Rainy day in Munich, or just thirsty for some culture, education or amusement? Why not check out one of the museums on this non-exhaustive list? There is a great museum for everyone in Munich, somewhere.
Admission fees vary from museum to museum. Every Sunday, the publicly-owned museums charge just 1 € per person.
If you are looking to go beyond the city limits, check out my list of 15 Great Day Trips from Munich.
Travelling to Berlin? Check out my list of 30+ museums and a few restaurants in Berlin (in German).
Technology Museums
- Deutsches Museum – you can spend a day or more in this massive technology museum. The museum has separate locations for its transport museum and its aviation museum.
- BMW Museum – guess what this is all about. The nearby BMW Welt is free of charge. You can also book a guided factory tour.
- MVG Museum – the museum of the Munich transportation authority showcases old trams and buses and tells the story of the development of public transportation in Munich. Check the website as the museum is only open on selected dates!
Nature and Science Museums
- Museum Human and Nature – Munich’s natural history museum sits in the Nymphenburg complex.
- Bavarian State Collection for Palaeontology and Geology – dinosaurs, fossils and other old stuff!
- Hunting and Fishing Museum – a small museum located in a former church that focuses on – you guessed it – hunting and fishing.
- Alpine Museum – for all mountain lovers. Small permanent exhibition on why people enjoy going to the mountains on the ground floor; changing temporary exhibitions on the top floor. The museum is run by the German Alpine Club DAV and home to the largest alpine library in the world. It has a very nice café too. Full disclosure: I work there.
(Serious) Art Museums
- Alte Pinakothek – European paintings from the 14th to the 18th century, including Dürer, Rubens etc.
- Neue Pinakothek – closed for renovations until approx. 2030. Major works of the museum’s collection „from Turner to van Gogh“ are on display in other museums.
- Pinakothek der Moderne – a collection of modern art from 1900 to the present day.
- Museum Brandhorst – contemporary art.
- Sammlung Schack – German painting of the 19th century, including Arnold Böcklin, Moritz von Schwind, Franz von Lenbach, Hans von Marées and Anselm Feuerbach.
- Lenbachhaus – known for its collection of Blue Rider (German expressionism) paintings and its beautiful garden, Lenbachhaus also hosts special exhibitions.
- Villa Stuck – currently closed for renovations until approx. October 2025.
- MUCA – Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art – focuses on artists who became famous in the 21st century.
- AMUSEUM of Contemporary Art | Street Art Museum – street art. Open only while exhibitions are running.
Local History Museums
- Royal Palace (Residenz) – visit the State Rooms and/or Treasury and walk where kings used to amble.
- Nymphenburg Palace – the summer palace for the royal family. The complex has a large park as well as a museum for the royal carriages, the Marstallmuseum.
- Bayerisches Nationalmuseum – European cultural history in Bavaria explained.
- NS Documentation Center – deals with Munich’s past as the „capital of the movement“.
- Stadtmuseum – the museum of the city of Munich is closed until further notice due to renovations.
Ancient History Museums
- Glyptothek – the world’s only museum dedicated exclusively to Greek and Roman statues.
- State Collection of Antiquities – Greek, Roman and Etruscan archaeology.
- Egyptian Museum – discover individual themes of Egypt’s art and culture.
- Archaeological State Collection – presents and preserves Bavarian archaeological finds.
Cultural History Museums
- Museum Five Continents – Munich’s ethnology museum.
- Jewish Museum – Jewish history, culture, identity.
- Sudeten German Museum – history and culture of the German-speaking populations of the Sudetenland in what is today the Czech Republic.
Fun Museums
- WOW Museum – this „Room for Illusions“ is highly instagrammable.
- Toy Museum – located in the old town hall’s tower, just off Marienplatz.
- Beer and Oktoberfest Museum – this small museum has limited opening hours. Most people head for the pub downstairs. The building is the oldest surviving residential building in Munich.
Galleries and Exhibition Venues
- Kunsthalle München – puts on one stunning exhibition at a time.
- Haus der Kunst – usually hosts various exhibitions concurrently.
- Amerikahaus – hosts photo exhibitions about aspects of American culture.
- Kunstfoyer VKB – focus on graphic art, drawings, film and photography.
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