My personal favorite Berlin Museum is not on the Museum Island but before crossing the bridge to the island. The layout of this museum is one of the best I've ever seen. It tells a very coherent story of Germany's history from Germanic times to Iron-blooded Prussia, Hitler's Nazis and the division of East and West Berlin. Although the time span is long, it is not boring at all. The gold content of the exhibits is also very high. The best thing is that almost all the people without tour groups come from the local people.