Is photography allowed in the Neues Museum?
The one rule you need to know
The ban applies to the room where the bust stands. It's not some formality nobody cares about: staff will approach visitors who raise a camera in the room. Anyone who knows this beforehand spares themselves the awkward moment.
The spot from where it's allowed
From the adjoining room, you're allowed to photograph the bust. You then stand outside the North Dome Room and see it through the opening. That's the view you know from most photos, and it takes some getting used to, being about as close as what you'd see anyway. Why the room is designed this way and exactly what you're looking at in it is covered under the bust of Nefertiti.
Being quiet is part of it
Guided groups are asked to speak in the rooms outside the hall. If you're on a tour, you'll hear the explanation before or after, then go in quietly. That's why this one room is quieter than any other in the museum.
If you're coming with children, tell them the rule outside the door, not in the room. What else works for children in the museum is covered under Neues Museum with kids.
And in the rest of the museum?
The ban we can describe here applies to the North Dome Room. For individual exhibitions, loaned items, or special areas the museum publishes its own rules; it's best to check these directly on site or with the museum itself. What's on display in the other rooms and where your lens is worth pointing is covered under what there is to see.
Frequently asked questions
Is it allowed to photograph Nefertiti?
Not in the North Dome Room — photography is prohibited there and the rule is enforced. Taking a photo is allowed from the adjoining room.
Why is photography banned in the North Dome Room?
The room is reserved solely for the bust and is meant to stay quiet. For the same reason, guided groups are asked to give their explanations in the rooms before it.
Can I photograph elsewhere in the Neues Museum?
The explicit ban applies to the North Dome Room. For individual exhibitions the museum publishes its own rules — check the notices on site.
Where can I get the best photo of the bust?
From the adjoining room, through the opening into the North Dome Room, ideally on a weekday right at opening at 10am — see Opening hours.