Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin (Museum of Decorative Arts): treasures, fashion and design at the Kulturforum

Updated on October 5, 2026

The Kunstgewerbemuseum, at the Kulturforum near Potsdamer Platz, is Berlin's museum of decorative arts. Its collections run from the Middle Ages to today: goldsmiths' work, ceramics, glass, furniture, tapestries, then a gallery devoted to fashion from the 18th century to now and another to design. The present building, opened in 1985, belongs to the Berlin State Museums, like its neighbour the Gemäldegalerie. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday and closed on Monday and Tuesday. A ticket costs €10 (reduced €5), free for under-18s. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for a visit.

Highlights

The Middle Ages and the Renaissance

The collection of medieval and Renaissance works of art is the historic heart of the museum: reliquaries, enamels and goldsmiths' work. The Guelph Treasure (Welfenschatz), its most famous group of objects, is not on display at present: the pieces are being prepared for the future permanent exhibition.

The Lüneburg silver

The Lüneburg town hall silver treasure (Lüneburger Ratssilber) is one of the museum's great goldsmith ensembles.

The fashion gallery

It shows outfits from the 18th century to today, on a route that shows how silhouettes change from century to century.

Design

The design gallery tells the story of everyday objects from the 20th century to today: furniture, tableware, appliances and designers' objects.

Temporary exhibitions

An exhibition on the couturière Madame Grès, "Many Shades of Grès", was on the programme in October 2026; the combined ticket with the museum costs €16 (reduced €8).

Hours and prices

Wednesday to Friday 10:00-17:00, Saturday and Sunday 11:00-18:00; closed Monday and Tuesday. Ticket €10 (reduced €5), ticket with the Madame Grès exhibition €16 (reduced €8), Kulturforum ticket €22 (reduced €11), valid for one day in all the state museums of the Kulturforum. Free for under-18s.

Practical info

Tips

The €22 Kulturforum ticket quickly pays for itself if you add the Gemäldegalerie or the Neue Nationalgalerie the same day. The museum is also included in the Museumspass Berlin. Buy your ticket online from the State Museums shop (prices checked in October 2026). To place this museum among its neighbours, read our guide to the Kulturforum.

How to get there

Matthäikirchplatz, 10785 Berlin (Tiergarten); the visitor entrance is wheelchair accessible, on the Johanna-und-Eduard-Arnhold-Platz side. U-Bahn U2 and S-Bahn S1, S2, S25 and S26 to Potsdamer Platz, then about 10 minutes on foot. Bus M29 (stop Potsdamer Brücke), M48 and M85 (stop Kulturforum), 200 (stop Philharmonie).