Gemaldegalerie

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Gemäldegalerie is one of the world’s best art galleries to visit if you or into the Old Masters.

Most of the great European painters from the 13th to the 18th century are represented here. The collection itself belongs to Berlin State Museums.

History

The original Gemäldegalerie gallery opened in 1830 in the Royal Museum now called the Altes Museum. The present-day gallery resides in the southwest corner of the Kulturforum, a contemporary cultural centre in central Berlin.

In 1904, the flourishing collection was transferred to the Bode Museum which was later damaged in World War II resulting in the loss of more than 400 grand works of art. After the war, the collection was divided between two museums; one in East Berlin and one in West Berlin. In 1998, the entire collection was at last reunited in the newly built Kulturforum.

The Collection

Gemäldegalerie is a large gallery, with a complete tour involving approximately 2 kilometres of walking. Within this tour are a staggering 72 main galleries with smaller side-rooms branching off of them.

Numerous openings back to the central corridor make it easy to access specific rooms from any point in your tour, allowing you to skip sections and focus on your preferences. Upon entering the museum, rooms on the right progress from German to Netherlands to Flemish and Dutch Paintings. Rooms along the left side of the hall include Italian, French Spanish and English paintings.

There are approximately 1000 masterpieces on public display at any given time.

A cafeteria and a giftshop are also located in the Kulturforum.

Facts For Your Visit

Official Website: Gemaldegalerie

Fee: Yes

Regular Hours:
May differ on holidays

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Address: Matthäikirchplatz, 10785 Berlin, Germany

Phone: 030 266424242

Official Website: Gemaldegalerie

Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Gemäldegalerie Star Rating

One of the world’s most fascinating collections, a truly encyclopedic and unique collection of masterpieces across European painting epochs north and south of the Alps. Some collections may be larger, some collections may be more bombastic, but what marks the Berlin museum as exemplary is its crisp, cool, unassailable dedication to presenting masterpieces one after the other across 2km of interior wall. Powerful, mesmerizing, quiet, confident. Museums don’t get more sophisticated than this.
Nathan Eddy - 2 months ago

One of the best classic picture galleries in the world for the quality, the scope and the variety of its holdings. Italian, Dutch, German and French renaissance and Baroque art is very well depicted with some English and Spanish school’s examples. In the other hand the museum really needs a makeover. Picture tags are in German only, there’s a lack of information and context, plus the place feels antiquated.
Carlos Sarasola Orio - 2 months ago

Brilliant collection. Reach of excellent masterpieces museum at the moment ( July 2023) hold a temporary exhibition of Hugo van der Goes - that blew my mind. Highly recommend if you love Early and High Renaissance, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Cranach, Botticelli, Bruegel - just to name a few.
Vita Epstein - 3 months ago

Very impressive collection of paintings with lot of Dutch painters too. First part is mostly religious painting. The museum is not usually crowded.
Pranav Rathi - 3 months ago

Truly wonderful art gallery. Lots of Italian works and a special exhibition on van Eyck. Place was deserted when we visited early on Saturday. Good idea if you can manage that time. You'll have main galleries to yourselves, pretty much
Martin Connor - 26 days ago

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Directions

How to get to Gemaldegalerie by U-Bahn, S-Bahn

Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Line(s): U2, S1, S2, S25,
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Station(s): U Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Potsdamer Platz Bahnhof

From Potsdamer Platz, walk west along Potsdamer StraBe. After it curves to the south at the Berliner Philhamonie, go right on Scharounstraße. The Gemäldegalerie is located in the Kulturforum complex straight ahead. This is about a 10 minute walk.