Looking for a culture fix on your next trip abroad? Munich has a wealth of museums and cultural sites and is a very tourist-friendly city, with excellent public transport and wonderful places to eat. Visitors in Munich can wander around the Kunstareal district, which is home to some of Europe’s best art galleries, or explore the many science, history, and sports museums for fantastic family days out. We run through the 12 best museums in Munich for a truly exhilarating city break.
How to enjoy the best museums in Munich?
If you plan to make the most of Munich’s cultural sites during your stay, you can save money by purchasing either a Munich Card or a Munich City Pass. Munich Cards cost around €14-22 (£12-24) per person per day and give you discounted access to Munich public transport and a huge range of museums and attractions. Meanwhile, a Munich City Pass costs around €48-58 (£46-56) per person per day and lets you use public transport for free and gain free admission to more than 45 popular Munich exhibits. You can also buy Munich Cards for small groups of up to five people or purchase them for around €5 per day without discounts on public transport.
The 12 best museums in Munich
Whether you love strolling through art galleries, diving into historical details, or learning about science and technology, Munich has cultural attractions that appeal to everyone. From stunning architectural and artistic sites to fun, interactive days out, these Munich museums are our 12 top picks.
Duetsches Museum
The Deutsches Museum is one of the best museums in Munich to visit with kids. The museum features interactive exhibits about technology and natural science, covering topics from the human body to space travel, transport, and robotics. The museum truly offers a comprehensive overview of human technology throughout the ages, all presented in an entertaining and imaginative way. It’s a great spot to visit with kids, with interactive exhibits like the Kid’s Kingdom for little ones to enjoy.
The museum is in a beautiful spot overlooking the Isar River and the Innere Ludwigsbrucke Bridge. It’s the perfect way to start your Munich sightseeing.
- Opening Times: 9 am – 5 pm
Alte Pinakotheken
Serious art lovers should definitely include a visit to the Alte Pinakotheken art museum on their Munich tour. This beautiful and vast gallery holds an impressive permanent collection, which contains works by Renaissance Old Masters like Leonardo Da Vinci, Flemish Masters like Rogier Van Der Weyden, and modern greats like Paul Klee and Rodin. The gallery also routinely hosts fascinating contemporary exhibits and costs around €7 (£5) for entry. The museum is also open late on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, giving you more freedom when arranging your visit.
Opening Times:
- Tue-Wed 10:00 am – 8:30 am
- Thu-Sun 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
The Jewish Museum
One of the most engaging historical museums in Munich is the Jewish Museum. The museum’s exhibitions explore themes such as the history of Jewish culture, the impacts of displacement and immigration, and the modern Jewish experience. Exhibits are laid out using visual displays, photographs, artefacts, and historical documents. The Jewish Museum also has an extensive historical archive and study room where interested guests can peruse materials at their own leisure.
Opening Times:
- Tue – Sun 10 am – 6 pm
Residenz Museum
Another important site for history buffs in Munich is the famous Residenz Museum. The Residenz Museum is a Bavarian Palace that was occupied by German royalty from the 16th to the 20th century. The palace features stunning period architecture, lavish décor, historical furniture and religious relics. It is a gorgeous building to explore and has several beautiful courtyards and a palace garden where visitors can enjoy a stroll.
One highlight inside the museum is the Royal Cuvillies Theatre, which was built in the late 1700s and retained much of its striking original décor. There is also a bronze statue gallery with over forty artworks on display.
Opening Times:
- April – October 9 am – 6 pm,
- October – March 10 am – 5 pm
FC Bayern Museum
Football fans won’t want to miss a visit to the FC Bayern Museum at Bayern Munich’s home stadium, the Allianz Arena. As well as arena tours, where fans can explore the pitch and stands, the museum features trophies from historic Bayern Munich wins and iconic team artefacts. In addition, legendary players are commemorated in the museum’s Hall of Fame. There’s also a children’s play area where they can meet Bayern Munich’s mascot, Berni the Bear.
You can also enjoy something to eat at the on-site Italian bistro. The bistro serves hot meals, desserts, and coffee.
