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Museum of Decorative Arts: A Journey Through European Design

Explore centuries of European design, from medieval treasures to modern fashion, at Berlin's Museum of Decorative Arts.

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The Museum of Decorative Arts (Kunstgewerbemuseum) in Berlin showcases European arts and crafts from the Middle Ages to the present. Located at the Kulturforum near Potsdamer Platz, its collections include everything from gold treasures to haute couture, offering a glimpse into the evolution of design and fashion.

A brief summary to Museum of Decorative Arts

  • Wednesday 11 am-6 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-5 pm
  • Friday 10 am-5 pm
  • Saturday 11 am-6 pm
  • Sunday 11 am-6 pm

Local tips

  • Visit during the week for fewer crowds and a more relaxed experience.
  • Take advantage of the Berlin Museum Pass for free entry to this and many other museums.
  • Don't miss the fashion gallery, showcasing fashion history from the Baroque period to today.
  • Explore the nearby Gemäldegalerie and Musikinstrumenten-Museum in the Kulturforum.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    The Museum of Decorative Arts is easily accessible via public transport. Take the U2 to Potsdamer Platz. Alternatively, several bus lines (200, M29, M41, M48, M85) stop near the museum. From Potsdamer Platz station, it's a short walk to Matthäikirchplatz. A single fare for public transport in Berlin (AB zone) is around €3.

  • Walking

    From Potsdamer Platz, the Museum of Decorative Arts is a short walk. Head west towards the Kulturforum. The museum is located on Matthäikirchplatz. The walk is approximately 5-10 minutes, depending on your starting point within Potsdamer Platz.

  • Taxi

    Taxis are readily available in Berlin. A taxi ride from Potsdamer Platz to the Museum of Decorative Arts is a short trip, costing approximately €10-€15. Taxi stands are located at Potsdamer Platz. Ride-sharing services like Uber are also available.

  • Parking

    If driving, parking is available in the Sony Center car park near the museum. However, parking in central Berlin can be limited and expensive. Expect to pay around €3 per hour. Alternatively, consider using a Park & Ride (P+R) facility on the outskirts of the city and taking public transport to the museum.

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Discover more about Museum of Decorative Arts

The Museum of Decorative Arts, or Kunstgewerbemuseum, is Germany's oldest museum of its kind, dating back to 1867. Founded as the Deutsches Gewerbe-Museum zu Berlin, it aimed to promote arts and crafts. Today, the museum is split between two locations: the Kulturforum near Potsdamer Platz and Köpenick Palace. The Kulturforum location boasts over 7,000 square meters of exhibition space, displaying the history of decorative arts and industrial design. Visitors can explore collections spanning from the Middle Ages to today, including costumes, furniture, glass, metalwork and textiles. Highlights include the Guelph Treasure, Venetian glass, Baroque furniture, and 20th-century designs from the Bauhaus school. A fashion gallery, added in 2014, features clothing from the 18th century to the present. The Köpenick Palace location, in contrast, displays decorative arts from the 16th to 18th centuries within a Baroque setting. Here, visitors can view paneling, tapestries, and enamelwork. Architect Rolf Gutbrod designed the Kulturforum museum building in the 1960s, emphasizing the visibility of the building's structural components. The museum is designed as a 'constructed landscape' that connects to the adjacent Tiergarten park.

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