Neues Museum
One of the five museums on Museum Island the Neues Museum sits immediately north of the Altes Museum which it was built to help relieve the overcrowding of. It opened in 1859.
Construction followed the Neo-classical style common to the other museums on the island. It commenced in 1841 and continued through 1855 under the planning and direction of Friedrich August Stuhler. The first two years were spent preparing the ground for the foundation which consisted of 2344 wooden piles driven deep into the soft earth on the island. It was the first major building project in Berlin to make use of a steam engine during construction, a significant step in the early days of industrialization.
The museum was shut down at the beginning of World War II and was subjected to heavy damage during the bombing of Berlin. The ruins were left unattended under the Soviet occupation of East Berlin during the post-war period.
There was no talk of restoring it until 1985. Some reconstruction work began in 1986 under the East German government but was halted upon the reunification of Germany. Further plans were initiated under the new government starting in 1997 and famous British architect David Chipperfield was put in charge of the project. Extensive reconstruction began again in 2003 and the new Museum finally reopened to the public again in 2009. Some construction work continued through to 2015.
Once inside the Neues Museum, Visitors are presented with over 9000 historical artifacts displayed over three floors. Exhibits include the Papyrus Collection, archaeological collections of the Egyptian Museum, the Museum of Pre and Early history, and works from the Collection of Classical Antiquities.
The renowned bust of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti is popular with visitors.
The oldest artifact is an axe head from the Stone Age, estimated to be about 700,000 years old.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesNeues Museum 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: Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Phone: 030 266424242
Official Website: Neues Museum
Neues Museum Reviews
Rated out of 5
Good size museum with large Egyptian collection, including the famous Nefertiti clay bust. Wonder around and discover the many galleries. Note that it can get warm inside during hot days and there’s little air circulation. Also, they restrict photography in some of the displays, including the Nefertiti bust (but you can take a long distance photo from the adjacent room.
The Curated Stamp - 2 months ago
One of my favorite museums in Berlin! Nefertiti even is more beautiful than I imagined, I feel so fortunate to have seen her. There are stunning pieces here, not only from Egypt, but Europe as well. There is even an area dedicated to old Berlin itself. I appreciate learning about people's migration over our human history. Definitely recommend.
Anna Marie - 2 months ago
The display for ancient Egypt is vast at this museum. Easily a must-see if you cannot go directly to Egypt itself. Other ancient history for Rome and the Greeks is covered as is other people's that inhabited the grounds that make up Germany, but these collections are smaller.
Henry - 2 months ago
A fantastic place if you like ancient history. The setup is great and walking through the rooms full of Egyptian sarcophagi gives you chills. Nefertiti is obviously the star of the show, but I also really enjoyed the prehistoric section with all the ancient tools and that crazy golden hat. It’s huge, so give yourself enough time to explore everything!
Daniel Dzurík - 4 months ago
An outstanding museum with an incredible collection of ancient history. The highlight was seeing the famous Bust of Nefertiti, but the Egyptian artifacts, prehistoric exhibits, and beautifully restored building are all worth exploring. Everything is well organized, and you can easily spend a few hours here. Highly recommended for history and culture lovers.
Mohsin Ac - 2 months ago
Directions
How to get to Neues Museum by U-Bahn, S-Bahn
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Line(s): S1, S2, S3, S5, S7, S9, S25, S26, S75, U6
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Station(s): Berlin Friedrichstraße
Exit from Friedrichstraße Station. Walk one block south on Fredrichstrasse and go left (east) on Dorotheenstrasse. When you get to the river, go right on Am Kupfergraben and cross the bridge just ahead. Once over the bridge the Neues Museum is on your left.
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Photo Gallery
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Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr
