Mercure's travel guides

Whether you love history, art, science or music you'll find something to delight your senses: Berlin boasts over 170 museums. On the Museumsinsel, or 'Island of Museums', are five museums filled with antiquities and treasures: the Pergamon Museum, Bode Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Altes Museum and fantastically restored Neues Museum. Other treats include the Filmmuseum Berlin, with its chronicles of German cinema, and the Story of Berlin interactive exhibition of the city's turbulent history – not to mention the Topography of Terror exhibition centre, on the site of the former Gestapo headquarters, and the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie museum, which explores the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Jüdisches Museum

Lindenstraße 9-14, Berlin, 10969
+49-(0)-30-2599-3300
http://www.jmberlin.de

Description:

One of Berlin's most significant museums, inspired architecturally by the angles of the Star of David, a stroke of genius by designer Daniel Libeskind. The impressive – and at times overwhelming – array of permanent exhibits offers an unparalleled glimpse at Germany's Jewish populace. The holdings, many originating from private collections, include contemporary art, sculpture and antiquarian ceremonial objects. The main permanent exhibit traces German-Jewish history from Roman times to the present day. U-BAHN: Hallesches Tor
Mon 10am-10pm, Tue-Sun 10am-8pm

Deutsche Guggenheim

Unter den Linden 13-15, Deutsche Bank, Berlin, 10117
+49-(0)-30-2020-930
http://www.deutsche-guggenheim.de/

Description:

Despite being one of the smallest branches of the Guggenheim, this facility is a must-see for any art-lover. It hosts a handful of significant exhibitions each year, some commissioned by contemporary artists and others showcasing the work of figures like Warhol and Picasso. The ultra-sleek gallery was designed by Richard Gluckman and derives its name from the building that houses it: the 1920 sandstone Deutsche Bank. Free entry on Mondays. U-BAHN: Stadtmitte and Französische Strasse; S-Bahn: Brandenburger Tor and Friedrichstrasse
Daily 10am-8pm
Visa, MasterCard, American Express

Neues Museum

Bodestrasse 3, Museumsinsel, Berlin, 10178
+49-(0)30-2664-24242
http://www.neues-museum.de

Description:

Stunningly restored by architect David Chipperfield, the neoclassical architectural wonder of the Neues Museum re-opened in late 2009 to great acclaim. The building is situated on the Museumsinsel and contains three main sections: the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection, the Museum of Prehistory and Early History, and a Collection of Classical Antiquities. U-BAHN: Friedrichstrasse; S-BAHN: Friedrichstrasse or Hackescher Markt.
Sun-Wed 10am-6pm; Thu-Sat 10am-8pm
Visa, MasterCard, American Express