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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 23 November, 2022

Over the centuries, Berlin has amassed an impressive hoard of treasures, starting with the collections of culture-mad Friedrich the Great, followed by a succession of emperors – their royal curators and architects equipped with lavish budgets – and rounded off by the spoils of a globe-spanning German Empire.

Most are now conveniently housed on one small ‘Museum Island’, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site boasting five adjacent world-class museums, covering 6,000 years of cultural and art history. An essential stop on any Berlin itinerary.

Bode Museum
Experience

Bode Museum

Berlin, Germany

Reopened in 2006 after a major refurbishment, the museum now houses a fine collection of Byzantine art, coins, medals, and most notably, one of Europe’s finest collections of sculpture.

Best for ages: 18+ | £8

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New Museum

Berlin, Germany

Museum Island’s Neues Museum houses prehistoric and early historic collections, notably an excellent Egyptian Collection – including the famous bust of Queen Nefertiti.

Best for ages: 18+ | £10

Old Museum
Experience

Old Museum

Berlin, Germany

The first museum to be built on Museum Island set in a stunning neoclassical building, houses exhibits from the Collection of Classical Antiquities. The permanent Greek collection is displayed on the ground floor, with special exhibitions on the second.

Best for ages: 18+ | £8

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Old National Gallery

Berlin, Germany

This gallery showcases one of the world’s largest collections of 19th-century sculpture and paintings, with additional collections of neoclassical, Romantic, Impressionist and early Modernist artwork.

Best for ages: 18+ | £10

Price from: £20
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Take the S-Bahn S1, S2, or S25 to Friedrichstrasse, or S5, S7, S75, or S9 to Hackescher Markt. Or take the U-Bahn line U6 to Friedrichstrasse.

The Berlin Museum Pass permits entry to all the major Berlin museums for three days, for about EUR25. It comes with a guide containing helpful information and listings of participating museums.

The more comprehensive Berlin Welcome Card gives you up to 50% off entrance to most of the city’s top attractions, including its art galleries and museums, and includes free public transport and a free handy guide book. The price varies depending on the number of days you want – from 48 hours to 6 days.

When to do it

All of the museums are open all year round, seven days a week.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Berlin Skip-the-Line Pergamon and New Museum Guided Tour Plus Museum Island Pass

Berlin Skip-the-Line Pergamon and New Museum Guided Tour Plus Museum Island Pass

Berlin

With an expert guide discover the jewels of Berlin's world-famous Museum Island in this 3-hour tour. Explore the wonders of Ancient Sumaria,...

€70 | Rating 4.87 / 5 [172 ratings]

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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome

Berlin, Germany[0.5 miles]

Romantic, luxury hotel set within a grand 19th-century bank building, with a contemporary twist and terrific spa. In the heart of Mitte, and close to the city’s main attractions.

Official star rating:

Casa Camper

Berlin, Germany[1 miles]

A quirky chic boutique hotel that blends simple luxury and hip Spanish design in a killer Mitte location. In the heart of the city’s buzz.

Official star rating:

Lux 11 Berlin-Mitte

Berlin, Germany[1 miles]

A superb apartment hotel, with 72 self-contained luxury apartments, conveniently located for Berlin best attractions, bars and shopping.

Official star rating:

Hotel Amano

Berlin, Germany[1.2 miles]

The gorgeously understated Amano offers a soothing, affordable designer option in uber-trendy Mitte.

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Berlin

Germany

Europe’s hippest capital boasts non-stop nightlife, cutting-edge fashion, cosmopolitan eats and museum treasures galore.

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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Art galleries of Mitte

Berlin, Germany[1.1 miles]

Join the culture crowd and explore over 600 private galleries clustered in Mitte’s artistic heart, with art from students to masters, struggling to world-famous.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

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Brandenburg Gate

Berlin, Germany[1.6 miles]

Impressive, history-laden 18th-century triumphal arch that today stands as the great symbol of reunified Germany.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

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Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

exterior of the German historical museum
Experience

German Historical Museum

Berlin, Germany[0.3 miles]

A massive exhibition covers German history from the Dark Ages to the modern day in an entertaining fashion. History buffs could spend all day here, but the rest should head straight for the most interesting sections devoted to the 19th-century Weimar and Nazi eras. Open daily.

Best for ages: 13+ | £7

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Berlin Dungeon
Experience

Berlin Dungeon

Berlin, Germany[0.5 miles]

This thrilling and immersive attraction takes you on a journey through the darker side of Berlin’s crime and punishment history, with live actors, special effects, and interactive storytelling bringing chilling tales of the past to life. Expect medieval torture chambers, plague-infested streets, and witch trials. Min age 5 years, but we’d advised 13+.

Best for ages: 10+ | £18

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exterior of the Museum-of-Islamic-Art- in berlin
Experience

Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin

Berlin, Germany[0.5 miles]

Prestigious museum showcasing the rich artistic and cultural heritage of the Islamic world. through a mightily impressive collection of over 15,000 artifacts, spanning more than a millennium. Marvel at exquisite examples of Islamic art, including intricate calligraphy, illuminated manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork, textiles, and architectural elements.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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