I will be leading you along Museum Island, past the five major museums and the Berlin Cathedral. I plan to fill your day with interesting stories and facts, highlights from inside the museums and the rich history which lives within their walls.

Museum Island is one of the most popular and historical sites in Berlin. The island was visualized and designed by Frederick Wilhelm IV in 1841, in order to create an “Athens on Spree River.” There was a strong will to display the ambition of the Prussian state and draw parallels between the center of the ancient world, Athens, and the center of the modern world, Berlin.

I recommend that you take some time to explore not only the parts of the island we cover in today's tour, but the nearby surrounding sites as well. Our tour will  cover many of the artworks and objects inside the museums, enchanting you with stories from past times, but the buildings of the island will tell another story, one where the past mingles with the present.

Although Berlin is a young city compared to ancient rivals like Rome, Athens or Beijing, it nevertheless has a fascinating and culturally rich history. It is for this reason that UNESCO classified the Museum Island as a World Heritage Site.

On this tour, I will guide you through the island and explain the significance behind what we pass. I will begin with the birth of the island and the political and cultural background that gave rise to it. We will enter the island from the James Simon Gallery, the new entrance and orientation center for all that lay ahead. On the tour, we will pay a visit to the Lustgarten, the Humboldt Forum, the Berlin Cathedral and the Old Museum. But that's not all! We will also explore the New Museum, the Pergamon Museum, the Pergamon Museum Panorama and the Old National Gallery.

And of course, let us not forget the Bode Museum, located at the northern tip of the island. As you can see, we have a lot of ground to cover. If you don't plan to enter any of the museums, the walking tour will take at least an hour. If you stop to admire architecture, snap some photos or enter for a closer look at exhibitions, the tour can take the better part of the day. You are the boss, and you determine your experience of Berlin Museum Island.

Without further ado, let’s begin our journey, shall we?