Berlin is home to more than 170 museums, covering everything from ancient treasures to Cold War history. While some charge entrance fees, many important museums and memorials are completely free – or offer free admission on certain days. Here’s a guide to the best free museums in Berlin.
1. Weekly Free Entry Programs
Several Berlin museums open their doors free of charge on specific evenings:
- KW Institute for Contemporary Art – free admission every Thursday from 18:00 to 21:00.
- Neue Nationalgalerie – free admission every Thursday from 16:00 to 20:00 as part of the Art4All program.
These evenings are ideal if you want to experience high-quality art without paying an entrance fee.
2. Museums With Permanent Free Admission
Some collections are free year-round:
- Museum in der Kulturbrauerei – an interactive exhibition about everyday life in East Germany. Includes a reconstructed DDR apartment and free audio guides in multiple languages.
- Ethnologisches Museum and Museum für Asiatische Kunst (Humboldt Forum) – permanent collections are free, though special exhibitions may charge.
- Friedrichswerdersche Kirche – a neo-Gothic church displaying sculptures from the 19th century, free entry at all times.
3. Free for Children and Young People
Most museums in Berlin offer free admission for visitors under 18 years old. This includes major sites such as:
- Jewish Museum Berlin
- Deutsches Historisches Museum
- Bröhan Museum
- Humboldt Forum
This makes Berlin especially attractive for families traveling with children and teenagers.
4. Free Historical Memorials
Berlin has many important memorials and history sites that are permanently free to visit:
- Topography of Terror – an exhibition on the crimes of the Nazi regime, located at the former Gestapo headquarters.
- East Side Gallery – the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall, now covered with murals.
- Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears) – former border crossing at Friedrichstraße station.
- Allied Museum – exploring the history of the Cold War in Berlin.
- Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz – the site where Nazi officials coordinated the Holocaust.
These places are essential for understanding Berlin’s past and remain accessible to everyone.
Conclusion
Even without the now discontinued Museum Sunday, Berlin still offers plenty of ways to enjoy culture for free. With weekly evening programs, permanent free collections, and historical memorials, you can explore a wide variety of art and history without spending a cent.
