Gemaldegalerie
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
Fee: YesGemaldegalerie Hours:
Opening 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: Johanna und Eduard Arnhold Platz, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Phone: 030 266424242
Official Website: Gemaldegalerie
Gemaldegalerie Reviews
Rated out of 5![]()
Beautiful, large art museum of classical paintings with many religious artworks. It was also wonderful to visit a mostly empty museum and really get to enjoy the masterworks in peace; the velvety colored walls are also beautiful. Highly recommend for art lovers!
Wan Lin Qin - a month ago
It is one of the best collections I've seen in a not-very-crowded place. But we're in bad weather on a weekday, so I recommend visiting it on a weekday if you can!
We got reasonably priced yearly passes that cover most of the Berlin Museums, with a few located nearby.
Maybe a nice Caffé with a better selection would be the only thing to improve the entire experience. Very limited, generic, sad, and pale sandwiches don't match exquisite art gallery offerings.
T Larinsberg - a month ago
I am absolutely sold on this gallery. It shows art from Germany, Italy, Holland and England. All art from the beginning of the 13th century. There was way to go as instructed and the rooms were colored by nations. The Italian room had works of Caraveggio and there were two paintings from Vermeer in the Dutch. One of those is said to be worth above 200 million dollars. The building was under renovation. We found a docent that was full of information that he was eager to share. There were guided tours available. Whilst in middle of Berlin on a Saturday there were very few guests and it was a pleasure to stroll through the museum. Afterwards we had coffee and cake in the upstairs Café that was decorated in a modern art deco style. The museum shop was extensive with a large array of books, posters and trinkets. I am happy to go once more. For those lovers of older art paintings it is a must.
Ole Krause - a month ago
Not the best art museum in Berlin if you are short on time. An impressively sized collection but little of it I found overly exciting personally (but to each their own!). Worth a visit if you are nearby or love portraits of nobles.
The temporary exhibit was better (I think it was called "From Odessa to Berlin") and had some interesting pieces (pictured is my favourite)
Tom W - 4 months ago
I recently visited an incredible exhibition, “From Odesa to Berlin,” and I was absolutely impressed! The gallery provided a perfect space to showcase the powerful artworks. The curation was thoughtful, and every piece told a unique story, making the experience deeply immersive. The atmosphere in the gallery was welcoming, and the staff was knowledgeable and passionate about the art. I loved how the exhibition blended history, culture, and modern artistic expression. It was truly an unforgettable visit, and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates contemporary art with a strong emotional impact!
Mirrey - 6 months 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.
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Photo Gallery
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Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr

