The Boros Collection is a private contemporary art collection inside a former Second World War bunker at Reinhardtstraße 20 in Berlin’s Mitte district. The visit pairs contemporary works with thick concrete rooms built for shelter, and a guide explains both the art and the building’s changing uses. You can see the collection only on a guided tour, so plan ahead and stay with your group as you move through the rooms. Photography is not allowed inside; the focus is on the works and the space around them.
A bunker with several lives
The building at Reinhardtstraße 20 was constructed in 1942 as a bomb shelter. Its thick concrete structure later served other purposes, including a prison, a storage space for tropical fruit and a techno club. The Boros family acquired it in 2003 and turned it into a home for a private contemporary art collection. The family also lives in a penthouse in the building.
Those earlier uses give the visit a distinct architectural setting. The bunker’s heavy walls and enclosed rooms remain part of the experience, even as the spaces now contain contemporary works. The collection is presented in exhibitions that change every few years, so the works on view are not a permanent selection.
How the guided visit works
All visits are guided, and you cannot explore the collection independently. Tours are available in English and German. The guide leads the group through the rooms and gives context on both the artworks and the bunker’s history. Visitors are expected to remain with the group, so this format suits people who want a structured introduction more than those who prefer to wander at their own pace.
The tour lasts about 80 to 90 minutes. Photography is prohibited, and mobile phone signal is absent inside the shelter. These limits keep the visit focused on the works and the rooms, but they also mean you cannot take pictures or check your phone during the tour. A notebook can be useful if you want to remember details shared by the guide.
The collection and its setting
The Boros Collection brings contemporary art into rooms designed for a very different purpose. The presentation has included paintings, sculpture and installation works, with the bunker’s material and layout shaping how visitors encounter them. Works by international artists have appeared in past presentations, but the selection changes, so a previous exhibition is not a reliable guide to what you will see on your visit.
The combination of art and architecture is central to the experience. The building’s history is not separate from the tour: guides explain its former roles alongside the work on display. This makes the collection a good fit for contemporary art visitors who are curious about how a site can shape an exhibition. If you would rather view art quietly and at your own pace, the required group tour may not suit you.
Tickets and practical details
Reserve a tour through the collection’s website well before your visit. Tickets can sell out, and walk-in access is not a dependable plan. A €1 coin is needed for the lockers. Leave cameras packed away, since photography is not permitted inside.
Berlin Art Week has provided special access opportunities, but those do not replace booking ahead for a tour. Check the collection’s website for current tour and exhibition details before setting out; the presentation changes over time.
Perguntas frequentes
Do you need to book the Boros Collection in advance?
Yes. Tours should be booked online well in advance because they can sell out.
Can you visit the Boros Collection without a guide?
No. Visits are guided, and visitors stay with the group as they move through the collection.
How long does a Boros Collection tour take?
Allow about 80 to 90 minutes for the guided tour.
Can you take photos inside the Boros Collection?
No. Photography is not allowed inside. Bring a €1 coin for the lockers.
