60 museums in Berlin will be available for free
Old Museum in Berlin (unsplash.com)
Tourists and residents of Berlin will have the opportunity to visit 60 museums in the city for free on the first Sunday of each month in 2024. The Sunday Museums initiative, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, will continue for the next two years, according to schengenvisainfo.com.
How to access museums for free
Berlin's Cultural Senator, Joe Chialo, confirmed the extension of the free museum entry scheme and secured funding for the initiative for the next two years.
The list of museums with free entry includes popular institutions housing unique and renowned exhibits, such as the Altes Museum (Old Museum), Gemäldegalerie (Berlin Picture Gallery), and the Pergamon Museum, as well as smaller establishments like Werkbundarchiv (Museum of Everyday Objects), the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts, and the Knoblauchhaus Museum.
This means that both residents and visitors to the city can explore fascinating attractions based on their preferences, whether it be history, art, or culture.
"There is a lot to discover at our museums, with exhibitions and events on topics such as art, design, religion, history, nature, everyday culture, the history of the city, and technology. On Berlin’s Museum Sunday, there is something for everyone. We look forward to your visit," it says on the Sunday Museums' website.
In 2023, Museum Sunday drew in 750,000 visitors, a 35% increase compared to 2022. The majority of attendees were often young people from the surrounding areas.
Photo: Pergamon Museum building (pixabay.com)
To access the most popular museums, such as the Old Museum, Berlin Picture Gallery, and Pergamon Museum, visitors need to obtain a timed entry ticket online. Slots become available a week before each Museum Sunday, and they are typically claimed very quickly.
If reservations are not possible, visitors can explore other museums, many of which accept walk-ins.
Photo: Visitors at the Berlin Museum (facebook.com/staatlichemuseenzuberlin)
Notable museums to see in Berlin for free
Some of the most interesting museums that can be visited for free include:
- Altes Museum (Old Museum): Originally named the Royal Museum until 1845, it was built in 1820 to house the art collection of the Prussian royal family. After restoration in 1966, the museum now houses a collection of ancient art objects.
- Berlin Picture Gallery: One of Europe's leading art museums, it houses a collection of paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries, featuring masterpieces by Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Bosch, Rubens, and Rembrandt. The gallery opened in 1830 and underwent reconstruction in 1998.
- Pergamon Museum: Berlin's most visited museum, located on Museum Island in the city center. Built-in 1930 for the Pergamon Altar (a marble altar dedicated to Zeus), the museum's collection includes examples of late ancient painting and sculpture, as well as artifacts from Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian art, and exhibits from the Islamic Museum.
Photo: Panorama in the Pergamon Museum (facebook.com/staatlichemuseenzuberlin)
Days to plan a free museum visit in 2024
In 2024, Museum Sundays will fall on the following dates:
- February 4th
- March 3rd
- April 7th
- May 5th
- June 2nd
- July 7th
- August 4th
- September 1st
- October 6th
- November 3rd
- December 1st
To plan a visit and explore available options, visitors are advised to check the official website.
