Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum's roots go back to 1810, when the natural history collections of the newly founded Berlin university came into being. The mineralogical, zoological and paleontological holdings grew so much in the 19th century that a building of their own became necessary: the new building on Invalidenstraße, designed by August Tiede, opened in December 1889 and still houses the museum today.

The museum became world-famous for the finds of the Tendaguru expedition in what is now Tanzania (1909–1913), which yielded the skeleton of Giraffatitan brancai. Today the museum and its researchers are critically examining this colonial background. In February 1945, bombs destroyed large parts of the east wing, but most of the collection was saved.

Since 2009, the museum has been independent of Humboldt-Universität and, as a foundation under public law, is a Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research. In 2010, the rebuilt east wing opened, displaying the so-called wet collection with tens of thousands of jars of animals preserved in alcohol.

With more than 30 million objects, the collection ranks among the most important natural history collections in the world. A future program adopted in 2018 and funded with more than €600 million from the federal government and the State of Berlin aims to substantially enlarge the exhibition space and make the collection digitally accessible; the renovation work is currently underway.

Highlights

• Giraffatitan brancai – the world's tallest mounted dinosaur skeleton (about 13 m)
• The Berlin specimen of the early bird Archaeopteryx
• Tyrannosaurus rex "Tristan Otto"
• Wet collection with tens of thousands of specimens preserved in alcohol
• Specimens of famous animals such as Knut the polar bear and Bobby the gorilla
• Mineral hall with Germany's largest mineral collection

Permanent exhibitions

• Saurierwelt – The central hall takes visitors back 150 million years to the Late Jurassic – with the colossal Giraffatitan and the Berlin Archaeopteryx.
• Evolution in Aktion – The exhibition explains how biodiversity arises and uses specimens to illustrate the mechanisms of evolution.
• Nass-Sammlung – In the rebuilt east wing, the exhibition offers a look into the research collection with tens of thousands of animals preserved in alcohol.

Founded

1810

Operated by

Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung (Stiftung öffentlichen Rechts)

Director

Johannes Vogel (Generaldirektor)

Admission & discounts

Online timed tickets (entry within one hour of the selected time) can be booked up to 14 days in advance. Annual passes €35–€65 depending on category. Free admission for, among others, ICOM/WFTGA members, press and refugees. Ticket partnership with the Deutsches Technikmuseum (discount, valid until the end of 2026).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Accessible entrance to the right of the main entrance with an elevator to the exhibition level; another elevator in the wet collection. Accessible restrooms in the basement. Accessible parking spaces at the accessible entrance. Wheelchairs available free of charge at the information desk. Many display cases can be viewed while seated, seating in all halls, quieter areas in the mineral hall. Tactile objects in the microscopy center, the mineral hall and the cosmos area, among others. Selected listening stations with induction loops. Audio guide with a highlights tour in German Sign Language (DGS). Visitor information in Easy Language (Leichte Sprache). Assistance and guide dogs allowed with proof.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Public family tours (approx. 45 min., ages 5 and up, e.g. on dinosaurs), children's audio guide and hands-on stations in the exhibitions. Children's birthday parties from age 5 (guided tour, dino craft party) or from age 8 (three-hour "Reise in die Vergangenheit" (journey into the past), also at night); weekend and winter dates are often booked up well in advance. Strollers allowed, elevator to the exhibition level; baby changing facilities in the restrooms in the rear exhibition area and a nursing room.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Museum café by MarcAnn's (Tue–Sun 11:00–17:00) serving soups, sandwiches, paninis and cake; free picnic area for food you bring yourself. Free coat check and lockers (€1 coin or token as deposit); bags larger than letter size (A4) must be checked, no luggage storage.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 800 guests.

Dinosaur hall for panel discussions, gala dinners and receptions; event hall on the second floor outside the exhibition with conference equipment (also available during opening hours). According to the museum, formats range from press conferences to conference evenings with up to 800 guests; availability depends on the exhibition calendar and the progress of construction. Details on request.

Plan your visit