MARKK - Museum of Ethnology

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MARKK - Museum of Ethnology, formally Museum am Rothenbaum - Kulturen und Künste der Welt, turns a historic building on Rothenbaumchaussee into one of Hamburg's most thoughtful world-culture museums. Expect carved meeting-house drama around Rauru, Ancient Egyptian afterlife objects, Korean everyday worlds, and a museum that openly questions its colonial collecting history.

Start with standard museum admission, or use the Thursday-after-4 pm free window if value matters most; booking ahead helps when a workshop, event, or special exhibition shapes your day.

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Current exhibitions

Hot off the press

Impressions of Modernity in 1920s China

This special exhibition explores China's rapid transformation in the 1920s and 1930s through modern print culture. It draws on MARKK's distinctive collection of Chinese prints that reached Hamburg during early German-Chinese research cooperation.

Sep 19, 2025 – Jul 12, 2026

CATS!

This special exhibition traces the cat from Bastet and witch-companion imagery to memes, household pets, and big cats through objects from around the world, contemporary art, and cat content from Hamburg homes.

Dec 5, 2025 – Nov 29, 2026

Pippi's Papa

and a Totally True Story from the Pacific

Using the biography of Carl Pettersson, his Pacific wife Singdo, and their children, this family-oriented exhibition re-examines the colonial background behind Pippi Longstocking's South Sea king. It connects the story to German colonialism in the Pacific and today's handling of colonial world views in children's literature.

Sep 6, 2024 – Jun 27, 2027

Offenes Vinylarchiv

MARKK opens its vinyl archive for browsing, trial listening, and exchange around a collection of about 4,800 records gathered through shops, fieldwork, and later transfers.

May 28, 2026 – May 28, 2026

Vinyl & Memory Lab und Eröffnung des Sommergartens

This evening programme with Larry Macaulay, TINAPU, and Mme Florett combines Vinyl & Memory Lab with the opening of MARKK's summer garden.

May 28, 2026 – May 28, 2026

Stimmen In Situ

This open singing gathering in the summer garden offers insight into the creative process of Genealogía In Situ and invites participants to sing, listen, move, and explore voice and rhythm together.

May 30, 2026 – May 30, 2026

CATS!

Curator-led tour

This curator-led tour offers an exhibition introduction to CATS! as part of MARKK's current public programme.

May 31, 2026 – May 31, 2026

Re-Tasting History

In the summer garden, Salah Zater turns the museum into a food theatre inspired by 13th-century culinary manuscripts from al-Andalus, North Africa, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq.

May 31, 2026 – May 31, 2026

Leben in der Superdiversität. Über das Zusammenleben in der Gesellschaft der Minderheiten

This workshop discussion examines coexistence in a society shaped by minorities and superdiversity.

Jun 2, 2026 – Jun 2, 2026

Die Welt nach dem Westen - Fünf Phasen der Trauer

This public conversation with Daniel Marwecki examines the post-Western world order and the idea of five phases of grief.

Jun 4, 2026 – Jun 4, 2026

Bilderechos aus Peru

Historical photographs and sound recordings by Hans Heinrich Brüning meet contemporary reinterpretations by local actors, scholars, and artists from Peru. The exhibition opens new perspectives on identity, memory, and cultural self-determination around the Lambayeque material.

Jun 5, 2026 – Jun 27, 2027

Bilderechos aus Peru

Spanish-language tour

This exhibition tour of Bilderechos aus Peru is offered in Spanish.

Jun 6, 2026 – Jun 6, 2026

Thementag zur Ausstellung "Bilderechos aus Peru"

Opening-day programme

This opening-day programme for Bilderechos aus Peru runs across the museum with accompanying events from 11:00 to 18:00.

Jun 7, 2026 – Jun 7, 2026

Bilderechos aus Peru

Curator-led tour in Spanish

This curator-led Spanish-language tour is led with Dr. Walther Maradiegue and Prof. Gisela Cánepa.

Jun 7, 2026 – Jun 7, 2026

Bilderechos aus Peru

German-language tour

This guided tour offers a German-language introduction to Bilderechos aus Peru.

Jun 7, 2026 – Jun 7, 2026

Offenes Vinylarchiv

MARKK opens its vinyl archive for browsing, trial listening, and exchange around a collection of about 4,800 records gathered through shops, fieldwork, and later transfers.

Jun 11, 2026 – Jun 11, 2026

Bilderechos aus Peru

German-language tour

This guided tour offers a German-language introduction to Bilderechos aus Peru.

Jun 11, 2026 – Jun 11, 2026

Die Katze aus dem Sack: Katzenanekdoten

This exhibition talk with Dr. Lotte Warnsholdt focuses on anecdotes and cultural stories around cats.

Jun 11, 2026 – Jun 11, 2026

Fruit & Draw

This summer-garden workshop by Live ArtClub combines drawing with MARKK's current public programme.

Jun 11, 2026 – Jun 11, 2026

Baukunst, Architektur und Kolonialismus

This guided tour reads MARKK's early 20th-century building architecture against the museum's colonial research history and present-day perspectives.

