7 Best Free Museums in Berlin

These museums are not just free all the time, they’re also some of the best in Berlin and completely worth the visit. Whether you’re in Berlin for the weekend, or a local trying to get to know your city better, visiting a free museum is a great way to stay within a budget, while still deeply experiencing the city by learning about topics that are important to Berlin.

Pro-tip: It’s often a good idea to reserve tickets in advance, and some of these museums even require it.

Futurium

The Futurium is one of my favorite museums in Berlin, free or otherwise. The exhibition is well thought out and divided into three sections that explore the ways technology, human ethics, and the natural world can impact the future. The museum reminds us that the future really is what we make of it, and that it’s important not to question if we can accomplish certain technological advancements, but rather if we should. The entire museum is very interactive, and starts off being very technology forward, even welcoming you with a bilingual robot at the entrance of the first exhibit. Don’t forget to visit their rooftop for views of Mitte, and to see their impressive collection of in-use solar panels.

Alexanderufer 2, 10117 | Mitte | Website

Image Credit: David Von Becker | Image via Futurium

Museum Neukölln

Neukölln is a lovely neighborhood that can be a little rough around the edges. Originally a neighborhood filled with immigrants, in recent years it’s become more gentrified and is now a mix of multi-generational immigrant families and artsy youth. At this museum you can learn all about the multicultural immigrants that shaped this neighborhood, and the impact they had in Berlin that is still seen today.

Alt-Britz 8, 12359 | Neukölln | Website

Deutsches Historiches Museum

This museum dives deep into the history of Germany from the Middle Ages to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Their permanent exhibit showcases art, artifacts, photographs, and rich text that really paint a picture of the complicated and influential history of Germany. The entire ground floor of the museum is dedicated to just World War II, and the Holocaust from Germany’s perspective, focusing heavily on the Nazi propaganda and atrocities committed during this time. If you find that part of the exhibit especially interesting, I highly suggest also visiting the Jewish Museum (also on this list!) where you can learn about this history from Jewish voices.

There are also always free temporary exhibits taking place within the permanent exhibit! I visited when the Deported to Auschwitz and Beethoven: Freedom exhibits were taking place. These exhibits end in June 2021.

Unter den Linden 2, 10117| Mitte | Website

Kunstraum Kreuzberg | Bethanien

This former hospital has transformed into a contemporary art space, combining a mix of modern exhibits and artist’s studios. The exhibits are constantly evolving and changing, and include displays like photography, sound installations, and media art. Cultural education programs like artist talks, walking tours, media workshops, and films are also routinely available. You can also learn about the history of the hospital building, and the previous pharmacy still boasts the same interior from the 1840’s.

Mariannenpl. 2, 10997 | Kreuzberg | Website

Jewish Museum Berlin

After spending about ten minutes in this museum I commented to my boyfriend, “Wow, the people who put this together worked really hard.” The rest of my visit continued to support that statement. This museum is so well put together and really brought attention to the Jewish people and who they are, making it clear that they are much more than the tragedies that have happened to their people.

The museum puts a spotlight on Jewish art, history, religion, music, entertainment, food, accomplishments, and more. I especially enjoyed the sound caves where I listened to all kinds of music created by Jewish people.

Moreover, the areas of the museum that did focus on the Holocaust were incredibly powerful. From the pathways being unusual and disorienting to represent their fear and anxiety during this time to the solemn isolation room, it was all poignant and truly stirring. There’s one room that showcases hundreds, perhaps even thousands of laws passed over a ten year period by Nazi Germany. The vast majority of these laws I had no idea about with rules like Jewish people not being allowed to advertise their businesses or own more than four shirts or banned from owning pets or tutor German students passing seemingly overnight.

If you would like to learn more and pay your respects the Jewish Memorial in Mitte, and the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum just north of Berlin are both also free.

Lindenstraße 9-14, 10969 | Mitte | Website

Museum of Silence

This museum presents a number of small exhibits including a space of silence, and meditative paintings by Nikolai Makarov. The soothing light, earthy red surroundings, and minimal architecture aims to give you space to enjoy some stillness.

Here you can sit, think, appreciate the quiet, and reflect. The museum itself is quite small, but that’s part of its charm. If you’re in the bustling area of Mitte come in for a short, sweet, and calming visit.

Linienstraße 154A, 10115 | Mitte | Website

Urban Nation

I’m visiting this museum next week, and will update you all on my experience, but I had to include it because I think I’ve fallen in love with it after having just seen photos. Urban Nation is a young Berlin street art network with phenomenal art all over the city. They give Berliners (and tourists!) a chance to learn about the street art that has shaped Berlin from its unique history to varied installations created by OG Berlin artists and newcomers.

Their artwork appears both inside the museum and all over the street, practically turning this area of Schöneberg into an outdoor art museum. Not only do they showcase art, much of it directly sprayed and painted onto the walls, but they also act as a hub for artists to attend workshops, network, and connect with the locals who live in their open air art city.

Bülowstraße 7, 10783 | Schöneberg | Website