Berlin has more than 170 large and small museums. When visiting the capital, you can enjoy plenty of exhibitions. Besides the classic museums you’ll find on Museum Island, there are also unusual museums in Berlin. While staying at EastSeven Hostel Berlin, you can explore art and culture that’s a bit off the beaten path.
10 Extraordinary Museums in Berlin
Have you ever visited a museum where you can try particularly disgusting food? Or do you know a museum where the exhibits are oversized letters, lipsticks, or computer games? Here we present 10 unusual museums in Berlin, where you can enjoy culture while still moving beyond the usual sightseeing.
Our Museum Tip No. 1: Disgusting Food Museum
Frog smoothies, maggot cheese, rotten herring: these are just three of the more than 80 acquired-taste foods you’ll encounter at the Disgusting Food Museum. You can smell them and even try some of them at the Tasting Bar—if you dare. The Disgusting Food Museum wants its visitors to think about when a food is perceived as normal and when as disgusting.
Where?
Schützenstraße 70, 10117 Berlin
When?
Friday to Tuesday 12 PM to 6 PM
Admission?
16 euros, reduced 8 euros
Our Museum Tip No. 2: Computer Games Museum
Computer games are an important part of pop culture today. The Computer Games Museum shows how this came to be. Among the roughly 300 exhibits on display are historic arcade machines and consoles. Many objects invite you to try them out. A highlight of the collection is the Pain Station, where the goal is to win by enduring pain.
Where?
Karl-Marx-Allee 93A, 10243 Berlin
When?
daily 10 AM to 8 PM
Admission?
11 euros, reduced 7 euros
Our Museum Tip No. 3: Buchstabenmuseum
How can you fill an entire museum with letters? The Buchstabenmuseum houses the world’s largest collection of three-dimensional letters. Around 3,000 objects are in the museum’s archive. A selection is displayed in the exhibition space, and the fascinating history of the letters and their design is told.
Where?
Stadtbahnbogen 424, 10557 Berlin
When?
Thursday to Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM
Admission?
12 euros, reduced 6.5 euros
Our Museum Tip No. 4: Lipstick Museum
A museum full of lipsticks has been assembled by makeup artist René Koch. His collection consists of exhibits, some dating back to the 19th century. In addition to lipsticks, other makeup utensils and posters are displayed. Another highlight of the museum is more than 150 kiss prints from famous ladies like Hildegard Knef. Visiting the museum is only possible by prior appointment and as part of an individual or group tour.
Where?
Helmstedter Straße 16, 10717 Berlin
When?
by prior appointment only
Admission?
from 30 euros
Our Museum Tip No. 5: Magicum
The Magicum Berlin Magic Museum is entirely dedicated to the art of magic. You’ll see numerous exhibits from the world of magic, mysticism, and illusion. The magic shows are also fun, where visitors experience magic up close.
Where?
Große Hamburger Straße 17, 10115 Berlin
When?
Monday to Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM
Admission?
14 euros, reduced 11 euros
Our Museum Tip No. 6: Berlin Museum of Medical History
This museum, located on the Charité campus, is not for the faint of heart. As a visitor, you travel into the eventful past of medicine and view historic exhibits. These include human specimens, medical instruments, and handwritten autopsy reports. In the museum’s permanent exhibition, you go “On the Trail of Life,” while changing special exhibitions focus on various organs or diseases.
Where?
Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
When?
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM
Wednesday, Saturday 10 AM to 7 PM
Admission?
10 euros, reduced 5 euros
Image source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=790023023128329&set=pb.100063619145018.-2207520000&type=3
Our Museum Tip No. 7: Museum of Unheard-of Things
At the Museum of Unheard-of Things, the name says it all. Director Roland Albrecht is an artist who collects things that tell an interesting but too rarely heard story. However, the exhibits are not the real objects, but things meant to stimulate visitors’ imagination. These include a telescope that tells the story of Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America. This makes the Museum of Unheard-of Things a highlight among the capital’s museums.
Where?
Crellestrasse 5-6, 10827 Berlin
When?
Wednesday to Friday 3 PM to 7 PM
Admission?
free
Our Museum Tip No. 8: DeJa Vu Museum
This museum is dedicated to optical illusions. You’ll see kaleidoscopes and mirror cabinets, among other things. Many exhibits are designed so you can enter them and experience them up close. Thanks to this interactivity, the museum is particularly well suited for families.
Where?
Rochstraße 14c, 10178 Berlin
When?
daily 10 AM to 8 PM
Admission?
15 euros, reduced 13 euros
Our Museum Tip No. 9: Khroma Museum
Instead of old oil paintings, this art museum shows you the fusion of classical art with digital technologies. Experiments with light, sound, and kinetics transport you to futuristic worlds. Visitors can create their own artworks that spring from their imagination. Thanks to its playful approach, the museum is also well suited for children of all ages.
Where?
Revaler Straße 99, 10245 Berlin
When?
Monday to Thursday 2 PM to 9 PM
Friday 2 PM to 10 PM
Saturday 12 PM to 10 PM
Sunday 12 PM to 9 PM
Admission?
from 19 euros
Our Museum Tip No. 10: Dark Matter
In the dark rooms of a former factory, seven artworks made of light, sound, and movement have been created, transporting you to the intersection between the real and digital world. Some of the works are interactive, drawing museum visitors even deeper into the exhibition.
Where?
Köpenicker Chaussee 46, 10317 Berlin
When?
Wednesday, Thursday 2 PM to 10 PM
Friday 12 PM to 11 PM
Saturday 11 AM to 11 PM
Sunday 11 AM to 10 PM
Admission?
from 18 euros, students 14 euros
Exciting Exhibitions Throughout Berlin
Beyond our 10 recommendations, there are many more unusual museums in the German capital. These include the Hemp Museum, the Illuseum, and SpencerHill World. In Hellersdorf, you’ll also find a museum apartment where you can see how people lived in GDR times. You’ll enjoy much more comfort when you stay at EastSeven during your time in Berlin. We’re happy to give you more tips on which museums you shouldn’t miss during your time in our beautiful city.