Pergamon Museum
Pergamon Museum
5 minutes read•Published on 27-10-2024
Located in Berlin, Germany, the Pergamon Museum is a notable museum situated on Museum Island. It stands out due to its impressive collection of large pieces of architecture and historic items. Inside the museum, it is divided into three main areas: the Collection of Classical Antiquities, the Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Museum of Islamic Art. It is a favorite, attracting over 1.5 million visitors a year, making it the most visited museum in Berlin. The Pergamon Museum offers a helpful look into many different ancient cultures and civilizations.
Tickets & tours
A selection of the best tours to experience the Pergamon Museum with our partner GetYourGuide. These tours offer the best experience for visitors from all around the world.
A short history
The Pergamon Museum is a well-known museum located in Berlin, Germany. Two architects, Alfred Messel and Ludwig Hoffmann, designed it between 1910 and 1930. They wanted the museum to represent not only a collection of artifacts but also their original settings.
This museum is home to three important collections. The Antiquity Collection is first. It includes valuable exhibits from Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, and Rome, including the famous Pergamon Altar. The second collection belongs to the Middle East Museum, which has items from ancient civilizations. The third collection, called the Museum of Islamic Art, displays art pieces from the 8th to the 19th centuries, mainly from the Middle East and North Africa.
World War II forced the Pergamon Museum to close. It was hit repeatedly by air raids, causing damage or destruction to some exhibits. After the war ended, many collections were moved or claimed by other countries as war reparations. However, in the 1950s, the museum was rebuilt to repair war damage.
Nowadays, the Pergamon Museum is a top attraction for tourists visiting Berlin. Every year, it welcomes millions of guests who come to see its unique displays. At the moment, the museum is being renovated. This work should be completed by 2025.
One reason to visit
The Pergamon Altar
If you are planning a trip to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, one big reason to go is to see the Pergamon Altar. This large object was made in the 2nd century BC and is a key piece of Hellenistic art that has survived to this day. It has a detailed carving that tells the story of a famous Greek myth – the fight between the Olympian gods and the Giants. Because of its size, detail, and historical significance, the altar is a top item to see. The way it is displayed in the museum helps you understand why it is important. When you visit, you can get a closer look at what life was like in ancient Greece, making the trip both fun and educational.
Getting there
Start at the Berliner Dom and head south on Lustgarten toward Bodestraße. As you get closer to Bodestraße, you’ll see a wide pedestrian path leading southwest. Follow this path and turn left onto Bodestraße. Keep moving forward and you will pass by Humboldt University’s Law Faculty on your right. The Pergamon Museum is just across the street when you get to Am Kupfergraben and Bodestraße. Remember, it's only a few yards away from Bus 100 and Bus 200 stop.
To reach the Pergamon Museum in Berlin by bike, start your journey from the Berliner Fernsehturm, also known as the TV Tower. First, head west on Spandauer Straße towards Karl-Liebknecht-Straße and take a right turn onto Rathausstraße. After, turn left onto Unter den Linden and bike for about 550m, then take a right onto Friedrichstraße. Continue on Friedrichstraße until you reach Berlin Friedrichstraße station. Then turn left onto Dorotheenstraße, and after approximately 170m, turn right onto Geschwister-Scholl-Straße. Take a slight left onto Am Kupfergraben and you will reach your destination - The Pergamon Museum is on the left.
To reach the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, first, take the regional train line S5 towards Strausberg Nord, S7 towards Ahrensfelde, or S75 towards Wartenberg. Exit the train at the Berlin Hauptbahnhof stop. From there, take bus number 100 or 200 towards Zoologischer Garten and alight at Friedrichstraße/Unter den Linden. Continue on foot for about 10 minutes on the street Unter den Linden until you reach the Museum Island, where the Pergamon Museum is located. Alternatively, you can go straight from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Berlin Friedrichstraße station via the S5, S7, or S75 train. From Berlin Friedrichstraße station, the Pergamon Museum is a 10-minute walk.
To get to the Pergamon Museum by car, start on the Autobahn A100 and take the exit 20-Tempelhofer Damm to Tempelhofer Damm/B96 towards Zentrum/Zehlendorf/Potsdamer Platz. Continue onto Tempelhofer Damm and then onto Wilhelmstraße. Turn right onto Leipziger Str./B1. Keep left to stay on B1, then turn left onto Dorotheenstraße and continue onto Am Kupfergraben. Finally, turn right onto Bodestraße and you will find the museum on your right. Please note that parking space is limited around the museum and public transportation such as the bus number 100 or 200 or the U-Bahn U6 (Friedrichstraße), S-Bahn S1, S2, S25 (Friedrichstraße) and S5, S7, S75 (Hackescher Markt) might be more convenient options.