Museum Island is a complex of five museums located on an island in the River Spree. Each museum has a fascinating collection of artifacts and exhibits. Visit the Pergamon Museum to see the Ishtar Gate, the Neues Museum for the bust of Nefertiti, the Alte Nationalgalerie for its collection of 19th-century paintings, the Altes Museum for classical antiquities, and the Bode Museum for Byzantine art. Don't miss out on the stunning architecture of the buildings as well.
As the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall, the East Side Gallery is a monument to freedom that showcases a range of street art and graffiti. Walk along the 1.3 km stretch of the wall to see the murals, including the iconic painting of the fraternal kiss between Brezhnev and Honecker. It's a chance to witness how the city once divided and how it has reimagined itself again.
If you have more time, consider visiting the Berlin Cathedral and Alexanderplatz on Day 1 before heading to the museum island. Adding the Jewish Museum or Checkpoint Charlie Museum on Day 2 can also be a great way to delve deeper into Berlin's history. If you have less time, focus on a couple of museums on Day 1 and spend more time exploring the interesting neighborhoods surrounding the East Side Gallery on Day 2, such as Kreuzberg or Friedrichshain.