Berlin Natural History Museum

The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Natural History Museum) is the largest natural history museum in Germany and one of the best things to do in central Berlin. In its glass-roofed main hall you stand beneath the skeleton of Giraffatitan, recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest mounted dinosaur skeleton in the world. You also find the famous Archaeopteryx fossil, animals preserved in alcohol and major special exhibitions. It suits kids, rainy days and city breaks alike.

Why it matters

The collections trace back to Berlin's university, founded in 1810. The present building on Invalidenstraße was constructed between 1875 and 1880 and opened on December 2, 1889. An American air raid in February 1945 destroyed the east wing, yet the museum reopened on September 16, 1945, as the first Berlin museum after World War II. A renovation costing about 16 million euros reopened the main halls in 2007. Today it is a foundation within the Leibniz Association and holds more than 30 million objects, of which only a small fraction are on display.

What to see

• Giraffatitan: The skeleton comes from a German expedition to Tendaguru in what is now Tanzania (1909 to 1913) and has stood in the museum since 1937. Since the 2007 remounting it is one meter taller, with the tail held off the floor.
• Dinosaur Hall: Six more dinosaurs stand beside it, including Diplodocus, Kentrosaurus and Allosaurus.
• Archaeopteryx: The Berlin specimen is a well-preserved original of the oldest known bird.
• Special exhibition: The show Dinosaurs! Age of the Giants features the T. rex skeleton Tristan Otto and is extended until November 30, 2026, according to visitBerlin.
• Wet collection: Rows of jars with specimens in alcohol.

Visiting tips (as of October 2026)

Allow two to four hours. The museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it is closed on Mondays. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Admission is 11 euros for adults and 5 euros for children aged 6 and over and for reduced tickets; younger children are free. Book a timed ticket online up to 14 days ahead to skip the queue; you may enter within an hour of your slot and then stay all day. The cloakroom is free, and bags larger than A4 must be checked. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are the only animals allowed. A step-free entrance is across from the main door, with an elevator to the exhibition level.

How to get there

The museum is at Invalidenstraße 43 in Berlin-Mitte. The nearest stop is Naturkundemuseum (U-Bahn U6, tram lines M5, M8, M10, M12, bus 245), about 300 meters away; Deutschlandticket holders can use these local services. From Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the central station for Deutsche Bahn long-distance trains, it is roughly 900 to 1,300 meters on foot. There is no museum parking, only paid street parking nearby. Prices are in euros.

Nearby

Invalidenpark lies across the street from the museum, and Berlin Hauptbahnhof is a short walk away, so the museum fits easily into a day of sightseeing in the city center.