Pergamonmuseum

The new, larger Pergamonmuseum was built as a three-wing complex. The impressive reconstructions of massive archaeological structures – the Pergamon Altar, Market Gate of Miletus, the Ishtar Gate and Processional Way from Babylon, and the Mshatta Facade – have made the Pergamonmuseum famous throughout the world, with the result that it is the most visited museum at the Staatliche Museen and in Germany as a whole.

The Pergamonmuseum was designed by Alfred Messel; its construction was overseen by Ludwig Hoffmann and lasted twenty years, from 1910 to 1930. A smaller building initially stood on the same site for a just few years before being torn down. It housed the important excavation finds unearthed by the Berlin museums, such as the frieze panels from the Pergamon Altar, reclaimed from the earth in digs that lasted from 1878 to 1886. Inadequate foundations, however, soon resulted in the building becoming structurally unstable and it had to be demolished.

The new, larger Pergamonmuseum was built as a three-wing complex. The museum now houses three of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin’s collections: the Antikensammlung, Vorderasiatisches Museum, and the Museum für Islamische Kunst. 

Renovation

Since 2013, the Pergamonmuseum has been undergoing staggered renovations as part of the Masterplan Museumsinsel. The renovations are based on plans by the architecture firm of O.M. Ungers. The hall that contains the Pergamon Altar will be closed until at least 2023. The north wing and the gallery of Hellenistic art will also be closed. The artefacts from Uruk and Habuba Kabira, as well as the rooms with Babylonian, ancient Iranian, and Sumerian monuments, are also currently inaccessible to the public. Additionally, several objects in the Vorderasiatisches Museum have been removed from their display cases for safekeeping during the construction work. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The south wing of the Pergamonmuseum – which features the Ishtar Gate, the Processional Way, the Museum für Islamische Kunst, and the Market Gate of Miletus – will remain open to the public.

Beginning in 2018, Museumsinsel visitors may also attend ‘Pergamonmuseum: The Panorama’, a temporary exhibition pavilion built by the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz. The building, which will offer an attractive alternative to the Pergamonmuseum during its renovation, will be located on the street Am Kupfergraben, which is directly across from Museumsinsel and next to the train line.

Please note that due to construction and the high volume of visitors, longer waiting times may be experienced.

ACCESSIBILITY

Limited wheelchair suitable

HOW TO REACH

Transport connections:
- Subway U6 (Friedrichstraße)
- S-Bahn S1, S2, S25 (Friedrichstraße); S5, S7, S75 (Hackescher Markt)
- Tram M1, 12 (At the copper trench); M4, M5, M6 (Hackescher Markt)
- Bus TXL (State Opera); 100, 200 (pleasure garden); 147 (Friedrichstraße)

Visitor entrance:
Bodestraße
10178 Berlin

ADMISSION

Prices & Tickets:

Pergamonmuseum 12,00 EUR, reduced ticket 6,00

Museumsinsel all exhibitions 18,00 EUR, reduced ticket 9,00

Year map State Museums of Berlin from 25,00 EUR