Humboldt Forum

The Humboldt Forum in Berlin is a vast museum and cultural center housed in the rebuilt Berlin Palace, right across from Museum Island in the historic heart of the city. Behind its reconstructed baroque facades you'll find world cultures collections from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania, an interactive exhibition about Berlin's global connections, free archaeological displays, and a rooftop terrace with sweeping views. It is one of the most talked-about new buildings in Germany.

From Royal Palace to Museum

For centuries this site was occupied by the Berlin Palace, home of the Hohenzollern dynasty, which ruled as electors of Brandenburg, kings of Prussia, and German emperors. Architect Andreas Schlüter gave it its baroque look around 1700. After heavy war damage, East Germany's leaders blew up the ruins in 1950 and later built the Palace of the Republic, a modernist parliament and leisure complex, on part of the site. That building was closed in 1990 because of asbestos and torn down by 2008.

In 2002 the German parliament voted to rebuild the palace's historic exterior. Italian architect Franco Stella designed a building that recreates the baroque facades on three sides and in the Schlüterhof courtyard, while the Spree-facing east side and the interior are strictly modern. Costs reached about €677 million, with the historic facades largely funded by private donations. After a digital launch in December 2020, the Humboldt Forum opened to visitors on July 20, 2021.

The project remains debated, both for recreating a royal palace and for displaying objects acquired during the colonial era. The exhibitions address these questions openly, which makes a visit thought-provoking.

Things to Do at the Humboldt Forum

• Ethnological Museum and Museum of Asian Art: Two floors of art and everyday objects from around the world, including large boats from the Pacific.
• BERLIN GLOBAL: An interactive exhibition on how Berlin has been shaped by, and has shaped, the wider world.
• Free areas: The palace cellar with archaeological remains, the sculpture hall with original fragments of the old facade, and a video panorama on the history of the site.
• Rooftop terrace: At 30 meters (about 100 feet), it offers views of the Berlin Cathedral, the TV Tower, Museum Island, and the Brandenburg Gate. A restaurant is located here too.

Tickets and Opening Hours

The exhibitions are open Wednesday to Monday, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and closed on Tuesdays. The rooftop terrace stays open until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (as of October 2026).

• Exhibition tickets: €9 each for BERLIN GLOBAL or for the ethnological and Asian art collections
• Discounts: 50% for students and trainees up to 30 and for visitors with disabilities
• Free: visitors under 18 (under 19 for the ethnological collections) and Museum Pass Berlin holders
• Rooftop terrace: €3
• Media guide: €3

Timed tickets can be booked online or bought on-site. Cloakroom and lockers are free, and bags larger than letter size must be checked.

How to Get to the Humboldt Forum

The address is Schlossplatz, 10178 Berlin. The easiest way is the U5 subway to Museumsinsel, which stops right at the building. From Berlin Hauptbahnhof the U5 takes under ten minutes; from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), allow about 45 minutes by train. The Deutschlandticket covers all local transit. The building is fully accessible, with elevators up to the rooftop terrace.

Is It Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially if you are already exploring Museum Island. Plan two to three hours for one exhibition plus the terrace, or a full day to see everything. Because children and teens get in free, it is also a great rainy-day option for families.

Nearby Attractions

• Museum Island with the Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum, and Altes Museum, directly opposite
• Berlin Cathedral and the Lustgarten, just across the street
• DDR Museum, a few minutes' walk along the Spree
• Nikolaiviertel, Berlin's medieval quarter across the river
• TV Tower and Alexanderplatz, about 15 minutes on foot