One of the most important art museums in Germany, the Hamburger Kunsthalle is home to paintings, sculptures and other items spanning seven centuries of art history. The various collections are arranged in chronological order across three buildings, all connected and accessible with one combined ticket. See early medieval to contemporary artworks.
Look for the big-name artists that fill the collection, from Manet to Monet and Munch to Van Gogh. The permanent exhibition of more than 700 artworks sits alongside changing displays of contemporary art and works from the museum’s archives. An afternoon is enough for a quick tour of the museum, but art lovers could easily spend several days familiarizing themselves with this expansive collection.
See historic treasures such as a coin and medal collection dating from ancient Roman times, or an altarpiece painted in 1379 for St. Peter’s Church by Master Bertram, a leading 14th-century German master.
The museum has an entire wing dedicated to Old Masters paintings. See a significant collection of German Romantic paintings, including pieces by Caspar David Friedrich. Explore French and German 19th-century Impressionism, including works by Leibl, Liebermann and Renoir, among others.
Stop for a snack or tea and coffee at the small café in the main building before taking the nearby passage to the Galerie der Gegenwart (Gallery of the Present). The building itself resembles a cube, and is filled with a series of contemporary art exhibits. See anything from photography to a documentary of performance work. Fans of graphic art should investigate the Department of Prints and Drawings, which comprises more than 120,000 drawings and other visuals.
This spacious museum is rarely crowded, except on the first days of new exhibitions, so you’ll be able to admire each work in peace. The domed gallery, close to the main train station in downtown Hamburg, is easy to spot. To get there, take the Spitalerstrasse/City exit from the Hauptbahnhof station, turn right and cross the street. There’s a fee to enter.