Jun 13, 2026 – Jun 13, 2026

Koloniale Sammlungen gemeinsam neu denken: Ein Forschungsprojekt zwischen Deutschland, Mali und Frankreich

This conference and discussion presents the PROBAMA provenance project linking Germany, Mali, and France.

Jun 16, 2026 – Jun 16, 2026

Kultur in Bewegung. Tanztriennale im MARKK

This Tanztriennale programme brings Tijmur Dance Theatre's Living Cultural Body to MARKK's Gewölbesaal.

Jun 18, 2026 – Jun 18, 2026

Seltsamer als Stranger Things: Popkultur und Weltbilder

This lecture by Prof. Jeanne Morefield explores pop culture and worldviews.

Jun 18, 2026 – Jun 18, 2026

Kultur in Bewegung. Tanztriennale im MARKK

This Tanztriennale programme brings Tijmur Dance Theatre's Living Cultural Body to MARKK's Gewölbesaal.

Jun 19, 2026 – Jun 19, 2026

Pink Benin Rider

This English-language artist talk brings together Modupeola Fadugba with MARKK director Barbara Plankensteiner as moderator.

Jun 24, 2026 – Jun 24, 2026

Zwischen Bordesholm und Peru - Hans H. Brünings Kulturelles Vermächtnis

This curator conversation in the Bilderechos aus Peru exhibition links MARKK's Peru project with the Bordesholmer Land exhibition on Hans H. Brüning.

Jun 25, 2026 – Jun 25, 2026

CATS!

Curator-led tour

This curator-led tour offers another exhibition introduction to CATS! within MARKK's current public programme.

Jun 28, 2026 – Jun 28, 2026

Wie klingen die Träume eines Quartiers?

This TONALi Festival concert is presented in cooperation with TONALi as part of MARKK's public programme.

Jun 28, 2026 – Jun 28, 2026

6 tips for visiting the MARKK - Museum of Ethnology

Start with Rauru

If you want one strong first anchor, head for Rauru early in your visit. The carved Māori meeting house rewards fresh attention, and it gives the rest of MARKK a clearer emotional scale. Start there, then slow down for the smaller cases.

Use Thursday with intent

If your priority is value, Thursday after 4 pm is the useful move because museum admission is free. If your priority is quiet, arrive earlier on a weekday instead. That choice keeps the late galleries from feeling like a compromise.

Travel light inside

If your bag is larger than A4, plan a cloakroom stop before you enter the galleries. Umbrellas and bulky items go there too. Sorting this out at the start saves backtracking in the historic stair-and-corridor layout.

Arrive via Hallerstraße

For the simplest arrival, use U1 to Hallerstraße or the buses along Rothenbaumchaussee. Dammtor works well if you want an Alster or university-quarter walk. Picking the right stop keeps the first minutes calm.

Do not rush the labels

If you usually speed through museums, slow down here. MARKK is strongest when objects, photographs, and collection history are read together, especially in First Things. A slower pace makes the visit more rewarding and less like box-ticking.

Pick one city pairing

After MARKK, choose one clear add-on: Kunsthalle Hamburg for art, Bucerius Kunst Forum for a compact central exhibition, Hamburg Rathaus for civic architecture, or Speicherstadt for harbor atmosphere. One pairing keeps the day coherent.

How to plan your MARKK visit in Rotherbaum

A good MARKK visit is less about racing through regions and more about giving the museum's big questions enough time. Build your route around Rothenbaumchaussee, the Thursday rhythm, and one clear follow-up stop.

Choose admission before your route

Best for first-time visitors: start with regular museum admission unless your date lines up with Thursday's free window from 4 pm. If a workshop, guided tour, or special exhibition matters to you, lock that timing before arranging the rest of your Hamburg day. Book now.

Make Thursday work for you

Thursday is the flexible day: the museum stays open until 9 pm, and admission becomes free from 4 pm. Choose the free window if value is the goal, but come earlier on a normal weekday if you want more room around Rauru and the Ancient Egyptian galleries. Book now.

Move from big anchors to quieter cases

Start with one room that gives the museum scale: Rauru, First Things, or A Touch of Eternity. Then let the quieter cases do their work. Families often do better with two strong anchors than with a full-building march, while repeat visitors can spend more time on collection labels and changing displays.

Finish with one Hamburg contrast

After the museum, resist the urge to stack too much. Kunsthalle Hamburg gives you a classic art contrast, Bucerius Kunst Forum keeps the next exhibition compact, Hamburg Rathaus shifts the day toward civic architecture, and Speicherstadt changes the mood toward brick canals and harbor history.

Collections and history at MARKK

MARKK is powerful because it does not present world cultures as a tidy cabinet of curiosities. Its best rooms connect objects, routes of trade, photography, colonial history, and present-day reinterpretation.

