Go back in time and discover ancient art and artefacts at Museum Island

On the east side of the city in the central Mitte district lies Museum Island (Museumsinsel) – once a residential area, the island was dedicated by King Frederick Willliam IV of Russia to ‘arts and science’ in 1841. Located in the Spree river, on the site of the ancient city of Cölln, it got its name from the number of world recognised museums which are in the north end of the island. Successors to the King continued extending the island's museums with collections of the arts and archaeology.

Today, the island is a major tourist attraction with many claiming it would take several days to explore and admire the artefacts on display in each of the five museums on the island. No trip to the city is complete without viewing historically significant pieces such as the Pergamon Altar and Ancient Egyptian collections including the bust of Queen Nefertiti.

Things to experience around the Museum Island Berlin

Perhaps you are a solo traveller exploring the city or are planning on travelling here with friends, a group or with your family. No matter the reason for your visit, there are many activities to see and do whilst in the city, especially ones of cultural and historical significance such as Checkpoint Charlie. If you are a sports fan, get tickets to ice hockey or basketball games at the famously atmospheric Mercedes-Benz Arena, wander around Alexanderplatz or take the kids to uncover toys and games at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre. If you are fortunate to be visiting in the winter months, make sure to stop by a traditional German market to browse the food, drink and crafts stalls. Residing in a hotel near Museum Island and these other magnificent tourist attractions in the German capital mean that you reach your destination by foot or by public transport in just minutes.  

Minimize the stress of travelling around the city and stay in a hotel near Museum Island with Capri by Fraser Berlin – stunning new luxury serviced apartments in the heart of the Mitte quarter. Just minutes from Tegel Airport and other transport hubs, Capri offers contemporary accommodation for the modern traveller.

Why visit Museum Island Berlin

Its artefacts were mostly collected by the Prussian Royal family and have been maintained since 1918 by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation.  After the fall of the Berlin Wall and much deliberation, it was decided that Neues Museum should be restored as well as refurbishing the four other museums and refurbished as a modern tourist attraction. With Paris’ Le Louvre as inspiration, the government-funded projects to develop this while UNESCO declared the island a world heritage site. It was defined as ‘an outstanding example of the Enlightenment vision of making art publicly accessible, given material form in a central urban setting’.

Today the five museums include Altes Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Neues Museum, Bode-Museum and perhaps the most famous, Pergamon Museum. It’s regarded as one of the best ensembles of important and cultural exhibits in the world.  Take the time before your visit to read about upcoming exhibitions, festivals and events that may be on when you are in the town – the visitor’s calendar is full each month with interesting shows for all ages.

How to get there

Museum Island is easily accessible by all forms of public transport in Berlin. You can take the underground using the U6, or S-Bahn lines S1, S2, S25, S5, S7 or S75. The S-Bahn stop of Hackescher Markt is just 15 minutes’ walk away from the Island. The M1 and M12 trams stop at nearby Kupfergraben, less than 5 minutes’ walk away. The Lustgarten bus stop is 600m away from Pergamonmuseum and can be reached on buses 100 and 200.

The best way to get around all five museums is by purchasing a combination ticket from VisitBerlin – just pay one entry fee to access all venues.

Hotels near Museum Island - staying at Capri by Fraser

Step into our beautifully designed contemporary hotel in the Mitte district of Berlin and you’ll be given a warm welcome from our award-winning staff.  Each apartment has been carefully designed with the modern traveller in mind – stunning suites offer a fully-equipped kitchenette area, home entertainment system, well-appointed amenities and Nespresso coffee machine.

Capri by Fraser Berlin is ideal for leisure and business travellers looking for short stay apartments, and also for extended-stay guests and group bookings. Relax at night with some drinks at our in-house bar Drinx while in the morning you can refuel and refresh for the best possible start at Caprilicious – enjoy a tasty continental breakfast or snacks with some beverages and freshly brewed coffee.

All guests are invited to use our free Wi-Fi service - available to use throughout our residence. Perfect for browsing for inspiration for your next activity or checking our restaurant reviews in the city.

Book your stay with us today

Art and culture lovers can discover all that Berlin has to offer by staying in our newly-opened luxury hotel near Museum Island. Our award-winning and TripAdvisor® accredited staff at Capri by Fraser Berlin look forward to welcoming you to Berlin for a sightseeing trip to Museum Island – book your stay with us now.

Plus, regular Frasers Hospitality guests can take advantage of our loyalty scheme to save 5% and enjoy benefits and offers when you stay with Frasers at our other locations across the world. Simply sign up to Fraser World  to an extra saving on your trip by joining our exclusive members club.