Berlin’s slogan famously reads ‘poor but sexy‘ – and we’ve got the sexiest contemporary art spaces lined up for you. Including all contemporary and underground art spaces, best lunch and dinner spots. From Neukölln to Charlottenburg, this is the only guide you’ll be needing to navigate the city.

Before you let yourself be whisked away by Berlin’s edgy art scene, be sure to take our custom Art Fix Berlin map with you.

MUSEUMS

Hamburger Bahnhof

• Invalidenstraße 50 – 51
• smb.museum

A retired train station turned art museum? It doesn’t get more Berlin than that. This station, that was once the final destination of trains arriving from Hamburg, is now one of the most significant contemporary art destinations.

Berlinische Galerie

• Alte Jakobstraße 124 – 128
• berlinerfestspiele.de

A museum from Berlin,  for Berlin. With room for all artists, art lovers, genres and histories the city houses. The former glass warehouse provides a beautifully minimal space that lets the art shine.

Brücke Museum

• Bussardsteig 9
• bruecke-museum.de

As the name suggests, this museum honors the expressionist artist group Die Brücke (The Bridge). Showcasing famous names like Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Max Pechstein and Erich Heckel alongside and in conversation with contemporary art.

Georg Kolbe Museum

• Sensburger Allee 25
• georg-kolbe-museum.de

If you love sculpture – this museum is for you! Dedicated to the sculptor Georg Kolbe, this museum boasts his work amongst beautiful architecture nestled in nature.

Gropius-Bau

• Niederkirchnerstraße 7
• gropius-bau

This incredible building by architect Martin Gropius centers on contemporary art. If you’re not coming for the art, come for the architecture!

Jewish Museum Berlin

• Lindenstraße 9-14
• jmberlin.de

A staple in German efforts for reparation for World War II, this museum doesn’t just talk the talk, but walks the walk! Next to more classical exhibitions, contemporary art is woven into the architecture of the building.

Art Fix: take some time to stroll through the ‘Galerie der Verschwundenen Dinge’ (Gallery of Lost Things). An installation of three blackened exhibition vitrines by artist Via Lewandowsky – representing all Jewish objects that were destroyed or lost during World War II.

ART SPACES

Boros Foundation 

• Bunker, Reinhardtstr. 20 
• sammlung-boros.de

Housed in an old bunker, this private contemporary art collection of Karen and Christian Boros spans 3000 square meters in regularly alternating exhibitions.

Art Fix Tip: Make sure to reserve and book a tour in advance!

James Turrell | Burial Chapel

• Permanent installation since 2015
• Chausseestraße 126
• visit.berlin.com

James Turrell has transformed the historic chapel on the Dorotheenstädtische cemetery into a divine spectacle of light and color, transforming the historic space into a contemporary sanctuary. You might recognize the American light artist from our Episode 10: “Spot On: Light Art.”

Art Fix: Purchase your ticket in advance!

Dark Matter

• Köpenicker Ch 46
• darkmatter.berlin

An experimental, alternative art space that plunges you into a parallel experience which blurs the boundaries between digital and real worlds. The seven light installations designed by the light artist Christopher Bauder and the design studio WHITEvoid present a one-of-a-kind experience for all ages!

LAS Art Foundation

• Invalidenstraße 43
• las-art.foundation

Another visionary space that channels its creative forces towards a new future of cutting-edge art at the intersections of technology and science.

C/O Berlin 

• Hardenbergstraße 22–24
• co-berlin.org

This exhibition space specializes in photography and visual media, with particular attention and support for emerging artists.

KW Institute for Contemporary Art

• Auguststraße 69
• kw-berlin.de

KW Berlin, a.k.a. Kunst-Werke Berlin, is in a former margarine-factory in Berlin Mitte and is a significant contributor to the contemporary art scene in Berlin and regularly collaborates with the Venice Biennale, Documenta in Kassel, or MoMA PS1.

Haus am Waldsee

• Argentinische Allee 30
• hausamwaldsee.de

Outside the city, this quaint house by the Waldsee lake is a platform for international artists that has up to five exhibitions per year.

Art Fix: Don’t skip out on the sculpture park surrounding the house! It’s the little “Louisiana” of Berlin.

GALLERIES

König Gallery

• Alexandrinenstraße 118-121
• koeniggalerie.com

A gallery fit for kings! Founded by Johann König in 2002, the gallery fosters the art of young generation artists, both emerging and established. The concept-driven and interdisciplinary exhibitions are housed in the former St. Agnes Church.

GNYP Gallery

• Knesebeckstraße 96
• gnypgallery.com

GNYP Gallery is definitely worth visiting in Berlin. The inspiring couple Marta Gnyp and Giovanni Springmeier make cutting edge exhibitions here and in their new gallery in Antwerp.

Sprüth Magers Berlin

• Oranienburger Straße 18
• spruethmagers.com

With its roots in Cologne, the Berlin-Mitte location of Sprüth Magers lets you experience the pulsating world of contemporary art anew.

Wentrup

• Knesebeckstraße 95
• wentrupgallery.com

Founded in 2004, this gallery is up to speed with the dynamic and young art scene in Berlin and beyond, having now opened branches in Hamburg and Venice too.

Galerie Barbara Thumm

• Markgrafenstrasse 68D
• bthumm.de

Specialized in figurative and conceptual art, this gallery is one to keep an eye out for.

Soy Capitán

• Prinzessinnenstrasse 29
• soycapitan.de

This young gallery based in Berlin-Kreuzberg shows a wide array of media with particular focus on social commentary.

Société

• Wielandstraße 26
• societeberlin.com

This gallery and journal is known for fostering deep and long-lasting relationships with its artists!

Galerie Neu

• Linienstraße 119 abc
• galerieneu.net

It’s already in the name: Galerie Neu exhibits all things new and exciting.

Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler

• Kohlfurter Straße 41/43
• k-t-z.com 

Venture out of the ordinary with this gallery that goes beyond Western European art, with particular focus on Eurasia and China.

Kewenig

• Brüderstraße 10
• kewenig.com

On the iconic Berlin art island, this building’s architecture, being one of the last old town houses in the city, makes for a beautiful contrast to its vibrant art!

Heidi

• Kurfürstenstraße 145
• heidigallery.com

You might know Heidi as the girl from the Alps, but we know it as this cutting-edge gallery in the bustling capital!

Dittrich & Schlechtriem

• Linienstrasse 23
• dittrich-schlechtriem.com 

Are you not only an art, but also a book-lover? Then this is the perfect gallery for you, with its extensive publications and artist monographs!

ChertLüdde

• Hauptstr. 18
• chertluedde.com

Much more than a mere gallery, this space also houses an artist archive AND bookshop.

Meyer Riegger

• Schaperstrasse 14
• meyer-riegger.de

For all fans of conceptual art! Be enticed by Meyer Riegger’s extensive curatorial program that foregrounds existential social and political issues.

Restaurants & Cafés

Father Carpenter (cafe)

• Münzstraße 21

La Maison (cafe)

• Paul-Linke-Ufer 17

Voo Store  (cafe)

• Oranienstraße 24

Aerde (restaurant)

• Am Lokdepot 6

Muret La Barba (restaurant)

• Rosenthaler Str. 61

Neni Berlin  (restaurant)

• Budapester Str. 40

Beuster (bar & cafe)

• Weserstr. 32

Weekend Staycation

Zoo Hotel

• Kurfürstendamm 25

Art Fix Tip: Looking for a hotel in Berlin? Hotel Zoo on the Kurfürstendamm is our favourite.