| « Back to Berlin Guide |
 Attractions & Activities : Museums
For a city so modern and fast-paced, Berlin certainly indulges its past. Indeed, the ultra-sleek phalanx of glass, steel and concrete does little to hide the city’s true treasures. Mitte, the central district, boasts prominent sights like Alexanderplatz and its signature television tower, 13th-century Nikolaikirche and golden-domed Neue Synagogue. West is the Tiergarten section, home to the city’s largest greenspace and the historic Reichstag, which received a modern glass dome in 1999. Southwest of Tiergarten is Charlottenburg, an area so esteemed in the 17th century that it became Queen Sophie-Charlotte’s summertime retreat. Today, its privileged status rests on the laurels of excellent shopping and dining. To the south is Kreuzberg, traditionally the city’s Turkish district and home today to Europe’s liveliest bohemian population. Outside Berlin proper, charming Potsdam and its Schloss Sanssouci are must-visits, as is Spandauer Zitadelle, a fortress that dates from the 13th century.
|
Map all businesses in this category »
Clayallee 135, Berlin 14195 • +49-(0)-30-8181-990
Description: STEGLITZ - ZEHLENDORF. Memorabilia left behind by Allied forces when they left West Berlin in 1994 are on display here. Visitors to this museum will see a compilation of numerous photos, documents, and films from the U.S. forces, as well as various items from Berlin's veterans and general public. One of the most popular sites in the museum is the guardhouse that came from Checkpoint Charlie. U-BAHN: Oskar-Helene-Heim
Bodestrasse 1-3 Museumsinsel, Berlin 10178 • +49-(0)-30-2090-5801
Description: MITTE. Completed in 1876, the Alte Nationalgalerie is noteworthy because its design reflects the very same period of the art it houses – a true harmony of form and function. Though heavily damaged during WWII, the building re-opened in 2001 following extensive reconstruction, and its vast, three-level collection of 19th-century art continues to be available for public consumption. Among the pieces on display are Impressionist paintings by Claude Monet and Goethe-era landscapes by Jakob Philipp Hackert. S-BAHN: Hackescher Markt
Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8, Berlin 14195 • +49-(0)-30-8385-0100
Description: STEGLITZ - ZEHLENDORF. More than 100 acres of botanical gardens feature a bounty of beautiful floral and horticultural displays. The gardens feature 1800 specimens of plant life, and there's an on-site flower and herb museum that's great for browsing. The gardens open year-round at 9am; closing time ranges from 4pm to 9pm depending on the season. S-BAHN: Botanischer Garten or U-BAHN: Podbielskiallee
Trebbinner Strasse 9, Berlin 10963 • +49-(0)-30-9025-40
Description: KREUZBERG. A collective look at transportation and technology is represented here, and everything from an ox-pulled cart to aircraft is on display. The collection of steam engines is worth the ticket price alone, and the jewelery-making section is enlightening. The museum offers lots of great hands-on and interactive exhibits too. U-BAHN: Gleisdreieck
Poststraße 16, Berlin 10178 • +49-(0)-30-2400-2162
Description: MITTE. Found in the Nicholas Quarter, this museum is housed in what some believe to be the most elegant building in the city. Exhibits displayed here alternate on a consistent basis. A majority of the showcases focus on Secessionists from Berlin and are planned by the Stadt Museum. U-BAHN: Klosterstrasse, Alexanderplatz
Stauffenbergstraße 13-14, Berlin 10785 • +49-(0)-30-2699-5000
Description: MITTE. This fascinating educational center chronicles the resistance movement against National Socialism from 1933 to 1945 via exhibits, archival material, and events. The center also oversees a memorial honoring the nearly 3000 people murdered at the Plötzensee prison from 1933 to 1945. S-BAHN and U-BAHN: Potsdamer Platz
Leipziger Straße 16, Berlin 10117 • +49-(0)-30-2029-40
Description: MITTE. A chronological look at the history of the German/Prussian postal service. The museum traces postal history back to the late 1880s and offers several interactive displays. U-BAHN: Mohrenstrasse or Stadtmitte
Ben-Gurion-Strasse, Berlin 10785 • +49-(0)-30-254-1178
Description: MITTE. Walk through the history of musical instruments in this stimulating museum. Exhibits cover a time period from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Various paintings and antiquated instruments are on display. You can listen to the unique sounds of medieval trumpets, harpsichords that are over 300 years old, and walking sticks playing violin tunes through the provided headphones. Stop by around 11am on Saturday for the guided tour that ends in a performance on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. U-BAHN and S-BAHN: Potsdamer Platz
Oranienburger Straße 28-30, Berlin 10117 • +49-(0)-30-8802-8300
Description: MITTE. The massive golden dome of this synagogue can be seen throughout Mitte. Built in 1866, the synagogue was damaged by fire in 1939 and then again in 1945, during Allied bombings. In the late 1950s, the main room was demolished by order of the Communist leaders of East Berlin, leaving only a portion of the original structure intact. The facility reopened in 1995, following years of extensive renovation, as a museum, research center, and memorial. Its "Open Ye the Gates" permanent exhibit attracts travelers from all over the world. Guided group tours must be requested in writing. All tours are in German except by prior arrangement. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. S-BAHN: Oranienburger Strasse
Spandauer Damm 10-22, Berlin 14059 • +49-(0)-30-3209-11
Description: CHARLOTTENBURG - WILMERSDORF. Built in 1695 as a summer retreat, this once-rural palace was commissioned by the husband of Queen Sophie-Charlotte. The original structure was then expanded and now includes a courtyard and gardens. When you visit, allow enough time to tour all three areas. The interior galleries display works by German Romantic artists, including sculptures, paintings and porcelain art. At one time, Schloss Charlottenburg was home to Frederick the Great. S-BAHN: Richard-Wagner-Platz or Sophie-Charlotte-Platz