New National Gallery (Neue Nationalgalerie)

First opened in 1968, the New National Gallery (Neue Nationalgalerie) started undergoing its first major renovation in 2015. We expect it to reopen around the end of 2020. Neue Nationalgalerie belongs to the Kulturforum complex located a little west of Potsdamer Platz.
The architectural style of the building is befitting of its collection of modern art. The upper level is a prominent glass pavilion elevated above the street level and accessible by three flights of stairs. It features a unique contemporary design with a large roof supported by 8 columns, 2 on each side, but none on the corners.
The current renovations have much more to do with bringing the building up to modern standards and safety codes than with altering the original style.
Special events and temporary exhibitions are held in the light-filled glass and steel upper pavilion. The permanent exhibition is housed in the larger exhibition space available in the museum’s lower level.
During your visit, you’ll see renowned paintings and sculptures from classical modernism through to the 1980s.
The permanent exhibition showcases influential art by Twentieth-century masters, moving from cubism and surrealism to American colour field painting. While you are exploring, you come across such acclaimed names as Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Otto Dix, and Morris Louis.
On the west side of the museum, a door leads to an open-air sculpture garden.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesNeue Nationalgalerie 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 – 8:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: Potsdamer Str. 50, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Phone: 030 266424242
Official Website: Neue Nationalgalerie
Neue Nationalgalerie Reviews
Rated
It has a good collection of contemporary art. How arts developed and changed with the political and ideology movements from 1900 till 2010 at least. You don’t need to wait long if you plan to buy your tickets there. There are close bus stops but the area has other museums and beautiful for walking.
Nawras A. Mahmood - a month ago
Neue Nationalgalerie is definitely in my Top 3 of favorite Museums / Art Galleries in Berlin. The building itself is worth a visit but of course the exhibited art inside is as well. ;) I love that the entry is free on Thursdays - you can easily book a ticket online for that. Visited NNG several before and will come back for sure.
Gee Meyer - a month ago
Our friend, an architect, told us the history of this building, and it truly is a masterpiece. Inside, you’ll find various exhibitions that are a treat for the eyes.
A particularly charming idea is the postcard machine—you press different buttons to choose postcards with little writing prompts. I decided to take some with me as souvenirs for my loved ones.
And don’t forget to take a photo on your way out! There’s a retro photo booth, which makes for a fantastic keepsake.
Lizzie - 3 months ago
A valuable and invaluable assets that make up the collection here exists beyond the pandemonium that dictates and determines the life of German culture and its strict bureaucratic structure of governance…. The fringe collapses on the names of painters rectifying the situation of perception that plagues a euro-centric modality of describing or dictating the human experience. This can be represented by the way feet move from place to place when they are walking from room to room to discover something strange that they didn’t know about themselves, reflected on depictions of human history and image-making. Every cabinet and doorway and brushstroke graced by light that descends through the eyes or down the back of the tongue continues to unravel a miraculous and peculiar flavor of transformation that can only be described as sensorially flabbergasting.
Colin Self - 3 weeks ago
We bought our tickets online, and there was no mention of any dress code or clothing restrictions on the website. I’ve visited many museums in Germany, such as Museum Ludwig in Cologne and K20/K21 in Düsseldorf, always wearing long coats without any problem. However, our experience at the Neue Nationalgalerie was completely different.
The first exhibition, went smoothly, and we were able to enter without any issues. However, in the next two exhibition halls, I was stopped by a staff member who insisted I remove my coat because it was “too long.” I was wearing a clubbing outfit underneath, and I felt it would be inappropriate to walk around in just that, so I wore the long coat to maintain respectability.
We were told to leave the second and third exhibition halls because of my coat, despite having entered the first exhibition without any problem. When we asked for clarification, the staff member only gave short, repetitive answers, and their behavior was dismissive and unhelpful. It wasn’t just the communication barrier that frustrated me—it was the clear sense of being treated differently.
What made me feel even more uncomfortable was how they treated my boyfriend, who is of darker skin tone. Initially, I was asking the questions, but the staff member was reluctant to give clear answers, possibly because my English is better, though my German isn’t as fluent. So, I asked my boyfriend to help, thinking that might get a better response. Unfortunately, his questions were met with the same poor attitude and lack of respect.
The staff’s behavior toward both of us made it feel like we were being singled out, and I can’t help but wonder if this had to do with our race. My boyfriend and I are both left feeling that we were treated unfairly because of our appearance. It wasn’t just about the coat—it was about how we were treated as people, and it made the whole experience feel uncomfortable and unwelcoming.
We decided to leave without visiting the rest of the exhibitions because of how we were treated. It was disappointing, and I strongly feel that racial discrimination played a role in how we were handled. This was an experience that not only ruined our visit but also left us deeply upset
Elle H - a month ago
Directions
How to get to Neue Nationalgalerie 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 Neue Nationalgalerie 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 -
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Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
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