Museum Island

Museum Island in Berlin is one of the world's great museum complexes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. On the northern tip of an island in the Spree River, five historic museums stand side by side, spanning thousands of years of art and culture, from the bust of Nefertiti to Greek sculpture and German Romantic painting. For culture lovers it is one of the essential things to do in Berlin, and a single day ticket covers most of it.

Where it is and how to get there

Museum Island sits in the Mitte district, at the eastern end of the boulevard Unter den Linden, about 1 km from the Brandenburg Gate and next to the Berlin Cathedral.

• Subway: the U5 stops at "Museumsinsel" station.
• S-Bahn: Friedrichstraße or Hackescher Markt, both a short walk away.
• Tram and bus: Am Kupfergraben or Hackescher Markt (tram), Staatsoper or Lustgarten (bus).

The visitor entrance is on Bodestraße. Parking is very limited, so use public transportation.

The five museums

The complex grew over a century: the Altes Museum by Karl Friedrich Schinkel opened in 1830, followed by the Neues Museum (1859), the Alte Nationalgalerie (1876), the Bode-Museum (1904) and the Pergamon Museum (1930). After heavy World War II damage, a long-term master plan has been restoring the buildings since 1999.

• Neues Museum: home to the Egyptian collection and the famous bust of Nefertiti. Architect David Chipperfield's restoration, completed in 2009, blends war scars with modern design.
• Altes Museum: Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities behind a grand colonnade.
• Alte Nationalgalerie: 19th-century art, from Caspar David Friedrich to the French Impressionists.
• Bode-Museum: sculpture, Byzantine art and a coin collection in a domed building at the tip of the island.
• Pergamon Museum: closed for renovation until July 4, 2027. In the meantime, the separate exhibition "Pergamonmuseum. Das Panorama", just across the canal, shows original sculptures and a 360-degree panorama of the ancient city.

The James-Simon-Galerie, Chipperfield's visitor center opened in 2019, is the main entry point with ticket desks and a café.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026:

• Museum Island day ticket: €24, valid for all open museums on the island plus the Pergamon Panorama, including special exhibitions. It pays off from the second museum.
• Reduced: 50% off for students and other eligible groups.
• Under 18: free, but you need a free ticket from the desk or online.
• Hours: all museums are closed on Mondays. Most are open Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm; the Altes Museum and Bode-Museum close at 5 pm on weekdays, and the Bode-Museum stays open until 8 pm on Thursdays.

Book online up to four weeks ahead; timed tickets are required only for major special exhibitions.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely. Even with the Pergamon Museum closed, the Neues Museum and the Alte Nationalgalerie alone are worth a trip to Berlin. Plan at least half a day, or a full day for three or four museums. A good approach is to start with the Neues Museum when doors open at 10 am, break for lunch at the James-Simon-Galerie café, and finish with the Alte Nationalgalerie in the afternoon. Kids and teens get in free, which makes the island affordable for families, and the Egyptian mummies and the Pergamon Panorama tend to win over younger visitors. Afterward, relax in the Lustgarten park, visit the Berlin Cathedral next door, or stroll along the Spree toward Hackescher Markt.