From city-library collection to museum

The story begins in the 1840s with ethnographic objects connected to Hamburg's city library. In 1867, 645 objects were catalogued; in 1871, the collection became the Culturgeschichtliches Museum; and in 1879, it was renamed Museum für Völkerkunde. Those dates matter because they show how closely the museum grew alongside port trade, scholarship, and colonial-era thinking.

The 1912 Rothenbaum building

The protected building on Rothenbaumchaussee was completed in 1912 by Albert Erbe in late Jugendstil style. It was meant as only part of a larger plan, so the museum you walk through today carries a slightly unfinished historical tension. That also explains some of the stairs, side entrances, and access compromises visitors notice.

Rauru and the Pacific connection

Rauru is the room that many visitors remember first. Completed and inaugurated around 1900 at Whakarewarewa and in the museum since 1912, the Māori meeting house is valued for its completeness and its ongoing connection with descendants of the carving families. Stand back first, then look closer at the carvings and color language.

Ancient Egypt across two worlds

A Touch of Eternity brings together about 800 Ancient Egyptian objects, with material ranging from 3700 BC to 400 AD. The route separates the everyday world from the underworld, so the visit feels less like a row of artifacts and more like a threshold crossing. The rare New Kingdom glass vessels are worth seeking out before museum fatigue sets in.

A museum still rewriting itself

The current MARKK name arrived in 2018 after a repositioning process that began in 2017. That change is more than branding: the museum now treats provenance, colonial heritage, photography, and collaboration as part of the visit itself. Repeat visitors should watch this evolution, because the museum is not trying to stand still.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MARKK - Museum of Ethnology?

MARKK is Hamburg's museum for world cultures and arts, formerly known as Museum für Völkerkunde Hamburg. It combines global collections, photography, permanent galleries, changing exhibitions, and a critical look at colonial collecting histories.

How long should I plan for MARKK?

Plan about 1.5 to 2.5 hours for a focused first visit. Add more time if you want several permanent galleries, a special exhibition, the shop, or a workshop.

Do I need to book MARKK tickets in advance?

For regular admission, advance booking is useful but not always essential. Book ahead if your visit depends on a specific event, workshop, guided tour, or special exhibition slot.

When is MARKK free to visit?

Admission is free on Thursday from 4 pm. Visitors under 18, wheelchair users, required companions of severely disabled visitors, and refugees also receive free admission with valid proof where relevant.

Is MARKK wheelchair-accessible?

It is accessible with restrictions. Use the Binderstraße side entrance for step-free elevator access, and allow extra time because the protected historic building still has stairs and some rooms are harder to reach.

What are the main highlights inside MARKK?

For a first route, prioritize Rauru, First Things, A Touch of Eternity, the Inca Gallery, and Uri Korea. This mix gives you architecture, early collection history, Ancient Egypt, Andean archaeology, and modern Korean everyday culture.

Can I bring a backpack into the galleries?

Large bags, backpacks larger than A4, umbrellas, and bulky items need to go to the cloakroom. Packing light makes entry smoother, especially if you arrive during the free Thursday window.

Which nearby stops pair well with MARKK?

For another museum, pair it with Kunsthalle Hamburg or Bucerius Kunst Forum. For a broader city route, continue toward Hamburg Rathaus or Speicherstadt after your Rotherbaum visit.

General information

opening hours

Regular schedule:
- Tuesday to Sunday: 10 am to 6 pm
- Thursday: 10 am to 9 pm
- Monday: closed

Holiday schedules and event days can differ, so recheck close to your visit if your plan depends on a late opening or a specific program.

tickets

Admission prices and add-ons:
- Regular: €10
- Reduced: €6
- Hamburg CARD: €6.50
- Groups of 15 or more: €6 per person
- Guided tour: €4 plus museum admission
- Curator tour: €6 plus museum admission
- Open workshop: €6

Free admission applies to visitors under 18, wheelchair users, required companions of severely disabled visitors, refugees, and all visitors on Thursday from 4 pm.

address

MARKK - Museum am Rothenbaum
Rothenbaumchaussee 64
20148 Hamburg
Germany

website

Official site: https://markk-hamburg.de

how to get there

Useful transit anchors are U1 to Hallerstraße, S-Bahn to Dammtor, bus 15 to Hallerstraße, bus 19 to Böttgerstraße, and bus 114 to Museum am Rothenbaum. From Dammtor, the final walk through the university and Rotherbaum area works well if you want to fold the museum into an Alster-side route.

accessibility

Wheelchair and mobility-aid visits are possible with restrictions because the protected historic building includes stairs. The step-free side entrance is on Binderstraße and connects to the elevator; use the intercom there or call +49 40 428879 671 for staff assistance. Accessible parking spaces are listed near the main entrance on Rothenbaumchaussee and by the Binderstraße side entrance. The lecture halls are not barrier-free.

cloakroom

Bags larger than A4, umbrellas, and bulky items need to be left in the cloakroom before you enter the exhibition rooms. Assistance animals are allowed, but other animals are not. Sorting bags first keeps the historic stairways and galleries easier to navigate.

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