- Opening Times: 10 am – 6 pm
BMW Welt Museum
With its unique modern architecture and incredible classic car collection, the BMW Welt Museum is one of the best museums in Munich. Admire decades’ worth of historical BMW vehicles and learn about the history of transport and motor technology in Germany. You can also get a glimpse into the future of auto travel or let your kids test out the BMW slide, which is a huge outdoor flume that spirals down the building side. The BMW Welt Museum also features five on-site restaurants where you can grab a snack or enjoy some fine dining.
Opening Times:
- Tue – Sun 10 am – 6 pm
NSDOKU Munich
The NSDOKU Munich Museum features exhibits and information about the history and formation of the National Socialist Party, which took control of Germany during the Second World War. The museum presents exhibits about the rise of National Socialism in Germany, WW2, and how Germany’s political history impacts the present day. There are also exhibitions commemorating the victims persecuted under National Socialism and the preserved site of a forced labour camp, where marginalised groups were imprisoned in WW2. The museum is free to enter and makes for an extremely informative visit.
Opening Times:
- Tue – Sun 10 am – 7 pm
The Beer and Oktoberfest Museum
Located in Munich’s oldest public house, which dates back to the mid-13th century, the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum is an amazing historical tribute to Germany’s Bavarian beer culture. Visitors can see the old pub and cellar and sample the delicious traditional beer. The museum also has a restaurant, which serves classic Bavarian dishes. If you’re travelling with a group, you can also book a beer tasting and a historical walking tour of the area.
- Opening Times: 1 pm – 6pm
Kunsthalle
Located in the famously artistic Kunstareal district, the Kunsthalle Museum is one of the best art galleries in Munich. The gallery puts on three exhibitions a year, championing bold contemporary and modern art and art through the ages. The museum also hosts lectures and art film viewings, and visitors can book a tour to see the surrounding street art in the neighbourhood. The Kunsthalle also has an on-site restaurant, where you can enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat between visiting exhibits.
- Opening Times: 10 am – 8pm
The State Museum of Egyptian Art
If you’re fascinated by ancient cultures, the State Museum of Egyptian Art is a wonderful place to visit. The museum houses a vast collection of Egyptian artefacts, including jewellery, wall decorations, sculptures, sarcophagi, and much more. Under 18s can enter for free and adult tickets cost around €7, with a special €1 entry offer on Sundays.
Guests will also receive a handy virtual guide through the museum, with information and interesting facts about the items on display. Virtual guides that are specially adapted for kids are also available. With so many historical pieces to see, this museum is a great option for a family day out or an excellent place to kill a few free hours in Munich.
Opening Times:
- Tue 10 am – 8 pm,
- Wed – Sun 10 am – 6 pm
ESO Supernova Planetarium and Visitors Centre
Looking for the best free museums in Munich? The ESO Planetarium is an incredible free museum experience based around astronomy, space exploration, and our solar system. Visitors can walk through the amazing interactive exhibition, which covers everything from the possibility of life on other planets to stars and galaxies. You can also attend a viewing at the Planetarium and choose from a range of short, cosmological films.
Planetarium shows take place regularly and have a €5 viewing fee. The museum is located just a short distance outside of Munich city centre and is accessible via U-Bahn line 6. You can also drive to the Planetarium in around 25min. Unfortunately, there is no on-site restaurant at the museum; however, there is a picnic area with vending machines where you can grab a snack or eat food you’ve brought from home.
Opening Times:
- Wed – Fri 9 am – 5 pm,
- Sat – Sun 12 pm – 5 pm
Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art (MUCA)
Munich has a long and vibrant history of urban and street art, including innovative forms like graffiti and installation. Modern art lovers in Munich will enjoy a trip to the MUCA, which hosts a permanent exhibition and a wide range of temporary exhibits put together by artists from all walks of life. Visitors can also get out into the city to see street art and graffiti in its original urban setting with the MUCA bike tour. The tour lasts around 3h 30min and can be booked by individuals or for groups of up to ten people.
Entry to the MUCA costs around €7.50 per person, with concessions bringing prices down to €5 for young people, students, and pensioners. There is also a restaurant with a fine-dining menu on the premises.
Opening Times:
- Wed Sun 10 am – 6 pm
- Thurs 10 am – 8 pm
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