Berlin's Best Museums

If you're looking for a European city bursting with culture, a trip to Berlin should certainly be on the cards for you. This dynamic city has a fascinating history of its own, and is also home to some of the finest museums not only in Europe, but in the world - putting it at least on a par with Paris, London and New York for art and culture aficionados.



If you're keen to get started on your exploration of Berlin's museums, your first stop should be the dedicated Museum Island district. Easily found in Berlin city centre, this UNESCO World Heritage site would be worth visiting for its impressive architecture alone, even if it didn't boast five world-class museums in close proximity to each other. A visit to the Museum Island area can encompass everything from classic European art to Egyptian artefacts, such as the bust of Queen Nefertiti.



The most famous museum in this region is the Pergamon Museum, which comprises the Collection of Classical Antiquities collection in addition to the Museum of Islamic Art and Museum of Ancient Near Eastern Art, thus promising a highly eclectic experience. For something a little more traditional, the Alte Nationalgerie (Old National Gallery) is the best place to see European art from across history - particularly the 19th century - while the Altesmuseum (Old Museum) houses many of the city's treasured historical artefacts.

You don't have to stick to Museum Island to find great museums in Berlin though, especially if you aren't staying at hotels in Berlin city centre. If you're staying near Tiergarten, you should pay a visit to the Kulturforum, just across the road from the Berlin Philharmonie, to discover an impressive collection of European artwork - including 16 works by Rembrandt. This region also houses the Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery), if you're more interested in contemporary art.



Even more compact than Museum Island is Museen Dahlem, which houses a number of museums all within the same building. These include the fascinating Ethnology Museum, which features more than half a million items from countries outside Europe, and the Museum of European Cultures, which highlights the changes to daily life between the 18th century and the present day.



Finally, another area you should be sure to visit is Charlottenburg in West Berlin, which was formerly the centre of the city's cultural attractions prior to reunification. Included among the museums in this significant location are the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte (Museum of Pre- and Early History), which collects an impressive number of archaeological exhibits from around the world, and more specialised art museums such as the Photography Museum (Museum für Fotografie) and Museum Scharf-Gerstenberg, which is dedicated to surrealist works.



Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.