The museum of musical instruments has more than 3,500 musical instruments and is one of the largest and most representative collections of musical instruments in Germany.

The Musical Instrument Museum in Berlin showcases over 3,500 instruments of European art music from the 16th century to the present day. Highlights include the famous Bach harpsichord and Benjamin Franklin's glass harmonica.

Instruments of European art music from the 16th century to the present day show their sound through concerts and guided tours.  The collection of wind instruments from St. Wenzel zu Naumburg is impressive. The still playable instruments are played regularly.
Further highlights of the museum are early harpsichords and spinets, the famous Bach harpsichord. You can book guided tours and workshops in the museum. The objects include a portable harpsichord by the Prussian Queen Sophie Charlotte, flutes from the collection of Frederick the Great and the glass harmonica by Benjamin Franklin.

Museum of musical instruments, Berlin

Location & Sights nearby

The Musical Instruments Museum is located in the Kulturforum Berlin, directly next to the Philharmonie in the Tiergarten district of the Mitte district. Further museums in the Kulturforum are the Neue Nationalgalerie, the Kunstgewerbemuseum, the Kupferstichkabenett and the Gemäldegalerie. A few steps further, you will find the impressive  Center at Potsdamer Platz -Sony Center and the Museum of Film and Television.

Brief history of the Museum of musical instruments

The museum was founded in 1888 at the Royal Academy of Music in Berlin from a collection by Philipp Spitta and Joseph Joachim.  In 1943, the holdings were evacuated from Berlin to protect them from Allied bombing raids. Despite extensive security measures, a large part was lost. Immediately after the war, the rest of the museum and institute was administered directly by the West Berlin government and moved to temporary premises in Charlottenburg Palace in 1949. Despite scarce financial resources, the reconstruction of the musical instrument collection was carried out with the greatest care. Since 1984, the museum has been housed in a building designed by Wisniewski on Kemper Platz, next to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Address, opening hours...

Address: Ben-Gurion-Straße, 10785 Berlin
Opening Hours: Tue–Fri 9 AM–5 PM, Thu 9 AM–8 PM, Sat/Sun 10 AM–5 PM, closed on Mondays
Admission: €10, reduced €5
Transport Links: S-Bahn S1, S2, S25 (Potsdamer Platz), U2 (Potsdamer Platz), Bus: Varian Fry-Str. (200, M41, M48, M85, N2), Philharmonie South (M41), Philharmonie (200, M41)

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Picture source: by AndreasPraefcke

The Musical Instrument Museum in Berlin showcases over 3,500 instruments of European art music from the 16th century to the present day. Highlights include the famous Bach harpsichord and Benjamin Franklin's glass harmonica.