The Brachiosaurus brancai skeleton is 13.27 meters tall, making it the tallest mounted dinosaur specimen globally.
The collection contains the Berlin Specimen of Archaeopteryx lithographica, one of the most significant fossils in the history of evolutionary biology.
The museum holds the world's largest collection of wet preserved specimens in a dedicated 'wet collection' wing viewable by visitors.
The meteorite collection includes a 1.2-ton iron-nickel meteorite, one of the largest in existence.
The building was designed by August Tiede and inaugurated in 1889 to house the zoological, paleontological, and mineralogical collections of the local university.
The museum's 'Evolution in Action' exhibit highlights the mechanics of natural selection using contemporary biological examples.
The institution houses a significant collection of fossils excavated from the Tendaguru Formation in Tanzania during the early 20th century.
The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin is a world-leading research institution housing over 30 million specimens within its historic 19th-century building. It holds the record for the tallest mounted dinosaur skeleton in the world, the Brachiosaurus brancai, displayed in the central dinosaur hall. The museum features the 'System Earth' exhibition, which uses interactive displays to explain geological processes and meteorites. The collection includes a comprehensive array of taxidermy, ranging from extinct species like the dodo to extant megafauna. Scientific research is conducted on-site, focusing on evolution, biodiversity, and planetary history. The wet collection preserves thousands of specimens in glass jars across a visible storage wing. As of June 2026, the museum remains fully operational and serves as a major hub for paleontology and zoology in Germany.
The central atrium under the massive Brachiosaurus skeleton provides the most iconic perspective of the main hall.
Book tickets online in advance to bypass potential queues at the ticket desk.
Visit the 'wet collection' observation windows to see thousands of preserved specimens usually hidden in research archives.
Check the museum website for temporary exhibition changes, as the paleontology wing occasionally rotates key specimens.
Trying to see every single item in the vast collection; focus on the main dinosaur hall and the wet collection to prevent museum fatigue.
Closed on Mondays.
Photography is permitted for private use without flash; large backpacks must be stored in lockers.
