Private Tour of Berlin's Gallery Scene with Art Historian

Like most things in Berlin, the gallery scene is fragmented and diverse. The itinerary changes (you get to choose from a morning or afternoon start time) depending on what galleries are open, or what timely events are happening. Regardless of where you end up, expect thoughtful discussions with your art historian guide during your 3-hour walk.

One possible route could start in Mitte, in the Auguststraße, where you can uncover a wealth of galleries and institutions. You might visit Kunst Werke, a contemporary art institution founded in the early 1990s that shows a wide range of art, from mixed media retrospectives to giant installations and sound performances, across five floors. (Be prepared to pay the admission to the KW; prices found on the Important Info tab.)

Move on to several smaller and more intimate galleries in the vicinity of this institution in both the Auguststraße and Linienstraße such as Eigen+Art and ifa Galerie. The tour route might also include festivals such as the Berlin Biennale when it’s in town, or the Berlin Art Week.

Another area that could make it on the list is Potsdamer Straße. Over the past five years, this strip in West Berlin has gained attention from an enormous wave of gallerists who relocated from Mitte to the area south of the Neue Nationalgalerie.

Today, some 30 galleries and project spaces are scattered about the unassuming neighborhood, which hosts an array of older or abandoned storefronts and vegetable markets. Among the renowned galleries on this stretch include Esther Schipper, Isabella Bortolozzi, Gitti Nourbakhsch, Guido Baudach, Arndt, Plan B, Tanya Leighton, and Klosterfelde.

After approximately three hours, your tour will end near public transportation.