Berlin’s Cultural Jewel: 200 Years of Museum Island

In 1825, just as Berlin was beginning to expand and industrialise, its ruler, King Frederick William III, had something more cultural in mind: a dedicated space where art and knowledge could be shared with all. At the time, Prussia - once a powerful state in what is now a unified Germany - was recognised for its military strength and administrative prowess, but this vision marked a shift in the kingdom’s identity. And with the creation of the Altes Museum, Berlin welcomed its first public museum in 1830.

What began as a single neoclassical building grew into a collection of five world-class museums, set on an island in the heart of the city. Today, Berlin’s Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s most celebrated cultural destinations, home to masterpieces ranging from the 3,000-year-old Bust of Nefertiti to the Romantic canvases by German icon Caspar David Friedrich.

Now, 200 years on, Berlin is honouring Museum Island with a special calendar of events. Whilst the celebrations continue over the next five years, there’s plenty to look forward to this summer, beginning with an open-air festival across the first weekend of June. It’s the perfect excuse to spend a sunny weekend wandering between these magnificent institutions, where a programme of live events, exhibitions, and performances sets the tone for cultural discovery.

As the island’s founding institution, the spotlight turns to the Altes Museum with a new exhibition opening in early July. Grundstein Antike. Berlins erstes Museum showcases the ancient sculptures, vases, bronzes, and terracottas that once formed the museum’s original 1830 collection. Just steps away, the Neues Museum continues to captivate with its Egyptian treasures and early human history, while the Pergamon Museum, currently undergoing restoration, displays extraordinary antiquities from ancient Mesopotamia and the Islamic world.

Across the island, visitors can also discover coin collections, Byzantine mosaics, and intricately carved Renaissance sculptures at the Bode Museum, or lose themselves in 19th-century art in the Alte Nationalgalerie, home to works by Monet, Manet, and Menzel.

Beyond the galleries, from June to August, the much-loved Kolonnaden Bar returns. Set within the Colonnade courtyard at the Altes Museum, this seasonal favourite revives a 19th-century tradition when museum-goers would convene for intellectual exchange. Today, the atmosphere is more relaxed with engaging talks, live DJs, and a weekly Thursday night cultural programme.

During balmy summer evenings, UFA Film Nights delight with open-air screenings of classic silent films, accompanied by live music. A fond fixture of Berlin’s cultural calendar, gather beneath the stars for an unforgettable cinematic experience that nods to the city’s proud legacy in filmmaking.

And as summer winds down, one of Berlin’s most magical cultural events returns: The Long Night of Museums on the 30th of August. From 6 pm until 2 am, over 70 museums across the city stay open late – including all five on Museum Island – offering a rare chance to explore their treasures after dark.

After a day filled with exploration, return to the comforts of Hotel de Rome. Just a few minutes’ walk from Museum Island, it’s the perfect place to relax, recharge, and relive the day’s highlights throughout this landmark anniversary.