The Long Night of Museums is a cultural event on which approximately 75 museums and cultural institutions show their exhibitions during the night. Visitors get the opportunity to see art collections and installations at unusual opening hours. Additionally, many other events are held such as performances and concerts. The central location of the Long Night of Museums is the Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz. Tickets and information can be found there as well as shuttle buses which head to all participating venues.

The first Long Night of Museums, in German "Lange Nacht der Museen", took place in Berlin in 1997. Since then, the concept has spread to more than 120 cities across Europe.

Regular price 18 Euro, reduced price 12 Euro. Tickets can be purchased at BVG and S-Bahn station counters and other ticketing offices.

Opening hours 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

This is just an event tip and no more. The programm booklet of "The Night of Museums" is documented in German and English and is available for free in many cafés. It is impossible and pointless to visit as a huge rally group the "Long Night of Museums".

Approximately 75 museums will open their doors to the public from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., showing their collections, exhibitions and special programmes. The ticket provides entry to all participating venues, unlimted use of the shuttle bus service and unlimted use of public transportation (BVG busses, U-Bahn and S-Bahn) in zones ABC (3 p.m. to 5 a.m.).

Althrough many venues are within walking distance from the centre at Kulturforum Matthäikirchplatz, most are spread throughout the city; the shuttle bus service helps you navigate your way between the museums and enables you to see as much as possible.

Due to the wide range of participating programmes on offer, German is no precondition for attending the "Long Night of Museums". Several venues offer information in English, and many exhibitions and parts of special programmes will be self-explanatory. The free booklet with the entire programme on 168 pages is in German and English.

Tips for beginners: at first take one cluster of museums that are close together. My personal highlights:

Cluster 1: Museum Island
Altes Museum (Old Museum)
Neues Museum (New Museum)
Pergamon Museum
Bode Museum
Deutsches Historisches Museum (German Historical Museum)

Cluster 2: Kulturforum Matthäikirchplatz (next to Postdamer Platz)
Gemäldegalerie (Picture Gallery)
Musik-Instrumenten-Museum (Musical Instrumental Museum)
Museum für Film und Fernsehen (Filmmuseum)

Cluster 3: Checkpoint Charlie
Asisis Panometer Berlin (big Berlin Wall panorama)
Mauermuseum (Checkpoint Charlie Museum)
Stasi Museum

Cluster 4: Kreuzberg
Jüdisches Museum (Jewish Museum)
Berlinische Galerie (photography and modern art)
Bunker Fichtestrasse Gasometer

Cluster 5: City West at Bahnhof Zoo
Museum für Fotografie (Museum of Photography - The Helmut Newton Collection)
Aquarium Berlin

Solo highlights

Archenold Sternwarte (old obversatory)

Classic Remise (lots of vintage cars)

U-Bahn Museum

There are many other interesting venues. You're invited to post you personal highlights and tips here in this thread. You are welcome to arrange appointments with other couchsurfers here in this thread when you like to attend the "Long Night of Museums" as tandem or small group of three or four people.