“I've travelled and lived elsewhere, but Berlin is my home. It's a very understated city, buzzing and vibrant. You can be whoever you want to be.”
Berlin has over 150 museums and galleries. Finding the right one at the right time for our guests is like piecing a massive puzzle together.
My Favourites:
1. Neues Museum
"I love the juxtaposition of ancient art with this incredible modern building"
2. Gemäldegalerie
"I spend a lot of time here among the paintings by the Old Masters, Rembrandt and Caravaggio."
3. Museum Knoblauchhaus
"Visiting this 18th century Prussian apartment gives you an idea of what living in historic Berlin would have been like."
4. Berlinische Galerie
"A lesser-known museum with a focus on modern art in Berlin."
5. Fotografiska Museum Berlin
"I had to go for a first look, it’s the biggest opening in Berlin in recent years."
Julien’s immersive approach to art
I’m very old fashioned; I like art that’s no later than 1920. I love the Gemäldegalerie, our gallery which has all the Old Masters, the Rembrandts, some Caravaggios, and Jan van Eyck triptychs. It’s usually quiet, you have lots of space to walk around and breathe.
I love wandering around a gallery, listening to music from the period of the art that I'm looking at. That’s how I soak in a museum experience.
Personal favourites on Museum Island
My favourite location on Museum Island, only 10 minutes away from our hotel, is the Neues Museum. The modern building by David Chipperfield Architects creates the feeling of a contemporary gallery and is home to the bust of Nefertiti within its Egyptian collection. She’s mesmerising. Looking into her eyes, you can see her soul.
The structure of the museum is like an Egyptian pyramid. In the basement are all the jars containing the organs. The Roman-period Egyptian mummy portraits that look so realistic, even though they were created centuries ago.
Unmissable treasures of Museum Island
The Pergamon Museum, the most famous institution on Museum Island, houses the Ishtar Gates which Alexander the Great rode through when he conquered Babylon. It always impresses people because of its vibrant blue stones.
I love the Bode Museum because the architecture is astounding. Inside, there’s a reconstructed Byzantine apsis (from Ravenna) and ornate gilded icons from the era.
Even if you don't go into the museums, the island complex is beautiful. I recommend walking around there on the weekend, you'll see people having their wedding photos taken there because of the beautiful symmetry of the rows of columns.
Berlin's hidden history
To truly understand Berlin, one has to look at the city through the lens of the war. Pass the Brandenburg Gate and pause at the Holocaust Memorial then visit the Topography of Terror, the former headquarters of the SS and the Gestapo. I recommend having a guide then you really can walk into history.
The oldest part of Berlin that’s still standing is the Nikolaiviertel, with buildings from the 15th century. About a ten-minute walk from the hotel, it’s the only place where the past remains.
Modern art beyond the wall
For something different, the Berlinische Galerie focuses on the development of art in Berlin. It's a little off the beaten track and you can learn about Berlin’s history.
There are a lot of smaller museums to discover. I like the Samurai Museum – one of the largest collections of privately owned Japanese armour in Europe. It’s good for kids – and grown up kids – and it’s extremely well done.
This year’s biggest art opening in Berlin
The Fotografiska photography gallery has just opened and they did an astounding job. They’ve kept the original 1920’s architecture of the Tacheles Kaufhaus, once a huge shopping centre, and added modern elements. It has a bar, and fits into the fabric of Berlin, because Berliners like to mix art and partying.
Graffiti Art
The East Side Gallery is the place to go. It’s the longest stretch of the Berlin Wall that's still standing but it’s a curated gallery.
In Kreuzberg or Neukölln alone, you could spend hours there seeing all the artists’ studios like the Kunstquartier Bethanien. Formerly a hospital, it’s smack in the middle of Kreuzberg. I’d recommend a tour guide – with graffiti and street art, local knowledge is key.
Located on historic Bebelplatz, Hotel De Rome is one of the most prestigious luxury hotels in Berlin. Once the headquarters of the esteemed 19th century Dresden Bank, it’s a place where heritage and stylish modernity meet.
Phone Number*
Address
Behrenstrasse 37
10117 Berlin, Germany
Berlin 10117
10117 Berlin, Germany
Berlin 10117
Located on historic Bebelplatz, Hotel De Rome is one of the most prestigious luxury hotels in Berlin. Once the headquarters of the esteemed 19th century Dresden Bank, it’s a place where heritage and stylish modernity meet.
Phone Number*
Address
Behrenstrasse 37
10117 Berlin, Germany
Berlin 10117
10117 Berlin, Germany
Berlin 10117
Located on historic Bebelplatz, Hotel De Rome is one of the most prestigious luxury hotels in Berlin. Once the headquarters of the esteemed 19th century Dresden Bank, it’s a place where heritage and stylish modernity meet.
Phone Number*
Address
Behrenstrasse 37
10117 Berlin, Germany
Berlin 10117
10117 Berlin, Germany
Berlin 10117