Pergamon Museum
The Pergamon Museum (German: Pergamonmuseum) is the most famous and popular museum located in Berlin on the renowned Museum Island (Museuminsel). It houses exhibits from ancient art, some over 10,000 years old, from the Near East and Islamic Art! When visiting the capital of Germany, this place cannot be missed!
ATTENTION!
DUE TO RENOVATION, THE PERGAMON MUSEUM WILL BE COMPLETELY CLOSED IN OCTOBER 2023! THE OPENING OF THE PERGAMON ALTAR HALL AND THE WEST WING IS SCHEDULED FOR 2027, AND THE ENTIRE MUSEUM WILL REOPEN ONLY IN 2037!
Table of contents:
- Briefly about the Pergamon Museum
- Permanent exhibitions:
- What you must see in the Pergamon Museum
- Practical Information:
Briefly about the Pergamon Museum
The Pergamon Museum (German: Pergamonmuseum) is located in Berlin on Museum Island (German: Museuminsel) and is the youngest of the buildings there, opened in 1930. It is also the largest of the five museums in the complex. It is probably the only museum built specifically to house monumental artifacts, such as the Pergamon Altar, after which the museum is named. The Pergamon Altar, also known as the Great Altar of Zeus, was built between 180-160 BC in the city of Pergamon (now Bergama, Turkey).
Permanent exhibitions:
The Pergamon Museum houses collections of art, architecture, and sculpture from the ancient world, including Babylonian, Sumerian, and Assyrian periods. These were discovered by German archaeologists during excavations between 1878 and 1886. So, what can be found in the Pergamon Museum? The building is divided into three permanent exhibitions:
Classical Ancient Art Collection (Antikensammlung)
The collections of the Ancient Art exhibition originate from the collection of the Electorates of Brandenburg. Thanks to excavations in Greece and Asia Minor, they grew to become some of the most significant in the world. Among the most popular exhibits are definitely the Altar of Zeus and the reconstruction of the Miletus Market Gate.
Museum of the Ancient Near East (Vorderasiatisches Museum)
The collection contains exhibits of Sumerian, Assyrian, and Babylonian art and architecture, discovered by German archaeologists. One of the most famous exhibits is certainly the Ishtar Gate.
Museum of Islamic Art (Museum für Islamische Kunst)
The exhibition contains works of Islamic Art from areas ranging from Spain to India. Most of the objects found come from Iran, Egypt, and the Middle East. The most famous exhibit is undoubtedly the Room from Aleppo.
What you must see in the Pergamon Museum
The Pergamon Altar – the largest, majestically grand altar dedicated to Zeus and Athena, built in the 2nd century BC. The monument has astronomical dimensions of 36×36 meters, and the stairs between the wings are 20 meters long. It is the main attraction of the Pergamon Museum.
Ishtar Gate – or rather the foregate of the Ishtar Gate, as the gate itself is much larger! It was dedicated to the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar, the goddess of love and war. It was built in the 7th-6th century BC during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II.
The Room from Aleppo – located in the Islamic Art section. It is a richly decorated wood paneling from the reception room of a merchant’s house in Aleppo, dating from the early 17th century.
Practical Information:
Before visiting the Pergamon Museum, it’s useful to have some practical information. How much do tickets cost? Is there a cloakroom? Are there guides available in Polish? What are the opening hours? I answer all the questions you may have in the information below.
How long does it take to visit the Pergamon Museum
We should allocate 2.5 to 3 hours for the visit. At each exhibit, there is an informational plaque with a description, and we can also use the Audioguide in Polish. The exhibits are numbered, and we search for information in the guide by the numbers. If we want to read/listen to each description, it will take us around 3 hours. If we are focused only on viewing, 1.5 hours should be enough.
Tickets and pricing
It is best to purchase tickets a few days before visiting the Pergamon Museum. You can also buy them on-site, but there is a possibility that they may already be sold out for the day. You can purchase tickets HERE! When buying tickets, you reserve a specific entry time for the museum, and it is important to stick to it!
Regular ticket: 12 €
Concessional ticket: 6 €
Audioguide in Polish or other languages: included in the ticket price
Cloakroom, luggage, and restrooms
The museum offers a free cloakroom and restroom. Backpacks and bags must be left in lockers, and it is not possible to enter with bags. The locker costs 2 € – be sure to have small change!
Photography
Photographing all exhibits is allowed at the Pergamon Museum. No additional fee is required. Flash photography is not permitted!
Opening hours
The Pergamon Museum is open on designated days, excluding holidays in Berlin. Before visiting the museum, make sure to check if there is a public holiday in the region!
Opening hours: Tuesday-Wednesday from 10:00 to 18:00, Thursday from 10:00 to 20:00, Friday-Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00, Monday – closed!
How to get to the Pergamon Museum
The Pergamon Museum can be accessed by public transportation in Berlin. The address is: James-Simon-Galerie, Bodestraße 10178 Berlin. As for parking, it may be difficult to find in the area. If you have the option, leave your car on the outskirts of Berlin and explore the city using public transportation – it’s faster and more enjoyable!
List of nearby public transportation stops:
- U-Bahn (Metro) – Museumsinsel (U5)
- S-Bahn (Train): Friedrichstraße, Hackescher Markt
- Tram: Am Kupfergraben, Hackescher Markt
- Bus: Staatsoper, Lustgarten, Friedrichstraße
If my article helped you plan your route and gather the necessary information, I would be grateful for your support in making my dreams come true by buying me a coffee!
