This beautiful, serene museum is probably best viewed with a guide, as the medieval and Byzantine works within are not exactly well-known. It was designed by architect Ernst von Ihne and is on the cusp of the museum island complex. Originally opened in 1904, the museum was closed for repairs from 1997 until its re-opening in October 2006, part of an ongoing overhaul of the island. Its sculpture collection includes major works from the Middle Ages to the 18th Century, mainly belonging to Italian Gothic and Renaissance, Late German Gothic and Romanesque.

The Museum’s Byzantine Art collection is the only one of its kind in Germany, with its vast assortment of works from the ancient Mediterranean Region and Eastern Roman Empire. The Numismatic Collection, which has 500,000 objects like coins and medals from Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece and Islam, is one of the largest in the world. There is free admission on Thursday evenings from 6pm.