Discover a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Germany
Travelling to Berlin without visiting the Museum Island almost seems impossible. Located right in the center of modern-day Berlin, this island within the river Spree came a long way from being a sister city called Cölln to the center of the arts in the early 19th century. After severe damage during the war and years of neglect behind the wall of Berlin, finally since 2009 all museums on the Museum Island are accessible to the public again.
Quick Facts
- This UNESCO site includes five historic museums, right in the center of Berlin, Germany.
- The museums were built between 1823 and 1930, the UNESCO inscription happened in 1999.
- Included are the Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Bode Museum and the Pergamon Museum.
- The museums are open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm and 8pm on Thursdays. Only Neues Museum and Pergamon Museum are open on Mondays from 10am to 6pm as well.
- The cost for one museum is 12 euros, while a full day ticket for all five costs 18 euros.
The Five Museums
UNESCO inscribed Altes Museum from 1823 and Lustgarten in Berlin
Re-opened Neues Museum from 1843 on the Museum Island
UNESCO inscribed Alte Nationalgalerie from 1866 in Berlin
Bode Museum from 1897 at the tip of the Museum Island
UNESCO Pergamon Museum from 1909, currently under Renovation
Why this is a UNESCO Site
All five buildings on the museum island represent the evolution of museum architecture during one entire century. The density of the museums and their prominent location in the center of the city also underlines the importance the arts were developing throughout the 19th century. This importance is also supported by the fact that only the most prominent architect of its time was contracted to develop a building that fully incorporated and embraced the artworks that it was housing.
Thoughts and Observations
UNESCO or not, for me personally the Museumsinsel is a special place in Berlin and I always make sure to stop by when in town. Thinking back, I used to walk across the Museum Island to get to work, had my lunch in the Lustgarten, sat underneath the crumbling colonnades at the Alte Nationalgallerie, watched outdoor movies in the grass before it became a manicured garden, had a beer in the sands of the once existing beach by the Bode Museum and climbed through the ruins of the Neues Museum. By now, much of the Museum Island has changed and it continues to do so until 2025 when a new entrance, the James Simon Galerie and an underground passage will be finished. This entrance and passage system will link all museums, especially the cut off Bode Museum and fully turn the UNESCO inscribed island into a state-of-the-art museum quarter.
Despite all the renovations, my personal favorite remains the Neues Museum which after having been in ruins for about 70 years finally reopened its gates to the public 2009. Luckily the renovation of this great museum has been done with a minimalistic approach, leaving most of the former damage exposed and new construction materials clearly distinguishable. The resulting interior spaces are not only unique in their appearance, but they also allow studying the exposed historic ceiling constructions with their specially created hollow clay pots. In this way the building of the Neues Museum actually becomes a site in itself and beautifully continues to display the approach to museum architecture up to the present day.
Impressions of Neues Museum
Exposed Walls and Clay Ceilings of the half Ruined Neues Museum
Patchwork Interior of UNESCO inscribed Neues Musem at Night
Neues Museum during the Long Night of Museums in Berlin
Tips and Recommendations
- If you don’t feel like spending 18 euros to see the museums, simply walk around the exterior and sit in the Lustgarten.
- Also if five museums in one day sound a bit much, come on a Thursday and take breaks in-between.
- Or even better, time your visit with a Long Night of the Museums, when an 18 euro ticket opens the doors of some 80 museums, including free shuttle buses. Best of all, this ticket is even valid on the following day, clearly making it the best museum deal in town! For more information check out the official website of the Long Night of Museums in Berlin.
Personal Rating
- Go right now
- Definitely go soon!
- Go if you are around
- Stop by if you are bored
- Consider missing it
Technically the UNESCO enlisted Museum Island is a must visit sight, but since seeing all five museums takes quite some determination, the bottom line is that you definitely should definitely go as soon as possible!
Getting There
Since the Museum Island is so centrally located, there are many options of reaching it. The easiest is probably to take the S-Bahn to Hackescher Markt and taking a 5 minute walk. Unfortunately the bridge is currently under renovation so walking around might take a few minutes longer or walking from S-Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse is also a good option.
Have you visited Berlin and the Museum Island? Which museum was your favorite?
Great timing! I am flying to Dusseldorf in early July to spend summer with my family and we will definitely visit Berlin for our 6th time and that’s something we would like to explore again! I’ve already been to the museum in winter 2013, but it was so interesting that I will go again with my mom who is a big fan of German history!
Agness recently posted…La Paz, Bolivia For Less Than $25
That sounds perfect Agness! The summer is definitely the best time to visit Berlin and if your mom loves history, then the Museum Island will be a great place to start. But since there are over 170 museums in town, just make sure to also spend some time outside to make good use of the nice sunny weather… 😉
Definitely made it to my future travel list.
Dave @ Around Anchorage, Alaska recently posted…Off to see Barbara Falls in Eagle River
That is great to hear Dave, the UNESCO inscribed Museum Island is definitely well worth the visit!
What a beautiful place to visit, I’m sure I can spend days there, the night museums sound like a great concept. I would love to visit Berlin some day, it sounds like such an amazing city to visit.
noel recently posted…Museum night in San Francisco, Travel Photo Discovery #45
You are right Noel, Berlin is definitely an amazing city to visit! Just make sure to come during the summer months when life spills out to the streets and the city gets a certain energy. The Long Night of Museums is really well worth it and since it only happens a few times a year, it might actually be a good idea to time a visit to Berlin accordingly…
The architecture of the museums is stunning! However, I’m not that much of a museum person so I’m not sure I will go inside when I’m in Berlin this summer. But walking around Museum Island looks like a good way to spend an afternoon :). Thanks for sharing!
