EasyTicket As of September 2026, the Pergamon Museum is scheduled to reopen on June 4, 2027. For now, seeing Nefertiti at the Neues Museum, then the Alte Nationalgalerie and the East Side Gallery offers a balanced mix of ancient and modern art.
📌 Pergamon Museum Closure: What to Know
When will it reopen?
The Pergamon Museum has been fully closed since 2023. The North Wing and Central Wing are scheduled to reopen on June 4, 2027, when the Pergamon Altar and the Islamic Art Collection will also go back on display. (Source: National Museums in Berlin)
What alternatives are available now?
At the nearby Pergamonmuseum. Das Panorama, you can see key Pergamon artifacts and Yadegar Asisi’s large-scale panorama. It isn’t the same as seeing the real Pergamon Altar, so if your itinerary centers on history and museums, you’ll get more out of giving the Neues Museum and Alte Nationalgalerie extra time.
Rather than looking for a main-building admission ticket just because it says Pergamon, check the reservation page first to confirm that it is Das Panorama.
🎯 Suggested Route and Timetable
| Time | Place | Suggested allocation |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00\~12:15 | Neues Museum | Nefertiti · Ancient Egypt |
| 12:15\~13:20 | Hackescher Markt | Lunch and a break |
| 13:30\~16:00 | Alte Nationalgalerie | Romanticism · Impressionism |
| 16:00\~16:30 | Bus 300 transfer | Toward the East Side |
| 16:30\~17:45 | East Side Gallery | Berlin Wall art |
Start with the Neues Museum in the morning
The Neues Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00\~18:00. Enter at opening time and focus on the North Dome exhibition room, where Nefertiti is displayed, to connect the ancient Egyptian and prehistoric collections.
Move from paintings to wall art in the afternoon
The Alte Nationalgalerie is also generally open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00\~18:00. After your visit, take bus 300 from the U Museumsinsel stop toward Warschauer Straße.
Route-planning takeaway: Put paintings after the artifacts
After mapping out the day, the flow feels less cramped if you start at the Neues Museum, with its many sculptures and artifacts, then move on to color-focused paintings and outdoor murals. If museum fatigue sets in, you can save the East Side Gallery for your second day in Berlin.
🔍 How to See the Neues Museum and Alte Nationalgalerie
See Nefertiti in the North Dome exhibition room
The bust of Nefertiti, made around the 14th century BCE, is in the North Dome exhibition room of the Neues Museum. Instead of rushing through just to see the piece, look through the Amarna-period displays first; it will be easier to understand what makes its facial expression and coloring so distinctive.
Start at the top floor of the Alte Nationalgalerie and work down
The Alte Nationalgalerie covers art from the French Revolution to World War I. Start upstairs with works by Caspar David Friedrich, then work down to Impressionists such as Manet, Monet, and Renoir to follow the period’s progression naturally.
💰 Berlin Museum Island Tickets: Pros and Cons
Here’s how day passes and individual tickets differ
| Option | Adult price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Neues Museum individual ticket | €14 | Focusing on Nefertiti |
| Museum Island day pass | €24 | A full day at the Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, and more |
| Berlin WelcomeCard Museum Island AB | €62 | 72 hours of public transport and permanent exhibitions |
| Berlin WelcomeCard Museum Island ABC | €67 | Includes travel to BER Airport and Potsdam |
The Berlin WelcomeCard suits a 2\~3-day trip
The Museum Island version is valid for 72 hours and includes public transport and admission to the permanent exhibitions on Museum Island. Special exhibitions are excluded, so check for extra charges before booking. (Source: official Berlin WelcomeCard website)
If you’re visiting only the Neues Museum, get an individual ticket; for two or more museums the same day, choose the €24 day pass; if you’ll use public transport over three days, compare it with the Berlin WelcomeCard.
🍴 Recommended Food Stops around Hackescher Markt
Hackescher Markt is convenient for lunch
There’s no need for a long break between the two museums. After the Neues Museum, broaden your dining options toward Hackescher Markt to find a weekly market, food trucks, and cafés together.
Try Berlin’s signature currywurst
Currywurst and döner kebab are classic Berlin street foods that originated in the city. Around Hackescher Markt, consider specialist spots such as Curry 61, which is featured in official tourism guidance.
⚠️ Visit Checklist and FAQ
- Choose a museum day that avoids Monday
- Check online admission tickets up to 4 weeks ahead
- Check whether special exhibitions and surcharges are included
- Check photography rules in the Nefertiti gallery
- Wear comfortable shoes for the East Side Gallery
Can I take photos in front of the bust of Nefertiti?
Photography is prohibited inside the North Dome exhibition room. However, you can photograph Nefertiti from the two adjacent rooms.
Can I see the real Pergamon Altar at Das Panorama?
No. Das Panorama displays key related artifacts and a large-scale city panorama, but the Pergamon Altar is scheduled to go back on display after the main building reopens on June 4, 2027.
How should I rearrange the route on Monday?
The Museum Island facilities operated by the National Museums in Berlin are closed on Mondays. Instead, visit the 1,316m-long East Side Gallery, which is open 24 hours, then move your Museum Island visit to Tuesday or later.
Even with the Pergamon Museum closed, you can still have a full day by building your visit around Nefertiti and German Romanticism. After choosing your ticket, try booking the 10:00 entry to the Neues Museum.