Visiting the Neues Museum with Children

Admission costs nothing, but you still need the timed-entry slot

Children and teenagers under 18 get in without paying admission. Book a timed-entry slot for them anyway, so the family is let in together and no one waits at the entrance. How the ticket types relate to each other is explained under Admission and Tickets.

What children actually look at in the museum

For adults, the bust of Nefertiti is the reason for the visit; for children it's usually just one stop among many. They tend to linger longer at the Egyptian mummies and sarcophagi, at the Berlin Gold Hat, a Bronze Age gold cone covered in circular ornaments, and at the Neanderthal skull. "Priam's Treasure", i.e. the Troy finds, works well as soon as someone tells the story behind it. An overview of all the pieces is under what there is to see.

Audio guides for children

The museum offers audio guides in German, English, French, Italian and Spanish, plus versions for children and in Easy Language. The most-booked admission ticket includes an audio guide. Headphones your child is used to make more of a difference here than the language version.

The rule in the North Dome Room

Photography is prohibited in the room with the bust, and guided groups are asked to move their explanations to the rooms before it. Say both things outside the door, not inside. The room is small and quiet, which makes it unfamiliar territory for children — a couple of sentences beforehand will save you a reminder from the staff. The details are under Photography in the Neues Museum.

How long it stays enjoyable

Plan on 45 to 90 minutes. That covers the highlights and a walk through all the floors, and stays short of the point where it tips over. Three hours is an adult's duration. If you have the Museum Island day ticket, plan a break outside after the Neues Museum rather than a third museum; the time breakdown is under how much time you need.

Practical details you should check with the museum

Ticket sales and the cloakroom are centrally located in the James-Simon-Galerie, where you can leave jackets and backpacks. For questions like strollers, changing facilities or family offers, the museum publishes its own information — it's best to check that directly with the museum rather than rely on third-party sources. What is structurally in place is covered under Accessibility.

Frequently asked questions