Anna, the Museum Island certainly is a great place to visit even if you don’t fancy spending hours inside the museums. Just wander around, check out the colonnaded area and sit in the Lustgarten with a take out coffee or some snacks and I am sure you will have a good time…
I didn’t know you could use the Open Night pass the next day! Cool.
Corinne recently posted…The Beauty of Malta (Photo Essay)
You are right Corinne, I didn’t know about this either. Actually I believe that it is a recent development, but either way it’s great that the Long Night of Museums expands to the next day. This way it’s at least possible to see some of the great museums of Berlin beyond the Museum Island..
I went to 3 of these museums in a week and it was museum overload. That said, they were really interesting and each so unique from one another so I’m glad I went. The island itself is really nice too.
Adelina | PackMeTo recently posted…Predjama Castle – Not Your Typical Castle
Oh yeh Adelina, if three museums in a week were an overload then the Long Night of Museums with 80 participating museums would probably not be the right thing for you
I am actually not the biggest museum fan either and five museums on a day ticket is a bit much already, but on the other hand it’s nice that you get the chance to poke your head in. This is especially great, because as you mentioned, they really are all very different from another… 
We never made it to Berlin when there (damn) and I have always been cross at myself for that. Looks like afab place. Thanks for linking up with us.
SJ @ Chasing the Donkey recently posted…Where the mountain greets the sea: Starigrad Paklenica
You will definitely have to came back then at some point SJ! Berlin and the Museum Island are definitely well worth a visit…
We were just there for Night of the Museums! What a fun vibe that was and the Museum Isle is beautiful.
Jennifer recently posted…The Best of Bremen
Wow, you were there as well Jennifer? I should have seen you then as I was making my rounds through the Museum Island and other participating places in Berlin as well.Too bad that it wasn’t possible to see all of them…
Yet another reason to go to Berlin. It keeps coming up on my RADAR perhaps as a place to live. What were your impressions as the the livability of the city perhaps long term?
Jonathan Look, Jr. recently posted…Remarkable Images of Seaweed Farmers in Indonesia
Actually Jonathan, I was asking myself the exact same thing while I was there! I used to live in Berlin from 99 to 04 and back then it was a very different place. Nowadays it has become a very modern, developed and quite expensive city to live in. It’s probably still cheap to live in Berlin compared to other European cities, but to me Berlin has become quite a stranger in many ways. But nevertheless, it’s definitely still an exciting place to be and I would live there again in a heartbeat. Well, I would love to be there again in the summers, in the winter would be another story… 😉
I visit Berlin at least once a year (it’s always for work, but hey I’m not complaining about this part of my job). Walked around many times, but haven’t made it yet inside. Will make sure to visit some of them (at least the Neues Museum) after reading your post. BTW, your made your ex job in Berlin sound wonderful.
frankaboutcroatia recently posted…Split restaurants: where to eat in Split
Thanks Frank, but somehow I don’t think it was my intention 😉 Anyway, being so close to the Museum Island was definitely great, especially in the summer, when it was possible to sit in the Lustgarten. Definitely make sure to check out the Neues Museum when you get the chance, it’s well worth the visit, for the architecture and the art. And best of all, if you can spare another 6 euros, you could even have a quick look at the other 4 museums as well…
Been to Berlin a number of times as well, one of my favorite European capitals. Oddly enough in this area I’ve only visited the DDR museum.
But I’ll be back. Several times, I’m sure.
Bob R recently posted…Man Carrying Four Mannequins on an Afternoon Stroll, Quito
It’s great to hear that you liked Berlin, Bob! It is definitely still one of my favorite place in Europe as well, at least in the summer
I actually finally made it to the DDR myself since it was so close to the Museum Island and I had the all night ticket anyway. It was quite interesting, but definitely try and check out the big museums as well when you are in town again…
This looks brilliant and right up our street. We last went to Berlin in the late 90s, so we are definitely due a return visit.
IT really sounds like you should visit Berlin again! But be prepared for a surprise as Berlin has probably been the fastest changing and developing city in Europe for the last couple of years. So now you can not only visit all museums of the Museum Island, but you can also rediscover a whole different city…
The Museum Island is pretty cool! I ended up getting a full-day pass while I was there and made it to 4 of the 5 museums. The Pergamon was one of my favourites – some of the artifacts in there just make your mouth drop!
Audrey recently posted…Sailing the Whitsunday Islands #ThisIsQueensland
You are right Audrey, the Pergamon Museum is a great place to visit, but unfortunately it was under renovation and partially closed when I was there. Visiting 4 out of the 5 museums in one day is actually quite an accomplishment as there is simply so much to see. You missed the original, the Altes Museum, correct? Well, since you liked the Museum Island, at least this gives you another good reason to come back and see more of Berlin…
Whoa there is an museum Island in Berlin!! How did I not know about this. This looks like such an awesome place with so much history. Definitely checking this out next time I am in Berlin. The last time I was there was only for a 2 day bachelor party so seeing the historical side of the city just wasn’t happening though I wish I did now.
Kevin L recently posted…Guy flying like superman over Styrn, Norway
Kevin, I can definitely see how a bachelor’s party can distract from the historical side of Berlin. But if you make it into town again, the Museum Island and other historical parts of the city are certainly well worth having a look at as well…