary piece of information about this artwork: it's considered the most stolen and most traveled work in the world. If the painting's story piques your interest, you can click here to read the article I found summarizing the story.
Going back to the museum, I don't think it's a place that needs to be explored in detail; you can take a casual tour of the museum with just an hour.
Bonus: Pergamon Museum
Even though it was the main reason we came to Berlin, I didn't include the Pergamon Museum in my list of recommendations because it will be closed on October 23, 2023, and unfortunately, it will remain closed for 14 years. If you live in Europe or have a visa, you should see it now before it closes!!
